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THE HAMSTER’S
NATURAL DIET
In their
natural habitat hamsters eat a wind-blown seeds, grain and grasses. It is often assumed
that the hamster is herbivorous, but this is not so, they are indeed omnivorous, and in
addition supplement their diets with grubs and certain insects.
SPECIAL NEEDS OF HAMSTERS
NEED |
DETAILS |
Vitamin A |
According to the literature Hamsters have a fairly high vitamin A
requirement, higher than that of other rodents. A
level of 14,000IU/kg is recommended (NRC, 1995). Vitamin
A is important for the maintenance of epithelial tissue.
Deficiency has implications for the health of the retina (night vision), the skin,
the mucous membranes of the gut, the urogenital tract, and the germinal epithelia
(particularly in the testes – reproduction). |
Protein |
Similar
to the guinea pig, hamsters have high protein requirements (18-22%), and although these
levels are sufficient for growing animals, requirements for maintenance are probably
lower. Hamsters are coprophagic and derive
microbial protein and other nutrients from faecal material, which reduces their demand for
these nutrients. Hamsters are
omnivores, and it is thought that derive certain amino acids from meat that are lacking in
vegetable material. |
Fat |
Hamsters have an unusually high plasma cholesterol concentration,
and are an excellent model for atherosclerotic vascular disease in humans. Plasma cholesterol levels reflect dietary levels
of saturated fat and cholesterol, and might explain why mortality rates of hamsters are
greater on diets containing high levels of fat. Deficiency
of essential fatty acids is not unusual in hamsters (fur loss, scaly skin). So whilst ensuring that dietary fat levels are not
too high, there must be sufficient levels of w-6 fatty acids
e.g. linoleic acid. |
Carbohydrates |
Hamsters
tend to perform better when their carbohydrate source is starch, rather than simple
sugars. Diets high in simple sugars are
reported to not only cause dental caries, but may also increase mortality rates. Insufficient complex carbohydrates (starch and
fibre) in the diet may be responsible for diarrhoea and ‘wet tail’
(proliferative ileitis) in hamsters. |
Gnawing |
Incisor overgrowth is a common occurrence in hamsters. Whilst some cases can be attributed to
genetics, others can be associated with inappropriate feeding. Either food that can be gnawed e.g. nuts, hard
biscuits, or wood must be provided to keep their continually growing teeth in trim. |
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