Can hamsters eat beets – boiled or raw? Beetroot for Djungarian and Syrian hamsters

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19.03.2018

Scientific livestock breeders produce an abundance of food of plant origin. Hamsters eat potatoes, buckwheat, wheat and even corn. In their burrows, these small rodents are capable of storing food weighing up to 80 kg for the winter. When a small furry creature becomes a member of the family, the new owners have a lot of questions about feeding. Today we’ll talk about whether it’s possible to give hamsters potatoes.

What does a rodent eat in nature?

In the wild, the animal’s diet depends on its habitat. These are mainly grain crops, so rodents live, mainly in fields. In drier areas there is more dry food, in wetter areas there is more lush grass, leaves and other greenery. Rodents often raid places where grain, vegetables and other products are stored in rural houses and dachas. Rodents replenish their protein reserves by eating beetles, spiders, worms and caterpillars. They do not disdain the meat of another wounded small animal.

What to do if an animal has eaten the “forbidden fruit”?

If your pet has eaten a large amount of parsley, the body’s reaction can be very diverse. An excess of parsley can lead to various diseases , disorders, etc. First of all, it is necessary to provide plenty of fluids for your pet. And also completely eliminate parsley from your diet. If the symptoms persist, you should contact your veterinarian.

Parsley contains many beneficial substances for animals and, at the same time, can have a negative effect on their body. You should be very careful when feeding your pet this greenery and remember the dosage and its contraindications for some animals. Improper feeding can harm your pet.

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What does a hamster eat at home?

The basic rule to follow when feeding your pet: you can give everything that he can find while living in the wild. The more natural products there are in an animal’s diet, the better for it.

The main types of foods to feed your hamster at home.

1. Cereals - wheat, oatmeal, buckwheat, barley, corn. They can be given as whole grains, flakes, or as a porridge cooked in water. Sunflower and pumpkin seeds. Legumes, except red beans.
2. Vegetables. Raw carrots, zucchini, pumpkin, bell peppers, eggplants, radishes, radishes. You can also give vegetables boiled without adding salt. It is better to lightly boil beets, broccoli, and cauliflower.
3. Greenery, grass, tree leaves. Parsley, dill, lettuce, plantain, young nettle, clover. Young tree branches (apple, pear, birch, maple).
4. Fruits and berries. Apples, pears, bananas, cherries, cherries, strawberries. They readily eat rose hips and currants. They love dried fruits (raisins, dried apricots, prunes, pieces of dried apples and pears). Occasionally you can give plums, apricots, and grapes. It is better to remove the seeds.
5. Dairy products (low-fat and unsweetened kefir, cottage cheese, natural yogurt).
6. Eggs, chicken, fish. Twice a week you can give a boiled egg, a piece of boiled lean chicken or boiled fish. Cook without salt and spices.
7. It is better to buy bugs, worms and special insects at a pet store. Hamsters love earthworms, but if you dig them up in a flower bed, you can give your pet an infection.

Pet stores sell dry food for hamsters. It contains essential vitamins and minerals. Try different mixtures to find a food that your pet likes. Such pet food companies as Little One and Vitacraft have proven themselves well.

Potato damage

When potatoes are stored for a long time, solanine accumulates in them. This is a toxic substance that is found in greened tubers, as well as stems and leaves. Solanine depresses the nervous system and leads to digestive upset. Solanine is toxic to both humans and animals. If you plan to give potatoes to your hamster in the winter, you should cut off not only the peel, but also part of the tuber itself, leaving only the core.

There are versions that chlorophyll, which is formed under the influence of sunlight, can also be toxic. It does not collapse even when cooked. Although other studies suggest that chlorophyll can remove toxins and cleanse the body.

In addition, potatoes have a high glycemic index. This means that eating potatoes can increase blood sugar, which leads to diabetes. Diabetes is most common in dwarf hamsters and less common in Syrians. If your pet has signs of obesity, increased thirst and other symptoms of diabetes, then you should exclude potatoes from his diet.

