Hamsters and rats are alike in character. Active, playful, and keep on eating.
Pet owners must necessarily know the dos and don’ts to their pets.
But let’s talk about hamsters. Should you give any food or treat you wish for hamsters?
But seriously, can hamsters eat cucumbers?
Cucumbers are, packed with nutrients, and the same may help hamsters to have a healthy diet.
Here are some tips for your pet’s healthy living.
Quick points about cucumber
Cucumber is good for our health. It is healthy for both humans as appetizers and animals as a treat.
Cucumber may be eaten anytime or anywhere you like.
Your pet hamster would love it too.
Below are the health benefits you may get from the cucumber.
Cucumbers provide phytonutrients that protect and prevent diseases.
It has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer benefits.
Cucumbers pack less calories, carbohydrates, sodium, fat, and cholesterol.
There is also a small amount of magnesium, potassium, manganese present, including vitamins k, c, and a.
Cucumber is best to serve or eaten unpeeled because the most nutrient-dense found on its peel and seeds.
Also, cucumbers are high in water content. And because of that, cucumber is often served every summer. It satisfies thirst. And protect from the heat strokes.
Your hamster probably loves to eat cucumbers because your pet will be satisfied with being thirst.
The abovementioned offers a lot of health benefits. Cucumber prevents cancer, good for the skin and eyes, good for the bone and heart, aids digestion, weight loss, and good for the brain.
All of which help maintain and balance human health. It benefits the pets, especially for hamsters.
But there’s a risk of eating cucumber as far as pesticide consumption is a concern.
Cucumbers are highly-expose to pesticides. Thus, to prevent risks is to have it thoroughly washed with vegetable soap, if any, before you eat and before you give to your pet. A clean and few cuts of cucumber for a hamster is enough.
Can hamsters eat cucumber?
If any, how much?
Definitely yes, hamsters can eat cucumber.
Let’s know more about the cucumber.
Cucumber is rich in nutrients that are helpful to a balanced diet.
It is good for your hamsters. To be treated just as humans do.
But remember that treating a pet must be in moderation.
First is you need to wash the cucumber properly to remove the residue of pesticides.
Second is to cut the cucumber into pieces, good enough for your pet to chew the cucumber.
Otherwise, the pesticide residue may poison your hamster. And may not ingest the food properly if not cut.
Again, give it in moderation to avoid problems.
If any, you may contact a vet near you for proper prescriptions.
Remedies available if cucumber affects my pet
Bear in mind that cucumber is good for our health, having more nutrients in it.
One of the benefits is to prevent hydration. Giving a few pieces of it is sufficient to satisfy your pet and to keep from hydration.
But before giving a few to your pet, make sure to wash it properly to avoid poison.
And cut it in a small amount to prevent choking.
In case if it affects your pet’s health condition, notwithstanding having a proper way of feeding, you consult your vet or go to a vet’s clinic near you for a quick medication.
Another way is to stop feeding your pet a cucumber for a few days.
Take note that the hamster’s digestive system is sensitive. Hamsters are prone to diarrhea, also abnormal digestion if not feed properly.
So, to avoid any problems that might affect your pet’s health, observe proper procedures in treating your pet, by washing it, cut it into pieces, and give treats occasionally.
Alternative to cucumbers if it affects my pet
Generally, people may think that cucumber is a vegetable, but it is not. Technically, the cucumber is a fruit.
But whatever it may be, cucumber offers a lot of health benefits.
In the case that a hamster consumed the cucumber and some reactions have observed, you immediately stop feeding your pet of it.
Remove everything and make sure none left behind because hamsters might be eating leftovers, causing more trouble.
You may replace cucumber with another fruit that amounts to what it has to offer sufficient to keep your pet healthy. Hamsters also like to eat apples, broccoli, carrots, or even strawberries.
Giving them seeds may also help them healthy and have more energy.
Another thing to remember is to avoid giving them potato, kidney beans, onion, and tomato leaves because these are not good for hamsters. And to sum it up, do not feed them more than what is needed.
