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When it comes to sweet and juicy fruits, nothing beats a blueberry! Although you may adore adding this luscious treat to your oatmeal or yogurt, can you feed blueberries to your hamster? While hamsters may love to eat fruits and veggies, can they safely consume blueberries? The answer is yes! Your hamster can eat blueberries, but only in moderation.
Benefits of Eating Blueberries
Since they’re low in calories and sugar, blueberries make a great addition to any diet. They also contain several benefits for hamsters 1.
- Water: 84.2 grams (g)
- Carbohydrates: 14.6 g
- Fat: 0.31 g
- Protein: 0.7 g
- Fiber: 2.4 g
- Calcium: 12 milligrams (mg)
- Phosphorus: 13 mg
- Potassium: 86 mg
- Magnesium: 6.2 mg
Like most berries, blueberries contain several antioxidants, which are beneficial for your pet. They contain other vitamins and minerals, which may provide benefits to your hamster as well. In addition, they are low in oxalates and goitrogens.
Furthermore, blueberries are also lower in sugar than some other fruits. This is preferred since hamsters should not have a diet that is high in sugar. However, it is important to keep in mind that, intrinsically, almost all fruit (including blueberries) contain undesirable levels of sugar.
Do Hamsters Like Blueberries?
In the wild, hamsters are natural omnivores, and their diets contain hardy helpings of veggies, fruits, nuts, and meat. As pets, hamsters can enjoy feasting on blueberries and other such fruits.
Can Blueberries Be Bad for Hamsters?
For people, eating a handful of beautiful blueberries can be quite a treat. However, if you offer your hamster a palm-sized portion, it could lead to adverse effects.
Sugars
Blueberries contain naturally occurring sugars, which aren’t good for hamsters for several reasons. One of the concerns with sugar is that high amounts can also lead to dental issues in hamsters.
Two forms of natural sugars have been demonstrated to be problematic for hamsters: lactose and fructose. However, sucrose and glucose, which are also found in blueberries, aren’t entirely risk-free either. It is worth noting that the adverse effects of these sugars were only noticeable when they were offered in high amounts in a hamster’s diet.
It is impossible to conclude that the sugars will lead to an animal’s demise. However, experiments have shown that high amounts of sugars are detrimental to hamsters and therefore, this reduces the appeal of blueberries (and other fruits).
High Moisture
Though the amount of water in fresh blueberries might seem appealing, hamsters don’t handle a sudden increase in water from their food that well. Most of their diet comprises dry matter, and fresh berries should only be served occasionally.
A sudden influx of water from vegetables or fruit might result in a hamster dealing with an episode of diarrhea. Unfortunately, this is a severe ailment for hamsters and requires urgent veterinary care.
If your hamster has diarrhea, do not attempt to rehydrate it with plain water, as this will make things worse. Instead, seek a product made specifically for rehydrating hamsters, available from your pet store or veterinarian.
Diarrhea in hamsters should not be taken lightly, and if you notice diarrhea in your hamster, you should seek prompt, professional care for them.
Hoarding
Hamsters are instinctive hoarders. They like to stuff food in their large cheeks to transport it back to their favorite hiding places or den to consume later. Wild hamsters instinctively do this because the ability to hoard food lets them eat in peace without disturbances from predators or other threats. Pet hamsters may also demonstrate this habit.
Your hamster may take fresh blueberries to their favorite hoarding spot. It is essential to thoroughly check these spots to remove food that spoils quickly once left outside. Rotting food in your hamster’s cage can lead to health issues for your pet.
Cheek Pouch Issues
Hamster cheek pouches are large, but notably, they don’t produce any saliva. Foods high in moisture can sometimes get trapped in their cheek pouches, leading to impaction and disease. This scenario requires prompt medical care.
How to Feed Blueberries to a Hamster
If you are feeding a blueberry to your hamster for the first time, there are some issues to consider. If your pet isn’t accustomed to eating fresh fruit, try mixing a tiny piece of blueberry in their regular food. If they seem to enjoy it, gradually increase the amount.
Always feed fresh, raw blueberries to your hamster and thoroughly wash the fruit under running water to remove dirt and pesticides.
Other Fruits for Hamsters
- Bananas
- Carrots
- Lettuce
- Celery
All of these choices are delicious and nutritious for your pet.
Summary
Your hamster can eat fresh, organic blueberries that have been pre-rinsed, but only in moderation. Do not change out your pet’s regular food for blueberries. While blueberries have some health benefits for your pet, they should be slowly introduced to their diet and never offered in large quantities.
So, the next time you’re enjoying blueberries with your breakfast, consider giving your hamster a tiny piece as a yummy treat!
- Related Read: Can Rats Eat Blueberries? All You Need To Know!
