Make sure your hamster has a healthy diet

 Facts

• Hamsters should always have access to clean fresh water.
• Hamsters love to hoard food in a private larder.
• They carry food in their cheek pouches (large pockets inside their cheeks), and can often be seen retreating from their food with bulging cheeks.
• Hamsters naturally eat a mixture of seeds, cereals, insect larvae and larger insects such as crickets (when they can catch them!).
• They like to sit up and hold pieces of food to gnaw.
   

Things you should do

• Make sure that there is always fresh, clean drinking water available,
• Water should preferably be provided from a bottle with a valveless sipper tube.
  - Hamsters are not able to apply strong suction and therefore may have difficulties in overcoming the resistance from the water flow in a traditional ‘ball-valve’ sipper tube.
  - Provided the sipper is of a relatively small diameter, or has been manufactured with a pinch in the segment, they will find it far easier to drink than from one with a mechanical obstruction in it.
  - This may be particularly important for young or old animals, or animals that are sick.
• Check the water bottle daily for leaks and/or blockages.
• Change their water regularly and clean the bottle and nozzle properly to avoid contamination.
• Make sure that you provide a good quality, balanced diet containing all the nutrients and minerals they need- either a compound pelleted ration or a mixture of different seeds. Commercial rations are formulated to meet their biological needs.
• Food may be placed in a flat dish or directly on the cage floor. If in a dish, expect your hamster(s) to turn it over or to transfer the contents to their larder.
• For variety, small quantities of greens, cleaned root vegetables or pieces of fruit such as apples can supplement the ration. Do not give your pet grapes or rhubarb as these can be poisonous to rodents.
• Only give wet or powdered food if a vet advises this, for example because of a dental problem.
  - Wet food can be difficult to clean up from the cage and is susceptible to mould or bacteria growth which can be harmful to the hamster.
  - If a hamster is sick and required wet food, it is important that all traces are removed at least twice a day to ensure that the food does not start to degrade.
• Do not make sudden dietary changes, or allow food to become stale, as this can upset your hamster’s stomach.
• Monitor how much your hamster eats and drinks. If food consumption falls, the faeces become moist or your pet’s hind-quarters become soiled, take your animal to the vet straight away.