Can Hamsters Eat Donuts? Is It Risky For Their Health?
Hamsters are surprisingly flexible in terms of their diet. The three main items they’ll require are fresh fruits and veggies, dry food, and a modest amount of protein. But what about cooked or baked human food?
Can hamsters eat donuts? Unfortunately, hamsters can’t eat donuts due to excess fat and sugar in the ingredients. But taking a small bite may not harm them.
This article will explain in detail why you should not keep donuts on hamsters’ regular diet, including other information.
Can You Feed Donuts To Your Pet Hamsters?
![Can You Feed Donuts To Your Pet Hamsters](https://caringtinypets.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Can-You-Feed-Donuts-To-Your-Pet-Hamsters.jpg)
Well, normal sweet donuts contain fat and sugar, which are not good for hamsters. So feeding that type of donuts to them can be injurious. However, you can feed a small portion of a donut to hamsters as a treat which can be good for their appetite.
What about the sugar-free and fat-free donuts? You can feed your pet hamster sugar-free and fat-free donuts more often than the sweet ones. But as we said, feeding donuts to hamsters should not be a regular occurrence. Feed them occasionally.
Another reason for feeding a small bite of donuts is that they have less nutritional value. Donuts are not even the main food for humans. We consume it like snacks. Like that, you should feed donuts as a snack to your pet hamster.
Moreover, a hamster should eat dry foods, pellets, fruits, vegetables, and other pet foods. Even when it’s about giving a treat, you can feed them other snacks in small amounts like bread, cakes, and donuts.
Now, you know that you can feed donuts to your hamsters occasionally. But what if they don’t like it? Hamsters rarely deny donuts to eat. But if they refuse, you should never force them to eat. Otherwise, they will lose their taste in food.
Do Hamsters Like Donuts?
![Do Hamsters Like Donuts](https://caringtinypets.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Do-Hamsters-Like-Donuts.jpg)
Surprisingly, like humans, hamsters also love snacks. Hamsters generally love food based on taste. If you put some donuts before them, they will love them. But, you should be cautious in this case. Remember, eating so many donuts may upset hamsters’ stomachs. If you feed them donuts daily, after a period, it may lead to cause severe heart diseases and diabetes.
Is There Any Risk For Hamsters Eating Donuts?
![Is There Any Risk For Hamsters Eating Donuts](https://caringtinypets.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Is-There-Any-Risk-For-Hamsters-Eating-Donuts.jpg)
In the case of the nutrition value of a regular donut there are 4 grams of protein, 14 grams of fat, 14 grams of sugar, and 253 calories. So, as you can see, donut contains fat and sugar more than protein which is not good for a hamster.
A hamster requires food of around 15 grams daily, which should include around 12%-24% of protein and a maximum of 6% of fat. But look at donuts. It has fat and sugar more than 3 times protein.
Moreover, eating so many sweet items can cause your hamster diabetes and other internal issues. Excessive fat is detrimental to the heart and skin. Although we recommend not to feed donuts to your hamster, a little treat can make them happy and retain their appetite.
How Much Donuts Should Hamsters Eat?
![How Much Donuts Should Hamsters Eat](https://caringtinypets.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/How-Much-Donuts-Should-Hamsters-Eat.jpg)
You already know about the risk of feeding excessive donuts to your hamsters. But, you can feed a little bite of it once or twice a day. But, if your donut is sugar-free and fat-free, you can feed a little more. That is because such donuts have only protein and calories.
Remember, if you are thinking of feeding your hamster the milky donuts, then don’t do so. It can cause your hamster diarrhea, including stomach irritation.
How Do You Prepare Donuts For Hamsters?
![How Do You Prepare Donuts For Hamsters](https://caringtinypets.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/How-Do-You-Prepare-Donuts-For-Hamsters.jpg)
Feeding donuts to hamsters require almost nothing. Just tear a small portion of it and put it before them. They will eat it themselves. Don’t give a full donut to them. Hamsters can eat them whole, but you should give a little piece. That is because donuts should be a snack for them, not the main course.
Now, are you going to make donuts at home so that you can feed your hamsters? You should make oil-free and sugar-free donuts. Here we are providing a simple process for DIY hamster donuts.
- First, take the ingredients. To make a hamster donut, you will need whole wheat flour, oats, raisins, flax seeds, yogurt drops, and water.
- Put the wheat flour and oats in a bowl and prepare the dough by mixing in enough water.
- Mix in some raisins if it’s a safe option for your hamster breed.
- Place dough balls on an aluminum foil-lined baking sheet.
- Use the end of a pen to poke a hole in the middle of the donut.
- Yogurt drops and water, if microwaved, can be a healthy treat for your hamster.
- To make the topping, melt the yogurt drops and drizzle some over each doughnut before baking.
- Refrigerate the doughnuts to harden the topping.
- Finally, your donut is prepared, and you can feed some of it to your hamster once a week as a treat.
Can You Feed Donuts To Your Baby Hamsters?
![Can You Feed Donuts To Your Baby Hamsters](https://caringtinypets.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Can-You-Feed-Donuts-To-Your-Baby-Hamsters-1.jpg)
No, a baby hamster always needs more protein than an adult one. According to experts and pet dieticians, pregnant and baby hamsters require around 40% of protein. Such a level of protein is double an adult requirement. And this huge amount of protein can never be filled with donuts.
Now, where an adult hamster can eat around 15 grams of food daily, a baby can’t eat that much. So whatever you feed meat, veg or fruit, it has to be healthy for them.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can Dwarf Hamster Eat Donuts?
The dwarf hamster is the species that love sweet dishes most. But unfortunately, they are more prone to diabetes and other heart problems. So, if you have a dwarf hamster, you better avoid donuts. But you can feed a sugar-free one now and then.
Can Golden Hamster Eat Donuts?
The golden hamster is one of the cutest species of hamster. They are quite picky in their food. If they love the taste of donuts, they will want more. So before you feed them, check whether they like it or not. If they like donuts, then feed them but not daily.
Can Chinese Hamsters Eat Donuts?
Yes, Chinese hamsters can eat donuts occasionally like other species. Moreover, they like the steamed donuts more than the baked or fried ones. For your kind information, steamed donuts are better for them than other types. That is because it has very low fat. And you can prepare it without sugar also. So, if you have a Chinese hamster, you can feed donuts to them.
Conclusion
Hopefully, you can understand whether hamsters can eat donuts or not. As a normal donut contains so much oil and sugar, it will be harmful to a hamster if you feed it daily. But as an occasional treat, it is good for them.
Additionally, feeding them such donuts free from oil and sugar will be great. Besides, you can try the steamed one. You may prepare them at home.
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