How much do pet hamsters eat?

Your pet is a nocturnal animal, you need to remember this. During the day he sleeps, and at night he eats, plays, exercises on a “simulator,” stores supplies, and sharpens his teeth. Therefore, the best option is to feed the baby twice a day. In the evening - the main meal, a hearty breakfast. In the morning, before bed, have a light dinner.

The amount of food that should be given to an animal at one time depends on the type and size of the rodent. When feeding twice a day, the Syrian is given one tablespoon of the feed mixture, and the Djungarian is given one teaspoon. Campbell's hamsters and other dwarf species feed similarly.

He will hide all the food that the hamster does not eat at one time in the pantry “for a rainy day.” Periodically review these supplies and remove perishable foods so that the animal does not get poisoned. Be sure to put something fresh in place of the “seized valuables”. Otherwise, the baby may become seriously stressed because all his reserves have disappeared, and he will die of hunger in the long, cold winter.

In what form to give

Rodent owners often ask whether hamsters can eat raw beets. Yes, you can, because it is advisable to feed these pets raw vegetables.

To prevent your pet from being harmed by treats, follow these recommendations.

• Before feeding, be sure to check the root vegetable - it must be fresh, without rot or mold.
• Wash the vegetable thoroughly and trim the peel.
• Feed vegetables grown in your own garden or purchased from trusted sellers who do not use chemicals.
• When offering beets for the first time, give a tiny piece and watch your pet.
• After you are sure that the animal does not have allergies and the stool is normal, you can offer another piece after a while.
• Throw any uneaten food out of the cage immediately.

Can hamsters have boiled beets? Sometimes you can offer your pet boiled beets, but they should be fed under certain conditions:

• Do not boil the vegetable for a long time so that it retains more nutritional value;
• Do not add salt or spices to the water when cooking;
• Do not feed boiled beets very often; several times a month will be enough;
• The piece of boiled vegetable should be small in size, as described above.

Beetroot is a delicacy for a hamster and therefore it is not necessary to feed it in any form often. Djungarian hamsters should be offered beets in even smaller portions.

How and what do rodents drink?

If there is a large amount of fresh, juicy vegetables, fruits and herbs in the diet, the homa may drink very little or not drink at all. For example, cucumbers are 90% water. However, there should always be fresh water in the cage. The water in the drinking bowl should be changed at least once a day. If debris from the cage gets into the water bowl, the water must be changed immediately so that the animal does not get poisoned. There are several types of special closed drinkers on sale that prevent tipping over and contamination of the water in the container.

Boiled potatoes

A hamster's diet includes a small amount of boiled vegetables. Some experts write that boiled potatoes are even easier for a hamster to digest than raw ones. So can a hamster have boiled potatoes? The answer, as always, lies somewhere in the middle.

You can include boiled potatoes in your daily diet from time to time. But you shouldn't get carried away with this product. Boiled potatoes have a high starch content, which can lead to excess weight gain, which puts a strain on the hamster's heart and generally has a negative impact on the rodent's health.

It is better to postpone cooking potatoes for an elderly pet, supplementing it with cucumber and pumpkin; during cooking, some toxic substances are destroyed, which in their raw form are already difficult for an aged rodent to cope with. You need to cook such food for a short time and without salt.

What fruits can pets eat?

Fruits that hamsters eat at home should be fresh and ripe, but without rot. It is better if it is local and seasonal fruits. Citrus and various tropical fruits should not be given. The bones must be pulled out so that the baby does not choke. Sour fruits are contraindicated.

If you are training a baby or teaching him, for example, to use a running wheel, you need to stock up on “goodies.” Sunflower seeds or cookies are suitable for this purpose. Sometimes you can feed your baby a banana. But since rodents constantly need to wear down their teeth, they must eat more solid food. In addition, bananas contain a lot of sugar.

Repeat “fruit” days no more than 1-2 times a week.

