Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Anyone know ??

Are their any OTHER concerns with dog food as rodent feed besides RED DYE ?

I’ve met lots of people who feed their rodents exclusively dog food, and the rodents, breed well and live long lives.

The question becomes if feeding them to reptiles long term presents health problems or risks.

I’ve exclusively mazurri for 10 plus years, but the price hikes are tempting me to go to a 25% mazzuri, 75% dog food mix.

Thanks,
Jeff

Protein and fat percentages.

Don't use a brand that lists corn as the first ingredient. Because of the way that it is stored, ALL corn is contaminated with mold. The mold produces toxins, which leads to cancer.

The dog food can go rancid, if not used fast enough. Rancid fats also lead to cancer.

I used to feed Safeway brand dog food when I had mice, but I have not fed any to my rats.

Snakey Lakey

Don't use a brand that lists corn as the first ingredient. Because of the way that it is stored, ALL corn is contaminated with mold. The mold produces toxins, which leads to cancer.

The dog food can go rancid, if not used fast enough. Rancid fats also lead to cancer.
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>>>>>>>>>>THANXX...people tell me it causes cancer but noone ever said WHY....man...I use cheap dog food, use it fast, ....hmmmm...last time I got corn it was contaminated, they sold it cheaply......glad it is better this week....I get tumored mice but not alot.....guys told me it was the dog food...

...Thanxx for the INFO!!!

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The article linked to below details the evidence why corn should be limited in rat diets.

Snakey Lakey
corn and mycotoxins

I use
lab chow
dog food
corn
oats
at times millet ,bird seed,sunflower seed....mostly lab ....all others added to make them happy.....does make up a good percentage though......

...I see no problem with you using dog food....
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The problem with using dog food is that for most people the motivation is cost, so they use cheap dog food. Cheap dog food isn't fit for ANY animal to live on. It's all the leftover crap (moldy grains, spoiled carcasses) that no one in their right mind wants. Dog food that is worth feeding is expensive (trust me I have 9 dogs!). Do even a little bit of research into pet food and it will scare the crap out of you.
I've been a vet tech for over a decade and have seen what cheap food does to animals (think about what you would look like and feel like if you ate cheap fast food every meal every day). Food costs stink but it's one of the most important aspects of raising any animal.

I eat badly, and wel...I mix it up...and I still won't wear a bikini....LOL......yes there is 60 pounds of unwanted stuff hanging on me....and yes McYD's makes me feel like puking alot of times soon after....

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....I had a thought though....?.......the spoiled fat part is what I think it is that causes cancer....the corn /mold part...???....I am a farmer let's say, I have toooons of corn...I don't know if I am selling it to Kellog's, Purina, or ElCheapO brand foods when I store it....if it all molds...then the Corn Flakes are bad???.......

....a thought......I figure they cook some foods better than others, and yes once moldy you would sell cheaper to anyone who takes it?????.....

..corn feeds everything and everyone though....???....and some mold is good....think of the Days' of Old....rich people would be sick more than poooor people...they figured out that the poor people would eat bread with mold on it and therefore have an intake of Penicillan molds and actually keep themselves healthier.......

...I just try and eat Bleu cheeses to help my health and (brie ,don't know species of mold on brie)....and mushrooms...Maitake,Shiitake.....still a fungus.......

thanxx again......and yes I use El CheapO dog food from the Dollar General........

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Appreciate everybody’s feedback

I’ve went back and forth on this philosophically for years.

On one hand, if you listen to the reps for the Harlan, mazzuri, Ziegler etc., or anyone affiliated with a zoo or lab. They insist it’s a no brainer.

On the other lots of people run rodent colonies and herp collections for decades on pig/dog feed and report no problems. They may also use a herp supplement added to the prey.

I wish their was research done on the blood work of older herps raised on both methods.