If you are a hamster owner, it can be funny, but you know that it is not so easy. You have to take care of your hamster’s diet, in order to keep him healthy and lively. Balanced and nutritional diet is most important for the health of your hamster. As you have probably heard, there are many human foods that may be dangerous for hamsters and cause many health problems. Bread may seem harmless but could cause chronic problems like obesity.
In this article we will deal with chocolate. It is known that chocolate is a favorite dessert of many people, but can we share this sweet with our hamsters? Have you ever heard that chocolate may be unsafe for some pets? You will get the answers in this article, but first we will tell you something more about chocolate. So, let’s start.
More about Chocolate
Chocolate is a sweet preparation of roast and ground cacao seeds that are usually flavored with vanilla. Chocolate can be made in the form of a paste, liquid or in the form of a block.
Also, chocolate is usually used as an ingredient in many desserts. Chocolate contains certain amounts of minerals and vitamins, but you should be careful. Chocolate may have some health benefits but it is very rich in calories and saturated fats.
Because of that you should not eat chocolate in large amounts because it can lead to weight gain. But, have you ever wondered is chocolate good to be a snack for your hamster?
Is Chocolate Safe for Hamsters?
Unfortunately, we don’t have good news for you. Chocolate is not safe for hamsters. It is also known that chocolate is dangerous for most of animal species.
Actually, chocolate contains theobromine, a chemical that may be toxic to hamsters and other pets. They are not able to metabolize theobromine because their digestive systems are too sensitive. Chocolate can lead to toxicity which sometimes can be deadly. The most common symptoms of toxicity are diarrhea, vomiting and other gastrointestinal problems.
Also, toxicity can be manifested as hyperactivity, heart attacks and epileptic seizures. This happens if your hamster has eaten large amounts of chocolate. The toxicity caused by chocolate depends on the type of chocolate but also on the quantity of chocolate that you are giving to your hamster. If your hamster has eaten a small amount of chocolate probably nothing bad will happen, but too much chocolate can be very dangerous and even lead to death.
Not only chocolate contains theobromine, but it also contains a lot of fat and sugar, which is not good for pets. It can lead to gastrointestinal problems, but also to weight gain. Because of that, it is best to avoid feeding your hamster chocolate. Also, you should avoid feeding your hamster any products that are made up of chocolate.
Summary
As you have seen in this article, you should not feed your hamster chocolate. Chocolate contains a toxic compound theobromine that may lead to toxicity.
It is also rich in fat and calories, which is one more reason to avoid this food. Some studies have shown that many pets died of eating chocolate. Have in mind that hamster is a very small animal and his digestive system is very sensitive.
As you know, you are the only responsible for your hamster’s health so you should be careful. If it is said that chocolate is bad for hamsters, don’t give it to your pet. The health of your hamster is most important, so it is best to avoid any risk. After reading this article we are sure that you will not feed your hamster chocolate. Hamsters can eat raspberries and many other fruits are better options.
