What about Pet Promise?  I don't feed my kiddos meat so they get the veggie Harlan blocks... but my cats get Pet Promise food and LOVE it.  I really like that the animals the food is made from aren't tortured, factory farmed critters. :/ The dog food seems really pure in ingredients and, although a little high in protein for ratties, would be fine I think.  The corn in it is gluten meal, not just ground yellow corn which is much harder to digest. 

http://www.petpromiseinc.com/dog_dailyHealth.htm
http://www.petpromiseinc.com/about_faq.htm

Free-range meats, no rendered meats or by-products... and an ethical company to boot. Whole Foods sells it and there is a store locator on the site for other stores/co-ops.

Melissa

Well, I had switched my rats from Nutro Natural Choice Lite to Nutro Ultra Weight Management, it seems to be a little better quality and available the same places as Nutro is.
However lately I've been feeding them a higher-calorie dog food because they are both sick (and eating less)... I've been using Brightlife dog food because that's what I feed my dogs, it's a very high-quality food but is higher in protein.


Nutro Ultra Weight Management Ingredients:
Whole Brown Rice, Chicken Meal, Rice Bran, Lamb Meal, Sunflower Oil (preserved with mixed Tocopherols, a source of Vitamin E), Poultry Fat (preserved with mixed Tocopherols, a source of Vitamin E), Natural Flavors, Flaxseed, Suncured Alfalfa Meal, Dried Plain Beet Pulp, Salmon Meal, Oatmeal, Tomato Pomace, Cranberry Powder, Fish Oil (preserved with mixed Tocopherols, a source of Vitamin E), Potassium Chloride, Dried Egg Product, L-Lysine, Dried Kelp Meal, Vitamin E Supplement, (etc...snipped list of vitamins/minerals)


By Nature Brightlife Ingredients:
(Note it's higher in protein than may be recommended for the average adult rat)
Ingredients:
Chicken Meal, Lamb Meal, Whole Ground Barley, Ground Rice, Whole Ground Oats, Chicken Fat (Stabilized with Mixed Tocopherols), Dehydrated Alfalfa Meal, Ground Flaxseed, Yeast Culture, Salmon, Salt, Potassium Chloride, Dried Egg Product, Calcium Carbonate, Betaine, Garlic, Dried Carrot Meal, Tomato Pomace, Blueberry Extract, Cranberry Extract, Turmeric Extract, Dried Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Fermentation Solubles, Vitamin E Supplement, (etc...snipped list of vitamins/minerals)

I feel stupid for asking this question but here goes anyways: I recently switched my new two ratties food from hamster food ( I know bad but I was none the wiser til now) to Living world extrusion pellets ( they look like little blocks) and on the back it doesn't really give specific feeding instructions, just refill daily. I just wanted to know how much to give them as the blocks are pretty big and I don't want to overfeed them. Thanks, B.

You don't need to suppliment lab blocks with dog food (that would give them way too much protein). Mine always have a supply of lab blocks in the cage, then I also give them a variety of fresh veggies and some fruit daily. If I have leftovers they get those too. They can have basically anything that is healthy food that you eat.

This is what I feed our dogs and cats: http://www.timberwolforganics.com/
the percentages are too high for rats though, just thought incase someone might be interested in it for their dogs or cats

Has anyone tried Natural Balance Ultra Premium Dry Vegetarian Dog food? you can get it at petco
http://www.naturalbalanceinc.com/dogformulas/Vegetarian.html the percentages seem right...

I just switched over from Nutro to Wellness, and surprisingly the rats like the Wellness. I wasn't anticipating that. The Nutro has lamb in it, which is a pretty potent, flavorful meat. I was expecting them to turn their noses up at the Wellness, since its chicken is so bland in comparison. But they're loving it!

KoalaLou, it might actually be cheaper for you to order the Harlan blocks than to buy Innova or Wellness. Innova is something like $13.99 for a small bag here. The Wellness is $11.99. Plus, as has been said, it's just a more complete diet anyway. The only reason I still feed dog food/Suebee's is that two of my rats are shelter rescues, one of whom was on a seed mix for months. He regards lab blocks as being about as tasty as cardboard.

For those who can't find Wellness or Innova, try looking at feed stores. As in horse, etc. That's where I found mine. Or you could probably order through your vet.

I also agree that somwhere around 14% is better for adult rats.  Maybe a little higher for females but not for males.  I just can't believe that rats really need 25% protein.  Some dog foods aren't even that high and my dogs super high quality meat based food has 26% protein.  I highly doubt that rats need as much protein as a carnivorous dog would need.  I keep my boys protein pretty low and they do fine.  They have Innova Senior as about 1/4 of their rat mix.  Occasionally I'll mix in some of my dogs food in there for a day.  About once a week they get some chicken or tofu at night. 

Just to give you an idea....

I feed a mix that is about 1 part suebee's 1part questionable quality lab blocks, and 1 part high quality wellness light dogfood. I free feed, so their bowl gets filled up when it is empty, around every other day or so.

