Can Hamsters Eat Bread? [Other Treats & Feeding Tips]

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Hamsters can eat bread without much complication and hamsters especially love whole grain bread.

The whole grain bread ensures that the pet derives vitamins from the whole grain used in baking.

a hamster eating bread, can hamsters eat bread

White bread should be avoided because of the high sugar that it contains which can make the hamster obese and cause tooth decay.

Also, any bread that is salted is deemed unsafe for your hamster.

Bread can be served as a snack or as a treat for your pet. The required amount of bread per pet is only a small piece of bread once per week.

Is It Safe For Hamsters To Eat Bread?

Bread is safe for hamsters to eat, but it should be given to them in moderation. 

Avoid white bread as it contains a high amount of sugar. This could make them obese and cause tooth decay.

Also, any bread that is salted should be avoided. Salt is bad for hamsters and could cause them health issues.

Watch this video of a tamed hamster eating a piece of bread:

Expand your hamster’s snack options with our article on what treats you can give your hamster. Learn about healthy and tasty choices.

Health Benefits of Bread for Hamsters

Bread contains a lot of nutrition that hamsters need in order to stay healthy. It is a good source of fiber, calcium, and iron. 

Below are some of the health benefits of feeding bread to your hamsters:

1. Promote a Healthy Digestive System

Bread is high in fiber, which will help promote a healthy digestive system. 

Fiber helps promote regular bowel movement and allows food to easily move along the digestive tract smoothly. 

It also will prevent constipation and 

2. Helps Strengthen Bones

Bread is a good source of calcium. This is a mineral that’s required for bone development. Calcium will help build, repair, and strengthen the bones.

Besides the bones, calcium will help strengthen the teeth and nails of the hamsters as well.

3. Helps Strengthen the Muscles

Bread is packed with protein and which hamsters need for overall muscle development. Protein is the building block of the muscles. 

An adequate amount of proteins like those found in bread, it will help maintain muscle mass and strengthen the muscles.

2 Types of Bread Hamsters Can Eat

1. White Bread

This variety of bread is the most popular type. It is traditionally made from white flour, water, and yeast. White flour is high in starch. For hamsters, this can be dangerous.

Feeding them too much white bread could lead to the hamsters becoming bloated and fermentation.

To avoid any issues, be sure to feed white bread to them in moderation.

2. Rye Bread

Rye bread isn’t as popular as white bread, but it contains more nutrition than white bread.

Rye bread is made up of rye flour, yeast, and water. Rye flours contain a small amount of starch. Sugar isn’t healthy for hamsters as it will cause an upset stomach and other digestive problems. 

The other ingredient that can cause hamster health problems is yeast. The yeast in rye bread causes a fermentation process in the intestines and could lead to digestive problems. 

Therefore, due to the ingredients found in rye bread that can cause health problems for hamsters, it’s best to avoid this variety of bread. If you do choose to feed them rye bread, it’s best to give them a small piece, 1-2 times a week. 

How To Feed Bread To Hamsters

Feeding bread to your hamsters is as simple as tearing a piece of bread and giving it to your hamsters. The middle section of the bread is the best part to give them. It’s soft and will make it easier for them to digest it.

Make sure that it’s fresh and has no mold growing on them. If you suspect any, discard the entire loaf. Feeding bread with mold could make your hamster sick, even death could occur.

How Many Bread To Feed Hamsters?

No matter what type of bread you feed your hamsters, it’s best to feed them in moderation. While grain is their main source of diet, bread is a grain that’s mixed with other ingredients.

For that reason, bread should be given to the hamsters as treats. Bread doesn’t have enough nutrition in them to meet the hamster’s daily dietary needs.

Bread should only make up 10% of their overall diet. The rest should come from quality commercial hamster foods.  The hamster foods are formulated with the right amount of nutrition to meet the hamster’s dietary requirements.

Besides bread, you may want to feed them other food as well. Try to rotate food every day so that your hamsters won’t be bored with the same food. Also, feeding them other food will give them additional nutrition that bread doesn’t have.

Other Grains That Hamsters Can Eat

Oats

Oats are healthy and make an excellent snack for hamsters. It’s packed with nutrition, especially fiber. Oats should be fed to the hamsters in moderation to avoid any health issues.

