Rat Terrier Feeding Guide – Good & Bad Foods List + Tips

Fancy having a dog? If so, you might have to educate yourself on a couple of things because it also comes with a great deal of responsibility as much as it is joyful. So, let’s have a look at this Rat Terrier feeding guide to make things clear.

As a dog parent, you must have sound knowledge about your dog’s breed, maintenance, food requirements, physical activity requirements, health conditions, etc.

This article will take you through a feeding guide for Rat Terriers which will help you comprehensively understand what you should and shouldn’t do when feeding your pet.

If you own a Rat Terrier or looking forward to getting one of these fantastic dogs, this article is for you.

Speaking of feeding patterns of Rat Terriers, it depends on several factors, including their age, body weight, and metabolism. The quantity of food you should provide to your Rat Terrier differs according to the factors mentioned above.

Generally, a Rat Terrier pup needs around three to four food bowls per day. As they grow old (after six months), you can cut it down to two meals, yet the quantity of food varies.

Furthermore, dog food would be the safest and the most convenient food for your Rat Terriers. Still, you can substantially add selected vegetables, fruits, and meats to their meals.

When giving human food to your Rat Terrier, be cautious of the amounts you provide and avoid giving them junk food.

While genes play a pivotal role in your Rat Terrier’s growth and health, food also contributes significantly.

This is why you have to understand what food is good for your Rat Terrier, what food is bad for them, and how much to feed them.

Refer to the sub-sections below to get more valuable tips on this topic.

How much dog food should a Rat Terrier eat?

As already mentioned, there are several factors that determine the amount of food that you should give to your Rat Terrier. Out of those factors, the most crucial ones are age and weight. 

Suppose you brought home a newborn Rat Terrier puppy; until the pup gets 2 months old, you can give it milk every 4 to 5 hours per day.

5-10 ml of milk would be enough per intake at the initial stages. Eventually, as the puppy grows, you can increase the amount, but don’t give them vast quantities of milk because it won’t cope with their stomach capacity.

Once the puppy is three months old, you can let them eat semi-solid food, and after four months, you can switch to solid food.

For Rat Terriers above six months, you can feed them twice a day; the quantity is decided based on their body weight as below. 

• Less than 10 pounds – 1/4 to 1/2 cup per day
• 10-15 pounds – 1/2 to 1 cup per day
• 20-30 pounds – 3/4 to 1.5 cups per day
• 30-40 pounds – 1.5 to 2 cups per day

What food is good for a Rat Terrier?

Rat Terriers are super energetic dogs; therefore, they have high metabolism levels. So to maintain their body weight, they need high-quality food.

If you are cautious about your Rat Terrier’s health, the ideal option for you is to give them dog food. Dog food certainly helps your Rat Terrier to meet its regular dietary requirements.

But keep in your mind that if you rely on dog food, always give them dog food from well-known brands so that you can assure that they get quality and nutritional food. 

Even though it is usually recommended to feed them dog food, you can surely add veggies and meats to their meals, making them more balanced and appetizing.

Vegetables such as carrots and beans function as excellent sources of vitamins and fiber. Moreover, it is suitable for your Rat Terrier’s muscles, nerves, and kidneys.

Fruits, including apples and berries, are also generally healthy for your Rat Terrier. To get some extra protein and amino acids, you can give them selected meats. 

What foods are Rat Terriers allergic to?

Dogs might react differently toward certain foods. Food allergies are pretty common among Rat Terriers, so it is good to be mindful of what you let them eat.

If your Rat Terrier indicates unusual digestive patterns, itching, sneezing, rashes, and skin pigmentation, they could be reactions to a food allergy.

Some food that humans eat could be allergic to any dog, including Rat Terriers. Some of them are,

• Beef
• Dairy 
• Soy
• Eggs 
• Grains 

Remember, not all dogs react the same way to these foods. While they tend to be common allergens for Rat Terriers, some might not indicate any allergy reaction to them.

