Someone I know just adopted a sick dwarf hampster who has a strong odour to its body.

It needs raw, but what?

Carrots, ......anyone know?

Thanks!

Fast Reference Feeding Habits Lifestage Food Dietary Condition Changing Diet Natural Diet Energy Requirement To be avoided To be controlled Supplements Vitamins & Minerals Various brands

Dietary management is important for all pets. A well-balanced diet will determine its health conditions and how easily they are prone to illness. Hamsters in the wild are omnivores, eating seeds, grain, green vegetation and fruits, together with insects and grubs. They spend their time foraging for food and hoarding them in their granary to keep them through the winter. However, in captivity, they are often fed with only one kind of food, which is either cabbage or sunflower seeds as seen in pet shops. This is a no-no. Cabbage is only high in water content. That explains why hamsters in shops with only cabbages are either lethargic ( low carbohydrate intake) or eating all the time ( as they never seem to be full) and smelly pee could be detected yards away. Sunflower seeds are high in fat and low in Calcium, which explains prolonged feeding will lead to poorly developed joints which cause them to be injured easily from a fall and other related deficiencies.
The correct feeding method should not be restricted to only one type of food. A variety is advisable. Hamster will finish off their favorites and leave the rest untouched. Do not replaced their favorites as this would end entice them to finish it up again, with a never ending loop. Do not add in any food and this would force them to eat the rest, which will be a better nutrition intake. A self concocted hamster mix might be theoretically nutritious with all the necessary elements. However, selective eating habits makes your diet ineffective. It would be better if one mash all the food into one and form it into pellets, which will encouraged a balanced intake.

As seen from above, hamsters in the wild forage for food. Foraging helps to burn off their energy and this keeps them away from obesity. Its common for people to use food trays, as it improves the convenience of the owner to check the food availability. However, with a food tray, hamster would know where to look for food, and there is no more foraging activity. This makes them lazy and if they are not keen in wheels, they fatten up very fast. Fat is not a standard for cute, but a sign of unhealthiness. Try to mix the food with their bedding and let them search for food themselves if you love them..

The natural diet consists for worms and insects. This crawlies are high in protein. However, hamsters in captivity are seldom fed with insects as it seems gross to owners. A low protein diet would induce health problems to breeding females and developing young (after weaning). If owner finds meal worm disgusting, one can replace other high protein food with hard boiled egg, cheese, dried milk powder, small amounts of dog/cat food. This will be further elaborated in the next section. Nevertheless, over feeding of protein could results in chronic renal failure which will be discussed later.






As always, young animals, and pregnant and lactating females have a higher requirement for protein (around 24%). Other adults will need around 18% of protein. Hence, its important that pregnant hamsters are fed with nourishing food as diet determines the health and development of the fetus. Inadequate requirements would lead to both weak females and pups and this happen to most of the owners, wondering why they pups are always eaten up, high mortality rate or small litter size. Insufficient gaining of nutrition during her gestation period will cause her to eat more in order to produce more milk for her pups. This sudden increase in food intake would result in intestinal disorder which can lead to death. Its normally mistook as ' diarrhea' where owner would observe the same external symptoms. As one can see, proper dietary management is important for all aspects. For tell-tale signs of pregnant females, please go to Breeding page.




There are several common sickness influenced by dietary conditions:
Cage paralysis are caused by confined small area and low levels of Vitamin D and E in their diet. Hamsters appear stiff, lethargic and often drag their hind feet.

A proprietary balanced diet should provide adequate vitamin levels and the hamster should be moved to a bigger cage with more opportunity for movement.


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Maloclcusion is due to unavailable gnawing materials as their incisors are open rooted and continue to grow throughout life.

Hard foods like dog biscuits, dry whole meal macaroni, fruit bars could be offered. Wooden blocks available from pet shops or cuttlefish bones are permissible too.


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Diarrhea is often associated with sudden dietary changes or eating stale or mouldy food.

Only dry food (arrowroot biscuits are helpful) and water should be offered until the diarrhea is resolved. It is important to remove the stored food as this may be the source of contamination.


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Constipation can occur when hamsters have no access to water while their diet are of low water content.

Weanlings are particularly prone to this condition and care should be taken to ensure their reach of water bottles. Small quantities of dandelion, groundsel or lettuce can be fed to relieve the condition.


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Chronic renal failure is common for adults when they are fed with high protein levels of food. Kidney failure or heat stroke are of high possibility.

