Can Hamsters Eat Carrots: Everyone knows about the benefits of carrots; both people and animals love them. But is it possible to give root vegetables to hamsters? Is Will eating root crops harm the health of your beloved pet?
Is It Possible to Give Carrots to Hamsters?
Since hamsters are rodents, eating carrots is extremely important and necessary. After all, this vegetable meets a lot of requirements. Namely:
- Contains a large number of useful vitamins and minerals;
- Due to its juiciness, it can satisfy the need of hamsters for water;
- Soft food is contraindicated for domestic rodents, and carrots are ideal for them because of their dense structure;
- Cubs need to introduce a vegetable into the diet after they start eating dry food;
- Pregnant females should consume the orange root vegetable on a regular basis;
- Dzungarian pets often suffer from high blood sugar and obesity, and the nutrients that make up the vegetable fibers help overcome these ailments.
In What Form Is It Better to Give a Root Crop?
Hamsters can be given carrots, both fresh and boiled. The difference lies in the fact that the thermally unprocessed vegetable contains useful substances in full.
And during processing, a significant amount of vitamins and minerals from the product is lost. Also, boiled root vegetables are not as hard as raw ones. Experienced experts recommend not giving your pet boiled carrots from any “human” dishes.
It must be cooked without salt and spices – in clean water and boiled for a short time. If the house has an electric dryer, you can stock up on dehydrated raw materials for the winter and mix them into the main feed.
Can Hamsters Eat Carrots?
Rodents need to be given carrots regularly. Daily consumption is allowed. In addition, the pet will receive additional moisture from this vegetable.
Small hamsters can be given carrots as soon as they start eating dry food on their own. And for a pregnant hamster, this is a must-have product in the diet.
In what quantity: a circle is cut from carrots, 1-1.5 cm thick, and given to the animal. Do not try to give more; the hamster will begin to stock up, and the vegetable may quickly rot or dry out. In any case, such a product is unsuitable for food; midges may also appear in the house.
Useful properties of carrots for a hamster
Composition | Pros for rodents |
Vitamin A | Supports vision and the immune system. |
Vitamin C | Increases immunity, and prevention of colds. |
Vitamin K | Beneficial effect on the circulatory system of the hamster. |
Potassium and dietary fiber | Normalization of the gastrointestinal tract. |
Raw or Boiled: What Kind of Carrots to Give Hamsters?
In general, there is not much difference. Raw contains more nutrients and vitamins. But, it must be well washed and cleaned.
It is preferable to give a vegetable from your garden. In the warm season, you can try to grow some carrots on the balcony.
Store-bought carrots can be treated with pesticides and other harmful substances that will not harm a person, but they can undermine the health of a tiny animal.
If you have no choice, carrots from the store must be soaked in cold water for at least 3 hours to remove the most harmful substances.
Hamsters can also be given boiled carrots, but do not often because there is practically no benefit from the vegetable during heat treatment. Raw carrots are dense and help grind down the animal’s teeth, which grow throughout its life.
If you still decide to give a piece of boiled vegetable, then you should not do it from your soup or other dishes. Cooking is necessary without salt and spices.
If you have an electric dryer, you can prepare the root crop for the winter and add it to the main grain feed throughout the year.
Is It Possible for Djungarian Hamsters to Have Carrots?
This is a useful and necessary product as you have already found out. Djungarian hamsters often have a problem – high blood sugar and obesity. Regular consumption of carrots will help to cope with these problems.
Because hamsters of this breed weigh much less than their counterparts, carrots should be given less. No more than 3 g at a time or ½ of a circle. The preferred time of use is the first half of the day.
Carrots in the Diet of Syrian Hamsters
No matter what breed of hamster you have, carrots will be useful for everyone. Due to their large size, Syrian hamsters can be given 1-2 circles per day.
Just not right away, so that the animal does not hide it. Preferably one serving in the morning and one in the evening.
Can Hamsters Eat Carrots?
Store tops are not the best food option for a rodent. It can also accumulate a large number of substances. If you give a little top, the hamster will eat it with pleasure, but then problems with digestion may begin.
If you want to please with green leaves, then buy parsley, celery or lettuce.
But if you have grown carrots in your garden, then you can safely pamper your pet with carrot tops.
It is especially useful for juniors, as it prevents heart attacks, diabetes, and colds. And these animals are very prone to such problems.
Carrot tops have 5 times more vitamins than root crops but don’t overdo it. Do not give more than 1 tbsp—per day.
Now you know all about the benefits of carrots for a hamster. Do not be afraid to give it to a rodent, and he will only be grateful to you; the main thing is to observe the dosage.
