Most pet owners love to share food with their pets. If you own a hamster it may be funny, but it is not so easy.
As a hamster owner, you have to take care of your hamster’s diet and many other things. You have the responsibility for your hamster’s health, so it is necessary to provide him with all necessary nutrients. Apart from commercially made hamster food, you can also include some human foods into your hamster’s diet.
In this article we will tell you something more about popcorn and its influence on your hamster’s health.
More about Popcorn
Popcorn is a corn that expands from its kernel and then puffs up on the heat. When the kernel is heated, pressure builds within it and it results in a small explosion.
Apart from popcorn that is prepared in microwave oven, you can also use small home appliances for popping corn. Popcorn is usually cooked with oil or butter. It is a great snack when you are watching TV, but it is also eaten in movie theaters. Popcorn is a favorite snack of most people and it is low in calories, unless it is prepared with too much oil, salt or sugar.
Have you ever served popcorn to your hamster? How did your hamster react? Did he have any side effects after eating popcorn? If you are wondering whether popcorn is good for your hamster, we will give you the answer.
Is Popcorn Safe for Hamsters?
If your hamster has eaten some popcorn, there’s no need to worry. It is perfectly safe for hamsters to eat plain white popcorn as an occasional treat. But, you should never feed your hamster popcorn with added salt, oil or butter.
Also, you can give your hamster only a small amount of popcorn once in a while. It means that once a week or once in two weeks is more than enough for your hamster. Popcorn is not the best choice for your hamster because it will not provide him with any necessary nutrients, but it won’t also harm your hamster.
But, if you add salt or too much oil to popcorn, it may have adverse effects for your hamster. Excessive salt or butter may lead to weight gain. Also, it is possible that your hamster starts to avoid his normal food, which is not good for his health.
Also, you should not give your hamster popcorn kernels because they can cause choking. To avoid any health risks, it is best to feed your hamster plain popcorn but only as an occasional treat. Remember that popcorn should not be a regular part of your hamster’s diet. Some fruits might be preferable and would make you want to check them out. Your hamster’s diet can include cherries.
Summary
After reading this article, you need to decide your own if you will feed your hamster popcorn or you will find some other treat.
As we have already said, popcorn is generally safe for hamsters if it is eaten in small amounts. An important thing is not to add too much salt, butter and oil when you are preparing popcorn for your hamster. Large amounts of popcorn can cause many side effects, so it is best to feed popcorn in moderation.
As most other human foods, popcorn should also be eaten in moderation, in order to avoid any health problems. You should keep in mind that you are the only responsible for your hamster’s health, so you need to provide your hamster a properly balanced and nutritional diet.
As a hamster owner, you have to be well informed about the foods that your hamsters can eat and others that may be harmful for him. You can also read about hamsters and cucumbers next.