Rice

Rice is a great treat for hamsters. They can eat both cooked and uncooked rice. It’s best to feed them uncooked rice as it is easier for them to store it in their cheeks.

Cooked rice can become too moist and could become stuck in their cheek pockets and rot. If you do want to feed them cooked rice, make it not overcooked. 

Wheat

Wheat is a grain that’s safe and healthy for hamsters to eat. When feeding them wheat, it’s not a good idea to pick the wheat from fields as it may contain parasites. 

Instead, feed them general wheat products as those won’t have any parasites. Also, make sure it doesn’t contain additional flavoring or additives.

What Others Treats Can I Give My Hamster?

Hamsters thrive on a high-variety diet. Fruit and vegetables are with some exceptions a good and healthy choice that adds antioxidants and healthy fats to a diet. In addition, food like meat and cheese can be important protein sources

… and watching your hamster feast on its treats is sure to give you a warm and even proud feeling!

If you’re ever unsure about feeding your hamster a particular food, just don’t do it. Likewise, if your hamster ate something you’re not sure about, call your vet.

READ MORE: Can Hamsters Have Cheese?ADD_THIS_TEXT

3-Step System for Testing New Hamster Treats

When I introduce new treats for my Hamster, Mr. Bubbles, there is a 3-step system I use every time to ensure it’s good for his little stomach.

How to Test New Hamster Treats

  1. Make sure it is fresh, washed, and doesn’t contain any pesticide (i.e. purchase organic treats)
  2. Test if your hamster can eat the treat. This is done by giving a little test piece and waiting a couple of days watching for any symptoms
  3. Introduce the treat into your hamster’s diet at more regular intervals over the coming weeks

READ MORE: Can Hamsters Eat Raisins?

Best Hamster Food

Besides giving your hamster treats, it is very important to give it the right kind of hamster food.

There is a lot of food out there with one of the following traits:

  • Not enough protein in it
  • Becomes dusty
  • Your hamster simply doesn’t like it and leaves a lot of food

That’s why, we have done the research and recommend the following three products, which are none of the above, and instead are the backbone of a good hamster diet.

Table could not be displayed.

READ MORE: Can Hamsters Have Carrots?

Other Feeding Tips for Your Hamster

1. Provide fresh water every day. The water bottle should be frequently checked for any dirt or leaks to avoid contamination of the water.

It is also good to monitor your hamster’s water intake because a reduction in water intake can mean you need to visit the vet.

2. Remove any remnants of feed to avoid rotting- this is especially for fresh fruits, vegetables, and powdered food which tend to grow mold/bacteria.

3. Do not overfeed vegetables to avoid diarrhea. Overfeeding on sugary fruits and treats is also discouraged because it tends to cause obesity in your pet.

4. When introducing a new kind of feed to your hamster, you should first give a small amount and observe for a week for any negative reaction to the food.

If there is no negative reaction, then the feed is safe for consumption for your hamster. A sudden change in the diet of your pet may cause stress.

a hamster eating walnut

FAQs

Can hamsters eat breadsticks?

Yes, hamsters can eat breadsticks, but in small amounts. Make sure that there are no salts added before feeding them some.

Can hamsters eat bread crackers?

Yes, hamsters can eat bread crackers. This makes an excellent snack for them. It will help sharpen their teeth and keep them from growing. Bread crackers don’t offer much nutrition and to prevent any health issues, it’s best to offer crackers to them occasionally.

Conclusion

Now you try it!

You are now well equipped to start feeding all kinds of treats to your hamster.

a hamster eating bread, can hamsters eat bread

Can hamsters eat bread? Have you tried offering it to your pet? Please share with us below!

References

  • “Can I Feed My Hamsters Bread….? – Food & Nutrition.” 2009. Hamster Hideout Forum. August 24, 2009. http://hamsterhideout.com/forum/topic/54180-can-i-feed-my-hamsters-bread/.
  • “Hamster Care Sheet & Guide | PetSmart.” 2021. Petsmart.com. 2021. https://www.petsmart.com/learning-center/small-pet-care/hamster-care-guide/A0092.html.
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