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Can Hamsters Eat Raisins?

If you want to purchase a hamster, you may be wondering what should hamsters eat. If you are a hamster owner you certainly know that it is not so easy to have a hamster and to provide him healthy and nutritional diet. Hamsters can eat a variety of human foods, apart from their regular commercially made hamster food. But, some human foods are better for hamsters than others.

In this article we will talk about raisins. Are they safe for hamsters or they may be harmful? Just continue reading this article and you will find out. You can also see if hamsters can eat almonds instead.

More about Raisins

Raisins are the same fruit as grapes. Actually, raisins are dried grapes which are very nutritional and high in calories. There are many raisin varieties, depending on a type of grape that is used.

Also, raisins can be made in different sizes and colors, such as blue, black, green, purple or even yellow. When it comes to a nutritional value, raisins are an excellent source of potassium and iron, but they also contain large amounts of vitamin A and vitamin B. Raisins are also very rich in the natural sugar called fructose. Raisins are produced all around the world and they can be eaten raw or used in baking and cooking. Raisins have many health benefits for people, but can we share them with our hamsters? You will get the answer below.

Are Raisins Safe for Hamsters?

If your hamster has already eaten some raisins, don’t panic immediately! Nothing bad will happen after eating a small amount of raisins. Grapes and raisins are considered safe for hamsters, but you should take in account a few things before feeding your hamster raisins.

It is documented that raisins have some toxic effects to dogs and cats. It is proved that raisins can damage the kidneys of a dog. But, it is not known that raisins can do any harm to hamsters. However, if you decide to feed your hamster raisins, it is best to consult your veterinarian.

To avoid any potential health risks, it is best to feed your hamster only small amounts of raisins once or twice a week.

Also, it is important to start with very small amounts and to watch the reaction of your hamster. If there are any side effects, stop feeding him raisins and find some other fruity snack.

As long as raisins are eaten in moderation, they won’t do any harm to your hamster. But, if you give your hamster large amounts of raisins, it could cause many side effects. Your hamster may suffer from bloating, diarrhea and other gastrointestinal problems. Also, large amounts of raisins could have some potential toxic effects, as we have already said.

Because of that, you should feed your hamster raisins moderately, in order to keep him healthy and lively. Of course, more researches have to be done to prove the safety of raisins for hamsters.

Summary

You could see in this article that raisins are safe for hamsters as long as they are eaten in moderation. There’s no evidence that raisins may do any harm to hamsters, even though it is proved that raisins are toxic for dogs. It is not known yet if this fruit can have some negative effects on other animals, too.

But, to avoid any health risks, you should use raisins only as an occasional treat for your hamster and he will certainly enjoy them. Raspberries are also great as treats. It is known that most pet owners enjoy sharing food with their pets, but you should be careful and have in mind that moderation is the most important for good health.