Can Hamsters Drink Milk?

When they are young, hamsters get their food from their mother’s milk, and many hamsters will drink milk if it is given to them.

In “Can Hamsters Drink Milk,” we talk about the risks of giving your pet hamster a bowl of milk and suggest some other treats.

Many foods that people eat are not good for animals. Some are bad for your pet, and others aren’t necessary for its diet. Humans like to feed animals milk.

For us, this is a way to care for someone. But it can be hard on our pets sometimes.

What is milk?

Milk is something we all know. It is a great liquid that gives life and is full of nutrients. Before they can eat solid food, this is how babies get the nutrients they need.

It has a lot of protein and lactose in it. Hamster babies will drink their mother’s milk when they are very young.

India makes the most milk, and then the European Union and the United States. Every year, 842 million tonnes of milk are made in total.

Can Hamsters Have Milk?

We love our hamsters and want to give them the best food we can. If you feed your hamster well, it will live longer and be happier.

This gives us more time to spend with them. Hamster treats are related to a hamster’s diet because they need to be healthy because a hamster’s digestive system is not very good.

People start to wonder if hamsters can drink milk because of this. Sorry, but the answer is no.

We’ll talk about what milk is and why hamsters can’t drink it. We’ll talk about the risks of giving your hamster milk and some other things you can do instead.

We’ll also talk about whether or not your hamster can drink other kinds of milk.

Why can’t hamsters drink milk?

Hamsters can’t drink milk for a number of different reasons. It might seem odd since they drink it when they are babies.

But it’s clear that they need to stop drinking milk and start eating solid food. Here are several of them.

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It goes off quickly

Milk goes bad very quickly, which is one of the main reasons why hamsters shouldn’t drink it.

We all know that milk out of the fridge only stays good for a few hours, so your hamster could be drinking milk.

The bacteria in spoiled milk can be very bad for your pet’s health. It can make them sick and hurt them.

Since our hamsters only come out at night, we might not be able to check the milk to see if it has gone bad. If you leave milk in the cage for more than one night, it will go bad and smell bad.

Hamsters can’t have too much liquid

If a hamster drinks too much liquid, it can get sick. Too much liquid can hurt their digestive system and make them lose water and have diarrhea.

The health of a dehydrated hamster can get worse quickly, and in the worst cases, it can even cause death. Since milk is a liquid, drinking too much of it can easily make you have diarrhea.

Water is better

When it comes to liquids, water is the best of the best. All living things on Earth need water to stay alive, but hamsters need water the most.

They need fresh water every day and to always be able to fill up their water bottles. Milk is another liquid, so if a hamster drinks more milk, it might not be able to drink enough water.

A baby hamster needs milk, but it can get by without it if it has enough food.

It’s hard to feed it to them

So we already know that hamsters can’t drink milk. Well, some of the things we’ve already talked about make it hard to give hamsters milk.

It will go off and hurt your hamster if you leave it alone. You can only give your hamster a very small amount of milk at a time, so you will need some kind of dripper to give it to them.

Simply put, it’s not a good idea, especially since they don’t need milk, to begin with.

If milk spills, it can also be a problem. If milk gets spilled in the cage, it is hard to clean up and will make the cage smell bad and the bedding grows moldy.

This will hurt your pet’s health and could lead to health problems like wet-tail. It’s not worth taking a chance!

It’s not as nutritious as you think

Even though milk can be healthy, it isn’t as healthy for hamsters. Cows need milk to stay healthy, and people need milk to stay healthy.

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This means that milk from cows, goats, and other animals isn’t as healthy for hamsters as you might think.

It’s not right for them because it has the wrong minerals and vitamins and isn’t made for them. At a young age, they should only drink milk from their mother.

High in calories

Most milk has a lot of fat and calories. This can cause your pet to gain weight and maybe even get diabetes, which can have a big effect on how long they live.

Even though there is low-fat milk, it isn’t as healthy for them as water. It is also harder to keep track of calories in liquids, so you could end up making your pet fat by accident.

What Milk Can Hamsters Drink?

Hamsters do great on low-fat milk.

