Summarize the following:
Remember that the are very intelligent animals and can get very bored. One fun game is to put corn, peas and diced carrots (no beans) into a bowl of water for your rats so they can splash in the water and 'bob' for their snacks. This game is especially nice on hot days. It is a good idea to use a heavier dish such as glass or ceramic so your rats do not accidentally spill the water onto the floor. Do not use a dish that the rats could get trapped in and always supervise them while they are playing this game! Fill a shoe box or any box that they can easily climb in and out of (i.e. 6 inches or less in height) with grass hay (do not use Timothy hay or alfalfa as you are using the hay for the game but do not want them to eat a lot of it - read up on rats and alfalfa). Sprinkle some dried oats, seeds (unsalted) or other small, non-sugary snacks onto the grass hay and mix it slightly so that bits of snack can be found throughout the hay. Your rats will love searching for their favourite dried snacks! These are hollow, cage-like balls that allow you to put fruits and veggies inside the ball and hang from the top of their cage so that your buddies have to work a bit harder for their snacks! Oftentimes, the birds have better toys than the small animal section! Rats are known for their ability to take logical approaches to solving mazes. This is a great way to exercise your rat’s mental ability. You can make mazes and obstacle courses out of cardboard boxes or toilet paper tubes taped together.  Rats are climbers so try to stack the boxes up. Make sure the climbing structures are sturdy enough to not to collapse under your rats' weight. If you are feeling ambitious, try creating obstacle features like hoops, see-saws, ramps, weaving poles and tunnels. Use treats or moving objects to lead it through the maze. Rats will instinctively chase something that moves quickly so pulling a string or rolling a small bouncy ball will also work. Try tearing some paper into strips and giving your rat one piece at a time. It will grab the paper, stash it away and return for more. This will build trust by teaching your rat that you have and want to share treasures it enjoys. If you hide behind something, your rat might come looking for you and get excited when it finds you. It’s best to do this after you’ve hand-tamed your rat so it knows your scent and can try to follow it. Make sure you’re not too far away or it might get lost. Rats like to play in the dirt and will dig in your house plants if they find them. Give them a digging box full of sterile soil that will allow them to dig and forage without ruining your plants or eating a poisonous fertilizer.  Put a large towel or outdoor tablecloth on a flat surface underneath the box. You can use a shoe box or anything of similar size. Add soil to the box and bury treats or toys into the dirt. If your rats tend to get sick often, it might be best to avoid this game.

summary: Make food fun for your rats. Another game that is fun for your rat engages their natural foraging behaviour and does not require constant supervision. A hanging snack ball is also a great way to engage your rats during snack time. Check out the bird section of your local pet store or online for fun games. Build mazes. Tear up some paper. Play hide-and-seek. Let it play in the dirt.


Summarize the following:
Any time you want to start taking a dietary supplement, it's essential to speak to your doctor first.  You want them to be informed of what you're taking and make sure he thinks it's safe for you.  Talk to your doctor about the safety of adding a cranberry supplement to your weekly routine.  It's best to bring the supplement with you so your doctor can see the dosage, form and other ingredients in the supplement. Talk to your doctor about why you want to take this supplement.  For example, is it for UTI prevention?  Your doctor may also give you other tips to prevent UTIs as well. Make sure to inform you doctor of any other medications or health conditions you have.  Cranberry juice and supplements can interact with certain medications. There have been many, many studies done on cranberry juice supplements on a wide variety of health conditions.  The dosage and type of supplement you take may vary based on the benefit you need.  Cranberry supplements and juice are most commonly used to prevent or treat UTIs.  There is good evidence to support the prevention of UTIs with cranberry supplements.  However, there is little evidence supporting the treatment of UTIs with supplements. One popular use for cranberry supplements is to lower lipid or cholesterol levels.  There is very minimal evidence supporting this. You may also consider using cranberry supplements to prevent stomach ulcer formation from the H. Pylori bacteria. There is moderate evidence to support this. There is very little evidence to support the use of cranberry supplements for the following:  diabetes management, oral health management, prevention of metabolic syndrome and prostate health. Each type of supplement will come with specific dosing instructions.  It's important to read the label thoroughly and figure out how much to take of your cranberry supplement.  On the supplement fact panel (found on the bottle or box) you'll find the serving size information.  If it's a capsule or tablet, it may say something like "1 tablet per serving" or "2 capsules per serving." Make sure you take the amount recommended to help you either prevent a UTI, reduce the likelihood of having an H. Pylori infection or lower your cholesterol levels. Do not take more than the recommended serving daily.  A higher dose won't necessarily provide any additional benefits.  It may also cause more side effects or interfere with other medications you're taking. All supplements have the potential to cause unwanted side effects.  You could experience mild headaches or nausea.  However, they may also interfere with other medications to cause side effects.  Monitor for any changes while you take cranberry supplements.  Most health professionals find cranberry supplements to be safe for most healthy adults.  In addition, many studies have shown little to few side effects associated with supplements.  High doses of either cranberry supplements or cranberry juice have been associated with an increased risk of developing kidney stones due to the oxalate content. Large quantities of cranberry juice, especially 100% cranberry juice, have been occasionally associated with stomach upset and diarrhea. If you notice any of these symptoms, stop your cranberry supplements and talk to your doctor. Although cranberry supplements may help prevent a UTI from forming, it should not be used to treat a current UTI.  Do not take it if you feel you have a current infection.  Cranberry supplements have been thought to acidify the urine which was thought to prevent UTIs from forming; however, recent research shows that its the components of cranberry juice that help prevent the bacteria from sticking to cell surfaces and causing an infection.  There is no research or evidence supporting that cranberry supplements help treat a current UTI.  It should not be taken if you already have been diagnosed with an infection. If you think you have a UTI, talk to your doctor immediately and set up an appointment to do a urine test.  If you test positive for a UTI, the only treatment is antibiotics.
summary: Talk to your doctor. Decide what benefit you need from supplementation with cranberry. Follow recommended dosing instructions. Monitor for side effects. Do not take a cranberry supplement if you currently have a UTI or other infection.