Providing your pet hamsters with a proper diet filled with nutritional value is highly important. Apart from the usual hamster mix, fruits and vegetables are a must if you want to keep your hamster healthy. But can hamsters eat oranges?
Hamsters can’t eat oranges due to the high level of citric acid. Any citrus fruit, including oranges, can result in stomach and bowel issues. Moreover, fructose (fruit sugar) can cause diabetes in hamsters, especially smaller breeds, like dwarf hamsters.
We know many of our pets need fruits and vegetables next to their usual diet. However, just because oranges are good for us doesn’t mean they aren’t harmful to your pet hamster. In this article, I’ll discuss all you need to know about including oranges in your hamster’s diet.
Can Hamsters Eat Orange Peels?
Many hamster owners stay clear of oranges but think orange peels aren’t harmful. After all, the sugary orange juice isn’t present in the peel. But is it really safe to give your hamster orange peels to chew?
Hamsters can eat orange peels only if they’re dried. Dried orange peels don’t contain citric acid, which can harm hamsters’ health. Hamsters should only eat the white part of the peel (pith). However, to be safe, you should avoid giving your hamster anything related to oranges.
Fresh orange peels still contain high levels of citric acid, and hamsters should never eat oranges or fresh orange peels. However, since oranges contain many beneficial nutrients, many hamster owners opt for orange peels as the next best thing. The truth is, fresh peels are still as harmful, though.
Instead, you can feed your hamster small quantities of dried orange peel. But be careful, as the peel must be as dry as possible. While citric acid mostly evaporates from the peel over time, your hamster still shouldn’t eat the actual orange peel.
Hamsters should only eat the white part around the peel, called pith, as it’s full of fiber. But don’t go overboard with it, either. Your pet needs to have a regulated and varied diet. That means a little bit of everything (that’s not harmful to them, that is).
In a study from 2020, scientists gave the peel of citrus fruit from China (Changshan-huyou) to hamsters suffering from hyperlipidemia. The results show the diet improved hamsters’ liver function by creating antioxidants. But these are specific circumstances (a type of fruit and hamsters with a serious medical condition).
If you don’t want to risk it, you should avoid giving your hamster pet anything related to oranges. Plenty of other sources of nutrients are safer for these wonderful animals.
Can Dwarf Hamsters Eat Oranges?
Dwarf hamsters are among the most popular species of hamsters to keep. They don’t ask for much and are easy to handle. But can you feed them oranges?
Dwarf hamsters can’t eat oranges because citric acid from oranges can cause various health problems for this species. Because dwarf hamsters are smaller, they could develop diabetes from the sugar in oranges. Additionally, oranges can deteriorate hamsters’ teeth and cause stomach issues.
Although it sounds odd, oranges contain citric acid and fructose, which is the natural sugar in fruits. This combination of acid and sugar is harmful to dwarf hamsters because, since this species of hamster is smaller than other species, they’re more prone to some diseases, such as diabetes.
While the same quantity of harmful substances doesn’t have the same effect on other bigger hamster species, you should still avoid giving them any oranges.
The natural sugar in oranges can increase glucose levels in dwarf hamsters’ blood. If this happens, you shouldn’t give any fruit to your dwarf hamster. On top of that, citric acid from oranges causes diarrhea.
Hamsters and Oranges: What You Need To Know
When hamsters consume any part of an orange, they can develop temporary health issues, such as stomach pain or diarrhea, or permanent issues, like diabetes and tooth decay. All of this occurs because of the acid and sugar found in oranges.
Older research was done on Syrian hamsters, where scientists gave orange juice to hamsters. The results showed there wasn’t any significant tooth decay. Moreover, the deterioration was reduced when they diluted orange juice with water. However, giving fresh oranges to your hamster can lead to oral problems.
Higher intake of acids can also lead to hamsters developing Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), which slowly deteriorates the digestive system. Moreover, as some studies suggest, acid-related health issues can increase tumor growth.
What To Do if Your Hamster Accidentally Eats a Piece of Orange?
Sometimes, hamsters accidentally find their way to a tasty orange, especially if owners are unfamiliar with all the harm the fruit can cause to hamsters. What should you do if that happens?
Everything depends on the species of hamster you have. If you have a dwarf hamster, the risks of more serious health issues are greater than with other breeds. It also depends on how much your hamster managed to eat.
If it’s only a small quantity, everything should be fine if your hamster doesn’t have prior medical conditions. The best thing to do is to give your hamster some water, which will dissolve some of the citric acids and minimize potential symptoms.
However, give your vet a call if you notice that the symptoms are getting worse.
Fruits You Can Give Your Hamster
You should avoid any citrus fruit when feeding your hamster. Also, if your hamster has diabetes or is overweight, avoid any fruit. Try adding some vegetables to the diet.
Here are some fruits that aren’t harmful to hamsters:
- Strawberry
- Bananas
- Apples (no seeds)
- Grapes (no seeds)
- Pear
- Plum
Remember, give these fruits only in moderation. Once or twice a week in small quantities should be enough.
Final Thoughts
You should never give oranges to your hamsters because they are highly acidic, which can cause serious health issues for hamsters. Citric acid can cause stomach issues, diarrhea, and diabetes, especially if you have dwarf hamsters.
Hamsters can eat dried orange peels but only give them completely dried oranges. Even then, they should eat only the white pith.
If your hamster somehow ate some oranges, give them water to dissolve the acid. If some symptoms appear, contact your vet.