The diet of a hamster should be based on food prepared from dry seeds, wet seeds, nuts, and green foods. However, veterinarians always recommend supplementing the diet with a small amount of fruit and vegetables that are suitable for them, as these products contain nutrients and protein hamsters need. So, yes, hamsters can eat fruits, but this should always happen under the supervision of a veterinarian and in moderate amounts.
Hamsters love fresh foods, such as fruits, but giving them inappropriately can lead to digestive disorders. Therefore, it is important to follow a course of dry feed, recommended by your veterinarian, and supplement the diet with these products occasionally and in small quantities. Also, because hamsters are prone to obesity, which is extremely harmful to their health, you need to give them low-calorie fruits.
The benefits of fruits in hamsters
In order for your hamster to remain as healthy as possible, it is essential to ensure a varied diet, high in fiber and low in fats. Keep in mind that these little rodents have a tendency to obesity if you do not measure the amount of food or treats you give them, so you need to pay close attention to their diet and follow the best possible diet for them.
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The diet for hamsters sold in pet stores is made of seeds, nuts, grains, and green foods that are high in fiber, antioxidants, and carbohydrates. So, its diet should contain a combination of all these types of food. On the other hand, fruits are a great source of essential vitamins, fiber, and minerals for the body, among other benefits.
As you can see, giving a hamster only fruits and vegetables is a big mistake, because they do not have all the properties that these creatures need. However, if we do not introduce them into the pet’s diet, it deprives the animal of more nutrients essential for its proper evolution, resulting in a poorly developed intestinal flora.
Also, many fruits contain a high percentage of sugars, beneficial in small amounts, but very harmful in large measures. Therefore, it is essential to be well-informed about the fruits and vegetables that are good for them, as well as the right way to add them to their diet.
Proper fruits for your hamster
In addition to covering some nutritional deficiencies of dry food, fruits help provide your hamster with the amount of fluid that the body needs. In this regard, it is extremely important that your hamster always has fresh water. Here I’ll show you the best fruits for hamsters:
- Pear – It has a very low caloric intake, high in fiber, vitamins A, B, C, and E.
- Apple – This fruit is very beneficial for your hamster, not only because of its fiber content and important digestive properties but also because it helps strengthen its teeth.
- Peach – Being made of a high-water content, they are perfect for keeping your little partner always hydrated.
- Plums – Like pears, plums are very beneficial to regulate and improve intestinal transit due to their high fiber content.
- Apricots – They are rich in vitamins A and C and all kinds of minerals.
- Watermelon and melon – Both are mainly composed of water.
- Strawberries – Rich in fiber, vitamin C and essential minerals.
- Kiwi – This fruit has a low caloric intake, a large amount of vitamins C and E, and fiber.
How to give fruits to your hamster
As I said in the beginning, fruits help develop the intestinal flora of your hamster in a correct way. An incorrect diet can cause digestive problems, such as diarrhea or a lack of essential nutrients.
Ideally, start introducing these foods into your rodent’s diet since it is a cub, plain and simple. For this, it is better to follow the process gradually, which means introducing the fruits little by little, so that the body adapts and assimilates them correctly.
When you start giving fruit to the hamster for the first time, you will do it one by one to check for intolerance or allergy. This means that you will not prepare a bowl of food with mixed fruits until you are sure that these foods are good for the pet. To check if everything is ok, you will try to give a certain fruit for two or three days in a row, always as a supplement to food and in small amounts. If you notice any negative behavior or symptom of a digestive disorder, you will immediately eliminate that food.
Each breed of hamster has certain needs, which is why it is essential that you consult your current veterinarian before deciding on a diet at home. He will know how you should give it fruits and vegetables and how often.
