by Lyn Lomasi, Write W.A.V.E. Media Staff

Is your hamster extra special? Of course! Do you want to show your hamster some extra love by providing treats? Which should you use? Store bought or homemade? Depending on the type of treat, we like to give our hamsters mainly homemade treats. But there are a few store bought treats we prefer as well. So, which ones are best for your hamster?

Vanity treats may contain little nutrition. Just like store-bought treats for humans can be bad, the same can be true with hamster treats. Those colorful small animal treats packaged to mock assorted human treats could be very bad for your little critter. Remember that the more colorful the treat, the more dyes were likely used to create it. Also consider the texture. Is the substance natural? Sure these treats may smell and look good. But are they really the best choice for your hamster?

Watch the ingredients. The only ingredients that should be in your hamster's treats are those that come from nature. There is no reason to give hamsters chemical or sugar-induced treats. Not all hamsters have the same dietary needs. Ask your vet for a list of foods that are appropriate for your hamster. Read the labels of store-bought treats. Also watch what you put into homemade treats. Any treat containing anything other than what's on that list should be avoided.

Fruity treats may sound good, but could be bad. Especially avoid sugar, even in some fruits, if you have dwarf hamsters. Fruit should be limited to an occasional treat in many hamsters. But dwarf hamsters are most susceptible to diabetes. There are only certain fruits that dwarf hamsters should have access to and those should only be given on a limited basis. Many store-bought hamster treats contain fruit ingredients that could be dangerous to your pet.

Can my hamster have hay? Timothy and alfalfa are common hays given as treats to small animals. Should hamsters have hay? Yes. Hay is safe for most hamsters. Though again, you should consult with your hamster's vet for proper nutrition geared toward that animal. Each animal has its own needs. Obviously in this instance, store-bought hay as a treat makes more sense than growing and drying it yourself. Small animals do not consume enough for harvesting your own to make sense.

Stick to natural-looking treats. One rule of thumb that we always follow with both homemade and store-bought treats is sticking to authentic snacks. If we go store-bought, our hamsters will get things like natural trail mix formulated for hamster diets, dried vegetables, and other things that are not altered. Store-bought does not necessarily mean a treat is bad. But when you are not hand-picking each ingredient yourself, you just need to be more cautious for the health and safety of your pet.

*Information herein is based on the author's personal experiences as a hamster owner and is not meant to replace the advice of a professional. Always consult an appropriately-licensed animal care specialist for the health of your animals.

*I originally published this via Yahoo Contributor Network

by Lyn Lomasi, Write W.A.V.E. Media Staff

Looking for the perfect gift for a hamster lover in your life? There are plenty of gifts out there for cat and dog owners. But there doesn't seem to be much creativity in the way of gifts for hamster owners. Because the kids and I spoil our hamsters, I am often thinking of new things they will enjoy. Perhaps my creativity will help you give a special gift to your favorite hamster owner. These homemade hamster treats in pouches will be adorable to the pet owner. What's inside will please the hamster.

Preparation - Before assembling the gift, you will need to gather materials and ingredients. You will need a small drawstring pouch bag and ingredients to prepare homemade hamster treats. You will also need a small piece of cardstock to print (or write) the recipe onto. That way, the hamster's owner can prepare the treats again if the hamster enjoys them.

Ingredients needed for homemade hamster treats - Get all the ingredients for your favorite homemade bread recipe. This will generally be flour, yeast, and water. Make sure you have enough to prepare half the normal recipe for making a loaf of bread. You will also need ¼ cup pureed carrots and ¼ cup pureed green beans. You can also add crushed sesame seeds or sunflower kernels.

Making homemade hamster treats - Prepare the bread dough as normal. Remember to cut the recipe in half. Now take half of that dough and knead in the pureed carrots. Add extra flour as needed to keep proper consistency. Set that to the side. Knead the pureed green beans into the other half. Again, add flour as needed. Now take a rolling pin and flatten the dough to about ¼ inch thickness. Take a knife and cut thin strips. Then, cut those into sections until you end up with many thin strips that are about ¼ inch wide and a few inches long. Bake these pieces in the oven on 350F until lightly crisp. Let them cool.

Packaging the homemade hamster treats as a gift - Once the hamsters treats have cooled, put a blend of both the orange-colored (carrot) and green colored (green bean) treats inside the drawstring pouch bag. Punch a hole in the corner of the cardstock recipe card. Pull one of the drawstring cords through that hole to attach the card to the bag. Tie the drawstring around the bag once you tighten it.

*IMPORTANT: While many hamsters can safely eat breads and vegetables, not all of them will be tolerant of every bread or vegetable. Be sure you know the hamster's dietary needs before feeding. The author is not a veterinarian. Seek approval from the hamster's vet before trying any unfamiliar foods.

*I originally published this via Yahoo Contributor Network