Last updated on January 22nd, 2023 at 07:25 pm
Hamsters eat a variety of foods, which allows them to get the nutrients they need to stay healthy and live longer.
You may be wondering if you can give them some applesauce?
Can hamsters eat applesauce? No, hamsters can not eat applesauce, especially commercially made sauce from this fruit. Because it contains a lot of sugar and other preservatives, which are harmful to their health. However, you can give them a very small amount of applesauce made at home without any additives, made only from apples and water.
In today’s article, we will learn more about applesauce and how it affects the health of hamsters.
What is applesauce?
Applesauce is a sauce made from apples themselves.
It is mostly used and eaten in America and Europe, where it is usually prepared with apples and water until the final product is obtained, which is the sauce.
This sauce is mostly added when eating pork and goose. But it can be eaten as an appetizer or as a dessert.
However, due to a large amount of sugar, it should be avoided and not given to your hamsters.
Can hamsters eat applesauce?
No, hamsters can not eat commercially made applesauce, it is too harmful to their health.
Hamsters should never eat foods that are high in sugar, and that is applesauce.
Only homemade applesauce with water and no other additives can occasionally be given as a dessert to your furry friends.
Will hamsters like applesauce?
If given the chance, hamsters may or may not like applesauce.
They may like it because the taste of the applesauce is sweet, and the hamsters like food with a sweet taste, on the other hand, because this sauce is in a soft form they may not like it to eat.
However, hamsters should not eat applesauce, stick to the fruit, ie an apple cut into pieces is what they can eat.
Why can’t hamsters eat applesauce?
As we have already said, applesauce is harmful to hamsters, it is not a suitable product for them.
So we will tell you the reasons why this sauce should be avoided:
- sugar
- low in nutrients
- stickiness
- soft food
And now we can explain in more detail all these reasons, why applesauce is not a good choice for your furry friends, but let’s go in order.
Too much sugar is bad for hamsters
Applesauce has very large amounts of sugar that are harmful to the health of hamsters. Eating an apple is completely different from eating applesauce.
Applesauce is made by adding sugar, and we know that too much sugar can only cause diabetes and obesity in hamsters, which can only have harmful consequences.
Applesauce contains few nutrients for hamsters
When making applesauce, a lot of nutrients are lost, so the sauce does not have much to offer the hamsters.
Nutrients are what hamsters need, if they do not get them in a certain amount, then they will be much more susceptible to diseases.
That is why applesauce, in addition to sugar, which is harmful, has no nutrients for your pets, and therefore there is no reason to eat it.
Sticky food is bad for hamsters
Hamsters should always avoid eating sticky food,
When hamsters eat sticky food it can only cause them a number of problems.
Sticky food can get stuck in their bags in the cheeks, and then they have trouble peeling it off, which is an additional problem.
Liquid and soft foods are not suitable for hamsters
Hamsters generally feed on solid foods, except for older hamsters.
Soft foods will not help them brush their teeth, which is especially important because their teeth are constantly growing.
Solid foods are much easier for them to store, while soft foods are not. That’s why your furry friends should always eat solid foods, not soft or liquid foods like applesauce.
What foods should hamsters eat instead of applesauce?
Hamsters as we know them should eat food that is a balance of seeds, vegetables, and fruits.
Therefore, instead of applesauce, it is best to give them the following types of food:
- Apples
- Lettuce
- Carrots
- Kale
- Sesame seeds
- Celery
- Cantaloupe
- Strawberries
- Cauliflower
- Broccoli
- Sweet potatoes
- Mango
What happens if hamsters eat applesauce?
If hamsters eat a small amount of applesauce, for example, a teaspoon, nothing terrible is likely to happen to them.
The problem is that if hamsters eat a large amount of applesauce, then their digestive system will not be able to digest food easily and quickly.
In such situations, you should give him a larger amount of water, so that he can digest the food or the applesauce easier and faster.
Wait a few hours and watch out for it, as it will probably start with diarrhea, abdominal pain, and lethargy. If the condition does not return to normal you should take it to a veterinarian.
Can baby hamsters eat applesauce?
No, baby hamsters can not eat applesauce, it is too heavy for them, and it contains a lot of sugar.
Their digestive system will not be able to handle this type of food.
When they are small, in the first few weeks of their life they should be fed only with breast milk, water, and food specially designed for their age.
read more: Can Hamsters Eat Dragon Fruit?
Can hamsters eat unsweetened applesauce?
Yes, hamsters can eat unsweetened apple sauce, but only if it is not cooked.
The unsweetened apple sauce, although it will not have any added sugar, will still have the natural sugar that is in the apple.
So this sauce can be given to a hamster prepared at home, but very rarely and in very small quantities.
read more: Can Hamsters Eat Bean Sprouts? All You Need to Know
Conclusion
Hamsters should not eat applesauce, it is too harmful to them, mostly due to a large amount of sugar.
Hamsters can eat homemade applesauce, but without the addition of ingredients other than apples and water, occasionally in very small amounts.
If they eat applesauce, hamsters can get diabetes, obesity, and other health problems.
Give your hamster fruits and vegetables, but we recommend avoiding applesauce.
read more: Can Hamsters Drink Milk? Benefits and Risks