Like all animals, hamsters definitely need protein supplements, which are found in food purchased at pet stores. But we must not forget that an ordinary egg is very healthy. This is a well-known and accessible source of protein. The rodent body accepts it well. Is it possible to give hamsters eggs and which ones, boiled or raw, whole or separately the white and yolk, chicken or quail? Let's consider all the options.
Can a hamster eat meat?
For normal development of hamsters, their diet must include protein. Its origin can be either plant, for example from legumes, or animal, from meat or eggs.
Hamsters can be given 1-2 times a week, but not more often:
- chicken – lean breast does not contain much cholesterol and is easier to digest;
- beef – helps strengthen the immune system and is an excellent prevention of vitamin deficiency;
- Beef liver is a dietary product with a high content of beneficial microelements and vitamins;
- beef heart - recommended for rehabilitation after illness, as it helps improve blood composition.
Meat should not be given without preliminary heat treatment, that is, raw, since it may contain various pathogenic bacteria and parasites. The product should be low-fat, well boiled without any spices or salt.
Fatty meats such as pork, lamb or lard are best avoided as their consumption will fatten the hamster's liver and heart. Also, it is strictly forbidden to give fried, smoked or dry-cured foods.
A tumor is not always oncology
If you find a lump on your pet’s body, don’t be alarmed right away. There are many causes of tumors; they are not always malignant. The final diagnosis can only be made by a doctor, preferably a ratologist - a specialist in rodents.
- A lump in the neck may be an enlarged lymph node. The animal eats poorly and has difficulty turning its head. The inflammatory process occurs in the lymph nodes if there is an infection in the body. It is necessary to find out the cause and begin treatment, otherwise the inflammation may develop into an abscess.
- A tumor on the abdomen is most often caused by a problem with the mammary gland. Frequent childbirth negatively affects the health of females.
- If your cheek is swollen, it may be due to inflammation of the cheek pouches or dental problems.
- Growths in the ear can occur as a result of otitis media, an inflammation of the middle ear. These formations are filled with pus and emit a bad odor. The disease is treated with antibiotics.
- Sometimes dense warts appear on your pet's body. These are papillomas - benign formations caused by a viral infection called papillomatosis. Usually, papillomas disappear on their own as soon as the body copes with the infection.
- Swelling on other parts of the body may be the result of fights with other cage inhabitants or other injuries.
- Beginning hamster breeders often mistake the male scent glands for a sore. These organs are covered with a yellowish crust and look like a growth. The Djungarian hamster has one gland, the Syrian hamster has two on the sides of its abdomen.
Fish and shrimp
Fish, shrimp, cod liver are dietary products with a high content of non-fatty acids, vitamins and microelements. Such food will also be useful for the small body of a hamster, as it will provide the pet with everything necessary for the normal functioning of all vital systems and strengthen the immune system. These products also cannot be consumed raw; they must be pre-boiled. You should not give crab sticks, as they contain many harmful additives.
Shrimp and fish are very allergenic products; introduce them into your diet with caution!
It is recommended to add fish oil to the diet no more than one drop per week, since exceeding the norm leads to stool upset. This product will make the fur softer, silkier and shiny.
Chicken or quail
Quail eggs contain even more nutrients than chicken eggs. They have greater nutritional value, restore the immunity of an organism weakened by disease, help strengthen blood vessels, and are hypoallergenic.
Their only drawback is the price, which is higher than that of chicken ones. However, if you are ready to give your pet the best, rest assured that this food will suit him.
How to give eggs to hamsters
Eggs are a perfectly balanced product containing many vitamins, proteins, minerals and easily digestible proteins. They are excellent for the diet of hamsters and serve as good material for the normal development of their body. You can give both the white and the yolk; the white contains carbohydrates, glucose, vitamins, and all kinds of enzymes. The yolk is rich in fats, iron, calcium, potassium, sodium, magnesium and other microminerals.
Eggs often contain salmonella; infection can be prevented by boiling them well, although hamsters will happily eat untreated eggs. The raw product should not be given to sick animals with weakened immune systems or a compromised digestive system. Therefore, heat treatment can be neglected only in cases where the owner is one hundred percent sure that there is no salmonella, pathogenic bacteria or viruses, but it is better not to risk it.
Hamsters (regardless of breed) can be given food other than chicken eggs. It is recommended to give preference to quail eggs, since they contain many times more vitamins, potassium, iron, copper, cobalt, nicotinic acid and other nutrients. In addition, they contain approximately the same amount of vitamin D and polyunsaturated acids as in fish oil and are less likely to cause allergic reactions.
