Safe Treats for Hamsters

Like all pets, hamsters enjoy a variation from their everyday food rations. Treats ranging from prepackaged pet store yogurt drops and seed covered sticks to garden fresh vegetables will keep you hamster healthy and happy. Not all human foods are safe for hamsters. Avoid sugar laden highly processed snacks. Desserts and fried foods should never be shared with a pet hamster. In the wild hamsters forage for seeds, nuts, insects and the roots of plants. Consider adding a maximum of 1 tablespoon per day of treats to your pet hamster's diet.

Moist Protein Rich Hamster Treats
Offer your the hamster a teaspoon of chopped hard boiled egg. This protein rich treat is especially beneficial for pregnant and lactating hamsters. Baby hamsters just starting to look for food will also enjoy the soft texture and extra nutrients of eggs.

Mealworms, cooked beef and moist canned pet foods can also be fed as a protein rich hamster treat.

Be sure to remove all fresh moist foods after a few hours. If moist treats are allowed to sit too long in the hamster's cage they will spoil and could make your hamster sick if eaten.

Protein Rich Dry Treats
Give your hamster a piece of protein rich dog or cat food kibble. The hard texture keeps hamster teeth filed down, while providing a crunchy treat. Choose dry foods containing vitamin A and D rich fish liver oil.

Vegetables as Treats
When you are preparing dinner, consider sharing fresh uncooked fruits and vegetables with your pet hamster. Crunchy baby carrots and a leaf of uncooked spinach not only add extra vitamin C to your hamster's diet.

Natural Foods for Hamsters
Hamster love to munch on the greens and flowers of sweet clover. When feeding your pet hamster natural items that can be found in your yard or a park, make sure the greens have not been treated with any type of fertilizer, insecticide or weed repellent. The safest way to try natural treats with your hamster is to grow a small pot of pet safe greens in your home. Pet grasses are also available at large pet retail stores.

Note: A pet hamster's diet should consist of a dry pellet food mix and treats. To stay healthy, offer your pet hamster a balanced diet of proteins, carbohydrates, fats, minerals, vitamins and fresh clean drinking water daily.

Source:
Hamsterific: The Birds and the Hamsters
http://www.hamsterific.com/Nutrition.cfm