I switched over to HT 2016 but I still have growing rats so I"m looking to add dog food. I'm using a generic Wegmans brand (Wegmans is a grocery store, I'm using their brand) but they dont seem to go for it. I know people use Innova but I can't find it. What do you suggest? (Or what percent protien is good to look for?)

I feed my rats (and my dog) Chicken Soup for the Dog Lovers Soul Light formula dog kibble:
http://www.chickensoupforthepetloverssoul.com/products/dogs/dry_food/adult_dog_light_formula/

Good protein and fat content, wonderful ingredients, and cheaper than Innova! (Nice for people with lots of ratfinks)

Are you from Rochester? I am, in Greece.

I worked at a pet store that had a bunch of good dog foods and a few names that I would recommend to people were: Innova, Fromm (which my dogs are on), Natural Balance, Chicken Soup for the Dog Lovers Soul, Merrick, Solid Gold, California Natural, Mother Nature, Karma, Natures Variety, Wellness, Healthwise, Canidae, and there was a raw food diet that made a dry food as well but I can't think of the name although I d believe it was the same company as Natures Variety.  Again these are what I recommended for dogs but some of them may be good for the ratties.  Also, if I remember correctly, Solid Gold and Chicken soup are made by the same company and I remember something about the place were they make it not being the best so just be careful.  

Emma

Lori's is GREAT!

Good dog food possibilities for rats:

Innova Senior (regular, not Plus)
Wellness Lite/Senior
Natural Balance Vegetarian
Petguard Vegetarian
Solid Gold Senior/Lite
Blue Buffalo Senior

Excellent dog/cat foods in general (which are not necessarily appropriate for rats, though):  Innova, Wellness, Solid Gold, Prairie, Nature's Variety, Petguard Organic, Blue Buffalo, Natural Balance, Canidae/Felidae, Newman's Own, California Natural, Karma, Merrick, Timberwolf Organics, Castor & Pollux, Organix, Natural Planet, Chicken Soup, Pinnacle, Mmillenia, Go! Natural, Flint River Ranch, Eagle Pack Holistic, and Back to Basics.

Natural Balance Reduced Calorie formula is what my girls get, it's got low protein (16.5%) and low-ish fat (4 or 5% I think off the top of my head) and they look GREAT.  Actually I think they could stand to gain weight.

The only remotely decent dog food I've ever seen sold in a grocery store is Lassie's Natural Way, and I think that has too high of protein/fat for rats.  A good rule of thumb is that if it's sold in a grocery store, it's not high quality dog food.  Try specialty pet stores, groomers, (some) vets, or buy food online.

Undergunfire, you would be better off with Chicken Soup Light.  the Senior's formula has 12%, which is about twice the fat percentage a rat should have, and the protein is a bit high.

The Light formula is 6% fat, which is a lot better, and it has more grains and less meat than the Senior's, which is generally pretty good for rats.

As for Pedigree...   I will never, ever, feed Pedigree to any animal I own again. I'm sad to say, I used to feed it to my dog, but now I know better. Pedigree, and other grocery store brands, have bad ingredients, and are full of chemicals and fillers.

I don't believe many humane societies can take open foods just for health reasons but you could try. 

The other issue with some types of food is something called by-products.  If you see a label that says by-products, what they do is throw all the left over ingredients (the parts we don't eat) in the food.  This includes everything but the beak if I remember correctly including the intestine which don't have to be 100% cleaned out.  I would have to call my store again to find out the exact percentage but the point is they don't have to be completely cleaned out. 

Also, if you have an animal with allergies to a particular meat you really have to watch the labels.  I once helped a lady who's cat was allergic to basic every meat but chicken.  When I was going over the label of the food she was feeding him I discovered the 3rd ingredient was meat by-product.  Now when it says that the company can pretty much throw the by-products of what ever they have lying around since they don't even specify whether its a chicken by-product, ect.  After explaining this to her I was able to help her find a better food that was still within her budget and teach her how to read the labels better.

To anyone that doesn't know how to read the pet food labels:

1. Check the percentages of fat, ect., what ever you need it to be for the animal you are buying for whether dog, cat or rat.
2. Check the ingredients list.  The first four ingredients make up most of the food so if there is a lot of corn then you won't be giving the animal good filling food.
3. Stay away from by-products as explained above.  However if it says chicken meal, the company uses the parts of the chicken that we would eat but they take all the moisture out of it.  Stay away from foods high in corn since most of it passes through there body because much of its not absorbed into the system.  Also if they aren't absorbing it into their systems they are going to pass it out into the backyard or litter box leaving you to clean up more.  The other thing that I personally prefer to stay away from in foods is gluten such as corn gluten meal since that was part of that big recall that happened not too long ago. 

These are some of the things I learned about foods and how I would help people find food for their animals.  If you have any discrepancies or other opinions please just let me know because I am always open to new ideas.  No matter what you do, knowing how to read the labels of your pets food properly can be helpful to both of you. 

Emma

I always say You wouldn't go to the convenience store to buy your groceries, so don't buy your pet food at the grocery store.

Which I say to my parents, because they feed the cats Whiskas...    I've given up.  At least my cats are out of there and on Wellness now.