Can Hamsters Eat Human Hot Dogs? What Kinds Are Bad For Them?

Before you bring any pet to the family, you will surely want to ensure that you are set to take care of those tiny creatures. While most of us are well aware of the dos and don’ts of dog and cat care, many have no idea about small animals like rabbits, gerbils, and hamsters. If you have a hamster or considering getting one soon, it’s imperative to know what you can feed it.

WHAT DO HAMSTERS CONSUME?

Hamsters are omnivores by nature which indicates that they are fine with both meat and greens. When in wild, hamsters get the scope to consume grains, seeds, and even insects. It’s important that the hamsters bred in captivity receive a diet similar to those in the wild. Also, hamsters tend to store food in their cheek pockets and you must be careful that they do not overeat.

Syrian and dwarf hamsters are usually kept as pets. Both species are allowed to consume around 10 grams of pellets twice a day. Even though dwarf hamsters are very small in size, they have a fast metabolism which is the reason why they can digest food suitable for Syrian hamsters. Apart from ready-to-eat pellets, hamsters can consume fruits, vegetables, most greens, and seeds.

CAN HAMSTERS CONSUME MEAT?

It’s believed that hamsters require animal protein for survival. Meat is not only a healthy source of protein but also a hamster food. As wild hamsters consume insects, you may feed them dried mealworms and crickets. If you are not confident to handle live insects, then you may give them cooked meat as well. But they cannot digest processed food like hot dogs. Also, you cannot give them raw meat.

CAN HAMSTERS EAT HUMAN HOT DOGS?

As stated earlier, hot dogs aren’t healthy for hamsters at all. They might die by having it. If your hamster eats hot dogs mistakenly, then you must take it to the vet without any delay. While they can eat a little amount of meat, make sure you don’t give them bacon or sausage since these kinds of meat undergo a curing process and are also heavily salted.

As a result, they will find it hard to digest, and this will lead to heart disease and diabetes. Moreover, these foods also increase cholesterol levels due to the high dosage of animal fat alone. Hot dogs are highly processed foods and therefore, they are not good for hamsters. They do not bring any nutritional value to their health and can also be dangerous to their health.

FINAL WORDS

Besides avoiding processed foods, you must avoid certain fruits and vegetables as well. For instance, raw beans, almonds, citrus fruits, raspberries, peaches, and apricots. Also, you mustn’t allow fruits and vegetables to rot in their cage. Moreover, sugary items aren’t good for them and you must avoid feeding them white bread, candy, and chocolates unnecessarily. If you are unsure about trying a new treat for your hamster, it’s always suggested that you consult a vet to be on the safer side.