Can Hamsters Eat Lettuce?
This oneis quite obvious, and the answer: Yes!. Hamsters can enjoy lettuce in large amounts without any issues. This is a very popular vegetable in hamster diets and besides it being very tasty to them it is also very healthy.
And here are some beneficial information about lettuce and it’s use in hamster meal plans.
Nutritional informations-lettuce
Lettuce is a low calorie vegetable that is very common in our cousine. It is avaliable round the year, but it is best in the spring and summer.
First of all, there are different types of lettuce. So, we have Loose leaf lettuce, Butter-head lettuce, Celtuce, Romaine lettuce and Summer crisp. They all pretty much have the same nutritional information, and are in the same way beneficial as well as for us, as they are for our little furry friends.
Vitamin C that is found in lettuce in large amounts and beta carotene will make your heart healthy. This powerful vitamin will stop oxidation of bad cholesterol, and stop it’s build up in the arteries. Fibers found in lettuce also protect our heart. Body makes more bile, which is helpful because it must break down cholesterol for this to happen. This means better cardiovascular overall health.
Vitamin B in lettuce will convert the damaged chemicals that are called homocysteine, which damage our blood vessels directly.
Other imortant component is potassium, which lowers our blood pressure and makes our heart stronger. He also lowers our blood pressure, and prevents heart attacks, so it is desirable in large amounts.
Along side these beneficial components, we also have folic acid, beta carotene and many others that keep us healthy and resistant to outside infections and diseases.
Lettuce in hamster’s diet
Fresh vegetables are always a great idea for your furry friends diet. Their digestive systems are used to eating foods like this so lettuce is the right choice.
What you have to be careful about is that your pet doesn’t eat too much of it. You can only give him a limited amount, so that it doesn’t hurt his digestive system they are not large animals, and therefore all meals should be measured just right.
Also, giving him lettuce on regular basis is probably not a good idea, because, although it is very nutritional, it can also hurt him if he doesn’t recieve versatile meal plans. You can use lettuce as a snack, after his regular meal (if it wasn’t too big of course), so that he gets some natural components.
On the other side, if you want to incorporate something very healthy in his diet as a meal, and something he hasn’t tried before, then lettuce is just the perfect choice. Throw in some fresh leaves few times a week, and boost his immune system signifcantly. He will make up for all the nutrients he has been missing, and in the same time have a tasty treat.
If you notice anything strange about him, after consuption of lettuce, make sure to monitor his behavior for a while. If he shows any signs of illness, contact your vet. These cases are rare, but not impossible. Food intolerance in pets is a possibility, just like in humans.
If you are not sure, then you can always ask your vet for advice. He will give you the right informations about his condition, and eating habits, so you can exclude any doubts.
Side-effects that can occurr if your hamster eats a lot of lettuce are diarrhea, vomiting and also liver problems. These problems, of course, can only happen if you go overboard and feed him lettuce on daily bases. So make sure to avoid doing this.
In the end it is up to you, as an owner, to decide whether you want him to eat lettuce or not. There are other vegetables that are just as nutritional for him, just like lettuce, but if you want to mix up his eating routine a little lettuce is a great choice. It won’t harm him unless you feed him too much, and on daily bases. They need different foods to stay healthy, and you can find most of nutrients in food that is meant for hamsters.
But, in case you trust natural foods more, then don’t be afraid and go ahead and give your little friend a healthy treat.
