Can Hamsters Eat Avocado? What You Need to Know
In the wilderness, hamsters’ diet relies on vegetables, grains, seeds, fruits, and insects for their diet. Such a diet should be replicated for captive hamsters to keep them healthy. But sometimes, pet owners tend to offer some vegetables or fruits that aren’t beneficial for hamsters. Take avocado, for example.
Can hamsters eat avocado? Hamsters can eat avocado, but that doesn’t mean they should. Avocado is a highly fatty fruit and it may upset the hamster’s stomach. Besides, avocados cause obesity and other health problems in hamsters. So, it is better not to feed avocados to hamsters.
I will talk more about the nutritional facts of avocados, the benefits and risks of feeding avocados to hamsters, and some good alternatives. Let’s get started.
Is Avocado Safe for Hamsters?
Yes. Technically, avocado is safe for hamsters because it contains no toxic elements. So, hamsters can eat avocados. But the problem is avocados are unhealthy for hamsters.
Avocado is one of the fattiest fruits in the world. Though the monounsaturated fat in avocado is good for humans, it can be risky for little hamsters. They have sensitive stomachs that can’t process fat very well. As a result, hamsters suffer from digestive issues.
And the fat in avocados quickly accumulates to cause obesity in hamsters. Over time, it can lead to other problems like diabetes. So, you should be cautious about feeding avocados to hamsters even if they are safe.
Can Hamster Breeds Eat Avocados?
Among 24 hamster species, a few are highly popular as pets. Let’s see if they can eat avocados.
- Syrian Hamster: These are the largest hamster species, so they have a higher food intake of about 11-14g per day. Feeding a little avocado won’t do much harm to them.
- Robo Hamster: They are only 5-7 cm long and have a lower food intake. So, their diet is better without avocados.
- Dwarf Hamster: Dwarf hamsters are slightly larger than Robo hamsters at a length of 10 cm. They eat slightly more than the Robos, so you can include a bit of avocado in their diet.
- Russian Dwarf Hamster: They are similar in size to Dwarf hamsters. So, they can also eat a small amount of avocado.
Avocado and Its Nutritional Profile
Avocado is highly popular for its richness in necessary nutrients, such as vitamins and minerals. Its monounsaturated fat is considered good for humans but not for hamsters. And the fruit contains a lot of calories. So, a healthy diet for your hamsters shouldn’t contain much avocado.
Nutritional Chart And Its Breakdown
Here is the nutritional chart of avocados from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Check it out.
Nutrients | Amount per 100g |
Water | 73.23 g |
Energy | 160 kcal |
Protein | 2 g |
Total Fat | 14.66 g |
Carbohydrate | 8.53 g |
Total Dietary Fiber | 6.7 g |
Total Sugar | 0.66 g |
Calcium | 12 mg |
Iron | 0.55 mg |
Magnesium | 29 mg |
Potassium | 485 mg |
Vitamin A | 7 µg |
Vitamin B6 | 0.257 mg |
Vitamin C | 10 mg |
Vitamin E | 2.07 mg |
Vitamin K | 21 µg |
As you can already see, avocado has a large amount of fat compared to other nutrients. There is about 15g of fat in 100g of avocado. To put that into perspective, one cup of avocado is about 230g. So, you will get 35g of fat from one cup of avocado.
There are 8.53g of carbohydrates and 6.7g of dietary fiber in 100g of avocado. These two nutrients are crucial for hamsters. And unlike many other fruits, avocado is low in sugar. It is a good thing because high-sugar fruits can be unhealthy for hamsters.
Benefits of Avocado for Hamsters
Even though avocado is a fatty fruit, it has some health benefits for hamsters. Here is a quick overview.
- Hamsters need at least 16% of protein in their diet. As they consume just over 12g of food per day, it comes down to roughly 2g of protein. Avocado has a low protein content, but it can benefit the pet.
- Avocado is also a good source of carbohydrates and energy for hamsters. It helps them become more active.
- Calcium is necessary for natural bone formation in hamsters. Due to calcium deficiency, hamsters can suffer from rickets. Avocado has a good amount of calcium that benefits hamsters.
