TREATS TO AVOID

There are some foods and treat items which may not be healthy for your hamster. Feeding your hamster unhealthy or dangerous food items can put their health at risk, and may even induce an allergic reaction. In general, avoid any food items that contain a high amount of sugar. Sugar can cause digestive problems, obesity and diabetes in hamsters when fed in excessive amounts. Other foods to avoid feeding your hamster are: onions, garlic, chocolate, buttercups, raw kidney beans, toffee and any type of candy.

COMMERCIAL TREATS

There are many commercial treat products available that you can purchase for your hamster. However, it’s important to be careful what you buy. Some commercial hamster treats are low-nutrition, high-sugar and may actually be detrimental to your hamster’s health. Steer clear of any hamster treats that include high fructose corn syrup, or that include chemical coloring and flavoring.

HOMEMADE TREATS

If you have a bit of extra time, you can actually make homemade treats for your hamster right in your kitchen! The recipe doesn’t have to be specific, and you can even make your own formulas. Include high-nutrient grains, tasty fruit and nuts to make a treat that your hamster will love.

FRESH FRUIT AND VEGETABLES

As a treat, you may give your hamster fresh fruit and vegetables on a regular basis. However, as with any treat, it’s important not to overfeed your hamster. Even though fresh fruits and vegetables are very nutritious, they should not be given in excess. If you feed your hamster a high-fiber fruit as a large part of their diet, this may cause your hamster’s stools to become loose. Balance your hamster’s diet with other treats in addition to fresh fruits and vegetables.

NUTS AND SEEDS

Nuts are rich in protein, fiber and many amino acids. There are many nuts that are safe to feed hamsters. This includes sweet chestnuts, hazelnuts, walnuts, pistachios, pecans, beechnuts, shelled almonds, peanuts, cashews and brazil nuts. You may also feed your hamster a variety of seeds, though many hamster diet mixes also include seed ingredients. Though hamsters love sunflower seeds, over-consumption may cause obesity, so be sure to keep this in mind.

SEED MIXES

Seed mixes, also sometimes referred to as “dry mixes” are usually a colorful combination of grains, seeds, treats and dried produce. They may contain additional vitamins, which are either sprayed as a coating on the formula, or included as baked treats. Seed mix formulas are usually what most hamster owners choose to feed their hamster, since they have the most visual appeal. However, as mentioned before, some companies may use colored dye to artificially enhance the appearance of their formula. Another problem with seed mixes is that a hamster can “pick” out their favorite bits of the formula, while leaving the rest of the food behind. This may sometimes lead to a nutritional imbalance.

PELLETED FOOD

Pelleted hamster food formulas are also popular for many hamster owners. In general, a pelleted hamster food formula will offer a balanced source of nutrition with easily digestible ingredients. These ingredients have been combined, compressed and presented in a “pellet” form. Many veterinarians recommend pelleted diets, since they tend to have better results in providing optimum nutrition for hamsters. However, it’s also true that not every hamster will eat a pelleted diet. Some hamsters may be turned off by the uniform appearance of the pellets, or won’t be able to make the connection of the pellets being a food source.

FRESH FOODS

No matter what type of hamster food formula you choose, it’s always highly recommended to supplement your hamster’s diet with fresh ingredients. Nuts, grains, fresh fruits and vegetables can easily be fed to most hamsters. In addition to this, you can also make homemade “treats” for your hamster from fresh ingredients in your home. This can be used to help increase your hamster’s overall level of nutrition.