Hamsters are one of man’s best friends thanks to their tiny nature and adorable demeanor that lets them quickly become priceless in our lives. One of the most critical areas you cannot afford to get wrong is their food.
Luckily, hamsters can enjoy numerous human foods without problems, especially fruits and vegetables with a few exceptions. However, always double-check what you’re giving your hamster to prevent food poisoning or more serious conditions.
Can hamsters eat green apples? Hamsters can enjoy green apples thanks to the rich supply of vitamin C, antioxidants, and other essential nutrients. Apples should however be fed in moderation especially to Winter White, Chinese, and Russian Campbell Dwarf hamsters because they can be prone to diabetes.
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Can Hamsters Eat Green Apples? Here are the Facts!
Firstly, hamsters love the taste and crunchy texture of apples whether green or red. When your hammy has lost his appetite and doesn’t seem to care much for food, apples can be an enticing treat.
If for nothing at all, the fact that the tasty fruit can restore the appetite of sick and elderly hamsters may be a huge plus. They’re are a popular treat even for hamsters on the deathbed.
Nutritional Value per 100g of Green Apples (Granny Smith Apples)
Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz)
Energy 218 kJ (52 kcal)
Carbohydrates 13.81 g
Sugars 10.39 g
Dietary fiber 2.4 g
Fat 0.17 g
Protein 0.26 g
Vitamins
Thiamine (B1) (1%) 0.017 mg
Riboflavin (B2) (2%) 0.026 mg
Niacin (B3) (1%) 0.091 mg
Pantothenic acid (B5) (1%) 0.061 mg
Vitamin B6 (3%) 0.041 mg
Folate (B9) (1%) 3 μg
Vitamin C (6%) 4.6 mg
Minerals
Calcium (1%) 6 mg
Iron (1%) 0.12 mg
Magnesium (1%) 5 mg
Phosphorus (2%) 11 mg
Potassium (2%) 107 mg
Zinc (0%) 0.04 mg
As is evident, green apples aka Granny Smith apples provide reliable quantities of vitamins and proteins. It also contains bits of phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, and water. Sugar is another core component although the quantity pales in comparison to fruits such as pineapples and mangoes.
What Are The Health Benefits of Apples For Hamsters?
Green and red apples can be truly beneficial for hamsters. The following are a couple of the advantages pet rodents may gain from eating this popular fruit.
Vitamin C for Hamsters
Green apples can be a valuable supplement to the hamster diet due to the high Vitamin C content. The little creatures may be prone to infections and diseases but consumption of apples can promote healing and minimize the risk of suffering scurvy.
Vitamin C also stimulates the hamster’s immune system to handle all kinds of infections.
Appetite Booster
Green apples can boost hamster’s appetites after an illness or physical injury from incidents such as accidental drops. Low appetite can affect the little rodent’s energy levels, slowing down the recovery process and prolonging his pain and discomfort.
When your little guy is refusing all foods offered, try a few slices of green apples and be amazed at the results.
Hamster Dietary Fiber
Apples are also rich in fiber which eases the digestion process. It can be a vital addition to commercial hamster pellets that may be largely grain, seed, and nut-based. Consuming the right quantities of fiber enable healthy poop in hamsters.
Fruits and vegetables are also recommended by veterinarians to promote good populations of gut bacteria in the hamster’s digestive system.
Low Calories
Granny Smith apples are a great option for overweight hamsters to shed a few extra pounds. It contains low calories and fills up the tummy quickly, speeding up the weight loss process significantly.
After all, unhealthy weight gain can increase the risks of diabetes and heart disease which may reduce the hamster’s quality of life and lifespan.
Antioxidants
Green apples are a rich source of antioxidants for hamsters. They minimize the impact of free radicals in the pocket rodents’ bodies. The result is a lower risk of suffering serious health complications such as cancers, cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes.
Common Concerns When Feeding Your Hamster Apples
Apples are a popular treat for hamsters of all ages but there are a few caveats to consider. Firstly, it may take time for the little rodent’s digestive system to warm up to any new food, especially fiber-rich options such as fruits and vegetables.
