Can hamsters eat apples?

Can you give a hamster an apple?

Apples are a fairly common fruit, rich in vitamins and beneficial elements. This product has a beneficial effect not only on humans but also on animals, including hamsters. However, before adding them to your rodents' diet, it's important to familiarize yourself with all the recommendations and guidelines.

Beneficial properties

Apples are highly valuable for both young and adult hamsters. Specifically:

1. Reduced risk of type I and type II diabetes. Hamsters are at risk of developing this disease, but the antioxidants found in apples block harmful chemical reactions. These substances also protect rodents from chronic diseases.
2. Lowering blood cholesterol levels and normalizing blood pressure has a positive effect on cardiovascular health.
3. Normalization of intestinal function, saturation with beneficial bacteria.
4. Strengthening the skeletal system, especially useful for young hamsters.
5. Increased resistance to many colds and viral diseases due to the content of vitamin C.
6. Stimulation of hematopoiesis.
7. Prevention of the development of tumors of various types.

Possible harm

Despite the significant health benefits of apples for hamsters, feeding these fruits in large quantities will be harmful to the health of your pets:

• increased gas formation;
• increased blood sugar levels (especially with excessive consumption of sweet fruits);
• appearance excess weight, obesity;
• gastrointestinal disorder caused by exposure to malic acid.

Do not give to rodents seeds Apples are considered safe due to the ability of the amygdalin they contain to convert into hydrogen cyanide during digestion. When consumed in large quantities, this substance can cause death.

How many apples can you give a hamster?

Hamsters can only be fed apples once they reach two months of age. Failure to do so will result in gastrointestinal problems.

Per day

Feeding hamsters apples every day is prohibited.

Per week

The recommended amount of apples for a hamster that will not harm its health is 10–15 g once a week.

Peculiarities of introducing apples into the diet

Introducing apples into a hamster's diet requires following several rules:

1. Use only ripe fruits, as unripe fruits will cause diarrhea.
2. Do not feed apples to babies under two months of age, pregnant women females and older individuals who are unable to digest large amounts of fiber.
3. In winter, give preference to dried apples made from fruits grown in the region of residence and not treated with preservatives.
4. Soak dried fruits in water before feeding to pets.

Which apple variety should I choose and should I process the fruit?

When choosing a food variety for hamsters, avoid overly sour options or those containing large amounts of sugar. Sweet and sour varieties are best.

Rules for preliminary processing of fruits:

1. Be sure to peel the skins off store-bought apples, as they may be treated with chemicals.
2. Rinse thoroughly under running water. This is especially true for fruits purchased in winter.

Ideally, store-bought apples should be soaked in water for 2–3 hours. This will remove most of the substances that are harmful to your pet's health.

Apples for Djungarian and Syrian hamsters

Introducing apples to Djungarian and Syrian hamsters should be done with extreme caution. First, test your pet's reaction to the new treat by feeding them a tiny piece. If there are no adverse reactions, gradually increase the dosage.

In the future, give hamsters apples only in moderation.

Let's sum it up

Apples can be introduced into the diet of hamsters, regardless of breed. If veterinarian recommendations are followed, this supplement will benefit your pet, making them healthy and active. However, it's important to remember that the main diet of these cute rodents is special grain mixtures and cereals.