Can Hamsters Eat Onions?

Hamsters are such a cute little animal species. As such, you must look after them well so that they will grow healthily. So, have you ever thought about whether you could provide onions for the hamsters? This whole guide is everything you need to know about feeding onions to hamsters. To give a glimpse of the answer, no, you cannot feed onions to hamsters. There are numerous reasons why you should avoid feeding onions to hamsters.

So, if you are a hamster owner, it would be worthwhile to go through this article since we have covered all the useful tips you need to be aware of about this. These helpful hints are essential if you want to help the hamsters thrive.

What Are onions?

Onions are a common vegetable found all over the world. It has a closer relationship to garlic, scallions, and leeks. Usually, people tend to cook and serve it and include it as part of the dish. Some don’t prefer to chop them, as sometimes when you chop them, it can make people cry. We are yet to find the origin of the onions. However, it is a food item that has been consumed for a long time. You may come across different kinds of onions. For example, there are red onions, white onions, and so many other onion species. Onions are a delicious veggie item. However, sadly, your beloved hamsters won’t be able to eat them.

Nutrient Value of onions

Onion is nourished with so many nutrients. For example, 100 g of onions would contain 166 KJ of energy. Furthermore, it may contain 9.34 g of carbohydrates as well. In addition to that, it would further come up with 4.24 g of sugar, 1.7 g of dietary fiber, and 0.1 g of fat as well. Not only that, but it also has 1.1 grams of protein. Moreover, 100 g of onions would usually have Thiamine (B1) (4%) 0.046 mg, Riboflavin (B2) (2%) 0.027 mg, Niacin (B3) (1%) 0.116 mg, and Pantothenic acid (B5) (2%) 0.123 mg.

Aside from that, 100 g of onions contain 0.12 mg of vitamin B6 (9%), 5% folate (B9), and 19 g of vitamin C (9%). It further comes up with minerals as well. For instance, 100 g of onions would usually come up with 23 mg of calcium (2%), 0.21 mg of iron (2%), 10 mg of magnesium (3%), and 0.129 mg of manganese (6%). Furthermore, 100 g of onions would contain 29 mg of phosphorus (4%), 146 mg of potassium (3%), and 0.17 mg of zinc (2%). Furthermore, they will contain water and fluoride; for example, 100 g of onions will contain 89.11 g of water and 1.1 g of fluoride.

Health benefits of nutrients which are found in onions

Unfortunately, onions don’t contain any health benefits for the hamsters. Having said that, onions contain antioxidants and nutrients that are beneficial to humans but not to hamsters. On another note, onions are not safe for cats and dogs either.

Health risks (disadvantages) of onions

As aforesaid, onions are not a healthy option for your beloved furry friends. Onions are toxic for the hamsters, and if you happen to feed them in large quantities, it would turn out to be life-threatening for them as well. So, the following are some of the health-related risks the hamsters may have if you happen to feed them onions in excess.

First, it would result in digestive system-related complications. If the hamsters happen to eat onions, chances are that it will contribute to upset stomachs. Even the smallest piece of onion would make the hamsters sick and result in digestive system issues. It would not be the same for humans, though.

Apart from digestive system-related issues, it may result in urinary problems as well. Onion contains a high concentration of calcium, which is toxic to hamsters. Keep in mind that overconsumption of calcium would make the hamsters develop kidney stones. Furthermore, it would make the hamsters weaker too. Onions would make the hamsters dizzy as well.

If hamsters accidentally end up eating onions, it would damage the hamsters’ red blood cells. ultimately affect the oxygen supply in the heart, which would ultimately risk anemia too. Furthermore, if the hamsters were fed onions, their immunity would be compromised as well. In addition to that, they will struggle to breathe normally as well. There is some disulfide that would result in this condition.

Apart from the above health risks, the disulfide and thiosulfate components would make the hamsters suffer from eye irritations. Furthermore, it may cause mouth irritation. In addition to that, it would contribute to excess salivation too.

Can Hamsters Eat Raw Onions?

It is an absolute NO for this question. Hamsters cannot eat raw onions, as they are simply not safe for hamsters to consume. It is noteworthy that onions have disulfide and thiosulfate compounds, and those would be toxic for the hamsters.

Can Hamsters Eat Spring Onion?

Hamsters cannot eat spring onions. Spring onions are acidic. Besides, their high water contents and sugar traces would be unhealthy for the hamsters. Due to these reasons, it is best to avoid feeding them to the hamsters.

