Supplements and Health Aids

HERO Drops

you can purchase this directly, here

Here at HERO we have a passion for rats. Our passion for their overall health has led us to creating our own diet; a Shunamite based mix we feed to our rats here (and is a best seller at our affiliate Etsy shoppe).

In 2023 we have branched out further, and have decided to begin offering our other edible goodies for sale to the general public. Our rats all enjoy these supplements, and its time YOUR ratties can, too! Below you can find some of the information we have curated surrounding the health benefits of the wide variety of supplements we now offer. We advise you seek to independently research outside of our website as well; this page is provided as a good jumping off point! Links to some of our sources are included in the form of orange hyperlinks.

The first link we will share is to The Rat Fan Club - Nutritional Requirements of Rats.

HERO Immune Boost Blend
Color: Blue/Brown
Flavor: Blueberry

Our Immune Boost Blend was created out of a desire to see rat line's entirely rid of tumorous growths & cancers. Unfortunately, rats are predisposed to a high incidence of tumors and cancers. While breeders like us strive to breed away from lines that have tumors, it sometimes seems like an uphill battle, and preventative care can go a long way in extending the lives of your pet rats. It has long been known that spaying/neutering rats will minimize (or entirely erase) the likelihood of certain types of cancers. Unfortunately, this procedure can be quite costly and needs to be performed by an exotics veterinarian who is experienced in rat spays/neuters. Here at HERO we have had many rats undergo this procedure, and have seen firsthand how fast the operation is and how quickly they recover. If its within your budget, we do highly recommend spaying/neutering your rats, if for nothing other than the health benefits (it can have benefits to temperament, too!)

We have blended a mixture of cancer-fighting and cancer-preventing super foods and created our own Rat Supplements. We do not recommend feeding to pregnant or nursing rats, as the effects of this have not been studied on these groups. You can see the anticipated benefits beside each of the ingredients:

Turkey Tail Mushroom: packed with antioxidants, contains immune-boosting polysaccharopeptides, may enhance gut health, may have tumor/cancer fighting properties. Has also been used for muscle strength, fatigue and UTIs. Additional info here. You can find how we calculated our dosages, here.
Reishi Mushroom: strengthen heart function, high antioxidant activity (which protects your body from cell damage). Reishi mushrooms may increase the number of white blood cells in your body and improve their function. They contain beta-glucans, complex sugars that can slow or stop tumor growth. While more research is needed, studies show that Reishi mushrooms also stimulate a type of white blood cell called 'natural killer cells' that target abnormal - including cancerious - cells. Additional info here. You can find how we calculated our dosages, here.
Lion's Mane Mushrooms: this mushroom is rich in vitamins such as thiamine, riboflavin, and niacin. It is also a source of essential minerals like manganese, zinc and potassium. As brains age, they can begin losing the ability to form new brain cells; which can contribute to dementia (in both humans and animals!) Studies have found that Lion's Mane mushrooms are a good source of hericenones and erinacines, which are two chemicals that accelerate the growth of brain cells. One study showed that rats with nerve damage receiving a daily extract of Lion's Mane mushrooms had quicker nerve regeneration than control animals. It has also been shown to aid in wound healing on rats, and another study showed it might have a cholesterol-lowering effect on rats. You can find how we calculated our dosages, here.
Blueberry Powder: low in calories, supports heart health.

Each of our HERO Immune Boost Blend drops contain approximately 10mg Turkey Tail, 62.5mg Lion's Mane, and 10.42mg Reishi based on the Standard rat size of approximately 1-lb. If you are giving these to Dwarf rats, halve or otherwise decrease the size of the HERO Drops you give accordingly.

SUGGESTED DOSING:
As with many herbal blends, there is no exact dosage that is 'right'. I suggest giving this treat to your rats 1-2 times weekly. That is how often I give it to my mischief.

Do not give at the same time of day as Calcium Blend (always feed Calcium at least 2 hours apart from other herbs/supplements).

HERO Senior Blend
Color: Yellow
Flavor: Peach

Our Senior Supplements Blend is designed with aging ratties in mind! This can safely be given to rats of all ages and life stages. We do not recommend feeding to pregnant or nursing rats, as the effects of this have not been studied on these groups. We give this to any of our crew who are 18 months old and older. You can see the anticipated benefits beside each of the ingredients:

Turmeric: has shown promise for its ability to ease joint pain, stiffness and inflammation. It contains curcumin (a protective, bioactive compound), and has strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. It may protect cells from damage. Turmeric is great for helping rats overcome myco outbreaks, too. Additional info here and here.
Glucosamine: is a natural compound found in cartilage. Glucosamine is proven to be a safe and effective supplement to give aging creatures of many species: rats included! In fact, a study showed that rats given Glucosamine showed a significantly lower degree of cartilage degeneration than the rats receiving placebo.
Probiotics: are live bacteria and yeasts that reside in the digestive tract. Adding this to their diet helps maintain healthy intestinal flora. A study found that it is indeed beneficial for ratties. BeneBac is a probiotic specifically designed for small animals and is well-reported in the rat world. At HERO, if we have ratties going home with families that live 2+ hours away, we usually dose them with a small (pea sized) amount of this paste in anticipation of the stress they will be undergoing. Since creating these treats, we use these in lieu of BeneBac (as it offers the same benefits). It helps stave off 'new home sniffles'. Elderly rats are often in a perpetual state of some amount of stress, just from the natural breaking down of their little bodies. We find Probiotics to be immensely beneficial to rats (of all ages, but especially our seniors).
Honey: has a lot of benefits. Honey has a variety of nutrients, is rich in antioxidants, and promotes burn and wound healing. You can find some info on honey here, and here.