Adding boiled rice to the diet and reducing protein levels would be appropriate





Sometimes, owners have to change the diet of their pet either willingly or unwillingly due to financial constraints or medical reasons. In order to prevent dietary intolerance or hypersensitivity, an exclusion diet is recommended. Food intolerance and sensitivity are often referred to as allergies. Here are some definitions to distinguish the difference:
Allergy is an reaction which occurs when the body produces an antibody (immunoglobulin E, IgE) in response to contact with a substance that is normally harmless. Once an allergy has developed, only a very small amount of allergen will produce a reaction.
An intolerance occurs when the body cannot digest a particular substance. This is often due to a shortage of an enzyme that acts on that particular nutrient. Problems often surfaced when large amounts of the food are consumed.
Sensitivity occurs when an existing medical problem is triggered by the ingestion of certain food. The food is not the cause of the problem and the symptoms are not due to allergic response.
The aim of the exclusion diet is to identify any product to which the body is reacting so that to avoid in future. A dietary trial minimizes the intestinal stress and reduce chances of having diarrhea. The first step is to determine foods which do not produce a reaction, after which other products can be introduced gradually.

The new diet should contains as few ingredients as possible to ensure a true trial.
The diet should be fed for a minimum of 3 weeks. Occasionally a response will show before this time. If no response occurs in 3 weeks, it should be continued for up to 6 weeks before a dietary intolerance or insensitivity is ruled out.
New food could be added into the diet once the previous are ruled to be suitable for consumption.
If there are any conditions, leave out the newly added food.





Hamsters in the wild eat whatever they can find, ranging from seeds, grains, vegetations (which include scrubs, herbs etc) and even insects. Occasionally, when food is no where to be found, they fast. In captivity, hamsters are kept in a totally different environment. They are fed with commercial food. But these food do not promote health and it is more common that hamsters suffered from eye problems, skin and coat problems, birth defects, breeding problems, diabetes, cancer and other illness than they used to be when in the wild.
Sodium nitrate, benzoic acid, red dye number 40, blue dye number 2, BHA, BHT, MSG and sodium metabisulfite are commonly used in pet food as are artificial flavors, sugar, propylene glycol, formalin and ethoxyquin. These are approved as no one had proved their adverse effects. However, these artificial colorings have caused cancer, birth defects etc in laboratory animals, chemical preservatives and flavors have results in organ diseases, behavioral problems, birth defects. Processing of food that involves heating destroys heat sensitive vitamins, deforms protein and enzymes and changes the molecular structure of fats. The accuracy of the nutrition values stated on the packaging becomes dubious. Vitamin C is not common in most brands of food, as its assume that animals can produce their own, which is wrong.

Feeding hamsters with natural food like legumes, grains, beans and nuts solve the above problems. Improvements in coat shine, droppings quality are prominent. Pups were born healthier, litter size increased and mortality rate decreases. However, if one is using commercial mix, do not change their diet suddenly as some hamsters might be allergic to certain food substance. Refer to the previous paragraph on the steps for dietary change. I have a Syrian which have a tumour. After feeding with self mix organic food for 2 months, his tumor diminished. My Campbells no longer need frequent bathing for removing odour as their waste are not as smelly as before.

When one is feeding your hamster with organic food, be sure to keep their food fresh in their homes. As said in Habits of the first paragraph, hamsters are encouraged to forage and to leave the uneaten, dislike food alone, to train them for being unselective in diet. Hence, a balance have to be reached. Change the food and bedding together once every 3 - 4 days. Be sure to clear all the food thy have hoard in their hideouts. As for the self hamster mix, ensure they are free from moisture and sunlight as Singapore is humid, which speeds up bacteria and mould growth. Thus, its always advised to mix the food in small quantities and replaced the mix every fortnight. This method might benefits those that keep a horde of hamsters, but not those that keep a few, as food would turn out to be costly and uneaten food have to be disposed off more frequently. The solution would be to group a few of the hamster associates and mix their food in bulks, hence lowering the cost and reducing wasted food.





The relationship between size and energy requirements is based on the interaction between the pet's weight and surface area. This is because one of the main route's for energy loss from the body surface. Basal energy requirement (BER) is the amount of energy required to keep the vital organs functioning continuously, under a stress free and thermo neutral environment. Resting energy rate (RER) is the energy required by a relaxed pet and often interchangeable with BER. For small pets (less than 2 kg), the formula given below is accepted by most animal dietician:
RER = 70 X (Weight in kg)0.75

After acquiring the RER, one should be able to determine whether his pet is having adequate or insufficient energy requirement. This could be used as a rule for devising a new healthy diet. For information on the energy content of certain food, it can be normally found at the back of the packaging. The approximate weight of various hamster breed can be found in their fact sheet under Varieties page.





