Can Hamsters Eat Grapes?
Sometimes, you may want to keep your hamster's meal interesting by adding a variety of fruits, vegetables, meat or seeds. When it comes to fruits, there are a lot of things to consider. Fruits like grapes are round or oval shaped and usually grow in clusters.
This juicy berry comes in different colors of green, yellow, red or purple and they also possess a thin skin. They not only taste good but contain a significant amount of beneficial nutrients. However, the question lies on whether they are safe and healthy for hamsters to consume. Let's find out!
Can Hamsters Safely Eat Grapes?
Yes, hamsters can eat grapes but in small quantities. It is not recommended that they eat this berry regularly because it contains a lot of sugar but they can have it twice a week. They are loaded with vitamins like vitamin K, antioxidants and some important minerals including potassium and magnesium.
Can Syrian Hamsters Safely Eat Grapes?
Yes, but only moderately. While they are not as prone to diabetes as the dwarf hamsters, they can still fall ill if they eat too much grapes. Let them have a small portion only once or twice a week.
Can Roborovski Hamsters Safely Eat Grapes?
Yes, they can. Like Syrian hamsters, they too have a stronger digestive system and are less prone to diabetes than the dwarf breed. They can have a small piece once or twice weekly.
Can Dwarf Hamsters Safely Eat Grapes?
Yes, but grapes should not be given to them frequently. This is because this breed is very susceptible to obesity and diabetes and fruits like grapes contain a great deal of sugar which can expose them to these risks. They may have a tiny piece of this berry once or twice a month.
What Benefits Can Hamsters Reap From Eating Grapes?
There are a lot of benefits hamsters can gain from eating grapes. The key is to feed your pet moderate amounts of it so that they don't fall ill instead.
Grapes are chock full of antioxidants. These antioxidants are compounds capable of fighting and eliminating free radicals. These free radicals cause oxidative stress which harms cells and causes diseases like cancer. These antioxidants, therefore, promote a hamster's immunity.
Grapes are high in vitamins like vitamin C and K. Vitamin C acts as an antioxidant which is essential for a healthy and strong immune system. They also help to maintain oral health by preventing scurvy in hamsters. Vitamin K on the other hand helps with blood clotting.
Grapes also contain important minerals like calcium and phosphorus. These two help to promote your pet's bone health by maintaining their skeletal system. These minerals help to keep their bones strong and healthy.
Grapes also keep your hammy's digestive system healthy because they contain fiber. This nutrient eases digestion and prevents constipation. This fruit also contains water which helps to keep your hamster hydrated.
How Can Grapes Affect Your Hamster's Health Negatively?
These health challenges usually occur when you go overboard with how many grapes you feed your hamster. It can also occur if your pet is allergic to the fruit so consult your vet before you serve them a few grapes.
Giving your hamster too many grapes on a regular basis can expose them to health risks like stomach pains and diarrhea. They contain sugar in high amounts and consuming too much can make your pet gain a lot of weight. It can also make them more susceptible to diseases like diabetes and even fatty liver.
How To Prepare and Feed Grapes To Your Hamster
The preparation is quite simple and can be done in four (4) steps.
First,
- Pick a grape or two and wash thoroughly to remove dirt, germs and possibly pesticides.
- Peel the skin off the grape.
- chop the grape into smaller quarter pieces or eighths.
- Remove the seeds carefully and inspect to make sure none is left.
You can try feeding your hamster an eighth of the grape to see how they react to it. If they react positively, then you can start increasing the amount to the recommended serving. Remember that the Syrian and Robos can have a quarter portion once or twice a week but the dwarf breeds can only have a quarter of a grape once or twice a month.
Signs To Watch Out For When Feeding Grapes To Hamsters
If your hamster doesn't show any signs of distress during or after grape consumption, it means that they can safely continue with this diet.
However, if they show any allergic reaction or signs of gastrointestinal upset then quickly call or rush them to the vet to receive treatment. Such signs to look out for are;
- Loose stool or diarrhea
- Dehydration due to water loss from diarrhea
- Fatigue
- Loss of appetite
Can Hamsters Safely Eat Grapes With Seeds?
No, it is not advisable that they eat grapes with seeds. The seeds can be a choking hazard to hamsters because of their big sizes and can also cause gastrointestinal obstruction. Remove them first before serving this berry to them.
Can Hamsters Safely Eat Grapes With Skin?
Yes, they can. The reason for peeling off the skin is to reduce your hamster's exposure to pesticides that may be on them. You can try washing these grapes with their skin intact thoroughly and serve.
Conclusion
Yes, hamsters can have grapes but only as little occasional treats. These juicy grapes are filled with valuable nutrients such as vitamins, fiber, minerals and antioxidants. They each perform significant roles in promoting a hamster's overall health.
The Syrian and Roborovski hamsters can have a quarter serving of grapes once or twice a week while the dwarf breed including Russian, Chinese and Campbell hamsters can only have a quarter portion once or twice a month. Baby hamsters, those less than 4 weeks old, cannot eat grapes.
This fruit is high in sugar and when excessively consumed can cause some serious health problems. Apart from gastrointestinal issues, they can cause obesity and diabetes in hamsters.
