What can I give a hamster from food? Hamster food

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Have you got a little adorable hamster or are you just planning to? What are you going to feed? Do you know that choosing the right diet for a fluffy miracle is not so easy? There are a lot of foods that hamsters simply cannot be given. Their diet differs from the human one, as well as from that which forms the basis of the diet of their brethren in the wild.

Today we will talk about the basic rules for feeding these cute animals and analyze the main questions that arise from the owners. The list of what can be given to Djungarian hamsters is by no means small. But the list of prohibited items is quite extensive, and any responsible reasonable owner must be familiar with it.

Frequently asked questions

Hamster owners often ask the same questions, for example: What can and cannot be given to hamsters? Is it allowed to feed furry pets with cheese, milk, bread, bananas, pumpkins, persimmons, apples, grapes? What can you give a Syrian hamster? Should the animal be given water, or does it have enough liquid from food? What can you give a hamster-jungarik, etc.?

As for cheese, let's say right away - a singleno opinion. Somewhere it is said about its negative impact on the he alth of the animal, other sources do not support this opinion. If you want to exclude the slightest possibility of trouble, it is better not to use cheese.

Can I give a hamster cabbage? It is impossible - neither white, nor red, nor Brussels. But nevertheless, Chinese and colored (pre-boiled) will not bring harm. The sweet fruits listed above (grapes, bananas, apples) are he althy and completely safe for hamsters, and besides, animals love them very much.

Never offer milk to your pet - you can neither give them a drink of the animal, nor boil porridge in milk. This leads to severe digestive disorders. As for bread, black is strictly forbidden, white will not bring harm. Persimmon is shown in small quantities, but it is worth choosing sweet and completely non-astringent fruits.

What can you give hamsters from food

And yet, what is the best way to feed a hamster at home? You must be aware that the animal itself has a poor idea of what it can and cannot do. Therefore, it is unlikely that he will choose food for himself, guided by the principles of he althy nutrition - he will "crack" everything he gets to. So the owner develops the diet for the pet, and he is also responsible for the he alth and well-being of the ward.

Mandatory components of the hamster menu are food (dry and wet), protein supplements, vitamins with minerals and, of course, water, and it’s not so easy to achieve the right ratioeasy due to the presence of a mass of various nuances. For example - what can be given to hamsters of different ages (young and old individuals eat completely differently)? What about illnesses?

What dry food should be

Dry food, perhaps, can be called the basis of a hamster diet. It is best if he will be present in the feeder all the time. Food that can be given to hamsters is not suitable for other animals, and vice versa. It is strictly forbidden to buy food intended for other animals, such as rats or guinea pigs, as well as parrots and other birds.

Why? All specialized feeds contain a certain type of vitamin supplements, the composition of which is carefully selected for the needs of the animal's body. That is, the ingredients of different types of such food can be very, very significantly different. Feeding a hamster food that is not intended for this species, you can get very disastrous consequences.

On the importance of fiber

In addition to dry food, your rodent must also receive wet food. It consists of fruits, vegetables and herbs. The latter should be added to the feeder on a regular basis. This will give you the variety you need.

What can I give a hamster from "grass"? In addition to dill and parsley, he will gladly eat dandelions, plantain, nettles, lettuce and clover. Those valuable substances that contain greens are difficult to obtain from other products.

As for vegetables, all their variety should be divided intotwo lists - those that can be fed, and those that are strictly forbidden to give. Is it possible to give Djungarian hamsters potatoes? Feed mushrooms? What about onions and garlic? In no case! You can and should offer him carrots, beets, eggplants, zucchini, as well as cucumbers with tomatoes and peas. Hamsters will happily eat wheat or sprouted oat grains.

Everyone loves fruit

Next, it should be clarified what fruit can be given to a hamster. Without any fear, you can feed your pet with plums, currants, gooseberries, blueberries, rose hips and pitted cherries. From time to time, offer the animal something from dried fruits - for example, some raisins or dried apricots.

The hamster will not refuse dried apples, pears or banana chips. But do not give prunes to avoid problems. Experiments in feeding should not be allowed, having decided to replenish the diet with a new vegetable or fruit, consult knowledgeable people.

To abuse fruit is not good because of the excess sugar content. Nuts should also be given little by little (as a delicacy). You can treat your hamster with peanuts, walnuts, cashews or sunflower and pumpkin seeds.

We are a little carnivorous…

Animals need protein supplements, and many of them enjoy eating such food. Others categorically refuse, so sometimes it is difficult for the owner to determine what exactly to give to a capricious pet. In general, the list of protein source products allowed for rodentsstarts from boiled chicken (just don’t try to s alt it or add at least some spices). You can also give a hamster a hard-boiled egg (and you can feed both protein and yolk), low-fat kefir and the same cottage cheese (zero or one percent fat content), as well as bifilin. Sometimes owners feed their pets with shrimp (peeled, of course).

In a pet store in this capacity, you can buy flour or earthworms, grasshoppers and butterflies. Do not take top dressing of dubious origin and anywhere, since it is not known what additives it contains, and how this will affect the he alth of the animal. Only a pet store will sell you a balanced product adapted specifically for this type of animal.

