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Old 05-27-2016, 03:38 PM   #1
SKB_Hamsters
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Default Feeding Hamsters with Missing Teeth or Who Are Elderly

I was typing up this information for myself for future reference, but I thought it might also be useful to other people, so I thought it would also be good to share. I’ve been experimenting with ways to enable Sherbet to eat everything she used to eat eventhough she has broken both her top two teeth. I wanted to ensure that Sherbet was eating a balanced diet which included a variety. As Sherbet is a hamster who enjoys her food and I didn’t want her accident to affect her ability to eat her normal food. These methods are suitable for hamsters that are missing teeth, elderly or who are having difficulties eating.

Wet Food
Making wet food is the easiest way to ensure that your hamster is receiving a balanced diet which contains all the nutrients essential to your hamster. The best food to use for wet food is a complete food pellet such as Supreme Science Selective, or any complete pellet food. There are two methods to create wet food which are:
Soaking Pellets
Soaking pellets is one of the most well-known method to make wet food. To make food using this method, you need to put your hamster pellets in a bowl and cover with warm water (either boiled or heated in the microwave for 10 seconds), then leave the pellets to absorb the water (additional water may need to be added). The longer you leave the pellets for in the water the softer they will be. Once the pellets are soft, mash the pellets up – if you got an elderly hamster you can feed them to your hamster like this or you can pass the pellets through a sieve to make a smoother texture which is more ideal for hamster missing teeth, as Sherbet found it a lot easier for her to eat initially after her accident when it was smoother.

Crushing Pellets
I found this method was quicker way to make wet food. Pellets need to be crushed using a pestle and mortar or a food processor, they can be made fine or pieces can be left larger depending upon the texture you desire, the crushed pellets can be feed like this or water can be added to make a paste. For 6 Supreme Science Selective I initially added 2 table spoons of boiled water, it looks like there is too much water but the powdered pellets will absorb the water, I normally gradually add teaspoon amount of water until I get the right texture. If you make the food too wet add some more crushed pellets or add some porridge oats to thicken up the food.
Treats
I normally give Sherbet natural treats such as nuts, seeds, fresh vegetables, cold cooked chicken, dried mealworms or store bought hamster treats (which are low in sugar), which normally involves the use of all front teeth to chew into smaller piece to help the back teeth to grind, so I tried experimenting with ways to enable her to eat her favourite treats. I sprinkle her treats (she get different treats each day)on her food and gently push into her wet food. I found different methods work best with different treats:
  • Seeds –slightly crushed or left whole depending on their size. Seeds can be bought unshelled from supermarket which makes it easier especially for hamsters that are missing teeth. For example Sunflower seed hearts, pumpkin seeds, millet
  • Nuts – crushed, grated or finely chopped depending upon the size of the pieces you desire or the size of the nuts. For example walnut, peanuts, hazelnuts
  • Fresh Vegetable – grated, finely chopped or mashed depending on how hard the vegetable is initially. Another method I tried was a boiled some vegetable in boiling water until soft, then mashed the vegetables to give as a special treat. For example carrots, cucumber, broccoli, cauliflower
  • Cold Cooked Chicken - Finely chopped into small pieces
  • Dried Mealworms – slightly crushed or broken up in smaller pieces or they can be soaked in warm water to rehydrate the mealworms.
  • Store bought hamster treats – depending on the treat this depends upon which method is best.

Baby Food
This can be given to any hamster as a special treat or that are having difficulties eating, but its best to check the ingredients to ensure they contain no onion, garlic, leek, tomatoes, lemon or any other ingredients which are unsafe for hamsters. Sherbet personally didn’t like baby food but some hamsters will happily eat them depending on what ingredients the food contains. Or you can make your own baby food using fresh vegetables as mentioned above.

Porridge
This can be given to any hamsters as a special treat. You can make the porridge using porridge oats and water; add enough water to get the texture you desire. Porridge oats can be crushed to make a smoother porridge. I find mixing some treats into her porridge makes it more appetising for Sherbet or mix in some crushed pellets.


Any wet food should be changed daily (every 24 hours) to ensure that food remains fresh and is best to feed in a shallow bowl.


I hope this information will be helpful.
If you have any other tips or ideas on how to feed hamsters who are missing teeth, elderly or who are having difficulties eating, I would love to hear them.

