Question...

[Joe]

   I've seen peanut butter mentioned a few times on this board and the last for trust training. My question is how often can peanut butter be given to rats without a problem?
  Another thing I noticed about this board I like better...it actually indents the beginning of my paragraphs. I like that much better.

-Joe

[Natasha]

i Givw my ratties peanut butter ocasionly, if i have peanut butter on toast, i rip them off a bit each
they love it to bits

[Grace Jr]

Me being the constant worry-wort over what is and isn;'t good for them, I don't fee them peanut butter.  Since it is so sticky, it is possible for them to choke on it, so I just play it safe, since I'm no expert at rattie heimlichs (sp?) or CPR.  

[JanetC]

Peanut butter is heavily fat-laden, so I use it only as a treat. The real hazard, as I understand it, is choking. I don't worry about a bit spread on bread, but right off a spoon may pose a choking hazard. You could always dilute it with a swirl of jelly so it was more liquid   ... but I'd use caution!

[Spiralgirl]

I agree about peanut butter in moderation...both because of the choking hazard and well as fat content.  But it does make a great training aid...I mix it with wheat germ and make little treat balls, also great for hiding powdered meds in!

[Rose]

I once smeared a really chewy rattie with peanut butter when she came home from a surgery.  I hoped that after diligently cleaning herself off she wouldn't have the energy left to really work out her stitches (as she did in a previous horrid episode).
She groomed and groomed and the sutures stayed (okay maybe it was coincidence).  This was before I knew about the choking issue.

[Christy]

Since it is so sticky, it is possible for them to choke on it, so I just play it safe, since I'm no expert at rattie heimlichs (sp?) or CPR.  

Same here!  After having Tipper almost choke to death on mashed potatoes of all things, I've kept well away from peanut butter too!

[Paul]

...Grace Jnr.
I know it gets mentioned all the time for hiding meds in, as a training treat etc, but it is really fatty.

We use rice crispies for treats and training (don't know what you'll call them in the US), but it's puffed rice, no sugar coating, just plain and simple.
That way, we can allow them to eat lots of them - one or two each time they earn a reward.
They're also handy as a diversion - stick their nose in the bowl if we're doing 'lump checks' or squeezing Lilith's blocked oil pore on her bum (nice image, I know!).

Paul
(who is hoping the spacing on the rat image signature is working!)

[pegc]

I give my ratties toast with *thinly* spread peanut butter for brekkie every morning - never had a problem.
I think giving them a glob of it might cause choking.

[WeeRaffins]

I also agree with Grace Jr. Peanut butter can become a choking hazard. And it is very high in protien. But I think as Peg said, thinly spread it would be okay.

[Joe]

   Thanks ya'll! I just took it as a given that peanut butter should be given in moderation because of the fat and protein. Didn't think about the choking hazzard, though...thanks again.

-Joe

[Grace Jr]

Hey Paul, Rice Crispies here too.  Same name on both sides of the lake    They make awesome treats and training aids!  

[Suebee]

Hey Paul, Rice Crispies here too.  Same name on both sides of the lake  

Not to be completely anal-retentive, but it's Rice Krispies, with a K... you have to get the deliberate misspelling right, because it's the only way we can succeed in destroying the spelling skills of an entire nation.

But I'm not bitter.  

[Grace Jr]

Whoops!  Shame on me for not spelling it wrong!  Or would that be spelling it right?  lol  Now I'm all confused...  It's too early for a vocab lesson.  

[Jodi]

Hey Paul, Rice Crispies here too.  Same name on both sides of the lake  

Not to be completely anal-retentive, but it's Rice Krispies, with a K... you have to get the deliberate misspelling right, because it's the only way we can succeed in destroying the spelling skills of an entire nation.

But I'm not bitter.  

ROFL!   Absol-freakin-lutely, Suebee! We surely wouldn't want the youth of this country to start gaining access to accurate spellings! They might just grow up and (gulp!) take over the country or some such nonsense!!!  GAAHHHH!!!!!  

[Anna]

I use the smallest bit of peanut butter on my finger to get them out of their cages when I'm first trust training.
Really small amounts won't hurt them, you stand more chance of doing damage by giving them something they can run off with.