How often should I feed my hamster protein? It is better to do this once every two or three days or twice a week. It would be nice if you set a specific schedule, and the animal will receive such a diet on specific days. Don't give him protein for two days in a row.

About he althy supplements

Let's move on to vitamins and trace elements. If you constantly feed your hamster exclusively with expensive dry food from a well-known manufacturer, then you don’t have to worry. It already contains everything that is useful and necessary for your pet. If you want to know the details - get acquainted with the composition indicated on the package.

When the food is simpler and cheaper (domestic brands) or even homemade, a couple of times every week the feeder should be replenishedminerals and vitamins. Such supplements should not be bought at a pharmacy - human vitamins are completely unsuitable for a hamster. Don't be fooled by store ads that offer crackers as a vitamin supplement. They are full of chemical impurities that can literally have a detrimental effect on the tiny body of an animal.

For supplements, go to the same pet store. There you will be sold a safe, he althy and balanced delicacy, and besides, you will receive additional advice.

Perhaps the least of your hassle is buying specialized hamster food. Having provided your pet with such nutrition, do not hesitate - he will receive all the vitamins and minerals in the right amount.

What to avoid

Why is it contraindicated for hamsters to feed from a human table? The fact is that the products familiar to us contain a large amount of spices, s alt and pepper, vinegar, cinnamon. All of them are highly undesirable to our petty wards.

Besides, human food is often too fatty for a hamster. This applies to bacon, sausage, fatty meat, sour cream and cream. Or it can be too sweet - we are talking about sugar, jam, sweets or honey. And also s alty - a lot of s alt in canned vegetables, dried and smoked fish, etc. Finely ground flour, which forms the basis of buns, pastries and cakes, is also not at all good for your pet.

Avoid giving fruits with pits, which can be harmful. Do not give hamsters cones or nuts in shells. Gnawing them, the animal can injure the cheek pouches on sharp edges, and even get poisoned by the bones of a fruit tree. In the same way, you should not throw a spikelet with grains into a cage, it is better to peel off the grains and "serve to the table" separately. The fact is that with its sharp edges, the spikelet can injure the animal in the process of chewing.

Because without water…

Any pet owner must know and understand that water is no less important for a pet's he alth than food. Sometimes, seeing unfinished water in the drinker, the owner may decide that he does not drink at all. But this is not so - not a single living creature will last long without water. Therefore, the unfinished remains of it should be regularly removed and poured fresh (not into a bowl standing on the floor of the cage, but into a special hanging drinker with attachment to the bars of the lattice).

Do not try to give hamsters water with distilled or boiled water, it contains practically no useful substances. If you care about the he alth of your little fluffy, replenish the drinker with well or spring water. You can also take the usual one - the one that flows from the tap, but pass it through the filter.

Features of rodents

As you know, any hamster is a member of the rodent order. What does it mean? One of the leading needs of such little animals is to constantly grind their teeth on coarse hard food. It would seem that there is no problem to feed a hamster, but is everything suitable for him?

Eating roughage alone will not make your hamster grind down its teeth. Therefore, in a cage should alwaysthere is a supply of material in the form of thin twigs. To harvest them, find a cherry, apple, poplar, birch or willow growing far from the highway, cut, wash well and boil small branches. After drying, you can gradually offer the hamster.

When collecting grass or twigs for your pet, remember the poor environmental conditions of our cities. It's best to go out of town on a day off and stock up on food for your pet.

Hamster of venerable years…

What to do if your pet is sick or no longer young? What can you give a retired hamster? Old and diseased individuals behave sluggishly and have difficulty coping with solid food. Whole grains are difficult for their stomachs to digest. In this case, increase the proportion of soft foods in the diet.

A grater and a meat grinder will help grind fruits, vegetables and nuts, and grains can be germinated. But even these hamsters require solid food to avoid digestive upsets. Feed a sick hamster a weak chamomile tea, changing portions a couple of times a day.

…and baby hamster

And if you have newborn animals? What can be given to a hamster that is tiny and completely helpless? We'll have to stock up on baby food, meat or vegetable. It contains no additives, soy, s alt or sugar. Any dairy-free cereal (also uns alted and soy-free) will do. In addition, you can take the most common cereal and soak in water or boil rice. The latter option is suitable for a hamster of any age in case of indigestion.

Baby hamsters can easilyget sick with diabetes, so sweet fruits in their diet are recommended to be limited. Like people, these animals are real sweet tooth, and they will never refuse a delicacy. And here we repeat once again: you should not rely on the natural instinct of an animal that does not understand what is useful to it and what is not. The owner should take the decision on the issue of he althy nutrition of the animal exclusively into his own hands.

Conclusions

If you approach the content of your fluffy baby not only with care and love, but also with intelligence, then you will not offer him exclusively hamster "delicacies", for example, very sweet fruits. Feed the animal with he althy food, and it will delight you with a he althy, well-groomed exterior and active character for a long time.

Sometimes there are photos on the Internet in which hamsters with a funny look absorb the most exotic food. After looking at this, the owners begin to give their pets anything, and then bite their elbows. Don't be fooled by these photos! Most of them are exclusively staged shots. For the sake of a beautiful picture, unfortunate owners feed little fluffies obviously inappropriate and sometimes harmful food.