can hamsters eat dates? (Risks, Nutrition Facts & More)

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Dates are a sweet fruit that is enjoyed by many people. But can hamsters eat them? This is a question that many people may have.

In this blog post, we will explore whether or not hamsters can eat dates and if there are any benefits to doing so.

So, read on to learn more!

can hamsters eat dates? Hamsters can’t eat dates, and for good reason. The sugar content is high and it lacks some very essential nutrients. Dates are also a bit sticky and can cause choking, so it is best to keep hamsters away from this fruit altogether.

If you have a hamster, make sure to avoid giving them dates as a snack!

Nutrition Facts of Dates

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1 Nutrition Facts of Dates

2 Risks to Think About When Feeding hamsters Dates

2.1 What are hamsters not allowed to eat?

2.2 Which fruits can hamsters eat?

2.3 fruits

3 Conclusion: can hamsters eat dates

3.1 Related Posts:

For every 100 grams of dates, there are:

Sugars – 63.35 g
Selenium – 3 µg
Zinc – 0.29 mg
Riboflavin – 0.066 mg
Lutein + zeaxanthin – 75 µg
Vitamin E – 0.05 mg
Total lipid (fat) – 0.39 g
Vitamin B-6 – 0.165 mg
Protein – 2.45 g
Vitamin K – 2.7 µg
Magnesium – 43 mg
Carotene, beta – 6 µg
Phosphorus – 62 mg
Carbs – 75.03 g
Niacin – 1.274 mg
Iron – 1.02 mg
Copper – 0.206 mg
Dietary fiber – 8 g
Energy – 282 kcal
Thiamin – 0.052 mg
Folates – 19 µg
Calcium – 39 mg
Vitamin C – 0.4 mg
Sodium – 2 mg
Potassium – 656 mg

Risks to Think About When Feeding hamsters Dates

Dates don’t have enough vitamin C. This vitamin is important for hamsters’ health and keeps them in good shape. They can’t make vitamin C on their own, so they need to take supplements or eat foods that have it.

If hamsters don’t get so much of this vitamin, they can get a disease called scurvy, which causes them to bleed, have rough coats, skip, lose their appetite, have no energy, etc.

Also, the amount of other vitamins like vitamin K, vitamin E, and vitamin B6 is not important.

Dates are delicious, super creamy, and chewy, but they are extremely caloric. This is not good even for us humans. The sugar content can create problems with blood sugar. Besides, sugars create an imbalance in the gut flora in guinea pigs.

Also, there are fibers. Excess fibers from dates will upset the tummy of the guinea pigs. Symptoms will be a loose stool, diarrhea, pains, vomiting, gas, and similar.

Hamsters are omnivores and enjoy eating a wide variety of food, from fruits to vegetables or even meat! You can give your hamster any kind it wants as long as you know what’s safe.

However, there is one thing we should avoid giving them: certain types of animal products such as eggs & dairy because they contain proteins that might trigger an allergic reaction in our little furry friends (and us).

