Many of us might enjoy eating applesauce, either as a dipping cream, dessert, or a side dish. Numerous hamster owners are curious about whether hamsters can eat applesauce or not.
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Can Hamsters Eat Applesauce?
No, Hamsters cannot eat commercially produced applesauce. The store-bought applesauce contains high amounts of sugar and other preservatives. All these substances are harmful to the hamster’s health. However, you can give a tiny amount of homemade applesauce that does not contain sugar and has only water and apples.
There are numerous reasons why applesauce is not a good choice of food for your hamster. Keep reading to know more about applesauce and hamsters.
First of all, applesauce is a flavorful sauce (purée) that is made from apples. You can use either unpeeled or peeled apples and a mixture of different spices, for example, cinnamon and allspice. Plus, sugar, honey, and other sweeteners are used in applesauce.
Due to the high sugar content in commercial applesauce, avoid giving it to the hamster. In addition to that, hamsters do not have any nutritional requirements from applesauce. But, you can provide unsweetened and natural applesauce with no sugar to the hamster. Make sure to feed only a small quantity of applesauce occasionally to your pet.
When you offer applesauce to the hamster for the first time, keep an eye on it until the next day. If your pet has become ill or suffering from loose stools, go to the veterinarian as soon as possible. Besides that, make sure not to feed applesauce to your pet again.
Nutritional Content Of Applesauce
Below, we will show you the nutritional information of 100 grams of applesauce:
- Water – 79.6 g
- Energy – 76 kcal
- Energy – 318 kJ
- Protein – 0.18 g
- Ash – 0.14 g
- Carbohydrate – 19.9 g
- Fiber, total dietary – 1.2 g
- Calcium, Ca – 4 mg
- Magnesium, Mg – 3 mg
- Phosphorus, P – 7 mg
- Potassium, K – 61 mg
- Sodium, Na – 28 mg
- Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid – 1.7 mg
- Total lipid (fat) – 0.18 g
- Total monounsaturated fatty acids – 0.007 g
- Total polyunsaturated fatty acids – 0.054 g. [1]
Why Is Applesauce Bad For Hamsters?
Applesauce is neither a safe nor a recommended food for hamsters. Below are some detailed reasons which explain why applesauce could be dangerous for your pet.
The apple skin is not safe for your hamster. Besides that, many of the commercial applesauce is made from unpeeled apples, which means that the skin is mixed in the puree. Due to that, before buying any commercial applesauce, it is better to check the ingredient list.
Some people might accidentally include the apple seeds while making applesauce. These seeds have amygdalin, an element that produces cyanide. The apple seeds are even poisonous to humans, and you should never feed them to your hamster.
Your pet might suffer from diarrhea because of the high water content in applesauce. Excessive amounts of sugar present in applesauce can result in obesity, diabetes, and other severe health problems.
Another reason why applesauce is not good for hamsters is its texture. Applesauce is a sticky food, which increases the risk of food getting stuck in the hamster’s pouch. Most of the time, you can not remove it, and it can be quite harmful.
Lastly, applesauce does not have any essential nutrients. It is simply apples, water, sugar, salt, and various preservatives. Even the nutrients from raw apples are reduced while making applesauce. As you know, nutrients are crucial for the hamster. Lack of essential nutrients will make the hamsters sick more often.
What Should I Do If My Hamster Has Eaten Large Amounts Of Applesauce?
In general, it is alright if the hamster has eaten a tiny amount of it. The digestive system of your pet is capable of absorbing a small quantity without causing any leading problems. Hence, there would be any major issues if your hamster accidentally ate a teaspoon of applesauce.
If you think that the hamster has consumed plenty of applesauce, it is better to contact the local veterinarian as fast as you can. Also, keep an eye on your pet to detect unusual symptoms. Go to the vet clinical quickly if you find any of the following signs:
- Diarrhea
- Feeling lethargy, facing difficulty while moving
- Breathing problems, for example, strained breathing
Do Hamsters Like Applesauce?
No, there is a high chance that hamsters do not like applesauce. It is because most of the hamsters do not show interest and dislike watery foods like applesauce. But, as you know that hamsters have different tastes, a few may like to eat applesauce.
Applesauce does not give any essential nutrition to the hamster. In addition to that, hamsters do not have this puree in their routine diet. Because of that, your might become sick after eating it. In general, hamsters often like to eat solid foods than sticky foods. Besides that, their typical diet is primarily packed with hard foods, which are:
- Commercial hamster pellets
- Tiny pieces of freshly washed fruit, veggies, and various herbs
- Occasional treats include healthy nuts, Sweet potatoes, boiled egg, berries, and mealworms
How Often Can I Give Homemade Applesauce To The Hamster?
As you know, it is safe for hamsters to eat applesauce that is free of sugar, salt, and preservatives. You can feed this kind of applesauce to your hamster from time to time, for example, once a month.
Some say that you can feed a tiny spoon of applesauce to your hamster every week. But, it is not a good idea to give it to your pet too often. If your hamster becomes sick after eating applesauce, do not feed it again.
Hamsters should not eat sticky foods like applesauce too often because it can lead to severe issues. For example, slimy food tends to get stuck in your pet’s pouch.
Which Foods Can Hamsters Eat Instead Of Applesauce?
There are numerous healthy alternative foods to applesauce that you can give to your hamster. You should feed your pet a nutritious diet with well-balanced quantities of seeds, fruits, and vegetables. Providing healthy treats from time to time, for example, once or twice a month is perfect. Below we will give you a list of foods, which are excellent for the hamster:
- Apples
- Cherries
- Grapes
- Lettuce
- Carrots
- Sesame seeds
- Kale
- Sweet potatoes
- Celery
- Monkey nuts
- Cucumbers
- Mango
- Cantaloupe
- Strawberries
- Raspberries
- Cauliflower
- Bok choy
- Broccoli
- Peaches
Hamster pellets are essential for your pet. Besides that, make sure to give a proper diet to your hamster daily so that it can continue to stay healthy and active.
Can Baby Hamsters Eat Applesauce?
No, you should not feed applesauce to the baby hamsters. They have a weak system, and their digestive system is not fully developed. Besides that, applesauce contains high sugar content, which might become dangerous to the baby hamster.
Final Words
You should not feed factory-made applesauce to your hamster because it contains high sugar content, spices, salt, and numerous preservatives. Remember that all these materials are toxic to hamster’s health.
If you want, you can give a small amount of homemade applesauce, which is made using only water and apples. Make sure not to add sugar, salt, or other additives.
