It\u2019s important for hamster owners to know what foods are good and what foods are potentially harmful for their pets. That\u2019s because hamsters will munch on just about anything that\u2019s given to them!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While cucumbers are a great option for an occasional fresh-food treat for hammies, pickled foods are not OK. <\/strong>Any vinegar-based food can be lethal to hamsters because they are too acidic and very high in sodium.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Read on to learn more about why you shouldn\u2019t feed pickles to your hamster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Contents<\/p> There is a whopping 283 milligrams of sodium in one pickle spear. A hamster-sized serving of one pickle slice (7 grams) would give your hamster 56.6 milligrams of sodium. That is a dangerously high level of salt that could kill your hamster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pickles also contain spices, vinegars and other flavors that are very harmful to hamsters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n All the good nutrition of a pickle comes from the cucumber<\/a> itself.<\/strong> So why not feed your hammy a fresh vegetable instead of something loaded with salt and vinegar? This also goes for olives<\/a>, which are just as bad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A 7-gram slice of cucumber contains the following nutritional values:<\/p>\n\n\n\n There is an incredible difference in the sodium content between a pickle and a fresh cucumber. A pickle contains over 404% more sodium than a fresh cucumber!<\/strong> Wow!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Salt dehydrates hamsters.<\/strong> The amount of sodium in pickles is at a dangerously high level and could potentially lethally dehydrate a hamster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Vinegar is highly acidic. <\/strong>On the pH scale, it\u2019s actually even more acidic than lemon juice!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Vinegar causes gastrointestinal upset <\/strong>and creates dangerous imbalances in hamsters\u2019 tummies. Highly acidic foods like vinegar cause hamsters to have diarrhea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For an animal as tiny as a hamster, diarrhea can be very dangerous.<\/strong> It can very quickly dehydrate a hamster. If dehydration is bad enough, a hamster could die.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If your hamster is experiencing diarrhea, make sure it replaces its lost water. Provide it with an ongoing supply in its water dish. If your hammy isn\u2019t drinking water on its own, use a water dropper, and take it to the vet as quickly as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\nNutritional Information of Pickles and Fresh Cucumbers<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Health Concerns of Pickles<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Diarrhea in Hamsters<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n