Dwarf Hamster Blog

The Dwarf Hamster Guide

  • Dwarf Hamster ♥
    • Robo Dwarf Hamster
    • Russian Dwarf Hamster
    • Siberian Hamster
    • Chinese Dwarf Hamster
    • Fancy Russian Dwarf Hamster
  • Syrian Hamster
  • Hamster Care Articles
  • Hamster Supplies Checklist
  • About Us
    • Contact Us ♥
    • Submissions
  • Hamster Cage Finder ♥
    • Hamster Cage Finder UK
You are here: Home / Hamster Care / Can You Give a Hamster Dog Treats?

Can You Give a Hamster Dog Treats?

June 3, 2013 By Sarah Yee 11 Comments

Yes! Dog treats or biscuits are pretty hard and are usually given to hamsters to help them wear down their teeth. Although wooden chews do a fine job of that, some hamsters simply refuse to use them. In that case, getting a plain dog treat (no additional flavors) for the hamster can help encourage it to bite on the treat and prevent their teeth from being overgrown.

It’s important to get a plain dog treat because not all of them are safe for hamsters. For example, dog biscuits with garlic or onion in them should not be given to hamsters as these food can be harmful to your pet hammy.

Many experienced owners milk bones which you can get online or in major pet stores. It’s quite big so a single piece should last a long time (the entire box would probably last forever in hamster-years) These are not available where I am so I got my hamster another type. You can see my winter white dwarf hamster, Flaxseed, chewing on a dog treat in the photo. That was taken weeks ago and right now, it’s still a whole piece with lots of bite marks on it (:

winter white hamster chewing on dog treatDog treats may also be a good source of protein although I would not recommend anyone giving it to their hamster as food. Some hamsters may enjoy the treat so much that they eat the treat instead of their regular food. If you notice your hamster going through the biscuit really quickly and not touching their food, it might be wise to remove the treat for a while. This is important because the treats do not contain all the nutrients that hamsters require to be healthy.

That said, it’s rare for a hamster to eat only the dog treat instead of their regular food mix (I’ve only heard it happen once). All four of my dwarf hamsters enjoy chewing on dog biscuits, but never as their main source of food.

Related Posts:

  • Are Hamsters Herbivores or Omnivores?
    Are Hamsters Herbivores or Omnivores?
  • Hamster Treats
    Hamster Treats
  • Hamster Facts in Photos
    Hamster Facts in Photos
  • Do Dwarf Hamsters Bite?
    Do Dwarf Hamsters Bite?

Filed Under: Hamster Care, Hamster Help

Search our site

Featured Post

Russian Dwarf Hamster – Campbell’s, Winter White & Hybrids

Russian Dwarf Hamster – Campbell’s, Winter White & Hybrids

The term “Russian dwarf hamster” is a common term for two species of hamster – the Campbell’s dwarf … [Read More...]

Newsletter

Our Newest Post

  • Best Hamster-Themed Gifts

Hamster Topics

  • Hamster Care
  • Hamster Help
  • Hamster Facts
  • DIY Hamster Stuff
  • Product Reviews
  • Just For Fun
  • Dwarf Hamster Videos
  • Types of Hamsters

Our Featured Video

Polls

Do you have a bin cage?

View Results

Loading ... Loading ...

Follow Us!

Follow Us on FacebookFollow Us on Google+Follow Us on TwitterFollow Us on InstagramFollow Us on PinterestFollow Us on YouTube

Home | Contact Us | Privacy | Copyright 2013 DwarfHamsterBlog.com