To be happy and healthy, hamsters need high-quality pellets with the occasional treat thrown into the mix. However, not all things yummy are great for these tiny animals, so you might be wondering whether apples can be fed to your cute little pet.
Hamsters can eat apples. Apples are loaded with vitamins and minerals that are great for keeping a hamster healthy. However, when given in large quantities, even nutritious foods can be bad for these small animals, so make sure to keep serving sizes small.
If you’re fond of apples and want to share your love for this fruit with your hamster, you can, by all means, do so! To learn more about the proper way to give this fruit to your hamster, read on.
Can Hamsters Eat the Skin of an Apple?
Hamsters can eat the skin of an apple. An occasional apple peel treat is not only safe for your pet but beneficial as well. Apple skin contains polyphenols that act like antioxidants when working together with vitamins also found in apples.
Polyphenol compounds naturally occur in plant-based foods, such as fruits, vegetables, and even everyone’s favorite–chocolate.
Not only are these health boosters amazing for human health, but they also do a lot for hamster health too. Together with Vitamin C, these polyphenols can reduce oxidative stress, lower blood pressure, and reduce blood cholesterol.
What’s more, there’s not just one type of polyphenol that can be found in apples. There are five:
- Flavanols
- Phenolic acids
- Flavonols
- Dihydrochalcones
- Anthocyanins
If you have a habit of feeding your hamster humans snacks, like chips and other junk food, it is more prone to diseases like hypertension and kidney issues that stem from high blood pressure or too much cholesterol, among other things.
You can help your hamster recover from a poor diet by incorporating healthy treats into its diet. For this purpose, apples with their skin on are a great option. Not only do hamsters naturally like this fruit, but it’s also powerful in countering the health issues that may already exist in your pet.
Pro tip: Choose organic apples if you can. These are grown without the use of any harmful chemicals and pesticides, making them safe for hamster consumption. Pesticides typically linger on the skin of the apple.
How Much Apple Can You Give a Hamster?
You can give a hamster a maximum of 1/4 teaspoon or around 1.4 grams of an apple once or twice a week. While apple is a highly nutritious snack for you and your pet, the tiny size of your hamster’s digestive tract can only handle so much.
Despite their small tummies, hamsters have a voracious appetite, and they will gobble up anything edible in sight. This is because hamsters are hoarders by instinct, which is useful for when they are in the wild where food is scarce, and they don’t know when they’re going to come by for their next meal.
In the safety of a hamster owner’s care, this survival instinct in hamsters does not disappear, causing them to eat as much as their little stomachs will accommodate—even if that’s way beyond what they can safely consume.
Your hamster won’t eat all of a huge slice of apple if you leave it inside a cage, though, but instead will chew it up and keep some of it in their cheek pouches for later. Still, most of that food will be eaten. And with a steady supply of apples in large chunks, your hamster can easily end up with issues like diabetes and obesity.
Take note that a medium-sized apple has about 19 grams (0.04 pounds) of sugar. And while that may not look like a lot, especially when you give your hamster a small slice at a time, sugar is not a hamster’s friend. Like humans, hamsters can develop Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.
Your hamster’s diet should consist mostly of seeds, grass, hay, or hamster pellets that are designed to give a hamster a balanced diet.
Pro tip: Instead of placing a small slice of apple in your hamster’s feeding bowl, hide it in its bedding, inside the tubes, or in the corner of its cage. Hamsters love to explore and find things—especially delicious treats!
Can Hamsters Eat Green Apples?
Hamsters can eat green apples. These fruits can boost a hamster’s health when given in just the right amount and only when given as an addition to a main meal of high-quality hamster pellets.
Green apples should never be given to hamsters as a substitute for a day’s meal because apples consist mostly of water, some fiber, and a good helping of carbohydrates. Hamsters need a lot of protein, which is not present in apples because they are very active animals.
Although hamsters are often mistaken to be herbivores because they love fruits and vegetables, they are actually omnivorous. This means that they can and do eat meat (a good source of protein), aside from the usual seeds and grains.
Can Hamsters Eat Apple Every Day?
Hamsters shouldn’t eat an apple every day. You should give your pet no more than a very thin slice of apple (about a quarter of a teaspoon or 1.4 grams) every week or every other week.
Apples are best given to hamsters as an occasional treat instead of as part of their daily meal because though they are rich in vitamins and minerals, apples also have a high sugar content that can be dangerous for tiny animals like hamsters.
Additionally, do not feed your hamster any apple treats other than raw apples. So candied apples or apple-flavored treats are absolutely a no-no. These have very little to no nutritional value and are loaded with sugar much more than raw apples.
You can also give your hamster other nutritious treats, like broccoli, spinach, cauliflower, and other leafy greens. But as always, limit the amount that your hamster gets!
Can Hamsters Eat Apple Seeds?
Apple seeds are dangerous to hamsters. When not chewed, seeds are completely harmless to small animals. But when broken down, the amygdalin in apple seeds deteriorates, causing a chemical reaction that results in cyanide.
The amount of cyanide in apple seeds is actually very small, so it won’t affect humans at all. But it is toxic to hamsters, as well as other tiny pets.
So when giving your hamster a slice of apple, make sure to remove all the seeds. Apple seeds may not be good for your pet, but they won’t be able to tell the difference between a safe seed and a toxic seed and will chew it anyway.
Due to their small size, even one seed is very dangerous and can even be fatal to hamsters. If you notice that your hamster has suddenly become lethargic, lost interest in grooming, or is having a bout of diarrhea, immediately take it to the vet.
Conclusion
Apples are a healthy and delicious snack for humans and animals alike. They are a great addition to a hamster’s diet but not very beneficial when used as a staple. When consumed in excess, apples can cause health problems for your hamster.
As always, when it comes to feeding small pets, the key is keeping quantities very small. Apples are best served as occasional treats to your furry friend, once or twice per week.