- Avocados have plenty of vitamins and they are necessary for hamsters. For example, Vitamin A deficiency can cause abnormal development of their hair. And Vitamin E prevents testicular degeneration in hamsters.
How to Safely Feed Avocado to Hamsters?
Though hamsters can eat avocado, you can’t just throw some at your furry pet. I will tell you how to feed avocado to your pet hamster safely.
- First of all, you need to wash the fruit.
- Then, cut it in half and remove the pit.
- Scoop the flesh out and discard the skin.
- Chop the flesh into small pieces so that your hamster can gulp them easily.
- It is better to mix avocado with other fruits and vegetables. Otherwise, it can stick to their teeth due to the mushy texture.
How Much and How Often Can Hamsters Eat Avocado?
As you already know the dietary requirements of a hamster, it is easy to figure out the safe amount of avocado for your pet. They need only 4%-5% of fat in their diet. So, you should give them less than 1g of avocado per day.
That means giving two tiny pieces of avocado is enough for hamsters if you give it to them daily. But if you give it every other day, don’t offer more than 2g of avocado in a day.
Can Hamsters Eat Avocado Skin?
No, avocado skin is too hard for hamsters. So, you shouldn’t give avocado skin to them.
Can Hamsters Eat Avocado Pit?
No. The stone-like pit of the avocado is too hard for their little teeth. Besides, it can splinter and cause choking hazards. So, you must remove the pit before giving avocados to hamsters.
Can Hamsters Eat Avocado Leaves?
No. Avocado leaves have no health benefits for hamsters. Rather, a toxic chemical named persin is present in avocado leaves. It can cause respiratory issues in hamsters.
Risks of Avocado for Hamsters
Despite the health benefits mentioned above, avocados can be very risky for hamsters. Check the risks before you feed.
Hamsters Can Choke
If any skin or pit is left by mistake, it can splinter, and your pet can choke on it. This can result in fatality.
Avocado Causes Digestive Problems and Obesity
The high fat in avocado is tough to process for the stomach of this little creature. As a result, they suffer from bloating, diarrhea, inflammation, and other digestive problems. Besides, hamsters will gain too much weight if they eat fatty fruits like avocado regularly.
Their Teeth Can Decay
Avocado tends to stick to hamsters’ teeth. As a result, their teeth start decaying. According to research by Frank J. Orland from the University of Chicago, dental decay is common in the molars of Syrian hamsters. He also found that soft carbohydrates can speed up this decay.
Avocado Can Get Stuck
As you might already know, hamsters like to hide food in their cheek pouches. Due to the soft and mushy texture, avocados can easily accumulate food in the pouch, which leads to abscesses that can be painful.
Alternative to Avocado in a Hamster’s Diet
If avocado isn’t a good option, what to feed hamsters then? Well, you have a whole lot of healthier options. Here is a list of healthy alternatives to avocados.
- Corn
- Green beans
- Cabbage
- Apple
- Melon
- Peach
- Pear
- Broccoli
- Cauliflower
- Carrot
- Spinach
- Basil
- Parsley
Foods to Avoid in a Hamster’s Diet
Some foods can have detrimental effects on hamsters. So, avoid giving the following foods to your pet.
- Grapefruits
- Lemons
- Oranges
- Any food that is too acidic
- Processed foods
Balanced Diet for Hamsters
To maintain a healthy life, hamsters need at least 35%-40% carbohydrates in their diet. So, you should ensure they get the necessary amount of carbohydrates from their diet.
Besides, keep 15%-25% of the protein in their diet. Limit the fat content to 5% of the daily diet, and add fresh fruits and vegetables so that they get all the necessary vitamins and minerals.
Final Verdict
It is fascinating to watch hamsters feed on a variety of fruits and vegetables. As avocado is considered healthy for humans, many pet owners ask, can hamsters eat avocado as well? Avocado isn’t a healthy option for a hamster’s diet because it contains too much fat.
I discussed the nutritional value of this fruit, its health benefits, and the risks associated with feeding avocado to hamsters. As it has some health benefits for hamsters, you can allow a small amount of avocado in their diet. And that should be given under strict supervision.