Can Hamsters Have Apples?
If you have a less common pet, like a hamster, things get even trickier. Dogs have iron stomachs which forgive some of our dietary indiscretions, but hamsters, who did not evolve beside humans, have totally different dietary needs and tolerances. They are also far smaller than our dogs, so what seems like a tiny mistake can have devastating consequences. The dose makes the poison, and when you weigh five ounces or less, the dose can be very tiny. So, are apples suitable treats for our little ones?
Can you give your hamster apples?
Pet parents rejoice—the answer is yes, hamsters can eat small portions of apples. Both the skin and flesh of the apples you find in the grocery store are totally safe for hamster consumption. Assuming the apples are fresh and clean, there is no real risk of toxicity associated with feeding them. Because they are low in calories and high in fiber, they make excellent, healthy treats for most hamsters. Just keep in mind your hamster’s size when you feed them any type of fruit. Giving them too many apples can cause diarrhea, nutritional imbalances, or weight gain.
As treats go, apples and other fresh fruits are some of the best options available. Similar to humans and dogs, hamsters are omnivores who do well on diets that consist of both animal and plant foods. Apple flesh is fairly low in calories compared to many other foods, which can be helpful for hamsters who have a sweet tooth but are also at risk of becoming overweight. If your veterinarian has recommended that you put your furry friend on a diet, apples may be a suitable treat that they can enjoy while still losing weight.
Apples are great because they provide sweetness without packing in the calories of, say, a cookie, but they have one other diet-friendly secret weapon: dietary fiber. Fiber is the name for all of the indigestible parts of plants. Though our hamsters are unable to extract energy from fiber, it has many other benefits. For weight loss, the obvious one is this: because they are unable to process dietary fiber, it is effectively a zero-calorie food. Fiber takes up space inside the stomach without actually providing any energy!
This is why high fiber foods, including apples, are so great for anyone who needs to restrict their caloric intake. Your hungry hamster can fill up their tummy with high-fiber fruits and vegetables—they can eat the same volume of food while taking in a fraction of the calories.
Dietary fiber has been linked to countless other health benefits in humans, including a reduced risk of heart disease, diabetes, and some cancers. One study performed on hamsters found that consuming dietary fiber significantly lowered their bad cholesterol. This can be incredibly helpful for hamsters who have heart disease and high cholesterol, as well as those who are at an increased risk of developing cardiovascular problems.
Apples also contain vitamins and antioxidants, but your hamster should be meeting most of their nutrient needs by eating specially formulated hamster chow.
Things to Consider
The biggest thing to worry about with apples is this: apple seeds are extremely poisonous. This is one type of seed that should never be fed to hamsters. Though the flesh and skin are considered harmless, apple seeds contain cyanide—enough cyanide to kill a tiny hamster. Make sure to remove all seeds from the apple pieces you feed to your hamster.
Overall, apples are an excellent, healthy treat for hamsters. They are high in fiber, low in calories, and full of vitamins and antioxidants that can provide a nutritional boost. Just remember that apples are meant to be treats—overfeeding can cause stomach problems and weight gain.
