Milk/Lactose??

[Holly]

I've read on a couple of forums that hamsters are lactose intolerant and shouldn't be given milk. I'm a bit dubious about this as, in my Hamsterlopaedia "bible", Chris and Peter Logsdail advise giving "milk mashes" as well as porridge to young, pregnant and ill hamsters.

These two are obviously extremely well-qualified to advise on hamster diets and obviously some internet info can be of a dubious quality but I just want to be sure before giving (very tiny quantities of porridge/scrambled egg etc......

[Basia]

The breeder I got Chunky and Berry off gives milk to all her hamsters. She told me to carry on giving them milk every day for at least another week after I got them and then about twice a week. They have certainly done well on it, they are both growing fast. She also said if they are ever off colour to give them milk.
I had never given milk to the others but do now give them a tiny bit of bread soaked in milk a couple of times a week and they all wolf it down. It doesn't seem to have had any adverse effects on them.

[Holly]

That's what I thought. We are getting our new hamster on Saturday and she will be 8 weeks old - I plan on finding out what she's been fed on and continuing with that regime to start with - but, as it's recommended by Chris and Peter, I thought I'd try giving milk - probably

Some of the stuff I read on these "other forums" really confuses me - and some of it makes me cross - these people speak/write like they are an authority on a subject when they quite obviously don't know what they are talking about

[Basia]

I'm sure she will have been given milk or porridge Holly. Her breeder is the person to listen to. I know on the fish forums people can be very opinionated on what is right and wrong but I have found over the years with my animals that there is no right and wrong!

[Holly]

Originally Posted by Basia

I'm sure she will have been given milk or porridge Holly. Her breeder is the person to listen to.

It sounds pretty common for breeders who know what they are doing to give milk to babies so I'm sure you are right.

I think (make that, KNOW) I made quite a few mistakes with Treacle, Custard and Mocha when we first got them and, though I know I've learned a lot since then ( though T, C and M don't seem any the worse for those mistakes!), I suppose I just want to get it right this time

[souffle]

We give small amounts of milk to aduls however when raising pups or for pregnant mums we always use lactol puppy/kitten formula. Even the smallest tin (about £5) lasts forever as when you make up a bowl of baby porridge we use half a teaspoon of ready brek, 1 teaspoon wheatgerm and 2 teaspoons ready brek. Mix with boiling water to a paste then leave to cool. Even adults love this and the lactol lasts for ages. When we only have adults and no lactol we use cows milk though goats can be used also.

[babyboos]

I never give my hamsters cow's milk - but then we don't really drink it ourselves. I prefer soya, rice or oat milk and all my hamsters get Sherley's Lactol from a few days old to when the go over the bridge. I give the Lactol both in powder form and made up with water. A teaspoon sprinkled on a few days old nest is lapped by baby hamsters and mum alike and my golden oldies love their Lactol porridge. I add a spoonful to cooked egg for pregnant or sickly hamsters and have found all species love the stuff. You can get it from your vet or good pet shops and it comes in different sized tins - buying from the vet you often get to purchase a smaller quantity if they have it "loose".