(I thought I would add a couple of pictures of Sherbet's food and her eating)
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File Type: jpg IMG_4481 (500x375).jpg (29.1 KB, 55 views)
File Type: jpg IMG_4487 (500x375).jpg (32.4 KB, 38 views)
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Old 05-27-2016, 05:24 PM   #2
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Default Re: Feeding Hamsters with Missing Teeth or Who Are Elderly

Those are great tips! I for one will find them useful Looks like I need to get myself a pestle and mortar (don't have a food processor either lol). My only comment would be about the use of hot water from the tap - I think boiling/boiled water would be safer. I'm not sure if it's the same these days with combi boilers, but my Dad always said water from the hot tap isn't direct from the mains and can pick up bacteria in header tanks and so on. It's probably fine, but boiled water might be an idea
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Old 05-27-2016, 07:24 PM   #3
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Default Re: Feeding Hamsters with Missing Teeth or Who Are Elderly

I was going to say the say the same thing about tap water, here in the states several areas have contaminated water, with lead or other problems from the pipes.

I use a Briter water pitcher with filters. I change the filters out every 3 months and it tastes ok but I notice that water from the 7-11 convenient store has filtered water and ice which tastes much better than mine. I might start using the 7-11 water eventually, or bottled water.

Chloes 19th anniversary with me was just a few days ago and she has always had the Brita water filter with no problems. Other than a lump that seem benign as she's had it for a long time now with no problems so far so good.

This thread has got me reconsidering my water situation as I want the best for them
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Old 05-28-2016, 01:51 AM   #4
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Default Re: Feeding Hamsters with Missing Teeth or Who Are Elderly

Quote:
Originally Posted by Serendipity7000 View Post
Those are great tips! I for one will find them useful Looks like I need to get myself a pestle and mortar (don't have a food processor either lol). My only comment would be about the use of hot water from the tap - I think boiling/boiled water would be safer. I'm not sure if it's the same these days with combi boilers, but my Dad always said water from the hot tap isn't direct from the mains and can pick up bacteria in header tanks and so on. It's probably fine, but boiled water might be an idea
Thanks Serendipity7000
Didn't realise that about hot water from the tap but I've been using boiled water or cold water. Is cold water fine from the taps?
(I've edited my above post to remove warm water from taps to just be on the safe side)
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Old 05-28-2016, 02:27 AM   #5
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Default Re: Feeding Hamsters with Missing Teeth or Who Are Elderly

Yes I use cold tap water in the Uk - it comes straight from the mains We were always taught to only ever boil water from the cold water tap as well - but that might be because many years ago hot water header tanks had lids made of manky old grass type stuff that used to drop in the water lol.
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Old 05-28-2016, 02:34 AM   #6
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Default Re: Feeding Hamsters with Missing Teeth or Who Are Elderly

Quote:
Originally Posted by Serendipity7000 View Post
Yes I use cold tap water in the Uk - it comes straight from the mains We were always taught to only ever boil water from the cold water tap as well - but that might be because many years ago hot water header tanks had lids made of manky old grass type stuff that used to drop in the water lol.
Ok, Thanks for this information.
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Old 05-28-2016, 02:36 AM   #7
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Default Re: Feeding Hamsters with Missing Teeth or Who Are Elderly

I hadn't actually thought of crushing food before mixing so they are really great tips!
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Old 05-28-2016, 02:46 AM   #8
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Default Re: Feeding Hamsters with Missing Teeth or Who Are Elderly

Thanks. At first I was soaking the pellets and it took ages which didn't help when I was busy, and I was trying to mash up pellets which were still hard in the centre. I only considered crushing the pellets when the vets gave me a powdered food mix to try (which Sherbet didn't like), so I thought it might be easier to crush the pellets, so I've made up a batch of crushed pellets all I need to add a spoonful to a bowl and add water and in less than 5 minutes it ready. Also I feed some to Sherbet crushed up as well which she also enjoys. I also use crushed porridge oats to make a smoother porridge for her.

I've just been trying to come up with ways to enable Sherbet to eat her normal food even though she broken her top teeth. I tried experimenting with whimzees but I can't find a way that works as grating them makes a fine dust.
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Old 05-28-2016, 03:06 AM   #9
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Default Re: Feeding Hamsters with Missing Teeth or Who Are Elderly

It is really helpful. And good she can get a hamster mix that way as then she'll get all the nutrients she needs. You can actually buy porridge as oatmeal - in various grades of size - the smallest oatmeal is already like crushed oats, which might help.

This kind of thing - health food shops probably sell it, but Mornflake sell different grades of oatmeal in supermarkets sometimes as well.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Buy-Whole-F...ywords=oatmeal

I think I'll get some myself! It makes a very smooth porridge. Although I think the medium might be better for porridge - the fine is almost flour.

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Old 05-28-2016, 03:14 AM   #10
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Default Re: Feeding Hamsters with Missing Teeth or Who Are Elderly

Sherbet gets so excited when she get her food especially when she get some grated carrot (which is one of her favourite)

I've got mornflakes fine oats, it's not a powder as you can see some smaller flakes, but before I got those I had a few left from another package which were not fine which I had to crush a little.
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