If you look at the list of ingredients, of commercial pet foods, including rat pellets, many will include Yucca schidigera.
This is an extract from a plant that grows wild in the deserts of Southwestern USA and Mexico. Research has shown that it helps animals utilize nitrogen more efficiently, and excrete less in their stool and urine.
This is beneficial for their health, as they don’t need to ingest as much protein in their diet to support normal growth and metabolism, their liver and kidneys don’t have to work as hard and they don’t produce as much ammonia.
As you know, ammonia is very bad for rats’ respiratory systems. So, we feed our Roof Rats lower protein lab blocks than Mazuri’s (which is 23%): Envigo Teklad Global 18% protein. Because Teklad’s lab blocks don’t include Yucca schidigera, we give it to them in their drinking water. It is safe for all rats, including pregnant, nursing and babies. They are healthier and smell better, too!
Your rat’s cage won’t smell so bad!
By my calculation, you could add about 100mg of Yucca schidigera extract per liter of water. Hence, 1ml of this extract per 2 liters of water: ANIMAL ESSENTIALS YUCCA JOINT & DIGESTION HERBAL EXTRACT LIQUID FOR DOGS & CATS – 2 FL OZ
We have a lot of rats, so we actually use Yucca extract
Want to see the science behind this? Here is links to some of the research regarding Yucca schidigera:
Anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic effects of yucca schidigera: A review
If you would like to visit us and play with some of our rats, or even adopt some, please contact us!
Please subscribe to our YouTube channel to show your support for our rats!
Would you like to have a pet roof rat? You can! Adoptions are free for responsible pet owners. Just get in touch. And join the Pet Roof Rat Facebook Group.
Take our free online course about Roof Rat care and ownership.
Filed under Health & Medical
