Can hamsters eat Pumpkin?

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Pumpkins get all their glory around Halloween when they are of course carved into amusingly menacing Jack-o’-lanterns! But if you are a hamster owner then halloween shouldn’t be the only time of year that pumpkins get their time to shine because they’re also a delicious treat for your pet that can be enjoyed all year round!

Can my hamster eat pumpkin?

As a hamster owner, you may be wondering if your pet can eat pumpkin. Well, the short answer is yes! The two tastiest parts of a pumpkin are the flesh and the seeds, with hamsters able to eat both of these.

So whether it’s halloween or not, giving your hamster a reasonable portion of pumpkin is a great idea as it’s one of the best natural treats for them to eat.

Is pumpkin good for hamsters?

Before you start feeding your hamster pumpkin, it is definitely worth remembering that hamsters need a diet that has a good balance and provides lots of nutrition to help them stay healthy. Luckily, both the flesh and seeds from pumpkins can be a fantastic part of a little hammies’ diet as they have vitamins and minerals that can help with their wellbeing and development.

Your hamster will benefit from the following nutrients if you feed them pumpkin seeds:

  • Protein – this is essential for growth and a healthy metabolism
  • Unsaturated fats Omega 3 and Omega 6 – these help to keep hearts healthy

If you feed your hammie pumpkin flesh, they will receive nutrients including:

  • Vitamin A – this keeps the immune system working well
  • Calcium – which helps to keep their bones and teeth strong
  • Magnesium – this ensures bones, muscles and cells stay healthy

Pumpkins do contain a relatively high amount of sugar, so you should always remember that it should only be given to hamsters as a treat and it shouldn’t become a primary part of their diet.

How much pumpkin can I give my hamster?

It is really important that you only feed your hamster treats like pumpkin as part of a balanced diet. Pumpkin should not be given to your pet too often as this will lead to weight gain. You shouldn’t think of human size portions when treating your hammie to pumpkin, as these animals are significantly smaller than us their food servings should be a reduced size too.

The amount of pumpkin that your hamster gets will depend on their size, with Syrian hamsters being able to eat more than their smaller dwarf or Chinese cousins. As always, you should consult your vet regarding the exact amount of food you should be feeding your pet and how often this should happen.

Where can I get Pumpkin for my hamster?

Feeding your pet pumpkin is relatively easy, as for large parts of the year they are readily available in supermarkets. It is easy to carve the flesh into small pieces to feed your hammie, however getting the seeds ready to eat isn’t quite as easy, so we always tend to buy seed mixes that contain delicious pumpkin seeds.

Can hamsters eat Pumpkin

Mr Johnson’s Mixed Seed Niblets and Hatton Hill Organic Seeds Mix are both mixes of nutritious sunflower and pumpkin seeds that are delicious and helpful when given as a treat to assist with training.

can hamsters eat pumpkin

What other treats do hamsters enjoy?

Hamsters go wild for pumpkins, but there are also many other delicious treats that these little guys love. If they enjoy pumpkin seeds, you should see if they also like nuts for hamsters. If your hamster enjoys softer pumpkin flesh, they may also enjoy bananas.

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