Diarrhea from stomach upsets can be common in the interim so you may want to introduce your hamster to apples slowly. Serving sizes can be increased over time as the little guy’s stomach gets more used to apples.
If a hamster shows signs of sickness every time apples are consumed, just switch to alternative fruits and vegetables. While this is very rare, there’s always a chance that a pet rodent may react badly to certain foods, no matter how healthy they may be.
Hamsters have a knack for hiding food in their cheek pouches. Unfortunately, apples may begin to rot when stuffed in the cheeks, just like other fruits. This can expose the little rodent to sickness when he later consumes the rotten apple.
The only way to get around this is to serve the little guy only small quantities of apples at a time.
Can Hamsters Eat Apple Peels and Seeds?
Apple peels are not only safe for hamsters, removing them can also rob your little pet rodent of the full crunchy experience. The peels contain significant portions of dietary fiber and essential vitamins that can enhance the hamster’s health.
However, always wash apples thoroughly to remove traces of pesticides and potential toxins before serving your furball.
Also, cut unpeeled apples into small chunks to minimize the risk of choking. A hamster’s teeth often struggle to break down large pieces of unpeeled apples which can increase the risk of choking.
However, never feed apple seeds to hamsters under any circumstances because it contains cyanide which can be poisonous to the little guy. Feeding a single apple seed to your hamster can cause severe illness and even death so beware.
While humans can consume hundreds of apple seeds before suffering food poisoning, hamsters may not be so lucky due to their tiny size.
How Many Apples Should I Give My Hamster?
You should offer a ½ square of apple for an adult hamster every time his feeding schedule calls for it. You may double this eventually when he shows an affinity for the popular fruit without negative consequences such as diarrhea.
However, avoid overfeeding apples or other fruits to hamsters no matter how hard they demand it. A healthy hamster diet should be balanced to ensure consistent growth and well-being.
Serving Options For Feeding Apples to Hamsters
Many of us cut fresh green apples into small chunks and offer them to our pet rodents right away. While this is a perfectly ok way to serve these little creatures, you can always get creative to give your hammy an even better experience.
Here are a few suggestions for serving Granny Smith or any color of apples to hamsters.
Shredded Apple
Shredding can be a great way for your favorite hammy to enjoy fresh apple stress-free. You can serve the grated apple alone or even add it to packaged hamster pellets to improve the taste and inject some creativity into the little guy’s diet.
Just make sure to serve only small bits at a time to minimize the risk of choking especially if the apple is unpeeled.
Apple Shakes
Want a shared snack with your hamster at night when he usually wakes up hungry? Why not make an apple shake with ingredients such as fresh apples, banana, greek yogurt, kiwi, and oats?
You can serve the delicious shake in a tiny custom bowl or cup or even pour it into an empty bottle. Can you imagine how much fun it can be as y’all enjoy the treat while spending time together at night?
Apple Truffles
Apple truffles are another excellent treat for your beloved hammy. Ingredients such as apples, grains, seeds, and nuts can be blended in a food processor to get a coarse mixture. The mixture can be made into small truffle balls by hand and frozen for a couple of hours.
Serve the frozen apple truffles to your hamster and watch as he consumes the treat with delight in his eyes.
Sticky Apple
This is another yummy hamster treat that can be made from apples. Ingredients include apple, peanut butter, carrots, hamster pellets, and cheese. The steps for making Sticky Apple are as follows.
Slice the fresh green apple in half and cut a circle in the middle. Spread a bit of peanut butter with small chunks of carrots, cheese, and hamster pellets.
Freeze the apple for a couple of hours, serve it to the hungry hamster, and watch as your favorite furball enjoys this delicious treat.
Conclusion
Green apples can be a great choice for hamsters. However, overfeeding your pet rodent with this fruit often results in negative health consequences. Moderation is key to ensure he derives maximum benefits.
Apples should only be served as a supplement to traditional hamster pellets together with other fruits and vegetables. As a general guide, hamsters should eat apples no more than once or twice per week.