Hamsters should not eat avocado because it could kill them. The reason is that, while avocados are healthy for humans to eat, hamsters have a very different digestive system, and eating avocados can lead to a fatal illness called Peritonitis or Toxic Megacolon.
Hamsters’ lower gastrointestinal tract lacks the enzymes necessary to digest the fruit’s oils from the fatty flesh. If they ingest too much of it, their bodies will react poorly and this could be potentially life-threatening! In other words, you might want to keep your pet off of guacamole!
This article will teach you more about the dangers of hamsters eating avocados!
Why Are Avocados Bad For hamsters?
Hamsters should not eat avocado because it can cause them to develop vitamin A toxicity. When hamsters eat foods containing vitamin A in large quantities, they risk developing vitamin A toxicity. This condition occurs when the body has more vitamin A than it needs for use and storage.
High doses of Vitamin A over time may lead to bone softening and pain; vomiting; swelling of the brain, liver, and spleen; excessive drooling; blurred vision; and anorexia. In cases of extreme vitamin A toxicity, a hamster may develop seizures or go into a coma. Symptoms of vitamin A toxicity can appear when 5,000 IU/kg or more of Vitamin A is consumed over a short period of time.
According to the University of Arizona, avocado contains about 5,000 IU/kg of Vitamin A. This number is higher than almost all types of meat and fish. For example, fresh salmon only has 3,500 IU/kg while canned salmon has 4,000 IU/kg. To prevent vitamin A toxicity in a hamster, do not feed avocado.
Can Hamsters Be Allergic To Avocado?
Some hamsters may have an allergic reaction to avocado. If your hamster has any signs of an allergic reaction after eating avocado, please take him to a veterinarian.
Signs of an allergic reaction include:
- Itching and swelling in the mouth and face
- Puffiness around the eyes
- Red or bumpy skin
- Rash or scabs on the skin
- Discharge from nose and eyes
- A sudden bout of diarrhea (watery with mucus)
If your hamster has any of these signs after eating avocado, take him to a vet as soon as possible. If you cannot get your hamster to a veterinarian within 24 hours, call the emergency vet hospital and describe your hamster’s symptoms for instructions on what to do in the meantime.
The Health Risks Of Avocado For Hamsters
The health risks of avocado for hamsters include the potential for gastrointestinal obstruction. The fatty acids in avocado can cause a hamster’s gastrointestinal tract to become blocked, leading to serious health problems. Hamsters should not eat avocado.
Avocados can irritate your hamster’s digestive tract and cause diarrhea. This, in turn, could lead to serious health concerns like enteritis or colitis. What is more, the fatty acids in avocados are difficult for small animals to digest.
Hamsters have very sensitive digestive systems, so they must eat foods that do not cause stomach problems or blockages.
Another reason why hamsters should not eat avocado is that it is high in fat and protein. There is no nutritional benefit to your hamster eating avocado at all!
Avocado is not a part of a hamster’s natural diet and it does not have any benefits for the animal. What’s more, the high-fat content can cause serious health concerns. Feeding your hamster avocado as a treat will negatively impact your hamster’s health.
What To Do If Your Hamster Ate An Avocado
If your hamster ate an avocado, you should contact a veterinarian immediately. Hamsters should not eat avocado because it can cause them to experience difficulty breathing and gastrointestinal problems.
Avocado is a type of fruit found in Central America and Northern South America. It is also sometimes called an avocado pear or alligator pear because it looks like a small pear with spiky skin, similar to the skin on an alligator.
The greenish-gray inside of an avocado can be eaten and has been said to have many health benefits. However, hamsters should never eat avocado because there is no nutritional value in it for them and it can cause them to become sick.
Avocados are not toxic but highly dangerous for male Syrian hamsters. The ingestion of avocados has been linked to respiratory distress, difficulty breathing, gastrointestinal problems, and cardiovascular issues in these hamsters. If your Syrian hamster ate avocado, it needs to see a vet immediately.
Symptoms Of Avocado Poisoning In Hamsters
The most common symptoms of avocado poisoning for male Syrian hamsters include: Difficulty breathing; Labored breathing; Breathing with an open mouth; Breathing with the snout pointed upward; Panting; Head tilted downward.
Avocado poisoning can also cause gastrointestinal problems in hamsters such as Decreased appetite (not eating); Vomiting; Diarrhea.
Hamsters experiencing these symptoms should not be bathed because they lack the strength and coordination to support their weight. They will likely need to be handled gently and with a high level of care.
The Prognosis For Avocado Poisoning In Hamsters (Outcomes And Outlook)
The prognosis for hamsters suffering from avocado poisoning is guarded. This means that it can go either way, but the outlook is more negative than positive.
The hamster may be able to recover without any issues, but they are also at risk of developing serious complications that can be life-threatening.
The hamster’s lungs and heart are very weak after eating avocado, so it is very susceptible to respiratory distress or a cardiovascular accident. This puts a hamster with avocado poisoning at a high risk of death.
The most common causes of fatality after a hamster has developed respiratory distress due to avocado ingestion are heart failure; carcinoma developing from the lungs or trachea.
In rare cases, a hamster may develop anemia from being unable to breathe properly for so long, or it may develop pneumonia, which is a respiratory infection that fills the lungs with fluid.
To prevent either of these conditions from developing in your hamster after it has eaten avocado, you should call a veterinarian immediately. Your vet will be able to provide your hamster with the medical attention it needs to recover or make any decisions regarding euthanasia if the prognosis is poor.
Hamsters may need to be euthanized if they develop tracheal or lung carcinomas after eating avocados because these types of cancer are very invasive and difficult to treat.
It’s not possible for a hamster who has been struggling to breathe for so long to survive without veterinary assistance. Euthanasia is the kindest option if your hamster is suffering.
Since the prognosis for avocado poisoning in hamsters is so poor, it’s important to prevent this from occurring by keeping avocados away from your pet at all times. Your veterinarian will advise you on how to best provide care for your hamster after ingestion or inhalation of avocado.
Conclusion
Hamsters should not eat avocado because there is no nutritional value in it for them and it can cause them to become sick. Avocados are not toxic but highly dangerous for male Syrian hamsters.
The ingestion of avocados has been linked to respiratory distress, difficulty breathing, gastrointestinal problems, and cardiovascular issues in these hamsters. If your Syrian hamster ate avocado, it needs to see a vet immediately.
Learn More: What Can Hamsters Eat? Hamster Diet Guide