The following food will cause death to your hamster through slow poisoning while these will give health problems Kidney Beans (raw)
Onion, Garlic
Potato/tops (raw)
Rhubarb (raw)
Rhubarb/Tomato leaves
Evergreen, Oak leaves
Buttercups
Chocolate
Deadly nightshade
Sweets, Toffee
Hemlock
Henbane
Rabbit Mix (containing antibiotic ingredients)
Toadflax
Brussels Sprouts
Cabbage
Kale
Lettuce








To be cooked; remove skin/seeds/stones To be fed in small amounts as uneaten food will attract flies and cause smell
Apple (seedless)
Avocado (skinned and seedless)
Cherries - stones should be removed as they can be dangerous if gnawed
Kidney Beans (cooked)
Rhubarb (cooked)
Potato (cooked)

Asparagus
Banana, Grapes, Mango, Melon, Papaya, Peach, Peach, Pear
Blackberries, Blueberries, Cranberries, Raspberries
Broccoli, Cauliflower leaves and stalks

Carrots
Celery, Coriander
Chestnuts
Corn-on-the-Cob
Cucumber
Sweet Potato


Information edited and extracted from: Wellsboro Veterinary Hospital





Food Functions Feeding Methods
Raspberry Plant leaves Beneficial for diarrhea. Treat irritations of mucous membrane Found in Capsules locally. Hence mix one-tenth of the capsule into their water bottle.
Lycium Fruit (枸杞&#23376 Beneficial for blood deficiency and high in Vitamin A, C and B complex Include them into their food, but in small quantities as these sweet-smelling fruits attract ants.
Honey Energy source, nerve tonic and natural heart stimulant Mix into their water bottle, and often with medication to overcome the bitter taste.
Apple Cider Vinegar Reduces infections, improves stamina, rejuvenate muscles, increase resistance to disease Added to food or water bottle and especially beneficial to hyperactive individuals.
Chamomile Helps prevent infections, heal wounds, relax the nerves, alleviates inflammation. Fragance is used as aromatherapy too. Could be fed as fresh/dried flowers. Alternatively, brewed as in infusion to be added into their water bottle.





Vitamins/Minerals Functions Sources
Signs of Deficiency
Vitamin A Essential for the functioning of eyesight, body tissues, growth and bone formation and resistance to infection Carrots, sweet potatoes, pumpkin. Fruits like mango, papaya, persimmon. Tomatoes, green beans Loss of appetite, increased susceptibility to infection, teeth and coat changes
Vitamin B1 (thiamin) Maintenance of nervous system. Carbohydrate metabolism Green peas, brewer's yeast, dried beans and peas, oranges, wheat germ, breads and cereals whole grain, peanuts Fatigue, weight loss, gastrointestinal upsets. Severity can cause paralysis, heart problems
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) Necessary for the release of energy from carbohydrate, protein and fat. Correct growth and healthy skin
Enriched and fortified grains, cereals, broccoli and asparagus.
Soreness of the eye, mouth and skin which may lead to inflammation if condition aggravates

Vitamin B3 (Niacin) Needed for the release of energy from carbohydrates. Helps to break down protein and fat, in the synthesis of fats. Healthy oral and pharyngeal tissues. Enriched cereals and grains, nuts. Weakness, loss of appetite, skin inflammation and lethargy
Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine) Process amino acids, the building blocks of protein. Helps the formation and maintenance of nervous system Unmill rice, soya beans, oats, whole-wheat products, peanuts and walnuts.

