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deborahbroadus Moderator

Joined: 16 Jul 2006 Posts: 6300 Location: Baltimore, MD
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Posted: Wed May 09, 2007 10:15 pm Post subject: Extending the life of Rats/Forbidden Foods |
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Chromium Picolinate has been shown to extend the average life span of rats. To find the dosage for your rat, multiply his weight in pounds by 189. For example, the dosage for a rat who weighs 0.75 pounds (12 oz.) is 142 micrograms (mcg).
If you have several rats of different weights, you may be able to give some of the the same dose. To figure the maximum dose (in MCG) your rat should get, multiply his weight in pounds by 227. You don't want to give a rat more than this, because too much chromium picolinate interfers with the absorption of other minerals. (however if you feed your rat some molasses mix from a homemade rat diet, you do not need to give him any more chromium picolinate.
Never give your rats:
Carbonated beverages
Chocolate
Raw beans or peanuts
Raw sweet potato
Raw red cabbage and brussels sprouts
Raw artichokes
Raw bulk (non-packaged) tofu
Green bananas
Green potatoe skin and eyes
(Rats by Debbie Ducommun)
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strangeduck
Joined: 07 Aug 2007 Posts: 7 Location: Sutter Creek CA
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Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2007 11:07 pm Post subject: |
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I'd just like to add that older rats with repiratory problems actually benefit from a single dark chocolate chip a day. Don't ask me why it works, my vet explained it...but, I couldn't explain it to you...lol
Although, come to think of it, you probably aren't trying to keep older rats with alive...oh well, it's a good bit of trivia to know anyway...
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deborahbroadus Moderator

Joined: 16 Jul 2006 Posts: 6300 Location: Baltimore, MD
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Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2007 12:24 pm Post subject: |
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| strangeduck wrote: | I'd just like to add that older rats with repiratory problems actually benefit from a single dark chocolate chip a day. Don't ask me why it works, my vet explained it...but, I couldn't explain it to you...lol
Although, come to think of it, you probably aren't trying to keep older rats with alive...oh well, it's a good bit of trivia to know anyway... |
Good point, but I would like to say that I don't hasten their death, and since they are in a room with my breeders it pays to keep the older rats healthy too. I do have a few snakes that can handle the breeder sized rats, and when a rat is way too old for anything and I can see that it's painful for them to live, I can and do feed them off.
Otherwise if I have no need of a feeder, they live out their lives in luxury and comfort. Some of them die of old age and I simply throw the bodies away (if by time I see them they have cooled). 
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