Can Hamsters Eat Arugula? (Let’s Find Out)

Last updated on January 22nd, 2023 at 07:17 pm

Hamsters in their diet in addition to pellets and commercial products intended for them can eat a variety of plants, vegetables, and fruits.

The more you enrich their diet with a variety of foods, the better for their health and longer life.

Many wonders if hamsters can eat arugula?

Yes, hamsters can eat arugula in moderation, as it will benefit from the vitamins and minerals it contains. By eating arugula, the hamsters will have healthier bones, healthy and strong muscles, protection from scurvy, better eyesight, and healthy skin and fur. If they eat too much arugula, they will have problems with digestion, dehydration, and kidney problems.

So in today’s article, we will find out if arugula is good to eat for your hamster, what are the benefits and risks to their health.

What is arugula?

Arugula is a lesser-known vegetable that has health benefits for both humans and hamsters, with similar benefits to other vegetables in the same family, such as kale and broccoli.

Arugula contains vitamins A, C, and K, minerals such as calcium, magnesium, and potassium, contains antioxidants and polyphenols, omega 3 fatty acids as well as other ingredients that can be beneficial to the health of your furry pets.

Because of the large amounts of calcium, care must be taken with the amount given to hamsters.

Can hamsters eat arugula?

Yes, hamsters can eat arugula, but always in moderation, do not give them too much because of the acidity of this vegetable.

Any food given to hamsters, whether it is arugula or other vegetables, should be careful about the amount so that they can make the most of the benefits.

Arugula contains nutrients, minerals, and vitamins, and on the other hand, has little sugar and is, therefore, a good choice of vegetables for your pet for their diet.

Will hamsters want to eat arugula?

Because arugula has a peppery taste, you will have to try it on your hamster first.

Give them a small amount of arugula to see if they like the taste, some hamsters will want to keep eating, while others will refuse to eat arugula.

If they want to eat right, but if your hamster refuses to eat arugula, there is no need to continue giving him this vegetable, there is no need to eat something he does not like.

But you should not despair if your hamster does not want to eat arugula, there are many other vegetables and fruits that hamsters can eat and enjoy.can hamsters eat arugula

How to give arugula to your hamster initially?

Whenever you start a new food, whether it is arugula or something else, it is best to give it directly from your hand.

The reason is that hamsters are very scary by nature, and this way they will have more confidence to try arugula.

At the same time, you will strengthen the trust between you and your pet when you personally give him arugula, and your furry pet will be more courageous and will dare to try new types of food in the future.

After giving him some arugula, first, see if he likes it or refuses to eat. If he likes it, wait 24 hours to see if there will be any negative reactions, diarrhea, or similar.

If all goes well, continue to gradually increase the amount according to his breed, if there are side effects, stop giving arugula and consult a veterinarian.

How much arugula should hamsters eat?

The amount of arugula that should be given to hamsters mostly depends on their breed and size.

For example, Syrian hamsters as the largest they can always eat the most, white dwarfs and other smaller breeds of hamsters should eat less arugula.

Be careful not to give other vegetables such as spinach on the same day as you give the hamsters arugula.

Moderation in giving arugula is very important for hamsters and maximizing the benefits of this vegetable for their health, so let’s look at which hamsters how much can eat arugula.

How much arugula can Syrian hamsters eat?

Syrian hamsters are the largest of all other hamster breeds, so they can always be eaten the most.

As for the amount of arugula, it is best for the health of Syrian hamsters to give a teaspoon of arugula once a week.

This amount is quite sufficient to utilize the nutrients from arugula, without any side effects from consuming this vegetable.

How much arugula can Robo hamsters eat?

Robo hamsters are smaller than Syrian hamsters, but they are larger than a dwarf, Chinese, and Campbell hamsters, so the amount you should give them is half a teaspoon of arugula once a week.

It may seem a small amount for your hamsters, or you may think you need to give them more, but this amount is still enough for their size.

Robo hamsters with arugula will get the nutrients and will improve their own health and will prolong their life.

read more: Can Hamsters Eat Pecans? All You Need to Know!

How much arugula can dwarf hamsters eat?

Dwarf hamsters are one of the smallest by breed, and they can not eat a lot of arugula, for them 1/4 of a teaspoon of arugula once every two weeks is enough.

Their delicate digestive system simply can not handle large amounts of arugula or any other vegetable.

If you give them more, you only risk your furry pet having problems such as diarrhea, vomiting, and other side effects to their health.

Can baby hamsters eat arugula?

No, baby hamsters can not eat arugula or other vegetables while they are still very young.

Hamsters can only be fed breast milk, water, and food specifically for their age until a few weeks of their life have passed. Only then can new foods be introduced gradually and very carefully, including arugula.