So if you feed your Rat Terrier any of those for the first time, give them a small amount and see if they react incorrectly; if yes, you can avoid giving them.

If not, it would be acceptable to feed them such food, but be very attentive about the amount you give and don’t make it a part of their regular diet.

Can Rat Terriers eat raw meat?

Dogs are omnivores which means they eat both plant-based and meat-based food. It will not cause harm if you occasionally give raw meat to your Rat Terrier, but I’m reminding you one more time to pay attention to the amount you give them and what sort of meat you give them.

Dogs have a different digestive system compared to a human. Acidity in their stomach is pretty high, making the digestive process quick and efficient.

Also, it kills the bacteria that contain in raw meat. It is usually recommended to give meats such as chicken and turkey, but you can try giving them beef as well but give small amounts; hence some Rat Terrier could react negatively to it.

Giving raw meat to your Rat Terrier has the potency to improve digestion, improve oral health, provide a healthier coat and maintain healthy body weight.

With all the pros, it could have cons too that include bacterial infections, diarrhea, and roundworm parasites.

To mitigate the risks of feeding raw meat, you can freeze, wash and clean the meat before feeding, and give small amounts from time to time.

Is human food good for Rat Terriers?

When you eat or cook something delicious, it is not unusual that your pet dog keeps roaming around.

Dogs love food, basically anything, but is it okay to feed your Rat Terrier with human food? This question can be answered from a couple of perspectives.

Human food might not be the ideal food for your Rat Terrier. But that doesn’t necessarily mean you should never feed your dog with human food.

Rat Terriers will certainly enjoy human food; as the owner, it is your duty to know what and how much you should give them. Below you can find a list of human food usually safe for Rat Terriers.

• Vegetables – carrots, broccoli, green beans, cucumber, butter squash, yam
• Fruits – apples, bananas, mango, strawberries
• Meat and Fish – chicken, turkey, salmon
• Dairy- plain yogurt, cheese 

It is crucial to know that although the foods mentioned above are considered healthy and safe for Rat Terriers, your Rat Terrier could still be allergic to them.

Mainly meat and dairy products. So if you are giving meat, always give small portions; you can occasionally add cooked meat to their meals or give them clean raw meat.

When it comes to dairy products, if the dog is not lactose intolerant, giving dairy food will not cause harm.

Also, some human food could be toxic for dogs, so you can completely avoid giving them to your Rat Terrier. Some such foods are,

• Chocolates
• Garlic
• Onions
• Nuts (almonds, macadamia)
• Mushroom 

The best dog food for Rat Terriers

Even though human food, including veggies, fruits, and meats, benefits your Rat Terrier’s growth and health, you cannot wholly rely on giving human food.

Dogs have different digestive and immune systems compared to us, and dog food allows them to get the required nutrients.

Below you can find some reputed brands that produce standard high-quality food for Rat Terriers. 

• Taste Of The Wild High Prairie Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
• Purina ONE SmartBlend Dry Dog Food
• Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Puppy Dog Food
• Blue Buffalo Wilderness Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
• Iams ProActive Health Adult MiniChunks Dry Dog Food

Final thoughts about feeding a Rat Terrier

Dog parents must have a fair knowledge of the dietary requirements of their beloved pets. If you own a Rat Terrier, I don’t have to explain how energetic and active these little dogs are.

As lively dogs, you must feed your Rat Terrier with well-balanced quality food, which will ultimately help them to stay fit and healthy.

Humans need food to grow so do dogs, but their dietary requirements are different from ours. You can feed your Rat Terrier with the dog food as the safest option, but your pet would undoubtedly enjoy some variety in their meals.

So you can add vegetables and meats to their feeds and give them little snacks from time to time.

However, keep in your mind that Rat Terriers are prone to food allergies, so always pay attention when you feed something new to the dog. I hope you found this guide helpful.

Thank you for reading this post. Stay tuned with Jack Russell Owner for more interesting posts. Cheers!!