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Bringing an adorable hamster into your life is a great commitment, the same as adopting a dog or cat.
Along with the wonderful privilege of owning an animal, come to the responsibilities of caring for their health and food needs.
You can feed hamsters with a variety of fruits and vegetables to complement their diet and your hamster will enjoy them as a delicious treat.
Sweet and green asparagus is not only delicious for you, but your hamsters also love to eat it. Hamsters love to chew and bite almost everything.
If you are wondering can hamsters eat asparagus? Or is asparagus safe for the hamster?
Can Hamsters Have Asparagus?
YES! Hamsters can eat asparagus. However, just like with everything, moderation is key.
Sometimes it is difficult to know how to do the right thing for our hamsters, as you will often find strong opinions for and against raw food.
As a Hamster owner, here I will talk about the potential health benefits of asparagus, the risk associated with eating asparagus and the correct amount that can be fed to the hamster to facilitate your decision.
Health Benefits of Asparagus For Hamsters
As a responsible hamster parent, it vital for you to know what you are feeding to the hamster, it has any health benefits or just a waste.
Asparagus actually contains about 93% water and, it is generally low in sodium and calories.
Furthermore, asparagus also contains a decent amount of fiber (2.1gram per 100gram) and many important beneficial nutrients.
Here is the nutritional profile of asparagus with its nutritional values (per 100 g (3.5 oz.)):
- Vitamin B6 0.091mgVitamin C 5.6mg
- Vitamin E 1.1mg
- Vitamin K 41.6ug
- Zinc 0.54mg
- Magnesium 14mg
- Folic acid 52ug
- Riboflavin 0.141mg
- Thiamin 0.143mg
- Iron 2.14mg
- Potassium 202mg
- Manganese 0.158mg
All these ingredients will help to maintain a healthy body. Asparagus has a mild flavor, is usually easy to digest, and low in fat and calories, these goodies made it a healthy treat.
Asparagus is rich in anti-inflammatory nutrients. It also provides a wide variety of antioxidant nutrients, which include vitamin C, beta-carotene, vitamin E and the minerals zinc, manganese and selenium.
Vitamin K will help to support the hamster’s reproductive health and key role in the blood clotting process.
Although asparagus is relatively low in calories compared to other treatments, it still provides some energy, and this energy can quickly accumulate for such small animals.
If the hamster is overweight or has digestive problems, your hamster should stay away from fresh fruits and vegetables.
Are There Any Risks of Hamsters Eating Asparagus?
While asparagus is excellent for the health of your hamster when administered in moderation, too much of this vegetable can be harmful to the health of your hamster.
There are no side effects that endanger the life of eating too much asparagus in the hamster.
There may be some uncomfortable side effects, such as digestive problems including stomach ache, diarrhea, and constipation, and a noticeable smell in the urine.
Asparagus overfeeding can also make your hamster overweight.
How Much Asparagus Can my Hamster Eat?
Asparagus is one of the healthiest treats that you can give your hamsters. There is no compound in asparagus which can cause toxicity in your hamsters.
But you should always feed your hamsters asparagus in moderation.
You can calculate the amount of asparagus on the basis of the hamster’s breed and size.
Syrian or Roborovski hamsters need a small piece of asparagus once a day, but dwarf hamsters such as Campbell’s dwarf hamsters, winter white dwarf hamsters or Chinese hamsters need a small portion of asparagus only once in two or three days.
That amount is enough to act as a small treat for your hamsters, which still gives them the nutrition they need.
How to Feed Asparagus to The Hamsters?
Your hamster cannot eat canned asparagus or frozen asparagus. Young shoots of fresh asparagus are the best for them; you can buy it at any grocery store.
However, be sure to wash it well before offering it, to remove the unwanted germs. Be sure to cut the asparagus into small pieces, so that your hamster can easily consume it.
Hamsters have a very sensitive digestive system, so any change in their diet should be made gradually.
If you are changing your hamster’s food to include asparagus, just add a small amount to your hamster diet and monitor for any digestive discomfort.
Can Hamsters Eat Asparagus Cooked?
I’ve noticed that many hamsters love raw asparagus, but you may also think can my hamster eat cooked asparagus?
Yes, your hamster can eat cooked asparagus.
While cooking can improve the availability of some compounds in asparagus, it can also reduce its content of other nutrients.
One study found that cooking green asparagus reduced the content of vitamin C, a particularly heat-sensitive vitamin, by 52%.
It depends on the cooking method, duration of heat exposure, and type of nutrient.
You can opt for the heating method with less exposure to water and heat, such as steaming and microwaving, etc.
Can Hamsters Eat Asparagus Stalks?
Yes, your cute hamster can eat the stalk.
Maybe you have been told for a long time that you should bend a spear of asparagus until it breaks and that the thick end is too difficult to eat.
This is not strictly true, because the spear breaks at its weakest point and the stem is edible and sensitive far below that point.
The best way to judge where to cut the stem is to try it. Cut the end, try, and if it is fibrous, cut a little more and try again.
Conclusion
If you think your hamster has any nutrition deficiency, consult your vet! Asparagus is not a substitute for appropriate veterinary care, and it will not be enough to make up for a generally poor diet.
If the vet determines that their diet is lacking, they are more likely to prescribe a dietary supplement.
In conclusion, asparagus is a safe hamster treat that can provide a little nutritional boost.
