What are blueberries?
This ‘superfood’ also known as vaccinium myrtillus is a sweet, very blue and quite popular fruit. They are small and round with thin translucent skin. They are found to grow in clusters on shrubby bushes. These berries are not just tasty but carry an abundance of nutritive properties beneficial to health.
Can Hamsters Eat these tasty Blueberries?
Yes, hamsters can eat blueberries and they love it too. They can serve as delicious treats for your cute pet. The amount given to them should be in moderation and properly regulated.
Can the Syrian breed of Hamsters Eat Blueberries?
Yes and they can eat the most of it too when compared to the other breeds. This is because they are more robust and are built with a stronger digestive system. They can safely consume two blueberries a fortnight.
Can Roborovski Hamsters Eat Blueberries?
Yes they can but not as much as the Syrian hamsters. Though their digestive system is also strong they can only be fed one blueberry every fortnight.
Can Campbell’s dwarf Hamsters Eat Blueberries?
Yes they can be fed as well but they should be served a medium-sized blueberry once a week.
Can Winter white dwarf Hamsters Eat Blueberries?
Fortunately yes. They too like the Campbell hamsters should only be served once a week with a medium-sized blueberry.
What Health Benefits can your Hamster gain from eating Blueberries?
There are so many health benefits that blueberries offer to humans and hamsters alike. They are rich in vitamins, minerals, fiber, phytonutrients and antioxidants.These help to promote their body's health and function. This could be by fighting oxidative stress, boosting immune system or managing their weight.
Antioxidants: Blueberries are rich in antioxidants that help to lower the activity of free radicals that may be present in your pet hamster’s body. They protect against toxins capable of causing cancer and other negative effects of ageing.
Fibers: Blueberries also contain fibers which are very necessary for a healthy digestive system. They prevent constipation and promote bowel movement. They maintain the balance of your pet’s gut flora.
Vitamin C: Nothing promotes healthy tissues in hamsters like vitamins. Vitamin C is very important in your pet’s health since it helps them fight off diseases and germs by boosting their immune system. It also prevents scurvy in hamsters and speeds up the healing process of wounds.
Vitamin K: Blueberry is an excellent source of vitamin K which plays a vital role in blood clotting. They are also important in speeding up the healing process of wounds in hamsters. Zinc is also vital and aids in healing their wounds.
Manganese: There is a long list of health benefits that this trace mineral present in blueberries can provide. In hamsters, they could help to manage cholesterol level, promote bone health and prevent certain diseases. They help in regulating blood sugar and maintaining nerve and brain function.
How to prepare and serve blueberries to your hamster
The preparation of this fruit should be done properly to avoid poisoning since most blueberries are sprayed with pesticides. To ensure the safety of your pet, you must first
- Wash them properly to remove any pesticides or pest
- Do not sweeten or add any other ingredient to enhance taste
They could be served this treat in different ways like:
- It could be served to them as dried blueberries
- It could be mixed with complementary healthy vegetables
- It could also be served as a side dish to their main hamster food
- It could be sliced or chopped into tinier pieces
Can you feed Blueberry peels to your Hamster?
Yes, you can. It is very important that the blueberry peels be washed properly before feeding them to your hamster. You wouldn't want them to be exposed to poisoning due to pesticides or chemicals that may be found on them.
The same cannot be said about blueberry stems. These should not be fed to your hamsters even in small quantities.
Can you feed Dried Blueberries to your Hamster?
Yes, you can feed them dried blueberries but only a very tiny amount of it. This is because they are very sticky and when hamsters are fed this delicious fruits they might choose to store it in their cheek pouches to snack on later.
The berries could become stuck there and prove problematic for them to get out. If left there for some time, they could rot and cause an infection.
Health Issues Associated with Blueberries
In order to reap the health benefits associated with blueberries, moderation is key when feeding them to your pet hamster. If not, you might end up reaping unwanted health issues like
- Diabetes: This is a health risk that might occur since blueberries contain a lot of sugar. That is why it is recommended that they should be served unsweetened.
- Obesity: Foods high in sugar, in this case blueberry, can cause your hamster to become obese.
- Choking: this could occur when feeding dwarf hamsters blueberries without properly cutting them into smaller pieces.
- Infection: this could occur when they are overly fed with dried blueberries.
- Bloating
- Indigestion
- Diarrhea
Not all kinds of blueberries are considered safe. Some are potentially dangerous to your pet hamster. These dangerous ones contain a high amount of tannin and can cause your hamster to become sick,and in worst cases cause death.
Scientists have found that blueberries with a deep purple shade of Color contains a high amount of tannins than those with a blue or light purple shade. So make sure to be careful and vigilant when picking or buying these fruits for your furry pet friend.
Conclusion
Can hamsters eat blueberries or will they be left feeling blue afterwards? Well no, they won't because blueberries make excellent treats for your cute pet. They are not just delicious but are power packed with nutrients that they need. They should be served preferably fresh and in moderation. Too much of it could cause health issues that might take you running to the vet.
