Hamster · Fruit
Can hamsters eat raisins?
No. Raisins are dried grapes, which the RSPCA warns can be poisonous to rodents, and drying concentrates the sugar. Vets advise avoiding dried fruit for hamsters.
- Sugar
- 65.2 g / 100 g
If your hamster already ate some
Call your vet for advice and say how many were eaten. Watch for diarrhoea, reduced appetite, lethargy or changes in drinking and urination, and see a vet promptly if any appear.
Why
Risks. Raisins carry the same unexplained toxicity concern as grapes, in concentrated form, and are very high in sugar, which is a particular problem for diabetes-prone dwarf hamsters.
Questions owners ask 2
What about sultanas and currants?
Treat sultanas and currants (dried grapes) the same as raisins and do not feed them.
My hamster's food mix contains raisins. Is that a problem?
Pick them out, or choose a complete pellet or mix without dried grapes or added sugar.
Raisins: nutrition per 100 g
| Water | 15.5 g |
|---|---|
| Energy | 299 kcal |
| Sugars | 65.2 g |
| Fat | 0.3 g |
| Protein | 3.3 g |
| Fibre | 4.5 g |
| Calcium | 62 mg |
| Phosphorus | 98 mg |
| Calcium : phosphorus | 0.63 : 1 |
| Sodium | 26 mg |
| Vitamin A (RAE) | 0 µg |
| Vitamin C | 2.3 mg |
“Raisins, dark, seedless (Includes foods for USDA's Food Distribution Program)”, USDA FoodData Central (SR Legacy, FDC 168165). Public domain.
Sources & method 4
The sources below discuss raisins for hamsters (or for pet rodents generally). Confidence: medium. Rated on the JOMIZOO Feeding Scale; when good sources disagree we choose the more cautious level.
- What to feed hamsters — RSPCA
- Can Hamsters Eat Broccoli & What to Feed Your Hamster — Northgate Veterinary Clinic, Seattle
- Dwarf Hamster Care Sheet — PetMD (written by Maria Zayas, DVM; reviewed by Melissa Witherell, DVM)
- Grape, Raisin, and Tamarind (Vitis spp, Tamarindus spp) Toxicosis in Dogs — Merck Veterinary Manual
Other pets
More fruit
Small amounts
Apple
Small amounts
Banana
Small amounts
Blueberry
Small amounts
Strawberry
Small amounts
Raspberry
Never
Grape
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
Never
Avocado
Small amounts
Coconut