Of course, before you start giving them this kind of food, you should first consult a veterinarian to see how ready is the baby hamsters are for new nutritional challenges.can hamsters eat arugula

Nutritional values ​​of arugula for hamsters?

To know exactly what hamsters get by eating arugula, let’s look at the composition in a glass of arugula:

  • calories 10
  • protein 0.6 g
  • fat 0.2 g
  • fiber 0.4 g
  • vitamin C 10 mg
  • potassium 18 mg
  • calcium 32 mg
  • phosphorus 4 mg
  • vitamin K 18 mcg
  • magnesium 14 mg

What are the benefits of eating arugula for hamsters?

If your hamsters eat arugula they will get the following benefits for their own health:

  • Vitamin C – is a vitamin that hamsters do not produce themselves, and by eating arugula they will enter it into the body and will protect themselves from the appearance of scurvy, as well as improving their skin and fur.
  • Vitamin A – helps to have a healthier heart, and respiratory organs, and is great for eyesight and eyes because hamsters naturally have poor eyesight.
  • Vitamin K- does many useful things like better blood clotting in wounds and injuries and healthier hamster bones.
  • omega 3 fatty acids – are excellent for improving the health of the skin, and better cell development in our furry friends.
  • Folate – are extremely important for the blood and the formation of white and red blood cells in hamsters, as well as better DNA production.
  • Magnesium – with its action is also very important for the proper development of bones in your furry pet.
  • Calcium – will help for healthy teeth and bones, but not only that, calcium is generally good for the heart and muscle development of hamsters.
  • potassium – is an excellent mineral that helps to create enzymes that help the muscles of hamsters work better.

What are the side effects of arugula for hamsters?

Every food has its advantages and disadvantages, and if hamsters overeat this vegetable, the following side effects can occur:

  • too much acidity – if your hamster overdoes it by eating arugula, acidity can cause diarrhea, vomiting, and stomach problems in your pet.
  • stomach problems – more specifically bloating and digestive problems can occur if hamsters overeat by eating arugula.
  • oxalates – the presence of this ingredient in arugula can be harmful to hamster health and damage the liver or kidneys, but only if given too much arugula.
  • dehydration – occurs if hamsters overeat arugula, and they become lethargic, lack energy, and can even have fatal consequences.

Can hamsters eat boiled arugula?

Hamsters can also eat boiled arugula but in very small quantities.

As with other vegetables, arugula will lose a lot of its nutrients once cooked, which will not be of many benefits to hamster health.

Therefore, our recommendation is to give your furry pet fresh arugula, so that mine can have the greatest benefits for its health.

Can hamsters eat dried arugula?

Yes, hamsters can eat dried arugula, but be careful about the amount, it should be moderate.

For a start you can give them a little dried arugula to see if they like it, if it’s okay you can continue but do not overdo it.

If the hamsters refuse to eat dried arugula, then stop and do not let them eat arugula like this again, give them only fresh arugula.

read more: Can Hamsters Eat Butter?

Can Hamsters Eat Baby arugula?

Yes, hamsters can eat baby arugula, but in moderation just like fresh arugula.

Hamsters can eat a variety of arugula, as they all have very healthy nutrients beneficial to improving and maintaining their health.

However, be careful not to overdo it by giving baby arugula to your furry pets, as it can lead to stomach problems and diarrhea in your sweet pet.

Can hamsters eat arugula stems and seeds?

The answer is yes and no, because stems can eat, while arugula seeds should not eat, and here are the reasons.

Arugula stems are not dangerous, they are safe you can occasionally give them to your pets.

On the other hand, arugula seeds should not be eaten because they are quite tart, which is why hamsters will not be able to eat them.can hamsters eat arugula

What are other healthy alternatives to arugula in the hamster diet?

If your hamster does not want to eat a lot of arugulas, or if he does not want to eat this vegetable at all, there is a large selection of other alternative solutions for their diet.

Here are some of the ones you can include in your hamster diet:

All of these vegetables are great for your pet’s health and are a good alternative for your hamsters.

Conclusion

Hamsters can eat arugula, but in moderation so that they can make the most of all their health benefits.

Arugula is a vegetable that has many vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and other nutrients that are good for your pet’s health.

Eating a moderate amount of arugula will give your hamster a healthier heart, bones, blood vessels, reduce the risk of scurvy, and extend its lifespan.

If they overeat arugula, hamsters can get diarrhea, indigestion, and digestive disorders.

Hamsters can eat fresh and dried arugula, they can eat the stems of this vegetable, but seeds are not good for them they can harm hamsters’ health, and should be avoided.

Lastly, the arugula is safe to eat for hamsters, but with great care in the amount given to them so that they do not have health problems.

read more: Can Hamsters Eat Zucchini? Pros And Cons