Can Hamsters Eat Onion Skin?

Hamsters cannot consume onion skin either. The skin of onions, like the onions themselves, is toxic to hamsters. The outer layer of the onion contains some toxic compounds for the hamsters. Each layer of the onion consists of a toxic compound called disulfide. Therefore, do not ever feed onion skin to your beloved hamsters.

Can Hamsters Eat Red Onion?

Just like the other onions, red onions are not healthy for the hamsters either. They are not suitable for the hamsters to consume. Red onions have the same toxic compounds as regular onions do. So, avoid feeding red onions to the hamsters.

Can hamsters eat green onions?

Green onions should not be fed to hamsters either. Having said that, green onions contain so many nutrients. For example, they usually come up with some important vitamins as well as some minerals. Sadly, it is not suitable for you to feed green onions to the hamsters.

Can hamsters have a white onion?

You should strictly avoid supplying white onions for the hamsters. They can badly impact the red blood cells of the hamsters. Furthermore, the hamsters would become dehydrated due to their high fat and salt content.

Can Hamsters Eat Onion Rings?

It is a big NO for this, as hamsters cannot handle onion rings at all. Without a doubt, onion is a toxic vegetable for hamsters. So on top of that, when you fry it, it makes it even worse. When you fry and cook something, it is no secret that you will be adding stuff that is unsuitable for the hamsters. So, don’t ever even try serving onion rings to the hamsters unless you don’t want to see your beloved hamsters suffer.

Can Hamsters Eat Shallot?

Hamsters cannot eat shallot either. Shallots belong to the Allium family. Further, they contain some life-threatening compounds for hamsters. Not only that, shallots are highly acidic by nature as well. Hence, you need to avoid feeding them to the hamsters.

Can hamsters eat onion leaves?

Sadly, they are unable to do so. Giving your hamster onion leaves can be harmful and result in significant health issues for your pet. Onion leaves contain a number of chemicals that are harmful to animals, and that they can be problematic due to their strong resemblance to onions (which hamsters cannot eat).

Are onions toxic to hamsters?

Yes, certainly they are. Onion poisoning is something that you can commonly find among hamsters. Keep in mind that even a slight bite of onions would make the hamsters sick. The toxic compounds disulfide and thiosulfates are responsible for the toxicity of onions in hamsters. These are some extremely dangerous compounds. They could even result in the loss of red blood cells in the hamsters. Ultimately, it would result in even more adverse effects on the hamsters’ well-being.

When the hamsters suffer from onion toxicity, it would result in breathing issues; furthermore, it would result in excess salivation, eye irritations, and mouth irritations as well. Needless to say, it would result in digestive-related issues too. Chances are that these allergic reactions would get even worse if you kept neglecting them. So, if by any chance a hamster ends up eating onions, you need to take them to the vet as promptly as you can.

How much onion is toxic for hamsters?

As aforesaid, even the slightest bit of onion would cause problems for the hamsters. So, don’t ever think of feeding any amount of onions to the hamsters. Syrian hamsters, on the other hand, would be fine if they ate no more than 4-5 grams of onions per day. But never give onions to dwarf hamsters. My advice is not to test this kind of food on your hamster. It might be fatal to them.

How do you keep hamsters away from onions?

Ideally, you need to place onions in a separate area that the hamsters cannot access. Further, consider placing a fence around the onion garden if you have any. If not, you can consider using a spray bottle to keep them away from the onions. If possible, consider not bringing any onions into your home. However, if you have any onions, ensure that you don’t let your beloved hamsters get any closer to those.

What to do if your hamster eats onions?

If the hamsters end up eating a huge amount of onion, it would be really dangerous for them. As such, you need to take immediate action to avoid any adverse effects. First, see if they have any allergic reactions. I don’t recommend you treat the hamsters on your own. Don’t panic or get stressed. Ideally, you need to take them to the vet. Keep in mind that hamsters are not the type of animals who would vomit. Instead, they will have to pass that substance through their digestive system only.

Can dwarf hamsters eat onions?

Onions are off limits to all hamsters, including dwarf hamsters. You should especially avoid giving onion to dwarf hamsters.

Bottom line

To sum up, onions are not the type of vegetable you should feed the hamsters. If you do so, it would result in anemia and gastrointestinal upsets. That said, if by any chance they ate any of the onions, you need to monitor them closely. Ideally, you should consider feeding them fresh vegetables and a small amount of meat.