Whenever you have a cute pet, such as a hamster, you often want to give them a treat. But can they have that treat? Sometimes treats can cause harm and other times they are a welcome nutritional boost to a hamster’s diet. Apples are one of these treats that people wonder if they can feed to their hamsters. Can hamsters eat apples? The short answer is yes, hamsters can eat apples. But, like with all hamster treats apples should be given in moderation. Read on below to find out the details about giving apples as a treat to your hamster.
Are Apples Good for Hamsters?
Apples can provide some great nutritional content to hamsters. They have fiber and vitamins, such as Vitamin C Compared to other common hamster treats that have high amounts of calories and fat, such as chestnuts or pecans, apples are a great option to give to a hamster as a treat.
Apples can have some beneficial vitamins and minerals for your hamster. According to the USDA, apples have Calcium, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, and Vitamin K.
While the sugar content is lower than other fruit treats, apples still have sugar. So giving too much can cause health issues especially if you have a diabetic hamster. Apples are still a much better option for a treat than higher sugar fruits such as bananas.
Can Hamsters Have Apple Seeds?
No, you should never give your hamster apple seeds. Always remove seeds from the apple pieces you give to your hamster. There are several reasons that these can be harmful.
Apple seeds pose a risk of choking for hamsters, and they contain toxigenic amygdalin which is broken down by the body into cyanide. While the small amount is ok for humans it is too much for a small hamster and other small rodents.
Care should always be taken to make sure there are no apple seeds given to your hamster.
Can Hamsters Have Apple Peels?
Apple peels are ok for hamsters to have. They contain fiber and other good nutrients that can benefit your hamster.
Can Syrian Hamsters Eat Apples?
Yes, Syrian hamsters can eat apples.
How Many Apples Can a Syrian Hamster Eat?
Syrian hamsters can have up to two teaspoons of apple per week. Cut up the apple into small pieces to help yourself measure out the correct amount.
Visually inspect the pieces you are giving to your hamster to make sure there are no seeds or pieces of seeds on them.
Can Dwarf Hamsters Eat Apples?
Yes, Dwarf hamsters can be given apples as a treat. They will need smaller amounts than what larger hamsters such as Syrians are given.
How Many Apples Can a Dwarf Hamster Eat?
Dwarf hamsters can have up to 1/2 teaspoon of apple pieces per week.
Since dwarf hamsters are smaller than Syrian hamsters it stands to reason that they would need fewer amounts of treats. They are also more prone to get diabetes, so anything that contains sugar should be given in very small amounts and less frequently than a Syrian hamster would get.
Visually inspect the pieces you are giving to your hamster to make sure there are no seeds or pieces of seeds on them.
Are There Risks Feeding Apples to Hamsters?
Like all hamster treats, there can be some cautions that go with giving your hamster apples. Too much of a good thing can always have consequences.
If after 8 to 12 hours your hamster hasn’t eaten its apple pieces, remove them from the cage.
Do not feed your hamster apples two days in a row. Always give apples as a treat with a few days in between. Feeding apples too often can cause GI upset. If you want to only give apple pieces once a week that is a great way to give your little friend a nice treat.
Make sure that you use fresh apples that are of good quality. Organic would be best to avoid many of the harshest chemicals that are used on non-organic apples. Apples are one of the fruits listed on the Dirty Dozen fruit list, this is why organic is best. Chemicals used during conventional farming can build up in apples and cause problems for creatures as small as hamsters.
Always wash the apples before you give them to your hamster. Even when using organic apples there are still pesticides and other dangerous things that could be on it, even if it is natural.
Cut up the apple into small pieces for your hamster. They obviously can’t eat an entire apple and you need to be able to measure out the amount you are giving to your hamster. Cutting the apple into small pieces will help both you and your hamster out when it comes to treat time.
Never give apple seeds to a hamster. Make sure that there are no apple seeds in the pieces you are giving to your hamster. Apple seeds are a choking hazard for hamsters and can be toxic once metabolized.
If you notice any GI upset following giving your hamster apples, remove any other pieces from the cage and find an alternative treat. Consult your vet to see what would be the best options for your hamster.
Frequently Asked Questions About Feeding Apples to Hamsters
No, you should not give apples to baby hamsters or juvenile hamsters. Young hamsters can experience GI upset when given treats such as apples and the high sugar content can have negative effects on their health as they are developing. You should only give apples to adult hamsters.
No, hamsters should not be given apple cores. The cores have seeds that pose two risks to hamsters: choking and amygdalin which is metabolized into cyanide. Always give your hamster pieces of apples that are not from the core. Do not risk accidentally giving your hamster an apple seed.
References
- Khandekar JD, Edelman H. Studies of Amygdalin (Laetrile) Toxicity in Rodents. JAMA. 1979;242(2):169–171. doi:10.1001/jama.1979.03300020039023; https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/365716