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Your hamster loves seeds and nuts, and almonds are known to be healthy and nutritious snacks for humans. But are almonds safe for your hamster to eat? Can hamsters eat almonds?
The short answer is yes, but there are serious caveats. Sweet almonds are generally safe for hamsters, but bitter and salted almonds must be avoided. Here, we discuss which almonds to look for and how many are okay to serve so they can be tasty and healthy snacks for your hamster, just like they are for you.
A Hamster’s Diet
Did you know that the hamster got its name from the German word “hamstern,” which means “to hoard”? These little critters were well named, given their habit of stuffing their cheek pouches full of food.
Hamsters are native to Romania, Greece, and northern China, but they were originally discovered in Syria, and in 1936, they were brought to North America. The hamster lives in warm and dry areas, such as sand dunes, savannas, and the outskirts of deserts.
These rodents are omnivores and eat various seeds, grains, nuts, insects, vegetables, and fruit. The domestic hamster typically has its nutritional needs met with commercially made pellets specially designed for hamsters. It can also eat an assortment of seeds in combination with small amounts of fruit, vegetables, and herbs.
So, nuts do fit into a typical hamster diet, but let’s have a closer look at almonds.
All About Almonds
Almonds are grown on trees, are related to peaches and apricots, and are 100% dependent on honeybees to grow. While peanuts are the most popular nuts in the world, almonds are the second most popular and definitely the healthier option.
One ounce of almonds contains 3.5 g of fiber and 6 g of protein, along with vitamins E and B2, copper, manganese, magnesium, antioxidants, and phosphorus.1
Benefits of Almonds
- They’re low in calories and high in nutrients.
- Almonds are high in antioxidants that protect against disease and aging.
- Their magnesium content helps improve the symptoms of blood pressure and type 2 diabetes.
- Almonds are quite high in vitamin E, which can lower the risks of cancer, heart disease, and Alzheimer’s.
- They can aid in weight loss by reducing hunger and decreasing calorie intake.
- Almonds can reduce oxidized LDL cholesterol.
Almonds are considered among the healthiest nuts out there, but are they safe and healthy for your hammy?
Almonds and Hamsters
The good news is that if you give your hamster the right kind of almonds, it will experience similar health benefits that we humans do.
- Almonds are high in fiber, which can help your hamster’s digestion and prevent constipation.
- Almonds can also lower your hamster’s cholesterol levels.
- The same vitamin E that helps our blood sugar levels can also control your hammy’s, which is particularly helpful since these rodents are prone to diabetes.
- Almonds aid in weight loss or maintaining a healthy weight.
- The magnesium in almonds can help strengthen your hammy’s bones.
Clearly, almonds are amazing little nuts that can be an incredible health boost for people and hamsters alike. But what are the negatives?
The Downsides of Almonds for Hamsters
Unfortunately, almonds do have a negative side for hamsters. Let’s look at what kind of almonds you need to avoid and why.
Salted Almonds
Some almonds come salted or with added flavoring and additives, and while these are okay for people to eat, they are definitely not good for your hamster. Too much salt can cause upset stomach, diarrhea, and dehydration. Only give your hammy plain almonds with no added ingredients.
Bitter Almonds
Bitter almonds have a natural toxin that breaks down into cyanide by the body when it’s ingested. Cyanide is a deadly poison, and while you would need to eat six to 10 bitter almonds to feel the effects (50 bitter almonds can cause death for the average person), your hamster is tiny, and it wouldn’t take much for it to fall seriously ill or die.
Fat Content
Almonds contain a large amount of healthy fat, but this could still prove to be too much fat for your hammy if you give it almonds on a regular basis. Obviously, this can lead to obesity, which will be damaging to your pet’s overall health.
Choking Hazard
The smaller your hamster is, the larger the chance that the almond could prove to be a choking hazard, particularly if you’re giving it an almond that’s still in the shell. Consider cutting the almond down in size before giving it to your hamster, and keep an eye on your pet while it’s eating, especially if this is a treat that you haven’t served before.
A Guide to Feeling Almonds to Your Hamster
If you’ve decided that you would like to start giving your hamster almonds, here are tips for purchasing and preparing these delicious nuts.
- Organic: If you buy organic almonds, you’re ensuring that they will be safer for your hammy. Almonds that are not organic are more likely to contain small amounts of pesticides and chemicals. That said, you should still wash them before serving.
- Shape: Did you know that the shape of the almond can help you determine if it’s a sweet or bitter almond? Any almond that is a little fatter or wider looking than normal or seems to have an inconsistent shape might be a bitter almond. Just be sure to only give your hammy the larger almonds that have that distinctive almond (or teardrop) shape.
- Skin: The majority of the toxins found in almonds are contained in the skin. Removing the skin will decrease the cyanide found in the almond. You can accomplish this by soaking the almonds in hot water for about 15 minutes and pulling the skin off after they cool.
- Amount: If you have one of the bigger varieties of hamsters (the Syrian, for example), you shouldn’t give it more than one almond every day. Smaller hamsters, such as dwarf hamsters, shouldn’t have more than half an almond per day. Overall, almonds shouldn’t be considered a part of your hamsters’ diet but more of an occasional treat.
Summary
A moderate number of sweet almonds can be safe and healthy snacks for your hammy. Just follow the guidelines here, and ensure that any almonds that you give to your hamster are not bitter almonds and don’t have any kind of flavoring or salt. Plain almonds are best, and if you remove the skin, you are ensuring the safest treats. If you are worried that your hamster isn’t feeling well after eating an almond, contact your vet as soon as possible.
The health and safety of your little pet are of the utmost importance, and as long as you follow this advice, adding almonds to your hamster’s diet may just give its health the boost that it needs. Plus, it’ll enjoy a tasty new treat!
- Also see: Can Mice Eat Almonds?
