As winter approaches, it's important to turn our attention to
how we can boost our rat's immunity against infection and give
them the best defence possible during what is often a
vulnerable time for rats, especially the elderly.
High humidity, coupled with the cold can create the conditions
that affect the respiratory system of a vulnerable rat. This
is due to the increase in the water element which can
aggravate mucus conditions or those susceptible to them. It's
important to be aware that there is a greater need to balance
the water element within the bodily system at this time, so
that we can increase the body's ability to cope with damp and
coolness.
In Ayurveda (an ancient Indian healing system based on
maintaining balanced health), there is more aggravation of the
water element during the winter months. There is a tendency
for more mucus conditions to flare up. Therefore, it's
important to try and offset this tendency by creating
'internal' balance within the body whilst adjusting 'external'
conditions to lower stress. We can do this by addressing the
environmental factors that may aggravate a watery condition
e.g. by using a dehumidifier, also avoiding sweet wet food,
reducing stress and incorporating various immune building
strategies (as suggested below).
Some rats are more affected by an aggravation of the water
element than others, especially those who have already been
having recurrent respiratory issues. These rats are going to
be more susceptible at this time but it's important that all
rats will need some extra help during this season.
Following are some ideas for you to help boost your rats (and
yours too) immunity. I always recommend and personally use
human grade supplements because I believe that the whole
family's health is where the focus needs to be on. Many of the
supplements created in the pet industry are not that great and
have a certain 'novelty/profit' value. I feel it's wiser to
seek out better quality supplements that we ourselves would be
happy using and then just 'tithe' some of these to our rats.
Our rats need us to be healthy to look after them so I figure
it's better and less wasteful to buy the kind of supplements
that we can all benefit from.
LIFESTYLE CONSIDERATIONS
Stress is a big factor in the body's defences becoming
rundown. Often rats are under stress because of group
incompatibilities or other factors. Something we can do is to
make sure we're not putting rats, especially older rats under
any undue stress during the winter season e.g. we can avoid
big changes in their routine during this time i.e. avoiding
new intros to other rats or changing cages/group dynamics etc.
Avoid mating/breeding as females would naturally be conserving
their own energy during this time. If you're thinking that our
rats are indoors and therefore not affected by the seasons,
it's simply not true. They are energetic beings and
intrinsically linked to the greater whole. They are affected
by the bio-rhythms of nature even if they are not 'in' nature.
That is why people can see the effect the moon has on their
rat's behaviour. And why solstices and equinoxes often create
a portal for many animals to take their transition. It's all
in the web and flow of energy, yin and yang.
In nature, animals are hibernating at this time of year or
keeping close to home, they are not in 'breeding' mode. Nature
knows it's a time to withdraw and harness as much energy as
possible for building reserves and keeping up resistance to
the cold. It is a natural 'build and rest' time, which is why
most of us put on a few extra pounds during the winter/holiday
season! The energy is needed for keeping warm and the focus of
heat is within. The trees shed their leaves in the Autumn so
that they can keep the sap for sustaining themselves during
winter.
You might notice how your rats sleep more in the wintertime,
this is their way of conserving energy and keeping in tune
with the 'slowing down' of nature. The time will come again in
Spring when they emerge from their slumber and return to
heightened activity levels again. I'm not saying they don't
play, far from it! I'm just saying that levels can fluctuate
according to environmental factors/seasonal shifts. There's
always a lot more activity around a full moon, for example.
Therefore, by being aware of environmental stress/seasonal
shifts and making adjustments accordingly, we can help further
boost immunity for our rats over the winter months.
DIETARY CONSIDERATIONS
A whole food diet of seasonal fresh fruit and vegetables,
especially those rich in chlorophyll such as kale will supply
vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and phytochemcials that will
help to protect against cancer and also boost the immune
system. Think in terms of availability as in seasonal, organic
fruit and vegetables and if you can provide a good 'rainbow'
plate of these, it will cover most of the nutrients needed for
balanced health. Here is a list of some of the essential
supplements you might want to consider adding into their diet.
Multi-vitamin/mineral - always a good back up to provide
essential vitamins/minerals that might otherwise be lacking in
the diet. I wouldn't use them daily though. Overuse of vitamin
supplements is easily done and wasteful. Just add them in when
you feel they need a boost. Otherwise, if you're feeding a
diet rich in fresh produce, simply use vitamin/mineral
supplementation as you feel necessary. I would think they are
more essential for young growing bodies and elderly rats.
