Last Updated on March 9, 2023 by Woody Pet

They probably shouldn’t

Can Hamsters Eat Grapes? The fruit that can bring us joy in celebrations when it is converted into liquor, wine. The one that is probably one of the best flavors of juice you can drink. And the one fruit that is so simple that you can eat right away, with all that juicy texture.

You could probably think that this very rather inoffensive fruit can’t actually do anything bad for anyone (unless you drink a lot of wine) even pets, right?

Some animals could or could not process this great fruit and, because of that, you should need to learn what can actually do. Like most things, it needs to be tested first.

And what about hamsters? Can hamsters eat grapes at all? Could be actually bad to give some to them? Let’s see if our little furry friends could actually eat this fruit and if not, what can it do to them?

Are grapes safe for hamsters?

Let’s get that out of the way first: Yes, grapes are safe for hamsters. It is funny to see that a fruit that is not safe for cats and dogs can actually go inside the hamster’s tiny body.

Grapes are an amazing source of vitamin K, vitamin C, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, and magnesium, apart from some antioxidants, fibers, and minerals. So far, so good. Grapes look actually like the best treat you could give to a hamster, but is it really?

Well, you need to try it first. Your hamster could actually be allergic to this sweet fruit. As with all pets, when you are introducing a new type of food for them, you should go and progressively add the new one. If even in small portions, your hamster gets sick, stop giving them that.

But if they are not allergic, hamsters can eat grapes safely. But you need to keep in mind that grapes are a very sweet fruit.

Do not get me wrong, grapes are amazing as a treat and your hamster would love them, but give them in small portions. Too much sweetness is bad for anything, including hamsters.

Are grapes bad for hamsters?

In short terms and a few words, no. Grapes are not bad for hamsters unless you go overboard and give them an awful bunch of them.

The hamsters can eat grapes because they are omnivores, which means they could eat almost anything, including these sweet fruits. But this does not mean that you should go out of your way and give them too many treats like this one, even if it is a fruit.

But, speaking of sweet, that is where the problem can reside. If you give them to many sweet things to your hamster, you could actually make it diabetic. Yes, the hamsters can actually have diabetes, just like humans. After all, they are also mammals.

So then, be careful about the number of grapes you give to your little furry friend. It may look like it is nothing but it can lead to pretty severe health issues that you may want to avoid in a hamster.

What can go wrong if you give grapes to a hamster?

There are some things that can go wrong if you give grapes to a hamster, especially when you give too many of them. Remember kids, all in excess is a bad thing (and that does not apply to hamsters only)

Sometimes, to make a bad digestive process go away, hamsters would go into a behavioral symptom called pica which means that your hamster would eat anything like bedding or other things in its cage, in order to improve its digestive situation.

Speaking of digestive issues, diarrhea could also happen. Be aware of loose stools and if your hamster has a “wet tail”. This latest symptom can lead to fatal consequences if it is not treated on a time. Be prepared to go to your trusted vet if you see this symptom happening.

In this last case, and because diarrhea can be pretty bad with the water resources your hamster’s body has, try to get your little friend hydrated.

Make access to water easier and, if your pet is not drinking any, try to moisture its mouth with a syringe of water. Be careful though not to push too much water into its mouth. You do not want to drown the poor thing, don’t you?

Remember that even if hamsters can eat grapes, and almost anything they can get access too, the secret is in moderation.

Having too much of something can actually make these symptoms get worse and can induce some complications like diabetes for instance.

Another thing to have in mind is that, because hamsters are omnivorous, that does not mean that they can eat other things like veggies or even protein foods.

A hamster should not be eating more than just 12 milligrams of food daily, and when it comes to fruit, twice a week is a good idea. More of those sweet fruits in the week can be a really bad idea.

Conclusion

Yes, hamsters can eat grapes, but they should not eat too many of them or any other type of fruit or sweet food. The hamsters could actually develop diabetes, just like a human would by eating too many sugary foods.

When it comes to numbers and portions, giving a hamster no more than 12 milligrams of food, a day is a safe bet, and, when it comes to grapes, giving them no more than twice a week is perfect.

You should know also that hamsters could be actually allergic to this fruit and other kinds of fruit or foods. In any case, you should try them before in small quantities and see how their stomachs can handle the new diet.

And when it comes to possible illnesses that could occur, you can always ask to a professional to see what it can be done and to discard any other things that can also be bugging your little furry friend about.