Eggs can be added to a rodent’s diet in pure form in pieces or by making a special egg mixture. It is prepared from finely grated eggs, carrots, apples, cereals or dry food.
In terms of their nutritional value, eggs are as useful as meat, fish, and dairy products, but you must adhere to a special feeding regimen - no more than 2 times a week. Must be included in the diet of pregnant or lactating females. A chicken egg is given half or 2/3 white and 1/3 yolk, a quail egg - half. If the hamster doesn’t like the treat, don’t insist and force-feed it, but try replacing the eggs with low-fat cottage cheese or low-fat boiled chicken.
Is heat treatment necessary?
Is it possible to give a hamster a boiled egg or is it better to eat a raw egg? You can feed your pet both raw and boiled. But it is worth remembering that it is better to consume it after heat treatment to avoid salmonella infection. Salmonellosis is a serious disease not only for humans, but also for hamsters.
It is contraindicated to give raw eggs to animals weakened by disease and rodents with digestive problems. Therefore, without heat treatment, you can give them only if you are 100% sure that the bird that carries them is healthy.
And if you don’t want to risk the life and health of your pet, then you need to cook them. After all, the bacterium dies at a temperature of 55–75 °C.
Wet pet food
If you are interested in what your hamster eats at home, you need to familiarize yourself with the list of wet food that should be included in the diet. These include:
- Greenery.
- Fruits.
- Vegetables.
You should regularly add greens to your animal’s feeder. Parsley and dill can diversify a hamster's diet; in addition, you can add dandelions, nettles, lettuce, plantain and clover. Greens contain many beneficial substances that are quite difficult to obtain from other foods.
The most common vegetables that fill the animal’s diet are carrots, beets, zucchini, eggplants, squash, peas, tomatoes and cucumbers. It is strictly forbidden to offer potatoes, garlic and onions, as well as mushrooms.
You also need to find out what you can and cannot give your hamster from fruits.
Before introducing a new fruit or vegetable into your animal’s diet, you need to find out exactly what you can feed your pets. Indeed, in many cases it turns out that a particular product is prohibited. There is no point in experimenting with feeding.
They're thirsty for your blood
We have reached the last, one of the most disgusting types of monsters, which have only one goal - to drink your blood. All sorts of zombies, vampires, werewolves and even “Jaws” are the most motivated monsters presented in our article. Because they think you're delicious.
And here rats are no exception. Everyone knows that rats are not averse to carrion. And it is also believed that they are completely indiscriminate in food. But it is not so. There is something they have a particular weakness for - human blood. And if a rat tastes this “delicacy” once, it will not calm down until it gets to it again.
Scientists who have been studying rats for 22 years say your best chance of getting bitten by a rat is between midnight and 8 a.m., while you're sleeping peacefully in your bed, unaware that the infectious critter is about to grab your face. And this is not an exaggeration either: rats most often bite the face or hands.
And these are not spiders that will bite once and that’s it. If a rat has bitten you once, there is a really good chance that it will want to continue the banquet.
And she bites not necessarily for the sake of self-defense or out of fear, and not even because she is hungry.
She just wants your blood. Literally. In 1945, Professor K. Richter conducted a study whose purpose was to find out what attracts rats to people. He gave the rats access to large quantities of human blood. In 24 hours, the rodents drank every drop - and this was four times their usual daily amount of food! Here is Richter's conclusion, word for word: "Rats may indeed develop a strong craving for fresh human blood."
What do they give to weakened, elderly individuals?
As an animal ages, its teeth become weak and food is difficult to chew. Special, pureed, ground food is required. Chopped nuts, crushed peas, rye bread crumbs, rolled oats, baby food, porridge, and unseasoned purees are suitable. It is impossible to refuse the grain component - cereals contribute to the activation and normal functioning of the digestive organs. You can offer a ground fruit mixture, add medicines and vitamins to the feeder with the prepared product. Human drugs cannot be given - their dosage and composition are destructive.
The pet's menu needs to be diversified. You cannot feed the same foods over and over again. Mono-diets are unacceptable. It’s good if dry, juicy, protein foods are present in the diet every day.
It is useful to give chamomile decoction to water for sick and elderly pets. If the animal is weak and refuses to eat, the food is ground to a paste-like consistency, fed and watered warm from a syringe without a needle.
Feeding a small mammal at home is entirely up to you. When keeping an apartment, a pet needs a reasonably designed menu that includes vital components. Try to create a menu for your baby that includes a lot of fresh, healthy vegetables.