Je, Hamster Wanaweza Kula Matofaa? Ikiwa una mnyama wa kawaida, kama vile hamster, mambo huwa magumu zaidi. Mbwa wana tumbo la chuma ambalo linasamehe baadhi ya makosa yetu ya lishe, lakini hamsters, ambao hawakubadilika kando ya wanadamu, wana mahitaji tofauti kabisa ya lishe na uvumilivu. Kwa kuwa wao ni wadogo kuliko mbwa wetu, kosa dogo linaweza kuwa na matokeo mabaya. Kiasi cha sumu ni kiasi kidogo sana, na ikiwa unazidi kilo moja au chini, kiasi hicho cha sumu kinaweza kuwa kidogo sana. Kwa hiyo, je, matofaa ni vyakula vinavyofaa kwa watoto wetu wadogo? Je, unaweza kumpa hamster wako maapulo? Wazazi wa wanyama-vipenzi hufurahi - jibu ni ndiyo, hamsters zinaweza kula sehemu ndogo za matofaa. Ngozi na nyama ya matofaa unayopata dukani ni salama kabisa kwa ajili ya kula kwa hamster. Kwa kudhani kwamba matofaa hayo ni safi na safi, hakuna hatari halisi ya sumu inayohusiana na kuyawalisha. Kwa kuwa ni zenye kalori chache na zenye nyuzinyuzi nyingi, zinawafurahisha sana hamster wengi. Kumbuka tu ukubwa wa hamster yako unapowapa aina yoyote ya matunda. Kuwapa maapulo mengi mno kwaweza kusababisha kuhara, kutokuwa na usawaziko wa lishe, au kuongezeka kwa uzito. Kwa habari ya vyakula vitamu, matofaa na matunda mengine mapya ni baadhi ya vyakula bora vinavyopatikana. Kama vile mbwa na binadamu, hamster ni mnyama anayekula kila kitu na hula vyakula vya mimea na wanyama. Nyama ya apple ni ya chini sana katika kalori ikilinganishwa na vyakula vingine vingi, ambayo inaweza kuwa na manufaa kwa hamsters ambao wana jino la tamu lakini pia wako katika hatari ya kuwa na uzito wa ziada. Kama daktari wako wa mifugo amependekeza kwamba wewe kuweka rafiki yako furry juu ya mlo, apples inaweza kuwa matibabu sahihi kwamba wanaweza kufurahia wakati bado kupoteza uzito. Matofaa ni nzuri kwa sababu hutoa ladha tamu bila kufunga kalori ya, sema, cookie, lakini yana silaha nyingine ya siri ya lishe: nyuzi za lishe. Fiber ni jina la sehemu zote zisizopatikana katika mimea. Ingawa hamsters zetu haziwezi kupata nishati kutoka kwa nyuzi, zina faida nyingine nyingi. Kwa kupoteza uzito, moja ya wazi ni hii: kwa sababu hawawezi kuchakata fiber ya lishe, ni kwa ufanisi chakula cha kalori sifuri. Fiber inachukua nafasi ndani ya tumbo bila kutoa nishati yoyote! Kwa hiyo, vyakula vyenye nyuzi nyingi, kama vile apples, ni bora kwa mtu yeyote ambaye anahitaji kupunguza ulaji wake wa kalori. Hamster yako mwenye njaa anaweza kujaza tumbo lake na matunda na mboga zenye nyuzi nyingi - wanaweza kula kiasi sawa cha chakula wakati wa kuchukua sehemu ndogo ya kalori. Nyuzinyuzi za chakula zimeunganishwa na faida nyingine nyingi za afya kwa wanadamu, kutia ndani kupunguza hatari ya ugonjwa wa moyo, kisukari, na aina fulani za kansa. Utafiti mmoja uliofanywa juu ya hamsters uligundua kwamba kula nyuzi za chakula ilipunguza sana kolesteroli yao mbaya. Hii inaweza kuwa muhimu kwa hamsters ambao wana ugonjwa wa moyo na cholesterol ya juu, na wale ambao wana hatari kubwa ya kuendeleza matatizo ya moyo. Mazao ya apples pia yana vitamini na antioxidants, lakini hamster yako inapaswa kukidhi mahitaji yake mengi ya virutubisho kwa kula chakula maalum cha hamster. Jambo la muhimu zaidi la kujali kuhusu matunda ya mtofaa ni kwamba mbegu za mtofaa ni sumu sana. Hii ni aina moja ya mbegu ambayo haipaswi kamwe kupewa hamster. Ingawa nyama na ngozi yake huonwa kuwa zisizo na madhara, mbegu za matofaa zina cyanide - cyanide ya kutosha kuua hamster mdogo. Hakikisha kwamba unaondoa mbegu zote kwenye vipande vya mtofaa unavyomlisha hamster wako. Kwa ujumla, maapulo ni chakula kizuri na chenye afya kwa hamster. Ni yenye kiasi kikubwa cha nyuzi, yenye kalori chache, na yenye vitamini na vimeng'enyaji-mvuke, na hivyo huchangia afya ya mwili. Kumbuka tu kwamba matofaa yanakusudiwa kuwa vitamu - kulisha kupita kiasi kunaweza kusababisha matatizo ya tumbo na kuongezeka kwa uzito.