The benefits of grass for a hamster

These rodents are very fond of fresh greens, so they must be present in the diet of Djungarian, Syrian and other breeds of hamsters. You should give as many permitted types of herbs as possible because they contain a different set of vitamins. Greens are a good source of energy for animals due to their carbohydrate and protein content.

Important! Domestic rodents are prohibited from feeding grass collected on the street, near highways or near industrial areas. Such greenery is contaminated with dust, soot, heavy metals and other harmful substances.

The beneficial properties of the herb include:

• the presence of vitamins, namely groups A, B, C and E, helps improve the animals’ resistance to various diseases;
• a large amount of useful microelements such as calcium, magnesium, iron, phosphorus, zinc, potassium;
• fiber supports the animal’s digestive system and helps process food;
• some types of herbs can serve as medicines for the prevention and treatment of diseases, for example, plantain has a disinfecting effect, and knotweed has a diuretic and anti-inflammatory effect;
• individuals of small species build houses or nests for babies from grass.

Your hamster should always have enough fresh greens in his cage. However, it is important to pay attention to its varieties and give only healthy and high-quality food, so as not to harm the health of the animal.

What do little hamsters eat?

If everything is fine with the mother, the cubs usually do not need additional food. But if for some reason the babies are left without a mother or she refuses to feed them, you will have to feed the babies using a pipette or a painting brush. Buy a special formula for newborns at a pet store and dilute it to the consistency of milk. Newborn babies should be fed every two hours, then gently massage their tummies to improve digestion. Small hamsters need to be provided with a bottle of warm water (not higher than +31 °C).

At the age of two weeks, you can already give baby formula (Gerber, Agusha), thin porridge with water and without sugar, crushed cottage cheese, egg yolks and fresh herbs.

From three weeks you can give pureed “adult” food. As a rule, at this age babies can already eat on their own.

Pregnant and lactating hamsters need more protein foods.

What vegetable can you offer?

In our country, the following types (varieties) of beets are most often grown:

• dining room,
• sugar,
• stern

Naturally, most owners offer their pets what they eat themselves. This is a table beet, and in small quantities it can help your hamster with constipation or indigestion. If you grow this healthy vegetable yourself, you can offer the tops of the root vegetable.

Is it possible to give a hamster fodder beets? The fodder root crop is fed to cows and pigs on some farms. And perhaps your rodent will also like it. But this type of beet does not contain particularly useful substances for rodents.

Sugar beets can also be fed to your hamster, but be careful. But this type of root vegetable should be excluded from the diet of Djungarian and diabetic hamsters.

We hope that we have helped you, and you now know whether hamsters can eat beets. And in order for your hamster to grow and remain healthy and cheerful, you need to include a variety of vegetables in his diet. Can hamsters eat pumpkin, carrots, zucchini or bell peppers? Read on our website.

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List of prohibited products

What is strictly forbidden to feed a hamster:

• spicy, salty, smoked and canned foods;
• any spices;
• citrus and exotic fruits (lemons, oranges, tangerines, grapefruits, avocados, etc.);
• onion garlic;
• cabbage;
• potato;
• watermelon;
• mushrooms;
• sweets.

The list of prohibited herbs includes cereal leaves and dandelion. The sharp serrations on these leaves can injure your hamster's cheeks. Dandelion should not be given because of the milky juice.

Is it possible to treat Djungarian hamsters with potatoes?

Djungarian hamsters are gentle and sensitive creatures, their body is weakly resistant to many diseases. Fluffy pets often suffer from diabetes caused by excess weight, which greatly upsets their owners. To ensure that a Djungarian baby does not suffer from obesity and always remains cheerful and active, he must adhere to a fairly strict diet. Limiting heavy and high-calorie foods on the menu allows you to make your rodent’s life longer and more fulfilling, and reduce the risk of diabetes. Potatoes contain a large amount of starch, significantly increase the concentration of sugar in the blood, and provoke an increase in body weight. Therefore, it is better to avoid feeding Djungarian hamsters raw and especially boiled potatoes.

Hamster's daily diet

When choosing what to feed your pet, try to ensure that the food is varied, balanced in composition, and contains vitamins.

