Can Hamsters Eat Pomegranate?

Hamsters may not be as skilled in the begging for human department as our canine pet friends, but every good pet owner loves to share their favorite foods with all of their pets. However, our tiny furry friends have quite a few dietary restrictions that need to be kept in mind before sharing your snacks with your hamsters.

Hamsters can enjoy lots of their owners’ favorite fruits and vegetables. However, you probably do not want to share your favorite pomegranates with your hamsters. Even though many other pets can enjoy pomegranate seeds without any concern, they’re not great for hamsters.

Pomegranates are covered in a red skin that makes up the outer husk of the pomegranate, with a white inner part where you’ll find the edible part of the fruit, the seeds. They’re commonly used in juices, smoothies, and cocktails, as well as baking and cooking.

Can Hamsters Eat Pomegranate

Pomegranate Nutritional Information

Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz)

  • Energy 346 kJ (83 kcal)
  • Carbohydrates 18.7 g
  • Sugars 13.67 g
  • Dietary fiber    4 g
  • Fat 1.17 g
  • Protein 1.67 g
  • Vitamins         
  • Thiamine (B1) 0.067 mg
  • Riboflavin (B2) 0.053 mg
  • Niacin (B3) 0.293 mg
  • Pantothenic acid (B5) 0.377 mg
  • Vitamin B6 0.075 mg
  • Folate (B9) 38 μg
  • Choline 7.6 mg
  • Vitamin C 10.2 mg
  • Vitamin E 0.6 mg
  • Vitamin K 16.4 μg
  • Minerals         
  • Calcium 10 mg
  • Iron      0.3 mg
  • Magnesium     12 mg
  • Manganese     0.119 mg
  • Phosphorus      36 mg
  • Potassium        236 mg
  • Sodium            3 mg
  • Zinc     0.35 mg

Why Should Hamsters Avoid Eating Pomegranate?

Here are the problems with feeding pomegranate seeds to your hamsters. To begin, pomegranate seeds have almost 14 grams of sugar in them per 3.5 ounces. Hamsters have very tiny, delicate digestive systems, even the larger varieties. They are prone to obesity and diabetes, which means those highly sugary pomegranate seeds aren’t even good for occasional treats.

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If your hamster accidentally eats a pomegranate seed, it’s not a big deal. The fruit is not poisonous or toxic to them, they’re just not good nutritionally for them. If your hamster accidentally eats a pomegranate seed or two and then later develops diarrhea, then you need to consult your local veterinarian.

However, if your hamster shows no digestion issues after accidentally eating pomegranate seeds, you shouldn’t be concerned. Just make sure that they don’t get into any more of this sweet fruit.

There is also another, more practical reason you might want to avoid feeding your hamster this fruit, as well as other sticky, juicy fruits. Hamsters are messy eaters, and that sticky juice and fruit flesh will get all over them, making it necessary for your hamsters to have a bath after eating these fruits. If your hamster does get into some sticky fruit juice, use a pet-friendly wipe or a damp washcloth to clean your hamster. Make sure the washcloth is in lukewarm water and that you keep your hamster nice and warm while they dry so they don’t get a chill.