Hamster · Protein & dairy
Can hamsters eat yogurt?
Better not. Yogurt is a dairy food that can upset a hamster's digestion, and flavoured yogurts and yogurt drops add sugar, a particular problem for diabetes-prone dwarfs.
- Dwarf hamsters
- Campbell's, Winter White, hybrid and Chinese hamsters are prone to diabetes. Sweetened yogurt and yogurt drops should be avoided completely.
- Sugar
- 4.7 g / 100 g
If your hamster already ate some
A lick of plain yogurt is not an emergency. Remove any leftovers and watch for diarrhoea or a wet, dirty bottom over the next day or two. Call a vet if diarrhoea appears, or if your hamster seems lethargic or stops eating.
How to serve it
- Choose a protein treat such as boiled egg or a mealworm instead
- Skip yogurt drops and yogurt-coated treats, which are typically high in sugar and fat
Why
Risks. Pets generally have little lactase, the enzyme that digests milk sugar, so dairy can cause diarrhoea. Flavoured yogurts, yogurt drops and yogurt-coated treats add sugar and fat, and some contain artificial sweeteners. Yogurt also spoils quickly if hoarded.
Questions owners ask 2
Are yogurt drops safe for hamsters?
They are sold as hamster treats, but they are typically high in sugar and fat. Blue Cross advises avoiding sugary, fatty treats, and dwarf hamsters are prone to diabetes, so we recommend skipping them.
Does yogurt help a hamster with diarrhoea?
No home remedy replaces a vet. Diarrhoea (wet tail) in hamsters can be fatal within a day or two, so contact a vet promptly rather than trying yogurt.
Yogurt: nutrition per 100 g
| Water | 87.9 g |
|---|---|
| Energy | 61 kcal |
| Sugars | 4.7 g |
| Fat | 3.3 g |
| Protein | 3.5 g |
| Fibre | 0 g |
| Calcium | 121 mg |
| Phosphorus | 95 mg |
| Calcium : phosphorus | 1.27 : 1 |
| Sodium | 46 mg |
| Vitamin A (RAE) | 27 µg |
| Vitamin C | 0.5 mg |
“Yogurt, plain, whole milk”, USDA FoodData Central (SR Legacy, FDC 171284). Public domain.
Sources & method 5
No source we found covers yogurt for hamsters specifically, so this verdict is reasoned from general feeding guidance and nutrition data. Confidence: medium. Rated on the JOMIZOO Feeding Scale; when good sources disagree we choose the more cautious level.
- People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets — ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center
- Hamster care — Blue Cross
- Feeding your hamster — PDSA
- Are Dwarf Hamsters Prone to Diabetes? Rodent Health Facts — ExoCare Veterinary Medical Centre (medically reviewed by Dr Asma Fariha)
- Hamster Care — UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine
