320 replies to this topic

[Jaide]

It's not quite so simple.  There isn't anything that outright "causes" diabetes.  It's not a simple cause-and-effect where "If ABC is present, the hamster will definitely get diabetes.  If ABC is not present, the hamster will definitely not get diabetes."

 

A very, very big part of diabetes is genetic.  It sometimes it's just having the right (or wrong) combination of genes.  So a hamster could be in great physical shape, have a great diet...and still get diabetes.  Conversely, an obese hamster on a junk food diet might not get diabetes.

 

Now, there are what we call "risk factors."  That is, things that increase the risk of developing diabetes.  Obesity is a big one, as mentioned in the original post.  However, we have to be careful not to mistake "risk factor" with "cause."  It is not guaranteed that an obese hamster will automatically get diabetes.  All it means is that having extra weight might make it more likely that the hamster will develop diabetes than if it were a healthy weight.

Wow, interesting! Always thought that any kind of sugars, no matter natural or processed, would cause diabetes in hamsters. Now that I think about it, that's pretty stupid . 

 

Thank you Tax, and everyone else who helped with this!

[Megan ♥]

Oh my goodness the update is beautiful! I love the new design! I was confused for a minute...whoops :P

[roloandtortilla]

So just to confirm, it is now safe for sure to feed diabetes prone hamsters fruit? Where did you find out that fruit isn't correlated with diabetes? This is great news!

 

Oops! I just found where you wrote about it before the actual list. Awesome!

Edited by Marshmellie, 12 September 2014 - 06:13 AM.

[Hammy forever101]

The best foods are hazel hamster Harry hamster care fresh complete menu vita craft vita smart national geographic hamster and gerbil entree and some others
Never get living world classic great value food all living things diet and hearts bananza and more!

[emiee7]

So carrots are good? And couldnt you add gerber puffs?

[HashtagHamster]

Printed it out for my hamster binder!

[CupcakeMeetsHamster]

I have just now realized this and I was wondering, saw I want to feed peach and lettuce. Would i still reduce it even though it is two separate categories? What about like lentils and lettuce?

[Alex~588]

Are almonds okay (raw unsalted)

[jayejaye16]

Thank you this was so helpful! I'm getting a hamster tonight and i was looking for foods i own and can add to Oxbow Healthy HandfuIs to give my hammy better nutrition. Is lunchmeat style turkey breast safe for hybrids?

[pawlove]

Thank you this was so helpful! I'm getting a hamster tonight and i was looking for foods i own and can add to Oxbow Healthy HandfuIs to give my hammy better nutrition. Is lunchmeat style turkey breast safe for hybrids?

Lunchmeat is usually seasoned, so it's not good for any kind of hamsters. Just plain meat will do

[jayejaye16]

Lunchmeat is usually seasoned, so it's not good for any kind of hamsters. Just plain meat will do

Thank you for the quick response! I assume American cheese is a safe source of protein as well?

[pawlove]

Thank you for the quick response! I assume American cheese is a safe source of protein as well?

Low-fat cheese is okay, but it's not a good idea to give dairy too often. If you're looking for protein supplements, lentils and dried insects works well

[jayejaye16]

Low-fat cheese is okay, but it's not a good idea to give dairy too often. If you're looking for protein supplements, lentils and dried insects works well

Ok thank you so much! I've just read that Oxbow Healthy Handfuls is a bit low on protein and obviously vegetables, so I want to provide my hamster with those things. I think her diet will be around 1 1/2 tsp Oxbow food and a little bit of vegetables (romaine lettuce, bell peppers) and a source of protein that I'm still working on. I want to use something I already own...do you think milled flaxseed is okay? I have sunflower seeds but they're lightly salted :(

[pawlove]

Ok thank you so much! I've just read that Oxbow Healthy Handfuls is a bit low on protein and obviously vegetables, so I want to provide my hamster with those things. I think her diet will be around 1 1/2 tsp Oxbow food and a little bit of vegetables (romaine lettuce, bell peppers) and a source of protein that I'm still working on. I want to use something I already own...do you think milled flaxseed is okay? I have sunflower seeds but they're lightly salted :(

 

Yep the flax seeds are okay! Careful not to add too much though, just several seeds daily or every each other day, because they are high in fat. You can get plain sunflower seeds from pet stores usually.

 

I recommend mixing a seed mix along with Oxbow too, since feeding mostly pellets would be kinda boring. 

[jayejaye16]

Yep the flax seeds are okay! Careful not to add too much though, just several seeds daily or every each other day, because they are high in fat. You can get plain sunflower seeds from pet stores usually.
 
I recommend mixing a seed mix along with Oxbow too, since feeding mostly pellets would be kinda boring.

Thank you so much again! I got my cute lil winter white a couple hours ago, sweet as can be!! Her name is Pipsqueak, or Pip for short. I'm so excited to be her new mommy, and I can't wait to use your advice!