Each of our HERO Senior Blend drops contain approximately 40mg of Glucosamine.

SUGGESTED DOSING:
As with many herbal blends, there is no exact dosage that is 'right'. I give this treat to my senior rats daily.

Do not give at the same time of day as Calcium Blend (always feed Calcium at least 2 hours apart from other herbs/supplements).

HERO Calcium Blend
Color: White
Flavor: Vanilla

Probiotics help increase your bodies ability to absorb calcium. We suggest feeding this at a different time of day than any other supplements (as Calcium can bind to certain other ingredients; making it difficult for the body to absorb). Calcium is necessary for rats in all life stages, and is recommended to feed regularly.

For pregnant/nursing mums/babies (up to 3 months of age), it is recommended to feed Calcium supplements up to 5 times per week. For adults and senior ratties, 3 times per week is ideal. All of these supplements are made with the Shunamite diet in mind (as this is what I feed my rats and what I recommend feeding if you can fit it within your budget). If you feed a classic lab blockdiet, you can give these as treats sparingly to adult rats - and cut the timing suggested above in half, for pregnant/nursing mums/babies/seniors.

As with all supplements, dosing is debated amongst individuals and groups; do your own research outside of this site and feed based on your own research. The doses listed here are just our recommendations!

Calcium: is a necessary additive for all rats' diets. This is especially true for our rattie senior citizens! Elderly rats always have a concern of failing kidneys (which are not as good at absorbing calcium), which is why adding more of it to their diet is essential. Calcium helps strong bones; but that's just the tip of the iceberg. The heart, muscles and nerves all need calcium to function properly. Additional info can be found here, here and here.
Probiotics: are live bacteria and yeasts that reside in the digestive tract. Adding this to their diet helps maintain healthy intestinal flora. A study found that it is indeed beneficial for ratties. BeneBac is a probiotic specifically designed for small animals and is well-reported in the rat world. At HERO, if we have ratties going home with families that live 2+ hours away, we usually dose them with a small (pea sized) amount of this paste in anticipation of the stress they will be undergoing. Since creating these treats, we use these in lieu of BeneBac (as it offers the same benefits). It helps stave off 'new home sniffles'. Elderly rats are often in a perpetual state of some amount of stress, just from the natural breaking down of their little bodies. We find Probiotics to be immensely beneficial to rats (of all ages, but especially our seniors).

Each of our HERO Calcium Blend Drops contain approximately 100mg of Calcium per drop.

SUGGESTED DOSING:
As with many herbal blends, there is no exact dosage that is 'right'.
Pregnant/nursing doe's and mums w/litters get it 5 days per week.
All others get these 3 days per week.

HERO Drops
(Color Coded)

We also offer Yogurt Drops as simple yummy treats; each with a little bit of added nutrients/vitamins/minerals. See below for color-coded HERO Drops (includes above HERO Blends).

HERO Purely Protiotics
PINK Drops (Strawberry Flavored): I give these to my rats as an occasional treat, or before stressful events such as car rides/travel, new home, new environment, major swings in weather, myco flare-ups, etc.

Beetroot: are loaded with nutrients, and antioxidants that fight cell damage. Beets are known to reduce inflammation, help your heart and lungs work better, and increase overall stamina. Beets are rich in folates (vitamin B9), a vitamin that plays a key role in growth, development, and heart health. Beets contain a good amount of manganese (which aids in bone formation, nutrient metabolism and brain function. Additionally, they are high in copper, an important mineral necessary for the synthesis of certain neurotransmitters. Beets are classified as a superfood! Additional info can be found here.
Probiotics (see more info above)

HERO Daily Vitamins
GREEN Drops (Banana Flavored): I give one of these to each of my rats 3 times per week.

Spirulina: is a potent source of nutrients and contains a plant-based protein called phycocyanin. It is believed to be rich in antioxidants, have anti-inflammatory properties and anti-cancer properties. It is good for the heart and the immune system. Spirulina is also an acceptable source of healthy protein for ratties.
Each drop contains approximately 2 pinches of Dr. S's Daily Essentials 1 Vitamins. You can find additional info on them here.
Active ingredients: Vitamins A, D3, E, C. Also included are: Vitamins K, B1 (Thiamine), B2 (Riboflavin), B6 (Pyridoxine), B12, Biotin, Choline Bitartrate, Folic Acid, Niacin, Pantothenic Acid.Active ingredients continued: Minerals include: selenium, iron, cobalt, manganese, copper, sodium, magnesium, zinc, sulphur and iodine.
Banana for palatability

HERO Immune Boost Blend
BLUE/BROWN Drops (Blueberry Flavored): I give these to my mischief twice weekly.

(see above)

HERO Senior Blend
YELLOW Drops (Peach Flavored): I give these to my rats 18 months and older, once daily.

(see above)

HERO Calcium Blend
WHITE Drops (Vanilla Flavored): I give these to my rats 3 times weekly; pregnant/nursing mums and babies get 5 times per week.

(see above)