Here’s how these foods may potentially harm YOUR pet rodent

FOOD	Why it should be avoided
Fruit seeds/pits	Apple seeds, pear seeds, pits of cherries and apricots and the oils and extracts in grape seeds contain cyanogenic acids that can be lethal if eaten.
Onion, garlic, leak, chives	Garlic can cause indigestion and blood disorders. Chemicals in onions, garlic and leek can damage red blood cells resulting in anemia, as well as gastroenteritis. Avoid these foods as an ingredient in treats, foods etc.
Human "junk food"	Too high in sugars, unhealthy hydrogenated fats, and salts
Raw potatoes	All raw potatoes contain oxalic acid and arsenic that comes from the roots when they grow. These chemicals are toxic to hamsters.
Iceberg lettuce	Filled with natural water and can cause liver problems if eaten in excess. Can cause diarrhea. Has little nutritional value. Alternatives include dandelion, greens, romaine lettuce and kale.
Peanuts	Too high in fat. Salted peanuts can cause dehydration. One unsalted peanut per week is fine.
Chocolate	Chocolate contains Theobromine, dark chocolate contains even more Theobromine and remains in the system for prolonged periods. Prolonged ingestion of Theobromine can cause testicular damage. Contains Caffeine which affects the central nervous system of the animal, increasing arousal and heart rate leading to stress and even death. Chocolate is also extremely toxic for unborn hamsters of pregnant pets because it can pass through the placenta and can even get in breast milk.
Pineapple	Too acidic and contains too much sugar.
Tomatoes	Tomato leaves are toxic to hamsters. Although a tiny piece of tomato is okay, I wouldn’t recommend it as it is very acidic and can cause an upset stomach and/or diarrhea.
Chilli peppers, spices and seasonings	Chilli peppers or anything spicy will cause discomfort hamsters stomach. Very harsh and difficult to digest.
Canned or processed foods	Very high in salt and chemicals.
Pork products and deli meats	Pork (bacon, ham) not healthy and toxic to your hamster.
Almonds	Unroasted bitter almonds contain cyanide – too much can lead to death. Moderately high in fat.
Kidney beans (raw and canned)	Very toxic.
Jams and jellies	Very high in sugar. Very sticky and can get stuck in their cheek pouches. Full of chemicals.
Pickles	High acidic content can cause upset stomach and tooth degradation.
Candy	Full of chemicals and sugar. Empty calories. Can lead to diabetes if eaten in excess.
Eggplant	Toxic to hamsters and can upset their stomach.

Fresh fruit must be given as a treat every once in a while to prevent diarrhea and lower the risk of diabetes, notably in dwarf hybrid.

fruits

The serving sizes given assume that the item in question is the only item you are feeding. If you wish to feed multiple items within the feeding recommendation time, you must reduce the serving of each item appropriately. For example, if you were to feed strawberries and apples, you would not feed 1/4 teaspoon of strawberry and 1/4 teaspoon of apple (total 1/2 teaspoon). You would need to feed a smaller piece of each, so that the total amount is 1/4 teaspoon.

All fruits should be fresh, ripe, and in good condition.

Food	Syrian	Robo	Winter White	Campbell's	Chinese	Serving Size	Feeding Recommendation
blueberries	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	1- 3 berries	1-2 times per week
blackberries	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	1 berry	Every 1 - 2 days
Kiwi	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	1/4 - teaspoon	1-2 times per week
Grapes (No seeds)	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	1/2 small grape	1-2 times per week
cherries (No pits)	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	1/4 cherry	1-2 times per week
pears	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	1/4 teaspoon	1-2 times per week
cantaloupe	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	1/4 teaspoon	1-2 times per week
Bananas	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	1/4 teaspoon	1-2 times per week
Mango	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	1/4 teaspoon	1-2 times per week
plums (No pits)	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	1/4 teaspoon	1-2 times per week
Raspberries	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	1 raspberry	1-2 times per week
coconut	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	1/4 teaspoon	1-2 times per week
Honeydew	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	1/4 teaspoon	1-2 times per week
Watermelon	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	1/4 teaspoon	1-2 times per week
Apricot	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	1/4 teaspoon	1-2 times per week
Apples No seeds)	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	1/4 teaspoon	1-2 times per week
lychee	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	1/4 teaspoon	1-2 times per week
papaya	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	1/4 teaspoon	1-2 times per week
strawberries	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	1/4 teaspoon	1-2 times per week
pineapple	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	1/4 teaspoon	1-2 times per week
peaches(no pits)	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	1/4 teaspoon	1-2 times per week

Conclusion: can hamsters eat dates

Hamsters should not eat dates because they are high in sugar and lack essential nutrients. Dates can also cause choking, so it is best to keep hamsters away from this fruit altogether.

If you have a hamster, make sure to avoid giving them dates as a snack.