Giving your hamster yummy snacks is an easy way to win its love. But can your furry friend eat human snacks like pretzels?
Hamsters can eat pretzels, but only rarely and in very small amounts. Pretzels contain enough salt, fat, and sugar to be a danger to your hamster’s health. Too much salt can result in kidney problems for hamsters, while too much fat and sugar can cause digestive issues, obesity, and diabetes.
This article will answer questions about hamsters eating pretzel sticks and other human snacks. This includes dietary information, portion sizes, and frequency.
Can Hamsters Eat Pretzel Sticks?
Hamsters can eat pretzel sticks. However, they really shouldn’t. Pretzel sticks are very high in salt, preservatives, and refined wheat to be healthy for hamsters. There are many other snacks your hamster would enjoy that won’t pose any threat to its health.
Hamsters are omnivores, which means they need fruits, vegetables, and some form of animal protein, such as insects, for optimum health. Most of this nutrition can be provided by commercial hamster pellets, but you should also offer fresh fruit and vegetables daily.
Choosing a snack like fresh apple will make your hamster just as happy while also supporting its health. For example, apples contain:
- Fiber
- Antioxidants
- Vitamin C
- Natural sugars (which your hamster will love!)
Meanwhile, pretzel sticks contain:
- Very little fiber
- No vitamins
- No antioxidants
- Sodium
- Fat
- Carbohydrates
- Refined wheat
Nowhere in a hamster’s diet is there a need for empty carbohydrates, sodium, and refined wheat.
That said, unsalted pretzels are a little safer if you really want to give your hamster a taste of your favorite snack. The reduced sodium content will at least lessen the strain on your hamster’s kidneys.
How Often Can I Give My Hamster Pretzels?
You can give your hamster a small piece of pretzel once a month. Alternatively, you can give your hamster unsalted and fat-free pretzel sticks about every week without significantly threatening their health.
Still, unsalted pretzel sticks contain sodium—just less than the salted variety. As such, they are only a slightly better choice than regular pretzels. In addition, pretzels are ‘junk foods’ that can shorten their lifespan and increase the possibility of health problems.
The more often you give your hamster pretzels, the more often they will forgo eating healthy pellets and veggies, and the more likely they are to develop health issues as a result.
I recommend choosing a healthy snack of fresh fruit instead. Your hamster will be just as pleased by a slice of apple or peach as they would be by a pretzel, and it won’t harm their health!
How Many Pretzels Can I Give My Hamster?
You can give your hamster one small piece of pretzel or pretzel stick per serving. Offer a piece no longer than one inch (2.5 cm) in length.
The actual amount of serving depends on the breed of your hamster. For very small breeds like dwarf hamsters, cut the above serving size by at least half.
In addition, you should give your hamster a reduced serving size the first time you offer new foods and then wait 24 hours to see how they respond.
Depending on the brand of pretzels and the individual hamster, there may be allergic reactions and/or digestive upset.
Look for any change of behavior like:
- Sneezing
- Wheezing
- Labored breathing
- Excessive scratching
- Runny nose
- Discharge from eyes/nose
- Swollen feet
- Runny stool
- Lethargy
If you notice any of these symptoms, take your hamster to a vet as soon as possible. Never give your hamster more than one new food at a time. This will help you to identify foods that don’t agree with them.
Finally, remember that some of the above symptoms can result from other health problems.
What Are Healthy Snacks for Hamsters?
Healthy snacks for hamsters include fresh, unprocessed foods that hamsters would eat in the wild. These include fresh fruits, nuts, seeds, grains, and veggies. Hamsters also benefit from the occasional protein treat like eggs and mealworms. Whole-grain bread and cereals are also okay in moderation.
However, before choosing treats for your hamster, always check the ingredients. Choose organic, whole grain, unbleached, low sodium, low sugar, and minimally processed foods whenever possible.
These foods will reduce your hamster’s exposure to unnecessary pesticides and preservatives and help you avoid accidentally giving them an unhealthy amount of sugar or salt.
In addition, always wash fruits and veggies thoroughly before offering them to your hamster, as residual pesticides can be deadly to these little creatures.
Good Veggies for Hamsters
Veggies are good treats for hamsters, but they can—and should—be offered as a part of your pet’s daily diet. Hamster pellets provide most of the nutrition hamsters need, but fresh greens are irreplaceable in your furry pal’s diet. However, you can give extra veggies as a treat.
Just make sure you are careful to clean, peel, de-seed, and chop the veggies into small pieces for your hamster’s safety.
- Asparagus
- Eggplant
- Basil
- Bean Sprouts
- Broccoli
- Brussel Sprouts
- Cabbage
- Carrot
- Cauliflower
- Celery
- Chard
- Corn
- Zucchini
- Endive
- Green Beans
- Kale
- Marrow
- Mint
- Okra
- Parsley
- Bell Peppers
- Sweet Potato (cooked)
- Potato (cooked)
- Runner Beans
- Spinach
- Squash
- Turnip
- Watercress
Good Fruits for Hamsters
Fruit is a fantastic treat for hamsters because they love anything sweet! You can find many sweet treats at pet stores, like yogurt drops, but these are very high in processed sugar and low in fiber. As such, they’re very bad for hamsters.
Conversely, fruit is much healthier, as almost all fruit has considerable fiber content and other valuable nutrients.
Never give your hamster fruit seeds or stones. When possible, remove skins as well, since they can have toxins and pesticides in them.
- Apple
- Apricot
- Avocado
- Banana
- Blackberry
- Blueberry
- Cherries
- Coconut
- Cranberry
- Loganberry
- Lychee
- Mango
- Melon
- Star Fruit
- Strawberry
- Raspberry
- Peach
- Pear
- Papaya
- Plum
Good Nuts and Seeds for Hamsters
Nuts and seeds are other great treats for hamsters. Why? They’re delicious and full of healthy fats! However, as such, they should only be given in moderation. Too much fat—even from healthy sources—will make your hamster fat and result in health problems down the line.
Here’s a list of safe choices:
- Hemp Seeds
- Peanuts
- Pecans
- Pistachios
- Walnuts
- Pine nuts
- Cashews
- Hazelnuts
- Sunflower seeds
- Pumpkin seeds
Final Thoughts
Pretzels and pretzel sticks are bad for hamsters, but you can offer these snacks once a month in small servings. However, be careful about how much sodium, fat, sugar, and processed foods you give your hamsters overall.
Sodium damages your hamster’s kidneys, and fat and sugar can cause obesity or even diabetes.
Better choices of treats include fresh fruit or nuts/seeds, although fresh veggies are great too.