A Short History of Your Hamster’s Favorite Treat: The Cucumber
Cucumber are a popular food for humans as well as pets. It is a popular ingredient in different salad recipes and the best tasting vegetable for pickles.
It comes from the gourd family Cucurbitaceae. It first came to prominence in India.
It grew wild there. Around 2-3 millennia BC, ancient Indian civilization managed to domesticate the cucumber and started adding it to their cooking.
It then traveled through different parts of the world. India started trading with European and Middle Eastern civilizations.
It went to Ancient Greece, Europe, Rome, China, and the New World.
Greek civilization embraced cucumbers with open arms. They started calling it “sikyon” (σίκυον).
It also reached Bulgaria, Turkey, Africa, Italy, and modern-day Serbia.
It became the fourth most widely cultivated vegetable in the world.
It became an essential part of many culture’s cuisines.
Sometimes, they were treated as bringers of illnesses and diseases.
The Age of Discovery was a significant factor in spreading cucumber all over the world.
Christopher Columbus brought cucumbers on his voyage to Haiti in 1494.
Spanish settlers grew them and distributed it across the New World.
In the 16th century, it was introduced to native Indians.
During the 18th century, the cucumber expansion stopped due to misconceptions that uncooked vegetables had a health risk.
The cucumber’s reputation was reinstated in the 19th century.
In 2010, worldwide production of cucumbers reached 57.5 million.
Fruit or Vegetable?
In the culinary world, cucumbers are considered as vegetables since they are part of savory dishes.
However, it is part of the gourd family, which are fruits like watermelon, squash, and pumpkin.
A Few Cucumber Facts
*The phrase “cool as a cucumber” came from the cucumber’s ability to cool down blood temperature.
*Cucumbers can lessen bad breath. Press it at the roof of your mouth for 30 seconds.
*As hangover prevention. Eat a few slices before going to bed. It can replenish nutrients the body has lost by drinking alcohol.
*Snacking on cucumbers can substitute drinking liquids since it consists of 95% water.
*The cucumber can substitute as an eraser for your pen. Use the outside waxy coating to erase the writing.
Syrian Hamsters, Dwarf Hamsters, and Cucumbers
*This cute and furry breed of hamster is the most popular type kept as pets.
They are also known as Golden Hamsters or Teddy Bear Hamsters.
It is a tame, affectionate, and friendly breed of a hamster.
It can grow up to five to seven inches long and weighs between four to eight ounces.
It is native to Turkey and Syria. The wild Syrian hamsters are colored golden brown, and its undersides are white.
The Syrian hamster was genetically bred to have long hairs. This sub-specie of hamsters are called “teddy bear” hamsters.
*There are two types of dwarf hamsters: the Russian and the Roborovski.
They can grow to be 4-12 cm long. The Roborovski is the smaller of the two.
They can usually live between one to three years.
They have cheek pouches to stuff their food. They can look cute with their puffed-up faces.
*You can give cucumbers to these two breeds of hamsters as a treat.
Moderation is key to these two breeds since they tend to overeat. Don’t feed them too much cucumbers or any hamster food.
Cut the cucumbers in small pieces so that it’s easy for them to hold and chew and won’t cause digestive problems.
Too Much Cucumber for Your Hamster isn’t Good
The healthiest foods can be unhealthy if eaten in excess.
If your hamster consumes too much cucumber, its stool would become wet since the cucumber is 95% water.
Diarrhea can cause dehydration and other health problems to your hamster.
If your hamster has diarrhea because of consuming too much cucumber, limit its fruit and vegetable intake.
A reasonable amount of cucumber for your hamster to eat is one slice twice a week.
If your hamster still has diarrhea after a few days, then it’s best to take it to your veterinarian for a check-up.
Pickles Aren’t the Same as Cucumbers
Even though pickles are made from cucumbers, that doesn’t necessarily mean that you can feed it to your hamster.
Any food that is vinegar-based is lethal for your hamster.
So steer clear of pickles in your hamster’s diet.