Treat your pet correctly, at the same time, without relying on his choice. The baby will eat poisonous plants placed in the feeder without a doubt; he is indiscriminate and omnivorous. He will like high-calorie foods. The pet will eat sweets with pleasure. Remember: in nature, rodents do not receive such nutrition, which means there is no benefit in it.
The bowl is selected in accordance with the nutritional needs of the animal; it should be small, not allowing overfeeding, made of ceramic. This will prevent you from chewing it or choking on parts of the dishes.
There is debate about the necessity of various products. We are talking, for example, about beets and radishes. If you have doubts about the usefulness, potential risk, or fears for the existence of your pet, it is better to refuse and not conduct experiments. There are many more necessary, useful products.
If the animal was bought for children, adults should immediately explain to the kids the rules of keeping and proper feeding of the pet. Play with the animal, maintain constant contact. Then the life of your tiny funny friend will be joyful, happy, long.
Product Features
Eggs contain elements that have a beneficial effect on the health and condition of the body. They contain the following components:
- Proteins.
- Squirrels.
- Vitamins of groups A, E, D, K.
- Carbohydrates.
- Minerals (potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, etc.).
All these components are easily absorbed in the human and animal body. They have beneficial properties and charge you with the necessary energy. Hamsters can be given eggs in moderation.
The egg consists of white and yolk. The first element contains 90% water. The remaining 10% consists of proteins, glucose, vitamins, and enzymes. The yolk consists of organic substances - fats, minerals, vitamins. The yolk is the most useful element. It has a beneficial effect on the growth, health, and development of the hamster. It is recommended to feed the animal with both components.
Do not doubt whether hamsters can have a boiled egg. As a supplement to food, it is necessary.
The product helps strengthen bones, normalize the functioning of the liver and digestive organs. Has a beneficial effect on the nervous system and the course of pregnancy. Helps prevent the development of tumors.
When to sound the alarm?
A feeling of anxiety for a small animal forces owners to often contact the veterinarian. Your doctor can help you understand why your hamster's testicles are swollen. Most of these requests end in embarrassment and laughter from the relieved owners. But it’s better to remove the stone from your soul and make sure that your furry pet is healthy than to torment yourself with worries.
If the veterinarian detects pathology or inflammation, he will tell you what to do. With a timely diagnosis, you can even cure the animal by removing the tumor.
But how can owners understand that their animal has a serious problem with the gonads? Here are a few signs that you should be wary of:
- testicles are larger than ¼ of the animal’s body;
- they prevent him from walking;
- the pet has become lethargic, eats poorly, is reluctant to play, and has become indifferent to the wheel;
- puberty has long ended, the pet is more than six months old, and the already large eggs have increased even more;
- the testicles are hot, the skin on them is red;
- complete hair loss on the testicles;
- the hamster attempts to gnaw the eggs.
If at least one of these symptoms appears, immediately go to a veterinary clinic or call Aibolit at home. After all, early identification of the cause of the disease, correct diagnosis and timely treatment or surgery will help not only cure the tiny creature, but also save the animal’s life.
Remember that large testicles make it difficult for the hamster to move. As a result, a metabolic failure may occur in the baby’s body, which will lead to obesity and death.
Large testicles in hamsters are normal if they do not cause discomfort to the animal and do not limit the ability of movement. If you have any suspicions or concerns about your hamster's health, it is best to consult a veterinarian.
What else should you give Djungarian hamsters?
To maintain a good mood and well-being, other products are important. These include:
- Mineral stone.
- Hard treats (dog biscuits) are given once every seven days to wear down the incisors. If teeth become excessively long, they can damage the roof of your mouth.
- Protein foods (low-fat cottage cheese, yogurt, kefir, boiled rabbit meat, turkey, chicken, eggs, low-fat boiled fish, earthworms purchased at a pet store, butterflies, daphnia, gammarus, grasshoppers, peeled shrimp. The Turkmen cockroach is ideal). Wild-caught insects are often contaminated with microorganisms that cause diseases in rodents.
- Clean, daily changed water, even if the animal drinks little. The stagnant liquid is poured out. Filtered spring water is suitable. The drinking bowl should be protected from direct sunlight, which can cause algae to grow inside the container.
The feeder is washed regularly. Grain and dry food are poured every day. Accustoming to a new component is carried out gradually, starting with a small crumb. Uneaten leftovers are thrown away. The little glutton is inclined to stockpile; eating spoiled food is fraught with poisoning.
In case of indigestion, Djungarians are given rice water, which has an enveloping, fastening effect. Babies who find themselves without mother's milk are supplemented with dairy-free formulas, regular cereals soaked in water, vegetable and meat baby purees without adding salt or sugar.
