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However, it’s important to know what foods your hamster can and cannot safely enjoy, ensuring they stay healthy and happy. In the summertime, we are able to enjoy fresh tart and sweet cherries, but what about your hamster? Yes, hamsters can eat cherries!
Can Hamsters Eat Cherries?
Yes, they can! Cherries are lower in sugar than many other fruits, especially tart cherries. Hamsters are naturally omnivorous and will eat fruits, vegetables, and plants they find on the ground in the wild, so providing them with a varied diet of healthy treats in addition to a high-quality, pre-made hamster food will ensure they stay healthy, have their nutritional needs met, and don’t get bored with their food options.
In the wild, there are around 25 species of hamsters and they are native to different parts of Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, so they may encounter a huge variety of food options. Hamsters’ varied natural diet allows them to safely eat a large number of fresh foods, including cherries.
Are Cherries Safe for Hamsters?
Cherries make a safe snack option for hamsters as long as the pit is removed. Cherries belong to a group of fruits called “stone fruits”, which means they have a large, solid pit or seed in the middle of the meat of the fruit. The pit contains cyanogenic compounds, which are toxic to hamsters. Therefore, aside from being a choking hazard, if a hamster bites a cherry pit, they can injure themselves and also become intoxicated. You must remove this pit prior to feeding your hamster a cherry.
Cherries are lower in sugar than some other stone fruits, like peaches and mangoes. Cherries are an excellent source of fiber, precursors of vitamin A, which hamsters can not convert very effectively, and B vitamins and potassium. They are also low in fat and calories, which makes them a great treat for obese hamsters with the guidance of a veterinarian.
How Many Cherries Can I Feed My Hamster?
Only a very tiny amount, about the size of your hamster’s paw, and only occasionally.
Syrian Hamsters: Offer a very small piece of cherry, about the size of your hamster’s paw or roughly one-quarter of a pit-free cherry, only once every seven to ten days.
Dwarf Hamsters (Campbell’s, Winter Whites, Roborovskis): Provide an even smaller piece, around the size of a lentil, no more than once every ten to fourteen days. Due to potential diabetes concerns, it’s best to offer cherries sparingly or avoid them entirely.
What Else Should I Consider When Feeding Cherries to My Hamster?
Overfeeding cherries can lead to diarrhea or stomach upset and if your hamster does not eat all of the pieces of cherry at once, they may hide them as a snack for later. Fresh foods, like chopped cherries, can begin to rot quickly, and should not be left in your hamster’s environment for more than a few hours at the most. To keep the cage clean and hygienic, it is best to monitor your hamster while it eats fresh foods to make sure they do not store them for later.
If your hamster suffers from medical problems, like diabetes or obesity, it’s imperative that you check with your veterinarian before offering new foods to your hamster. Some foods may lead to exacerbations of medical issues.
Conclusion
Cherries can make a great treat for your hamster. Cherries are full of antioxidants that help improve the health of humans, and they may provide some variety to your hamster’s diet as well.
A balanced diet of species-appropriate pellet foods supplemented with some fresh foods is important to your hamster’s health. Choosing smart, low-calorie treats, like cherries, will allow you to treat your friend without hurting their health when done correctly.
Keep in mind that hamsters are all different. Some have genetic predispositions to diabetes, and some may not like the new foods you offer to them. It’s a good idea to work with your veterinarian and consider your hamster’s individual needs to determine their food allowances and preferences. By keeping your hamster’s health and safety in mind, you can allow them to have just the right treats in the right amount!
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