Alfalfa - Safe or Not?

[SKB_Hamsters]

I have a general question regarding the safety of alfalfa for hamsters? When looking at safe food list for hamsters alfalfa is normally regarded as safe, as upon doing research and my own experiences with alfalfa I have a concern about its safety to hamsters.

In advance I don’t want to cause concern, worry and fear regarding alfalfa or any product which contain alfalfa but would appreciate your opinions and feedback.

I know alfalfa is a common ingredient in pet foods normally made into a pellet which hamster normally avoid, but upon conducting some research regarding alfalfa due to a concern with one of my hamsters who used to love those alfalfa pellet in her food (this is experience is described below in detail). This is where I discovered that alfalfa is linked to diarrhoea in small animals including rabbits, guinea pigs, and other animals including horses. But could never find anything about hamsters apart from its saying it good for hamster and that the high calcium content in alfalfa is good for bones and teeth. This one website left me to question safety however this is regarding Guinea Pigs, this source stated that alfalfa is unsafe for guinea pigs due to the high calcium content in which can lead to obesity and other health problem which include diarrhoea and also shouldn’t be fed unless the animal is pregnant, nursing or under 6 months of age. But would this also be the same for hamsters? Because isn’t too much calcium bad for humans but is that the same for hamsters?

My Nan, who owns guinea pigs, used to feed alfalfa cubes to her guinea pigs daily in which caused one of her guinea pigs to develop diarrhoea in which upon taking this guinea pig to the vet, the vet told her that alfalfa is unsafe and shouldn’t be fed to small animals including guinea pigs and should not be feed in large quantities (I don’t know if this was what exactly was said as I wasn’t there but this is what I was told from her.)

But as mentioned above regarding my hamster, Toffee, I bought her one of those edible log tunnels, which are made from alfalfa and honey, in which at first she had no interest in, but then I noticed that she was starting to chew on it daily as well as chewing this tunnel, I also noticed she was eating the alfalfa pellet from her food before eating anything else (this was so strange to me as I know hamster normally avoid these alfalfa pellets completely, well that’s what my 4 previous hamsters did). Then one day I noticed she had some diarrhoea this lead to me do some more research regarding alfalfa, in which I slowly removed alfalfa from her diet in which caused the diarrhoea to stop.

From this experience I have stayed clear of alfalfa, in which I remove these pellets from Sherbet’s food (but I’m worried is affecting the nutritional balance of her food, but as hamsters normally avoid it I don’t know whether this is a problem or not?), and I also avoid buying any treats which contains alfalfa due to my concern and fear whether it was safe or not. This has led me to wonder whether it is safe or not? Also I keep reading that alfalfa is safe in small quantities, but how much is too much in hamsters?

I was like to hear your opinions regarding this and whether any of you have experience a similar problem. But I don’t want to cause concern and fear as hamsters normally avoid eating alfalfa, so shouldn’t be something to worry about. Also I don’t know whether it’s just me over reacting and panicking about alfalfa, as I could find no conclusive evidence stating that alfalfa is bad for hamsters.

[WinnieTheHam]

Alfalfa is high in calcium and should only be fed to young animals, as well as lactating mothers like you said. They require more nutrients, including calcium, than animals that are fully grown. Too much of any nutrient is dangerous and can cause problems.

I wouldn't give any additional alfalfa products to your hamster if there is some in the food mix. See how your hamster goes with just the food mix.

If people do feed it, a pinch of it per week would be okay in my opinion, although my hamsters didn't tend to eat much of the raw dried leaf matter I offered. I guess it depends on how much the hamster eats it, and if they find it palatable then only offer it a little if the food doesn't contain it.

[SKB_Hamsters]

Ok thanks for your reply WinnieTheHam, I think I'm just over worrying about alfalfa. As my hamster, Toffee, who used to eat a lot of alfalfa sadly died of wet tail when she was 11 months and I didn't know whether this had any effect upon her health. Upon reading some articles I thought this may has increased her risk of getting wet tail but I'm unsure if this would have or not?

Also I have the corncern about edible logs tunnels and hideaway and alfalfa based chews, whether they are safe as some hamster can chew them a lot and whether they would be consuming too much alfalfa? Or whether these should be something people should monitor?

I also read that fresh alfalfa is actually safer than dried alfalfa

[WinnieTheHam]

I think toys should be given for short amounts of time per day, or kept in their cage for half the week, and then taken out for the other half and so on.. I really don't think it's safe in large quantities if a hamster eats it a lot. I wouldn't have the toys in the cage permanently.

It may have contributed to wet tail if it gave her diarrhea to start with.

I think fresh or dried, it'll still contain a high amount of calcium. I'd just be cautious with it.

[SKB_Hamsters]

Ok thanks so much. Personally I think I will avoid alfalfa completely, as I don't want to take the risk of my current hamster developing wet tail as it was the saddest moment of owning hamsters I even considered not getting another hamster after the loss of Toffee, but I'm glad I did get another hamster, as I wouldn't have Sherbet. I think this is why I'm extra cautious. I normally provide Sherbet hay based treats every other month. But I agree with you regarding alfalfa based chews and toys and also alfalfa should be something to be cautious over.

[WinnieTheHam]

Other hay like timothy or orchard would be fine, It's just Alfalfa and other legume hays that contain quite high amounts of calcium.

[SKB_Hamsters]

Ok thanks for that information, I normally buy some chews which have a hay based bowl so I don't know what type of hay that is? But I normally avoid giving too much hay as I suffer from hay fever myself so that's why she gets it every other month but a food mix I use to scatter feed has hay in it which my hamster enjoys to nibble on.

[AmityvilleHams]

If it's an Oxbow product it's probably timothy,but you can generally tell by the smell of it.If it smells very sweet,it's probably alfalfa.

I'd recommend staying away from the edible tunnels as they contain pine shavings though,or use them very minimally like in play pens if anything.

[SKB_Hamsters]

Its not a oxbow product but I just looked on packaging and it just says hay and parsley but it normally given occasionally.

I avoid edible tunnels anyways, as in the UK they are made of alfalfa and honey but some other alfalfa based chews have sawdust in them which can't be safe for animals to consume as it doesn't even say what type of wood it is, but I think it would be pine.

[AmityvilleHams]

Just hay and parsley is a bit concerning,but of course not as concerning as for example unspecified wood shavings.Definitely fine in moderation though

Same in the US.Alfalfa,honey,pine shavings,and some other odd things.I'm too lazy to look up the exact ingredients right now,but definitely those three and some others.Pine chew toys are generally okay,but unspecified shavings in general or sawdust just doesn't sound very safe