What Can Hamsters Chew On? Everything You Need To Know
Hamsters who lack chewing will outgrow their teeth faster than their bodies. As a result, their teeth will be larger than their mouth, making it difficult for them to eat at all. You surely don’t want that as a hamster owner.
To avoid such an adverse situation, you should ask “what can hamsters chew on?” You don’t have to wander the wildlife to find the things that your hamsters are meant to chew on. Rather, their chewing pieces are sitting right around your house.
Here you will learn about the simple things you have been overlooking to let your hamsters chew. So without any further ado, let’s get started.
Safe And Suitable Materials For Hamsters To Chew On
![Safe And Suitable Materials For Hamsters To Chew On](https://caringtinypets.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Safe-And-Suitable-Materials-For-Hamsters-To-Chew-On.jpg)
It’s time to cut right to the chase, where we inform you about the safe and suitable material for your hamsters to chew on. Firstly, it is inevitably true that hamsters love to chew wood. Yet, you have to be careful about the wood type.
After this table, which will help you learn the most material with the least effort read, we will go into greater detail.
Material | Condition |
Wooden Blocks | No chemicals present |
Toilet Paper Rolls | No dye or sticky elements |
Cardboard | No sharp edges and not laminated |
Dog Biscuits | No garlic |
Cereal | No raisins, chocolate, or artificial sweeteners |
As you can see, anything that is brown and woody works for your hamsters. Their ancestors lived up in the wild, where they depended on wood. Now let’s dig into how to serve them their chew toy.
Wooden Blocks
Right after seeing wooden blocks on the chew list, you might be wondering about getting one of those from your garden. Well, that’s not how it works. They have to be a perfect suit for your hamster.
First of all, it has to be small in size. Secondly, it has to be chemical-free. Yes, the wood blocks that are present commonly contain some sort of chemicals. So you have to choose them wisely. The best type of wood that your hamsters would love is wood from an apple or pear tree. They are big fans of theirs.
Toilet Paper Rolls
You may wonder what household items can a hamster chew on? Surely, toilet paper rolls are the first answer. You certainly have them already but make sure that they are not the old ones that you bought years ago. It has to be fresh and dye-free, and non-sticky.
Dry the toilet paper in the open on the heating sun. That’s it, the strong and non-sticky toilet paper roll is ready for your hamster. On a side note, they love to play with paper rolls and are used for bedding too.
Cardboard
Another excellent choice for a chewing toy is cardboard. However, make sure it’s not a used one. Why? Well, they tend to contain chemicals that are just bad for your hamster’s health. Most of the cardboard you will find contain come sorts of glues, so it’s a big no for your hamster.
On the other hand, laminated ones are also a big no for them. Cardboard is no longer cardboard for your hamster if it’s laminated.
Yes, it’s plastic, and as much as plastics are bad for our environment, it’s equally bad for hamsters’ mouths. Lastly, make sure it doesn’t contain any sharp edges. Your hamster is too naive not to get hurt by them.
Dog Biscuits
Most dog biscuits contain garlic. It is certain that Most people agree that garlic is a safe and beneficial substance. Therefore, it’s typically incorporated into many dog treats and commercial feeds. The alleged advantages of garlic include antibacterial characteristics and control of worms and fleas.
Nevertheless, it’s a hamster’s enemy as they contain high amount of animal protien. They will bite onto that dog biscuit for a long period, so you don’t want them to go into their mouth. Yet, they are an exceptional choice for your hamster as you can just go into any super shop and search for non-garlic dog biscuits.
Cereal
The most common type of food available in any household is cereal. Well, thankfully, you can give a few to your hamster. Although you have to make sure they don’t contain raisins, chocolate, or artificial sweeteners. Next time you shop for cereal, make sure you read the ingredients table to make sure of them.
Moreover, you may wash those cereals first before serving them to your hamster. It would take off all the external flavoring present on the surface.
Overall, that answers your question of What is safe for hamsters to chew on? It’s time for materials to avoid.
Materials To Avoid For Hamsters
![Materials To Avoid For Hamsters](https://caringtinypets.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Materials-To-Avoid-For-Hamsters.jpg)
When you consider possible items for your hamsters to chew, a few materials may come to mind. We’ll inform you of the most prevalent ideas that may cross your head that is harmful to them. Here’s a table that will help.
Material | Why Is It Harmful? |
Popsicle sticks | Break easily and expose to sharp edges |
Plastic straws | Very Stiff |
Pine cones | Have sharp edges and contain bacteria |
Rubber bands | Too small and may swallow |
Treated wood | Contains chemicals |
Now that you know the basics, let’s have a closer look at them.
Popsicle Sticks
As you already know that popsicle sticks are very easy to break, which opens a lot of dangers for your hamster. As soon as it breaks, it exposes itself to a lot of sharp edges. As a result, your hamster’s mouth might get into those things and bleed.
Plastic Straws
While plastic straws can seem to look like a good choice, it’s certainly not. Firstly, they are very stiff and have sharp edges around the corners. From the previous explanation, you already know, sharp things don’t go with straws.
Pine Cones
Yes, pine cones are an excellent material to chew. However, tons of bacteria are sitting right on the surface of pine cones. A lot of wild hamsters’ death is caused by pine cones. They are sharp as well as contain dangerous bacteria.
Rubber Bands
The only issue with rubber bands is their modest size. Likewise, you should keep clear of rubber or foam chew toys since if your hamster ingests any of the material, it could result in an intestinal blockage.
Treated Wood
The primary building material for wooden outdoor projects like decks, arbors, and benches is treated wood that resists rot and damaging insects. Avoid trees that have received pesticide or chemical treatment since they could seriously harm your hamster’s health.
FAQ
Now it’s time for the FAQ section. Here will talk about some of the basic questions that hamster owners often come across. Let’s check them out.
Is chewing a cage cause problems for a hamster
Chewing a cage is not good for a hamster. They can come across a variety of problems that will hamper their teeth’s health. Additionally, they are not clean as it seems.
What’s the natural material that hamsters love to chew?
Even though toilet paper rolls are the most convenient for you, hamsters love to chew wood. Their ancestors have been doing it and it’s in their blood to like chewing wood.
Last Say
So what can hamsters chew on? Overall, any material that contains sharp edges and chemicals is not good for your hamster to chew on. On the other hand, the best thing your hamster can chew on is toilet paper rolls. It’s convenient for you as well as your hamster.
Nevertheless, if you come across different problems such as your hamster not chewing anything, you should consult a veterinarian or other pet care professional. Hamsters are meant to chew and that’s good for their health so it’s best to consult one if your one isn’t chewing.
Resources:
- https://exoticanimalsupplies.com/safe-wood-hamsters/
- https://www.quora.com/What-are-the-consequences-of-feeding-chocolate-to-hamsters-If-it-is-safe-to-do-so-how-much-chocolate-can-they-have-and-what-kind-of-chocolate-is-safe-for-them-to-eat
- https://www.researchgate.net/publication/343470477_Toxic_Effects_of_Pesticides_on_Humans_Plants_Animals_Pollinators_and_Beneficial_Organisms