Hamster · Fruit
Can hamsters eat avocado?
No. Avocado contains persin, a toxin that can damage the heart, and the Merck Veterinary Manual lists mice, rats and guinea pigs among susceptible species. It is also very fatty.
- Sugar
- 0.7 g / 100 g
- Fat
- 14.7 g / 100 g
If your hamster already ate some
Call your vet promptly and say how much, and which part, was eaten. Watch closely for laboured breathing, lethargy, swelling or reduced appetite over the next 24-48 hours.
Why
Risks. Persin is found in the leaves, skin, stone and fruit; leaves are the most toxic part and levels vary by variety. In susceptible mammals it can cause heart muscle damage, with breathing difficulty and lethargy within 24-48 hours. Avocado is also very high in fat.
Questions owners ask 2
Is a tiny bit of ripe avocado flesh OK?
We do not recommend any amount. Persin levels vary between varieties and parts of the fruit, and no safe dose has been established for hamsters.
What about guacamole?
No. As well as avocado, guacamole usually contains onion, garlic, salt and chilli, which are all unsuitable for hamsters.
Avocado: nutrition per 100 g
| Water | 73.2 g |
|---|---|
| Energy | 160 kcal |
| Sugars | 0.7 g |
| Fat | 14.7 g |
| Protein | 2 g |
| Fibre | 6.7 g |
| Calcium | 12 mg |
| Phosphorus | 52 mg |
| Calcium : phosphorus | 0.23 : 1 |
| Sodium | 7 mg |
| Vitamin A (RAE) | 7 µg |
| Vitamin C | 10 mg |
“Avocados, raw, all commercial varieties”, USDA FoodData Central (SR Legacy, FDC 171705). Public domain.
Sources & method 1
No source we found covers avocado for hamsters specifically, so this verdict is reasoned from general feeding guidance and nutrition data. Confidence: high. Rated on the JOMIZOO Feeding Scale; when good sources disagree we choose the more cautious level.
- Avocado (Persea spp) Toxicosis in Animals — Merck Veterinary Manual
Other pets
More fruit
Small amounts
Apple
Small amounts
Banana
Small amounts
Blueberry
Small amounts
Strawberry
Small amounts
Raspberry
Never
Grape
Never
Raisin
Small amounts
Watermelon
Small amounts
Cantaloupe
Better not
Orange
Small amounts
Mango
Small amounts
Pineapple
Small amounts
Pear
Small amounts
Cherry
Small amounts
Peach
Small amounts
Kiwi
Small amounts
Coconut