Hamster · Greens & herbs
Can hamsters eat spinach?
Yes, in small amounts. Vet and welfare sources list spinach as suitable, but it is high in oxalate, so offer it now and then as part of a rotation rather than every day.
- Portion
- One small leaf, about 2–3 cm (1 in) across, for a Syrian; about half that for a dwarf.
- How often
- Once or twice a week
- Sugar
- 0.4 g / 100 g
How to serve it
- Wash thoroughly, including bagged baby spinach
- Serve raw and plain, never creamed, buttered or salted
- Tear into small pieces
- Remove uneaten leaves the next day
Why
Risks. Spinach is rich in oxalate, which binds calcium. Because bladder stones are not uncommon in hamsters, rotating spinach with other greens is a sensible precaution, though this is based on its nutrient content rather than a documented hamster problem. Like other watery leaves, too much can soften droppings.
Benefits. A source of vitamins A and K, folate and some fibre.
Questions owners ask 2
Can hamsters eat baby spinach?
Yes. Baby spinach is the same plant picked young. Wash it and offer a small leaf once or twice a week.
Can hamsters eat cooked spinach?
Plain raw spinach is better. Spinach cooked for the family often contains butter, salt, cream or garlic, which are not suitable for hamsters.
Spinach: nutrition per 100 g
| Water | 91.4 g |
|---|---|
| Energy | 23 kcal |
| Sugars | 0.4 g |
| Fat | 0.4 g |
| Protein | 2.9 g |
| Fibre | 2.2 g |
| Calcium | 99 mg |
| Phosphorus | 49 mg |
| Calcium : phosphorus | 2.02 : 1 |
| Sodium | 79 mg |
| Vitamin A (RAE) | 469 µg |
| Vitamin C | 28.1 mg |
“Spinach, raw”, USDA FoodData Central (SR Legacy, FDC 168462). Public domain.
Sources & method 5
The sources below discuss spinach for hamsters (or for pet rodents generally). Confidence: high. Rated on the JOMIZOO Feeding Scale; when good sources disagree we choose the more cautious level.
- Feeding your hamster — PDSA
- Hamster Care — UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine
- What Can Hamsters Eat? — PetMD (written by Angelina Childree, LVT; reviewed by Melissa Witherell, DVM)
- Hamster Care — San Diego Humane Society
- Husbandry and Medical Care of Hamsters — Veterinary Partner (VIN)