Hamsters are sensitive animals that can get a lot of different diseases and allergies.

You can also give your Hamster some of the non-dairy treats I’ve listed in this article, but even those should only be given rarely and in small amounts.


Now, let’s look at the different kinds of milk that you can or can’t feed your Hamsters.

Can Hamsters Drink Goat Milk?

Compared to other kinds of milk, goat milk is easier to digest.

Also, goat milk has less fat and protein than other kinds of milk, which makes it less dangerous.

So, Hamster kids could only drink goat milk in an emergency. If you can, try to only give the babies their mother’s milk.

Can Hamsters Drink Soy Milk?

Soy milk is a great way to get protein without eating animals.

Soy milk doesn’t have lactose, and it comes from plants. So Hamsters can easily digest it without getting sick.
But soy milk has too many calories. So, it’s important to eat in moderation.

Can Hamsters Drink Coconut Milk?

Even though hamsters can drink a small amount of coconut milk, they shouldn’t.

The immune system gets stronger when you drink coconut milk. It can also help with heart problems.

Hamsters can get diarrhea if they drink too much coconut milk.
It’s best to serve just enough.

Can Hamsters Drink Cow Milk?

Yes, you can give your hamsters cow milk, but only in small amounts.

Cow milk can make your Hamster sick, so it’s best to stay away from it.

Can Hamsters Drink Oat Milk?

Hamsters can drink oat milk. It’s dairy-free, low in fat, and contains several nutrients that benefit hamsters.

Another positive is that oat milk is high in fiber. Hamsters need oat milk for a healthy gut and digestive system, although too much causes constipation and diarrhea.

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Similarly, as mentioned, too much liquid is harmful to hamsters and causes health problems. As a result, you should only feed your hamster a teaspoon of oat milk a couple of times a week.

When should hamsters stop drinking milk?

Hamsters should stop drinking milk at around 4 weeks old. This is the time when they should switch from milk to solid foods like hamster pellets. All of an adult pet’s nutrition should come from solid food.

Dehydration Due To Milk

If you feed your hamster milk often, it could hurt them more than help them. The mother’s milk for a hamster is any milk that is just right for it.

Hamsters can become dehydrated if they drink milk all the time. In the long run, it could hurt your little friend or even kill him.

If your Hamster seems unusually sleepy, urinates in a way that smells bad, and has sunken eyes and a swollen tongue, he may be dehydrated.

If you have any doubts, you should always go see the pet.

Signs of illness in hamsters

If you gave your hamster milk and are worried that it might be sick, there are a few things to look out for.

There are a few signs that a hamster is sick:

  • Weight loss
  • Lethargy
  • Rough fur
  • Hunched posture
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Decreased activity levels
  • Diarrhea
  • Soiled hindquarters

Hamsters that are healthy are active and curious, and their fur and eyes are smooth and bright. If your hamster’s looks or behavior changes in any way, you should call your vet.

Can baby hamsters drink milk?

Your hamster shouldn’t eat milk after it’s been weaned, but what about baby hamsters?

There are three main reasons why baby hamsters shouldn’t be given milk.

  • Cow’s milk and goat’s milk are very different from hamster milk. Talk to your vet about the best milk formula to feed baby hamsters that have been orphaned or left behind.
  • Handling baby hamsters can make the mother hamster feel stressed, and she may end up eating her own babies to protect them.
  • If you change what they eat, it can make them very sick.

Conclusion

Most pet hamsters will drink milk that people give them, but cow’s milk is too likely to make your hamster sick.

Adult hamsters don’t need milk at all, and baby hamsters should only drink their mother’s milk until they’re old enough to stop drinking it.

Instead of giving your hamster something that could be dangerous, like milk, why not give them a healthy treat that is more natural for their diet?

There are lots of healthy treats for hamsters, like broccoli, carrots, and apples. Or treats made just for hamsters.

These treats are better than milk for your hamster.

Just remember that vets recommend only giving your hamster healthy treats, like hay, fruits, vegetables, and treats from pet stores, as 10% of its total diet to keep it from getting fat.