Healthy nutrition for your pet mice
A balanced diet is important for every animal
The key to a healthy life for a pet mouse is species-appropriate nutrition. Even though the small rodents eat almost everything (and are certainly not vegetarians), caution is advised. An incorrect or imbalanced diet damages the health of the animals and further reduces their naturally short life expectancy.
Water, Water, Water
Water must always be available and replenished to keep it fresh. Foods rich in water (melons, cucumber) are not enough on their own.
Healthy nutrition
Pet mice need a diverse diet. This should consist of vegetables, fruit, wild herbs, leaves, flowers and animal protein. Grains and seeds should be a major component as mice are natural granivores and consume substantial amounts of seeds and grains in addition to plant matter and occasional animal protein. A few examples include:
- Herbs, flowers, and leaves: basil, dill, echinacea, daisy, chamomile, dandelion, mallow, red clover, sorrel, ribwort, dead-nettle, white clover, rough hawksbeard, chickweed, cornflower blossoms, yarrow.
- Cereals: amaranth, buckwheat, barley, oats (in grains or flakes), various types of millet such as Chinese/German/Hungarian/Italian millet, rye, wheat (in grains or flakes).
- Fruit (in all amounts): apples (without seeds), bananas, pears, rose hips, blackberries, strawberries, gooseberries, raspberries, watermelon, kiwis, persimmons, cherries (without pits), mirabelles/plums (without pits). Note: avoid grapes and raisins, they can lead to kidney injury.
- Vegetables: broccoli, leaf spinach, chicory, iceberg lettuce, endive, lamb's lettuce, lettuce, fennel tubers, cucumbers, carrots, Jerusalem artichokes, beetroot, parsnips, pumpkin, corn, chard, radishes, courgettes.
- Branches: maple, apple tree, birch, ash, lime, shrubs (hazelnut, currant, blueberry).
- Animal protein: mealworms, crickets, freshwater shrimps, grasshoppers, fish, zophobas, eggs, dairy products (low-fat curd cheese or yoghurt). Note: dairy products (e.g. low-fat curd cheese/yoghurt) should be considered an occasional treat rather than a necessary component of the diet.
Caution!
- Some components such as corn are healthy but can cause constipation and should not be given too often.
- Regular pumpkin is fine, but never give decorative pumpkin.
- Shepherd's purse must not be given to pregnant pet mice, because it can induce labour.
- Apple seeds contain prussic acid and must be removed.
- If you want to feed your pet mice something you’ve collected from nature, make sure the food is unsprayed and does not come from fields where dogs live or exercise.
Do it yourself: Millet biscuits
Bake your own little treats for your pet mice! Use the following recipe as inspiration.
Ingredients
- 5 tablespoons parakeet food
- 2 eggs
- 2 tablespoons wholemeal flour
Preparation
- Put the egg in a mixing bowl, mix in the parakeet food until everything is combined, then add some flour until the mixture forms a dough.
- Moisten your hands with cold water and form the biscuits from the dough. These can be balls, small mounds or snack sticks - use your imagination!
- Depending on the size/thickness of the biscuits, bake for 40-90 minutes at 100-150 °C (fan oven).
Stored in a biscuit tin, the millet biscuits will keep for about 6 months.
Many thanks to Anna Jekamczyk for the lovley recipe!
Disclaimer: All our guides are based on scientifically grounded research, current studies, and the expertise of FOUR PAWS experts. If you have any questions or would like to get in touch with our experts, please contact us at research.info@four-paws.org.
