Can Hamsters Eat Granola? (Nature Valley, Granola Bars)

Last updated on January 22nd, 2023 at 07:28 pm

Hamsters are cute and nice, and it is a real pleasure to have a hamster, play with it, and feed it.

When we talk about nutrition, we have to be careful with what we feed our pets because not all foods have the same nutritional value, some are healthier, and some are not good for hamster health.

Surely when you eat granola, you wonder if you should give a little to your hamster.

Can hamsters eat granola? Yes, hamsters can eat granola, but in moderation, depending on the breed, not all hamster breeds can eat granola. You can give granola to Syrian and Robo hamsters, while small dwarf hamsters like Campbell, Chinese and Russian hamsters should not be given granola, as there is a lot of sugar that they will not be able to process properly.

In today’s article, we will learn about the benefits and risks of consuming granola and the amount that hamsters can eat.

What is granola?

Granola is a food that is commonly used as a snack and is very popular worldwide.

There are different types of granola, which contain various ingredients such as seeds, nuts, oats, honey, sugar, dried fruit, and chocolate.

Granola is high in calories, protein, and fiber, and some granola is high in sugar and carbohydrates.

For hamsters, it is best to give them granola that has less sugar, calories, and fat.

can hamsters eat granola

Will hamsters want to eat granola?

Yes, hamsters will love to eat granola, as these pets generally like sweet food.

Although most hamsters will want to eat granola, there can always be an exception, i.e., some hamsters still refuse to eat granola.

But that should not discourage you, and there are many other types of food that hamsters will want to eat with pleasure.

Can hamsters eat granola?

Yes, Syrian and Robo hamsters can eat granola, and dwarfs can not.

Too much sugar, fat, and other ingredients are not suitable for all hamster breeds.

Granola contains ingredients like seeds, oats, nuts, and dried fruit, and someone has honey or chocolate.

This snack food is high in carbs and also fiber and a lot of sugar. Always avoid granola with chocolate because it can be toxic for your hamster.

Syrian and Robo hamsters can eat granola in moderation to reap the benefits while avoiding side effects on their health.

Dwarf hamsters are not allowed to eat granola due to the risk of diabetes, as they have a limited ability of the pancreas to produce insulin.

How much granola can hamsters eat?

Syrian hamsters can eat more granola than Robo hamsters, and small breeds are not allowed to eat much food at all.

Let’s see how much granola these two breeds can consume and how often.

How much granola can Syrian hamsters eat?

Therefore, Syrian hamsters are the largest of all other hamster breeds and can eat most of any food.

It is ideal for Syrian hamsters to eat one teaspoon of granola once a month or divide it into 1/4 teaspoon once a week.

Because granola has too much sugar and fat, this amount is enough for hamsters to enjoy this dessert.

How much granola can Robo hamsters eat?

Robo hamsters are smaller than Syrian ones, and therefore they need to eat smaller amounts of granola.

Robo hamsters should eat half a teaspoon of granola a month or 1/4 of half a teaspoon if you want to give them once a week.

With this amount of granola, Robo hamsters will have benefits without consequences for their health.

How to give granola to hamsters?

Whenever hamsters start eating new food, and in this case, it is granola, give it directly from your hands so that they can more easily dare to try granola because hamsters are scared by nature.

When giving them granola, check the composition and ensure it does not contain peanuts, chocolate, artificial additives, etc. They are harmful to hamsters.

After giving granola, watch your pet for the first 12-24 hours to see if there are any side effects such as diarrhea or abdominal pain.

If such problems occur, wait to see if they will pass; if they do not, you should take your pet to the vet to help.

can hamsters eat granola

What are the benefits of granola for hamsters?

Although granola has a lot of sugars and fats, it also has good nutrients such as fiber, iron, zinc, magnesium, selenium and B vitamins, and vitamin E.

If Syrian and Robo hamsters eat in moderation, they can have health benefits.

