Potatoes are almost a universally loved food amongst people, with a myriad of ways to prepare and eat. And if you love to eat potatoes (who doesn\u2019t?) you may want to share some with your pet hamster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But can your hamster eat potatoes? The answer is technically yes, in small amounts and under supervision, but that feeding potatoes to your hamster is not recommended.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Read on to get the health information about potatoes and find out whether or not it\u2019s a good fit for your hamster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Contents<\/p>
One medium skinned potato will give you roughly the following amounts of vitamins, minerals, and other compounds:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How Much Potatoes Can You Give a Hamster? <\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The amount of potatoes you can safely give a hamster depends on its age. Baby hamsters should not eat any potatoes at all. They need to be consuming their mother\u2019s milk. Adult hamsters can have the equivalent of 1\/4 of a teaspoon of potato. It\u2019s important to supervise your hamster when you give them potatoes to eat, to ensure that the hamster eats the entire portion and does not store any of it inside its pouch. When introducing potatoes into your hamster\u2019s diet, you should also monitor your hamster for a few hours after to ensure that the potato didn\u2019t cause any stomach upset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Only give your hamster cooked potato, minus any salt or seasoning. Do not give your hamsters potato variants like potato chips or French fries, as the oils, salts, and seasonings that go into making these products are unsafe for hamsters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The recommended serving suggestion for potatoes and hamsters is once a month, perhaps even less frequently. Only give your hamster a potato piece to munch on under your supervision and alongside their regular diet of hamster food and plenty of fresh water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And the amount of starch contained inside potatoes poses the risk for obesity, diabetes, and indigestion over time. Certain breeds are predisposed to conditions like these, so it\u2019s important to consult your veterinarian prior to attempting to feed your hamster potatoes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Additionally, if your hamster sticks a piece of cooked potato in their pouch, it has the potential to become impacted, and then infected, requiring extensive vet care and recovery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Potatoes are a very tasty snack for people, and occasionally, for hamsters. But like many good things, hamsters and potatoes fall under the category of just because you can, doesn\u2019t mean you should. <\/em>If you want to give your hamster a snack, consider giving them something better suited to their diet instead, like lettuce<\/a>, kale<\/a>, or celery.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"How Often Should You Give Your Hamster Potatoes? <\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What Risks Are Associated With Feeding Hamsters?<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
A Final Word on Hamsters and Potatoes<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n