Depression, vomiting, increasing susceptibility to disease and infection, inflammation and lethargy
Vitamin B12 Essential for processing of carbohydrate, protein and fats. Produce certain amino acids and fats and maintains the nervous system Milk, dairy products and eggs. Anemia and neurological problems
Vitamin C Capillary and mucosal integrity. Wound healing Citrus fruits like oranges, papaya, honey dew, guava etc. Broccoli, tomatoes, snow peas and cauliflower Wounds will heal slower than normal. Swollen tender joints, general weakness, loss of appetite and dry, scaly skin
Vitamin D Absorption of Calcium and Phosphorus from gut. Maintenance of Calcium and Phosphorus levels in bone and blood. Sunlight, fortified milk, eggs Bone changes
Vitamin E Enable stronger, healthier litters and easier births. Speeds up healing and absorption of nutrients. Soya bean oil, corn oil Anemia, nerve damages
Vitamin K Formation of prothrombin and clotting factors Sunlight, fortified milk, eggs Abnormal blood clotting
Biotin Manufacture and break down fats, amino acids and carbohydrates Cereal and yeast Skin inflammation, depression, loss of appetite, lethargy
Cholin Promotes metabolism, maintains the nervous system, protects the liver from excess fatty deposits. Retain memory and coordination Whole grains, legumes Toxic in large amounts, causing digestive nerves and cardiovascular problems
Folate (Folacin, Folic Acid) Needed for the growth and maintenance of cells, maintaining the cells' genetic code Yeast, legumes but more than half is destroyed during cooking, food processing or storage Anemia, poor growth, digestive orders, malnutrition, diarrhea, loss of appetite, weakness, irritability, heart palpitations and behavioral disorders
Pantothenic Acid Needed for the breakdown of fats, carbohydrates and protein for energy. Correct antibody response Whole grain cereals, legumes Fatigue, heart and digestive problems
Calcium Formation and maintenance of bones and teeth. Promotion of muscular contraction and relaxation. Improves nerves impulses and regulates heart beat. Stimulate hormones, activates enzyme reaction and helps in the absorption of Vitamin B12 Cheese, dried peas and beans Stunted growth and weak brittle bones
Copper Manufactures red blood cells, bones and collagen. Stimulates immune system. Promotes healing, absorption of iron Wheat, cereal, legumes, peanuts, nuts, yeast Anemia, nervous disorders, infertility
Iron Stored in hemoglobin (red blood cells), carrying oxygen to blood cells and carbon dioxide out to be exhaled. Essential for proper muscle function, enzyme and protein makeup and energy metabolism Dried beans, prunes, broccoli, beet, legumes, almonds, raisins, apricots Abnormally extreme restless or weak
Magnesium Needed for the maintenance of bones, muscle tissues. Producing, transporting energy and metabolism. Helps in the contraction and relaxation of muscles. Dried apricots, whole grains, legumes, nuts and seeds Rare
Phosphorus Development of bones, teeth, cells and enzymes. Required for the metabolism of energy. Required for phospholipids in cell membranes and the constituents of nuclei acids Cheese, legumes and whole grains Rare
Potassium Maintains fluid balance in the body. Boosts carbohydrate and protein metabolism, nerve stimulation, muscle contraction and reduced hypertension Tomatoes, melons, honey dew, prunes Drowsiness, weakness and irregular heartbeat
Zinc Boost protein, insulin and sperm production. Helps in carbohydrate, fat, protein and alcohol metabolism. Remove body of carbon dioxide. Promotes healing, growth. Upkeep of body tissues Legumes, whole grains, peanuts Slow growth, healing and loss of appetite







Habitrail Click here for the picture of habitrail Comments: Known to be one of the cheapest brand around. Almost complete nutrition values except the absence of Vitamin C. Reasons of unpopularity is due to its "flakiness or dustiness"

Ingredients: wheat, rabbit pellets, sunflower seeds, barley, corn, oats, calcium carbonate, orange oil, Vitamin A acetate, Vitamin A palmitate, Vitamin D3, E supplement, maganous oxide, zinc oxide, ferrous carbonate, copper sulfate, sodium selenite, calcium iodate.

Nutrition content: Crude protein/fat/fibre, calcium, phosphorus, salt, manganese, zinc, iron, copper, iodine, selenium, Vitamin A, Vitamin D3, Vitamin E

Minimal
Click here for the picture of minimal
Comments: A pricey brand and a big ratio of hamster that were fed with it is obese which is very unhealthy.
Ingredients: From observation, food consists mainly of nuts, sunflower seeds, and some grains
Nutrition content: Packing is in Japanese and nutrition is not stated





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09/18/2007 22:32:50

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...Jodi, the banana eating buddhist

Thank you Jodi, I'll pass that along.

Update and good news:

The hampster gradually lost the strong odor, then redeveloped it just before losing the use of a hind leg - the muscles atrophied too.

Now, after a month of dragging the atrophied leg around, s/he's starting to use it again and is redeveloping the muscles, as well!

All this from just over 2 months of living in a less-toxic home and being feed raw parsley stems and various bits of raw produce daily. (and affectionate human care)