This quote from the PDSA (The People's Dispensary for Sick Animals) is a great way to describe mice: Mice are 'opportunistic omnivores.' This means they eat plants, seeds, and grains but will also eat insects when they get the chance! Even though mice will eat almost everything, it doesn’t mean they should! Additionally, mice are obesity-prone. Treats should only make up 5% of their diet, so why not make “dessert” healthy? We’d love it if you kept on reading to learn about healthy treats for mice.
Healthy Treats for Mice: Dos
Vegetables & Herbs
- Basil
- Beetroot
- Bok Choy
- Broccoli
- Broccolini
- Brussel Sprouts
- Cabbage
- Capsicum
- Carrots
- Cauliflower
- Celery
- Chicory
- Coriander
- Corn
- Courgette
- Cress
- Cucumber
- Endive
- Parsley
- Peas
- Sage
- Snow Peas
- Sweet peppers
- Tomatoes (technically a fruit)
- Zucchini
Fruits
Extra Small Amounts (Least Healthy, But High Value)
- Apple (make sure you remove the seeds first)
- Banana (including dried)
- Berries
- Melons
- Peaches and other stone fruits
- Pears
- Plums
- Red grapes
- Breads
- Brown rice (cooked)
- Cereals
- Crackers
- Grains
- Low-fat yogurt and cheese,
- Seeds (e.g., flax seeds)
- Unsalted raw nuts
- Wholemeal pasta (cooked)
Proteins
Legumes
- Egg (boiled or scrambled)
- Lean Meat
- Mealworms
- Beans (e.g., butter or kidney beans)
- Chickpeas
- Lentils
We’d love it if you bought all your mouse’s treats from us! Check out a few of our offerings below.
Treat Don'ts
- Bacon
- Citrus Fruits
- Chocolate
- Fast food
- Ice cream
- Peanut Butter
- Sweets/Candy/Cookies
Forage: Exercise While Eating
Wild mice spend most of their time foraging for food. You can help your mice mimic instinctual behavior by hiding their treats and regular food all around their enclosure. It’s fun to see how quickly they find their “buried treasure.”
Two More Things
- Don’t give them many new treats all at once. Introduce them slowly to avoid an upset tummy.
- Fresh food should be removed from the housing within 4-6 hours if not eaten to avoid spoilage.
We’d love to hear what your mice think about our healthy treats for mice recommendations. Let us know by emailing or commenting on our socials. Thanks for reading!!
DISCLAIMER: The links and information are being provided as a convenience and for informational purposes only; they do not constitute an endorsement or an approval by Small Pet Select of any of the products, services or opinions of the corporation or organization or individual.
Want to learn more about gerbils, hamsters, & mice? Check these out!
A Guide to Pet Poison Prevention
