Cranberries! Yum, they are delicacies served on plates. We love them; do you love them too? We know you love them too. And what about your hamsters?
Let’s check about this matter in detail.
So, Can Hamsters Eat Cranberries?
YES! Your hamsters can have cranberries only if you’ve Syrian Hamsters because Dwarf Hamsters are prone to diabetes, and cranberries have high sugar levels; therefore, Dwarf hamsters can’t eat cranberries. Additionally, it is better if you serve cranberries in moderation to any hamster species, as any hamster can develop diabetes in the long term.
Feeding too many sugary items can cause your hamster to collapse. So, the amount you feed your hamsters should be taken care of.
You should also know about the proper ways to feed it with appropriate proportions because Syrian Hamsters can develop diabetes too.
Now it is time for us to learn everything in detail. So let’s check it.
Nutrients in Cranberries
100 grams of raw and unsweetened Cranberries contain:
| Nutrients | Value |
|---|---|
| Calories | 46 |
| Water | 87% |
| Protein | 0.4 grams |
| Carbs | 12.2 grams |
| Sugar | 4 grams |
| Fiber | 4.6 grams |
| Fat | 0.1 grams |
Benefits of Cranberries to your Hamsters
Cranberries are delicious and come with prolific nutritional value. If given in a controlled pattern, hamsters will get enormous nutritional value added to their diet. It is a superfood, and they contain a plethora of things like:
- Cranberries contain antioxidants that help prevent untimely aging and reduce its effects like cancer.
- It also has Vitamin C, which helps build a great immune system and maintain good health.
- It contains fibers that are excellent for digestion and prevent digestive problems if taken proportionally.
- Magnesium helps in the regulation of blood pressure.
- It also comes with potassium which makes the bones and muscles stronger.
But, the bad news is, there are also a bunch of risks involved; they are…
Risk of Feeding Cranberries to Hamsters
There are a few risks of cranberries that should be considered before talking about the servings. There are a plethora of benefits, but there are some risks too.
- It may cause obesity and diabetes, and both may be caused because of excessive sugar levels in the cranberry.
- There may be problems with stomach aches because cranberries are a little acidic, and hence too much consumption can lead to acidity and stomach upset.
Pro Tip: Cranberries are safe and don’t have a lot of harm, if served in moderation. So if you serve cranberries to your hamsters ocationally then there is no issues.
How To Serve Cranberries To Your Hamsters?
Here are the steps you can follow while feeding your hamster cranberries:
- First, carefully wash the fruits before serving them to your hamsters.
- Then, cut the berry into two pieces and remove the seed inside the cranberry.
- If they are tasting the cranberries for the first time, feed them in small amounts.
- If it tastes delicious, they will eat it, but it is also likely that they are eating and putting the food in the pouches of their cheeks.
But now, how much you should feed to your hamsters…
How Many/Much Cranberries To Serve A Hamster?
The number of cranberries you feed a hamster highly depends on its species. Syrian hamsters can eat one or two cranberries in a while. In contrast, Dwarf Hamsters can have only one cranberry in a while or no cranberries at all.
You have to be very wise in choosing how many cranberries you should feed the hamsters.
Giving cranberries to Dwarf Hamsters like Winter White dwarf hamsters, Campbell Dwarf hamsters, and Chinese hamsters are not recommended due to high sugar levels.
Can Hamsters Eat Cranberry Everyday?
Never! Hamsters can’t eat cranberries daily; it is not recommended to give such foods with high sugar once a week. The best advice is to serve cranberry twice a month. However, if your hamster eats fewer surgery foods, you can also serve cranberries once a week.
Your hamsters get sugar from their daily diet, and adding more sugar as a treat is not good. However, if you’re giving cranberry to your hamster occasionally, there is no problem, as you don’t serve it regularly.
Can Hamsters Eat Cranberry Sauce?
NO! They can’t; giving Cranberry in the form of cranberry sauce is not at all recommended because cranberry sauce is a processed item in general. All the necessary nutrients are feeble in this variety, and it is increased with more and more sugar which is dangerous for the health of the hamsters.
Hence, cranberry sauce is not at all suitable for hamsters. But if you want to make a paste at home instead of buying cranberry sauce, you can give it to your hamster.
But do not try to feed them any processed cranberry sauce; that will cause harm to them.
Can Hamsters Drink Cranberries Juice?
If you’re buying Cranberry Juice from the market, please don’t do it. Juice can be very dangerous for hamsters, especially if you buy juice from the market, as it is processed and has more added sugar. So it can be harmful to your hamsters.
However, if you want to, you can make the juice out of the fruit without adding any sugar by yourself, and you can feed them using a dropper, like two to three drops.
Not more than that. And do not feed them cranberries regularly, as it is harmful.
Can Hamsters Eat Dried Cranberries?
Dried cranberries are usually sweeter than fresh cranberries; hence it is not a good idea to provide dried cranberries to your hamsters. Still, if you want, you can give dried cranberries to your hamster in low amounts and in moderation.
Do not provide in massive proportions, but it can be served in small amounts. However, it will not kill your hamsters; in the long term, they can develop diabetes.
- Read More: Can Hamsters have Blueberries?
So, with all being said, now you know all about feeding cranberries to hamsters. Hamsters are delicate and need proper proportions of food to stay healthy.
Cranberry is a fruit, and like any other fruit is safe enough only if not given in massive proportions as they are sugary and may lead to diabetes.
So, take care of your hamster and serve them the perfect delicacy today. All the best!