Here are some of them:

  • Protein – improves the muscles of hamsters and gives them more strength for normal functioning.
  • Fiber – is one of the most important substances that help improve digestion and overall better functioning of the digestive system in hamsters.
  • Iron – helps hamsters have healthier blood, protects against anemia, and gives them more energy to play and run throughout the day.
  • Magnesium – is a great mineral that is very important for improving the bone health of your furry pet.
  • Zinc – is a mineral that helps improve the immunity of hamsters and improve their overall health.
  • Vitamin B – also gives energy to hamsters and prevents them from being lethargic and inactive.
  • Vitamin E – allows hamsters to have healthier skin and healthier fur.

What are the side effects of granola for hamsters?

If hamsters eat too much granola, they can negatively affect their health.

Here are some of them:

  • obesity: because granola contains a lot of sugar, hamsters can easily gain weight, making it harder to move and causing other diseases.
  • Diabetes: again, sugar is a big problem, and hamsters are at risk of getting this disease which can affect their health.
  • Diarrhea: will occur as a result of consuming too much granola.
  • Abdominal pain: occurs in hamsters because they will not be able to process large amounts of granola in their digestive system.
  • Dehydration: some brands of granola have high levels of salt, and it can be dangerous for hamsters because it can lead to dehydration which is dangerous for the life of hamsters.

Is granola a good choice for hamster food?

Granola, in small quantities, has nutrients for hamsters. However, great care should be taken when giving it to hamsters.

The risks of eating granola for hamsters are high because of the sugar, calories, and fat it contains.

It all depends on the type of granola you give to the hamsters; you should never give them granola that has nuts because there is a danger that they will suffocate from large pieces of nuts.

Our recommendation, however, is to avoid giving granola too often to hamsters, so it is safest for their health.

Nutritional value of granola

Since granola is rich in calories, as well as fiber and protein, minerals, and vitamins, let’s see what exactly its composition looks like.

Low-fat granola contains the following values:

  • calories 195
  • fat 2.9 g
  • fibers 3.5 g
  • sugar 14 g
  • proteins 4.4 g

Apart from these ingredients, granola also contains magnesium, iron, zinc, copper, vitamin E, and other ingredients important for the health of hamsters.

Can baby hamsters eat granola?

No, baby hamsters should not eat granola.

In the first few weeks of their lives, breast milk, water, and food specially designed for them are the right choice for your little furry friends.

Their digestive system can not process food such as granola, and it is too heavy for them.

Can hamsters eat granola bars?

No, hamsters should not eat a granola bar.

Because they contain many ingredients that are not good for hamsters.

The granola bar has various ingredients such as nuts, coconut, seeds, chocolate, sugar, oils, and other ingredients.

Some of these are harmful to hamsters, especially sugar and fat, so we recommend that you avoid giving granola bars to your furry friends.

If hamsters eat granola bars can have weight problems, diabetes, and kidney problems.

can hamsters eat granola

Can hamsters eat nature valley granola bars?

No, hamsters can not eat nature valley granola bars because they have many harmful ingredients to their health.

This food contains a lot of fat and sugar syrup that is not good for hamster health.

Nature valley granola bars do not contain cholesterol, but the sugar, fat, and salt they contain are a reason to avoid giving them to your hamsters.

Read more: Can Syrian Hamsters Eat Chia Seeds?

Can dwarf hamsters eat granola?

No, dwarf hamsters can not eat granola.

However, granola is not the right choice for dwarf hamsters because of its ingredients, such as sugar, fat, and calories.

The digestive system of dwarf hamsters will not be able to process large amounts of these ingredients, and they can very easily get diabetes and other digestive problems bad for their health.

Granola can be eaten only by Syrian and Robo hamsters in very small quantities.

read more: Can Hamsters Eat Shrimp? All You Need To Know

Conclusion

Hamsters can eat granola, but very rarely and in very small quantities.

Eating moderate amounts of the vitamins and minerals in granola will boost their immunity, strengthen their bones and muscles, and give them healthier skin and fur.

Adverse effects of granola for hamsters if they eat too much are diabetes, obesity, diarrhea, and abdominal pain.

We recommend that you refuse to give them granola because sugar, fat, and calories can easily do more harm than good to your furry friends.

read more: Why Hamsters Ears Are Down? All You Need To Know