Can Rats Eat Chocolate? Are ALL TYPES SAFE?

Can rats eat chocolate chips, cake, chip cookies, pudding, brownies? Or is Chocolate harmful to rats?

Rats can have chocolate in small quantities as an occasional treat. However, too much of it will trigger food poisoning because of the theobromine in rats.

Chocolate contains large amounts of sugar. So, when fed regularly, It can lead to obesity, upset stomach, or tooth decay.

Can Rats eat Chocolate?

Chocolate is non-toxic to rats and can be fed as treat to pet rats.

How much should you give to your rats? FIND OUT BELOW.

Do Wild Rats eat Chocolate?

Wild rats will eat chocolate if they get the chance. Like domesticated rats, they should be fed in moderation.

A chip of milk chocolate or dark choco is 100% safe for your rodent. Yet, we frown against making it a frequent snack.

You would agree with me that chocolate falls into the category of “to be eaten in moderation” when it comes to feeding your pet.

As earlier mention TOO MUCH chocolate can lead to obesity. Fat in rats can introduce a host of different health issues and eventually death.

READ MORE: Can Rats eat Grapes?

Is Chocolate Safe for Rats?

Theobromine is a substance in chocolate that makes it harmful to the various animals. When consumed in large quantities, it can be fatal to rats.

But, theobromine levels differ greatly upon the type of chocolate being fed. So, some chocolate is more harmful to pet rats than others.

Small quantities of chocolate will do no harm to your pet rats, and can definitely supply good benefits.

However, too many chocolatey treats can trigger obesity, and issues linked with this. It can also spark up dental and decay problems.

Let’s see if chocolate is safe for baby rats and how much of it is considered “safe”.

can rats eat chocolate

Can Baby Rats Eat Chocolate?

Once you verify your pinkies can eat solid foods, you can feed chocolate (an extremely small piece) too.

You can feed chocolate chips. This is safer for them.

Additionally, you should bear in mind that since baby rats are much smaller than adults, it doesn’t take much chocolate dosage to harm, or even kill them.

NEVER FEED dark chocolate to baby rats as this contains the highest levels of theobromine. Milk chocolate is a better option, as it has smaller sugar and cream levels as compared to white chocolate.

We still advise speaking to your vet before allowing baby rats to eat chocolate. You can always stick to safer fruits and foods until they are bigger.

Do Rats Like Chocolate? – Why?

Rats love chocolate because they taste great!

Like humans, rats, mice, and mice have come to have a craving for junk food, even to the detriment of their own health.

So, rats too won’t limit their consumption of chocolate. It is your responsibility as a pet parent to make sure they’re not eating too much!

You can instead feed as treats on certain occasions (not as frequent feeding).

Hiding medications in a bit of chocolate too is a great way to get stubborn rats to take their meds.

ALSO READ: Will Rats eat Quorn?

Does Chocolate Kill Rats?

Is chocolate harmful to rats? Eating too much chocolate will harm your pet rats or worse, kill it.

Symptoms of Theobromine Poisoning

Signs of chocolate poisoning include:

Increased peeing

Vomiting
Diarrhea
Nausea

This too will quickly open doors to heart attacks, seizures, death, cardiac arrhythmia, and death.

But, this only happens if theobromine is eaten (a lot).

So How Much Chocolate Can Rats Eat Safely?

The median lethal dose of theobromine for rats sits at around 1,265 mg per kg of body weight. The median rat weight is around 450 g, so a lethal dose of theobromine would be about 569 mg.

The average female rat can be as small as 350 grams. She would need around 442 mg of theobromine for a lethal dose.

A large male, on the other hand, can weigh up to 650 grams. For him, about 822.25 mg of theobromine would constitute a lethal dose.

Each type of chocolate contains a different theobromine level. So we will look at this in a little more detail in a moment.

My Rat Ate Chocolate, What Should I Do?

If your rat only ate a small quantity of chocolate, then you have nothing to worry about. It takes a larger level of theobromine to do any harm.

However, rats will happily snack on EVERY chocolate they find if given. So, if your rat has consumed a lot of chocolate, especially dark chocolate, you should reach out to your vet.

If your rat shows any signs of chocolate poisoning that we mentioned earlier, reach out to your vet.

Note: Try to research how much chocolate your pet rat has eaten as your vet may need this information.

Do wild rats eat chocolate

Can Rats Eat White Chocolate?

Yes, this is the safest chocolate pet rats can eat.

White chocolate often has the lowest levels of theobromine compared to other chocolate varieties.

But, it has high levels of other ingredients such as sugar and cream. So, white chocolate isn’t exactly good for rats, especially in large quantities.

So, feed in moderation. White chocolate is OK for rats to eat. However, you should never overdo it! Too many sugary levels can lead to obesity and tooth decay. So, too much theobromine can pose danger to your pet mice, rat, or mouse.

Can Rats Eat Milk Chocolate?

Yes, milk chocolate is safe for rats when fed in moderation.

Since 100 grams of milk chocolate contains about 211 mg of theobromine. That means that the average 450 gram rat would need to consume around 269 g of milk chocolate – about 1.5 cups of chocolate chips – to consume enough theobromine to be lethal.

Milk chocolate also contains cream and sugar. So consuming too many milk chocolates can and will make your rat overweight and have teeth related issues.

Safe as an occasional treat, milk choco can be fatal if fed in large quantities frequently.

Can Rats Eat Dark Chocolate?

So, 100g of dark chocolate contains about 705 mg of theobromine. Dark chocolate contains the highest theobromine levels when compared to other chocolate varieties.

So, a typical rat would only have to consume about 81 g of dark chocolate for a lethal dose. That’s still quite a bit of chocolate, though. It’s almost half a cup of chocolate chips.

An occasional feeding of your pet rat will pose no harm to your rat babies but, it can actually be beneficial, and eating too much can trigger chocolate poisoning.

Can Rats Eat Chocolate Chip Cookies?

Yes, chocolate chip is safe. However, not all type of chocolate chip is safe for pet rats.

Some chocolate chip flavors are worse for your rat than others. The average chocolate chip cookie won’t have too much chocolate in it. So, it should be safe for your rat to eat.

But, cookies, like any chocolate out there do have plenty of sugar in it. So, consumption in large quantities as snacks can trigger obesity and dental issues.

If you want to give your rat chocolate chip cookies, only give them a very small piece. And don’t offer this treat too frequently!