For fresh veggies, they get fresh fruits and veggies every night. Well, most nights... sometimes I get to the point where I am running really low on veggies, and then even I don't get any. 


I plan on replacing the blocks with wellness dog food entirely, after this batch of blocks is gone. Or maybe harlan... Whichever I think is better/ economical. (I am kinda a penny pincher... )

I think protien is 18%... but I am not positive... also I just realized that I may get wellness senior, not wellness weight loss. I actually can't remember... I stuck it in the mix and havn't got another bag since...

I'll look it up.





WELLNESS

QUALITY PROTEIN
We use USDA chicken as our most plentiful ingredient because it is a delicious, digestible protein source. Our chicken is free of added growth hormones and steroids.



WHOLESOME FIBER
Increased fiber comes from wholesome sources, like oats and barley, full of vitamins and minerals. We don’t use inexpensive, nutrition-less fillers like cellulose or peanut hulls. In addition to containing fewer calories than fat, protein or carbohydrates, fiber helps overweight dogs feel full.

HIP & JOINT HEALTH
Overweight dogs are at higher risk for arthritis and hip and joint dysplasia. These conditions cause the dogs to suffer increased pain which causes a greatly reduced quality of life. To help aid in the prevention and treatment of these conditions, we add guaranteed amounts of glucosamine and chondroitin to this recipe. Research suggests that both nutrients help replenish cartilage in overburdened joints.

ANTIOXIDANT SUPPORT
Our unique blend of fruits and vegetables represents a full rainbow of powerful antioxidants. In addition we add extra amounts of the antioxidant vitamins C and E. Antioxidants are important nutrients that help maintain health by slowing the destructive aging process. This is especially important in overweight dogs whose systems are overburdened and stressed.

HEALTHY SKIN & COAT
Omega 3 & 6 play a vital role in helping prevent dull, dry coat and hair loss. Low fat diets run the risk of providing less than optimal amounts of the essential fatty acids (including omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids) unless high quality fat sources are used. For this reason we don’t use rendered animal fats but rather canola oil, flaxseed meal and real chicken.

A "Top Approved Dry Dog Food" in the "Whole Dog Journal" 2006 dry dog food report.


Ingredients
Deboned Chicken, Ground Barley, Rice Bran (from brown rice), Chicken Meal, Ground Brown Rice, Tomato Pomace (natural source of lycopene), Rye Flour, Oatmeal, Oat Fiber, Whitefish, Tomatoes (natural source of lycopene), Canola Oil (preserved with mixed tocopherols, a natural source of vitamin E), Natural Chicken Flavor, Ground Millet, Flaxseed, Carrots, Apples, Spinach, Blueberries, Sweet Potatoes, Dicalcium Phosphate, Calcium Carbonate, Potassium Chloride.

Minerals
Zinc Sulfate, Zinc Proteinate (a chelated source of zinc), Iron Proteinate (a chelated source of iron), Ferrous Sulfate, Copper Proteinate (a chelated source of copper), Copper Sulfate, Manganese Proteinate (a chelated source of manganese), Manganese Sulfate, Sodium Selenite.

VitaminsCholine Chloride, Beta-Carotene, Vitamin E Supplement, Ascorbic Acid, Vitamin A Supplement, Niacin, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin, Vitamin D-3 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Thiamine Mononitrate, Folic Acid, Biotin, Vitamin K Supplement, Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Glucosamine-HCl, Chondroitin Sulfate, Chicory Root Extract, Garlic, Taurine, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Green Tea Extract, Lactobacillus plantarum, Enterococcus faecium, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus acidophilus.
Old Mother Hubbard uses ethoxyquin-free meat sources.


Guaranteed Analysis

Crude Protein Not Less Than 17.0% 
Crude Fat Not Less Than 6.0% 
Crude Fiber Not More Than 10.0% 
Moisture Not More Than 11.0% 
Vitamin E Not Less Than 400 IU/kg 
Omega 6 Fatty Acids* Not Less Than 2.50% 
Omega 3 Fatty Acids* Not Less Than 0.40% 
Glucosamine* Not Less Than 400 mg/kg 
Chondroitin Sulfate* Not Less Than 300 mg/kg 
Beta-Carotene* Not Less Than 5 mg/kg 
Lycopene* Not Less Than 0.25 mg/kg 
Taurine* Not Less Than 0.09% 

*Not recognized as an essential nutrient by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles.

well lets see my girls get a hadfull of mazuri lab blocks every day (unless they have a huge stash pile)and most nights they get some of my dinner usually i give them some of the veggies and some of the meat,but i have learned that the don't really like meat as much as they love tomato's, lightly steamed broccoli,
and they love soup (at least mine do),plus they get salad stuff whenever i have it .
and along with the lab blocks they get a small handfull of pasta
hope that helps and  that its not too confusing
Devon

this might be pertenanent to this it was posted in another thread in this very same forum;