Animal protein is necessary for complete nutrition of a rodent. It is found in the following products:

Do not overfeed the animal, do not put more food in the feeder than the prescribed amount. Otherwise, your pet will quickly gain excess weight. Better buy him toys and a running wheel so that he moves more and does not suffer from obesity.

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Composition and properties

Beetroot is a very popular vegetable in our country because it does not lose the vitamins and minerals it contains during storage. This is very important in the winter season, when there is not much choice of fresh vegetables and fruits.

This vegetable contains:

• folic acid,
• cellulose,
• vitamins of group B, P, PP,
• magnesium,
• iodine,
• potassium,
• iron,
• as well as other micro- and macroelements and amino acids.

Fiber, contained in large quantities in beets, improves the functioning of the digestive system and helps cleanse the intestines of the accumulation of waste and toxins.
For chronic constipation, it is necessary to consume this vegetable, because boiled beets make you weak. Boiled beets are also very useful, because during heat treatment the substances that make up the vegetable are not destroyed. Therefore, it is just as beneficial for the body as raw.

Whether it is possible to feed a hamster beets is a controversial issue. Some rodent owners claim that this healthy vegetable is necessary to diversify the rodent's diet. Others believe that eating beets for a hamster will not bring any benefit, but, on the contrary, will lead to digestive problems.

As always, both sides are right. Beets can be given to hamsters in very small quantities and not often in order to diversify the rodent’s diet. Offer a tiny piece to your pet and see his reaction. If everything is fine with your pet and his stool has not changed, then next time try giving him a larger piece. But the piece should be no larger than your thumbnail and you only need to offer beets a few times a month. It is not recommended to feed it more and more often, since consuming a large amount of this root vegetable will cause the hamster to develop diarrhea. And any disruption of the gastrointestinal tract is very difficult for small pets to tolerate.

Boiled potatoes

As a rule, a certain amount of boiled food is recommended in the diet of hamsters, since they are digested faster and are more easily absorbed by the body. For potatoes, there is a certain “golden mean” recommended by experts in this matter.

A certain amount of boiled product is acceptable in the diet, but you should not get too carried away with it, as this can lead to a number of negative consequences due to the large amount of starch, namely the deposition of excess fat. Obesity negatively affects the functioning of the cardiovascular system, as well as the health of the body as a whole.

The best solution is for elderly animals to consume boiled potatoes, especially if you add cucumber and pumpkin to it. In this form, it will be easier for the old body to absorb food and cope with a number of toxins. The food is cooked briefly, without adding salt.

Harm of fried potatoes for a hamster

Potatoes and chips cooked in oil have never been considered healthy for both humans and animals.

1. during frying, carcinogens are formed that are toxic;
2. contains a large amount of fat, which increases calorie content;
3. Usually a lot of salt and seasonings are added, which overload the liver and kidneys.

This product is definitely not recommended for rodents.

What potatoes should you not give to hamsters?

Green potatoes pose a great danger to hamsters. The root crop turns green from lying in the light for a long time. Tubers illuminated by the sun begin to produce the poison solanine, which is extremely harmful to humans and especially to small animals. It should be noted that in small doses, solanine does not have a negative effect on the body, sometimes even stimulates digestion and improves intestinal function. But in large quantities, the toxin causes significant damage to health. It is clear that it is enough for a tiny animal to eat a small piece of green potato to become poisoned. You can determine that a vegetable contains solanine not only by color, but also by taste. Poisonous potatoes are bitter and cause a sore throat when swallowed.

It is not advisable to treat hamsters with old and sprouted potatoes. Poor-quality and spoiled products often cause problems with the digestive tract. It is very useful to give rodents potatoes along with cucumbers, parsley, and dill. Fresh greens must be included in the diet of small pets. It is strictly forbidden to feed animals fried foods, potatoes with salt, seasonings, fat, sauce and other additives. Salt and fat are not just harmful, but even dangerous foods for rodents.