I’ve often wondered if hamsters get bored of eating the same thing, day in and day out, but it is challenging to know what treats to offer them. That’s when I thought about trying hamster chocolate drops but are they safe for your pet?
Hamster chocolate drops are designed for these little animals and are entirely safe for them to eat. That being said, they should be seen as a treat and not a staple part of the hamster’s diet.
If you want to treat your hamster to the occasional chocolate drop, then it’s good news. However, there are some other things you will need to know before you rush off and buy a packet of hamster chocolate drops, so let’s explore these treats in a little more detail.
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Chocolate Drops For Hamsters
Some species of hamsters are particularly prone to diabetes, for example, the dwarf hamster.
For this reason, their treats must be specifically designed for their unique biology. Luckily, there are many brands of hamster chocolate drops available.
Many pet owners become concerned that giving chocolate to their hamsters will cause health problems, but chocolate drops for hamsters are made using a special recipe that won’t harm them.
In the main, these small chocolates are made using a milk substitute, which means that they will be much healthier for your pet than other types of chocolate.
Chocolate is typically made from cocoa beans, and while this is a tasty treat, it may not be suitable for a hamster. The chocolate drops that are made specifically for hamsters do not contain any cocoa at all and instead are made using vegetable oils, which are entirely harmless to these tiny critters.
What is even more impressive about this type of chocolate is that it will not melt as easily as regular chocolate.
It takes much higher temperatures to get hamster chocolate drops to melt, and this is excellent news for your pet.
You will likely be familiar with the fact that hamsters will sometimes store food in their cheek pouches for later. If they were to store regular chocolate in there, it would quickly melt and leave the poor hamster in a bit of a sticky mess.
In contrast, their hamster chocolate drops can be stored in the pouch without a problem.
With all of this in mind, it is also important to remember that these treats should be seen as exactly that; a treat. I mentioned earlier that some species of hamsters are prone to diabetes.
While the sugar levels in hamster chocolate drops are significantly lower than human chocolate, sugar is most definitely still in there.
The last thing you would want is for your beloved pet to develop health problems as a result of a poor diet, so when offering treats like chocolate drops, this should be done in moderation.
How often you give your hamster a treat will depend on the type of food you are offering, but where chocolate drops are concerned, you should probably aim to give him one no more than once a week.
Don’t forget that hamsters are small creatures, and just a little fat and sugar could cause problems.
Can Hamsters Eat Human Chocolate?
In short, you should never offer human chocolate to your hamster; there is a high risk that they will become ill as a result of this. Chocolate contains a lot of ingredients that, while helpful to humans in moderation, can be dangerous for these sweet little rodents.
Chocolate is harmful to many animal species, including hamsters, and this is because of a chemical that is in the chocolate known as theobromine.
Now, short of giving you a chemistry lesson, let me try to explain this in a straightforward way:
Theobromine can be broken down by humans, provided that it is eaten in moderation. However, hamsters do not have the ability to break this chemical down, and if they ingest too much of it, it could be lethal.
Since this chemical may stay in the hamster’s system for up to 24 hours before it will leave as waste, it could cause the hamster to become poisoned.
In many cases, it can lead to the death of the animal. If you want to treat your hamster to some chocolate, always be sure to use chocolate drops that have been made for this type of animal.
What Else Can I Use As A Treat For My Hamster?
So, we now know that chocolate, even that which is specifically for hammies, can contain a lot of unhealthy things like sugar and fat.
A lot of pet parents are put off giving chocolate drops to their hamsters and often wonder what else they could use in its place.
The good news is that there are several other foods that can be used as a treat for your hamster. Again, it is vital that you do this sparingly and not as a staple part of your hamster’s diet.
Other things that your hamster can eat as a treat are:
- Dried herbs
- Small nuts
- Uncoated dog biscuits
- Seeds like pumpkin, hemp, and linseed.
- Oats.
- Pasta
- Cooked vegetables
- Dry toast
What Are The Best Hamster Chocolate Drops?
There is a huge range of hamster chocolate drops, and you can often pick these up from your local pet supply store or online.
One of the most common and well-loved brands is RotaStak such as these on Amazon (#CommissionsEarned), which are inexpensive and can be given to many small pets, including hamsters, guinea pigs, and rabbits.
One of the best things about this brand is that they are made with high-quality ingredients that are safe for small animals like hamsters and are delicate flavored with a chocolate-vanilla taste that hamsters go nuts for.
They are also enriched with certain vitamins, including vitamin A and D3, both of which promote excellent overall health and wellbeing.
However, they are still high in certain sugars and fats, so while these are a great option, it is still important to be sparing with them.
Related Questions
What foods are toxic to hamsters?
Aside from human chocolate, which may cause serious problems for your hamster. There are other foods that may not be safe and should be avoided at all costs. These include onions, garlic, meats that are high in fat, almonds, and citrus fruits.
What ingredients are in hamster chocolate drops?
Rotastak chocolate drops, which are one of the most popular options, contain sugars, milk derivatives, oils, fats, and vegetable derivatives.