10 Foods That Are Toxic to Hamsters

We love our rodents and we want to spoil them and to take proper care of them, and the balls for hamsters are a good way to entertain our little friends and to keep them healthy. Also, the tubes for adult hamsters are a perfect choice for anyone who wants to keep his/her small animals from getting bored.

But, nutrition is another important aspect that needs your utmost attention. If you want your pets to stay with you for many years to come, you have to make sure that you include in their diet all the necessary nutrients and vitamins. Also, in the section below we’ve decided to present you certain foods that your hamsters should never eat, as they are toxic to them.

1. • Onions, garlic, chives, and leeks
   • Chocolate and caffeine products
   • Beans and potatoes
   • Citrus fruits
   • Potato chips
   • Celery
   • Avocados
   • Apple seeds
   • Raisins or grapes
   • Almonds

   Onions, garlic, chives, and leeks

Your hamsters are curious little animals that love to sample on any type of food, and that is why you have to make sure that they stay away from these vegetables. You might think it is ok to feed your pet some onions because you like them and you often include them in your diet.

But, hamsters are different than us, and what is good for us doesn’t mean that it’s good for them, too. In their case, these vegetables can cause severe stomach irritation, and they can even lead to gastroenteritis which can be deadly.

2. Chocolate and caffeine products

You shouldn’t feed your hamsters anything with caffeine because it can affect their well-being. And, among the ones that are the most dangerous for your little friend’s health we can remember chocolate – it contains both caffeine and theobromine.

What is a delicious and popular treat for us can be lethal for hamsters. Theobromine, in particular, can have a toxic effect on small animals like hamsters. While caffeine stimulates your pets’ heart and causes it to race, the theobromine can actually poison them.

3. Beans and potatoes

These foods are very dangerous for your rodents as they can cause diarrhea, which may lead to dehydration and more complicated health issues. Since they are small animals, your hamsters can easily dehydrate to a point where it can be fatal.

That is why you have to be very careful when feeding your pets beans – because they are high in fiber they can cause loose stools. And, most important is to never give your hamsters uncooked beans.

4. Citrus fruits

We love citrus fruits because they are very good for our health – they offer our body plenty of vitamins and nutrients. But, because they have a high acid content they can be too acidic for our rodents. These types of fruits can harm your pet’s stomach which will make him/her feel very uncomfortable.

With this in mind, it is recommended that you keep your hamsters from eating citrus fruits because you don’t want them to experience stomach issues that can be easily prevented.

5. Potato chips

As we have already mentioned, potatoes are not a good choice for your hamster as they can lead to various health issues. But, when they are fried, potatoes become even worse for your pet’s well-being.

Potato chips are high in fat and because of that, your pet is most likely to experience digestive problems. Also, due to the high amount of calories this junk food contains, your hamster can gain weight which can lead to other severe health problems.

6. Celery

When you think about celery you imagine a nice fresh vegetable that offers the ones who eat it plenty of energy and vitamins. Well, this is true but not for hamsters. In their case, celery can be very dangerous.

Because it contains plenty of sodium, this vegetable can make your small animal retain water hence feel bloated. Also, due to its stringy texture, the hamsters can choke on celery very easily. In order to avoid this from happening, you should cut it into small pieces, and make sure to limit the amount your small animals eat.

7. Avocados

The next food on the blacklist is avocado. You love it, we love it, everyone loves it! Unfortunately, your rodents are not allowed to experience the delicious taste of the avocado because it contains a toxin called persin, which can be toxic to them.

That is why you should keep your guacamole for yourself only and make sure that your hamsters don’t play with the avocado pit or shell either. Even if the avocado leaves are considered the most toxic for your hamsters, the fruit too has negative effects on their health.

8. Apple seeds

Yes, apples are a delicious and healthy snack which can be fed to your hamsters without worrying that they will experience any health issues. But, when it comes to the apple seeds, things are a bit more complicated and you should be extremely careful.

Because they contain a poison that is called cyanide, these seeds can be very dangerous for your little friend. For us, humans, it is ok to eat them because the small amount of cyanide will have no negative effect. But, for your small animals, this quantity is enough to make them quite sick.

9. Raisins or grapes

Even if you’ve heard people saying that seedless grains and raisins are acceptable for your rodents, you should know that they have proved to be quite dangerous sometimes. The most common health issues related to the consumption of these foods is kidney failure.

And, the fact that your hamster doesn’t show any symptoms right after he/she eats them, doesn’t mean that everything is ok. It can take a while until you are able to see the negative effects, so our recommendation is to substitute these foods with healthier ones.

10. Almonds

It is recommended that you feed your hamsters organic almonds without shells only because the non-organic ones can contain chemicals that can kill your little friends. Also, you should pay attention to the way they look, too, and give your rodents only the ones that have a perfect shape.

Moreover, the skin of the almonds can upset your pets’ stomach, and that is why you should remove it before feeding them to your hamsters.