Omega 3, 6 and 9 (a good oil such as cool oil, flax or hemp
oil will provide a rich source of these), as well as hempseed,
flax and chia. Flax and chia seeds absorb many times their
amount when soaked in water. I don't recommend giving them dry
to rats. You can grind them up first and just add pinches into
food or use them in biscuits etc. Or, soak them first and use
them in your recipes. If you already use these, please comment
below as to how you use them, I am interested and I'm sure it
would be useful for other readers to know. J
Selenium (a good source is brazil nuts) stimulates the
production of natural T-cells which fight viral and bacterial
infections. Selenium helps to make antibodies and in my
studies, I have found it to be one of the essential minerals
in cancer prevention. I like to grate brazil nuts over the
rat's dinner or pasta like 'parmesan'
Vitamin C - We all know that vitamin C supplementation is
recommended for humans but rats are apparently able to
manufacture vitamin C themselves. Although I've heard this, I
still think any extra vitamin C they are able to get will only
be beneficial and indeed, if you are feeding fruit and
vegetables, they are already getting a reasonable supply
anyway. I feel it's just good to be aware and if you want to
give them rosehip tea or something, then go for it. I just
bought rosehip/hibiscus tea for myself and the rats are
enjoying it too. I sweeten it with agave and dilute it a
little and they are enjoying slurping it during free range.
So, just because they can make vitamin C, I wouldn't hold off
giving it to them anyway, you can't go wrong! And recent
studies have shown that very high doses of vitamin C are
needed to ward off cancer and other viral infections.
Echinacea - It's the echinacains in Echinacea that boost the
immune system by promoting the activity of white blood cells
which destroy bacteria and viruses. There have been many
studies done with Echinacea and it seems that it really does
help to protect against colds and viruses. I use capsules and
just mix a little of the powder into food.
Probiotics - help to regulate the acidity in the gut and
promote the proliferation of friendly bacteria thereby
preventing the 'unfriendly' bacteria from multiplying. They
also produce natural anti-biotics, encouraging the immune
system to produce anti-bacterial antibodies. A lot of people
feed yoghurt because of the probiotics but yoghurt is mucus
and acid-forming as well as possibly having various hormones
and vaccine variables from the dairy industry. I don't advise
it for rats. You can buy the probiotics themselves and add a
capsule to a nut milk and then use that in your food
preparations/meals.
Immunity boosting supplements - there are many 'ready-made'
immune system supplements now available that contain things
like medicinal mushrooms, vitamin C, astragalus etc. These
blends can be quite useful. You can take them yourself and add
small amounts into your rat's food.
Iodine - this is my 'must have' supplement. It tastes foul so
I only put a few drops in my own smoothie or milk and then
share a little of that with the rats. Other ways of adding
iodine into your rat's diet is by providing a good variety of
sea vegetables or by using a little kelp powder in food or the
soaking water for pulses/wheatgrass. In rat studies, iodine
was shown to prevent tumours developing and has natural immune
boosting properties. It is anti-viral and anti-bacterial. Many
of the additives in our food deplete iodine from the body and
so it is essential to add it back in. I will be writing more
about iodine later.
Thyme - my rats like to nibble on fresh thyme so I hang a
little sprig in their cage. Thyme has thymol as an active
ingredient which is very good for clearing mucus passages and
it also has anti-viral properties. You could try making thyme
tea as well for any rats with sniffles. I have also put thyme
in a little bowl of boiled water and the steam that comes from
this can help any poorly rat with respiratory issues.
Pau d'arco - a Peruvian tea that helps builds resistance to
infection and boost immunity. I like to have this in good
supply for my rats. It helps to address candida and has been
recommended for cancer prevention. It has anti-viral
properties.
Summary:
Consider the 'stress factor' in your rat's lifestyle and work
out how you can reduce it
Become 'environmentally' aware regarding the seasonal changes
and prepare ahead
Feed a wholesome diet rich in 'rainbow' foods
Incorporate supplements as you feel necessary, especially
immune building ones
Think how you can boost immunity and keep doing that (the
lifestyle/dietary considerations mentioned above and herbal
teas etc)
Anabrese Neuman is founder of The Natural Rat, a site
dedicated to educating rat fanciers about optimum nutrition
and holistic health care for their rats. She is passionate
about animal welfare and helping animal carers make conscious
choices for optimum health for their pets, themselves and the
planet.
To sign up for The Natural Rat newsletter and receive your
FREE ebook 'Top Ten Health Foods for Fancy Rats', please visit
http://www.thenaturalrat.co.uk
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