You might be very concerned if your hamster has eaten toilet paper rolls or other paper products. Before you ask: can hamsters eat toilet paper rolls or have paper towel rolls? You need to understand that any material that seems harmless may also pose potential risks & hazards to your pet.
Therefore, being a responsible owner, you should not only learn: ‘is it OK if my Hamster eats toilet paper’ or ‘is it OK for a hamster to eat cardboard’ but also what you should be doing when this happens accidentally.
Many people often ask me: Can a Hamster chew on wrapping paper? Well, there are many things that you can provide to your hamster to chew on, but the paper is the best one for sure. Let’s first find out, can Hamsters eat toilet paper rolls?
Can Hamsters Eat Toilet Paper Rolls?
No, Hamsters cannot eat toilet paper, which is not recommended. However, some Hamsters may enjoy chewing on it or any other paper product, but it may pose a serious hazard & risk.
If you are a responsible Hamster owner, I recommend keeping your furry friend safe and away from paper products like toilet paper, paper towel rolls, or even cardboard to chew on.
As you know, hamsters are omniverse creatures who need a variety of seeds, grains, fruits, and insects.
When keeping them as pets, you should provide them with the best possible commercial Hamster food that can keep them healthy and meet their nutritional needs. Make sure to store the leftovers in a secured place as it can attract bugs. I’ve recently share a guide on Why Are There Bugs In My Hamster Food & What To Do About It.
If your hamster has just ingested a toilet paper roll, there are a few things to know. First, discover the potential risk and hazards if your hamster accidentally or intently eats a paper towel roll or toilet paper roll.
Potential Risks and Hazards
Choking Hazards
First, if your hamster bites off a large piece of paper and attempts to swallow it, it can cause a choking hazard. No doubt that a large piece of paper can easily get lodged in your hamster’s throat or digestive tract, which may result in serious health problems or even death.
Digestive Issues
You should also know that paper products are not the thing your pet should be eating. Therefore if your hamster accidentally eats any type of paper product, including toilet paper rolls, it may result in digestive issues like diarrhea, constipation, and bloating in the hamster.
Sometimes, your hamster may also suffer from blockages in their digestive system when they ingest a lot of small paper pieces. This is why you should avoid keeping a Hamster on paper bedding if possible.
There have been a few instances when people that hamsters had accidentally eaten lots of paper due to the absence of food in their cage, which resulted in intestinal obstruction. Saying that a Hamster with such a delicate body may not be able to withstand a surgery
Toxic
Finally, if your toilet paper roll is coated with soapy products like chemicals or other substances, it can be very toxic for your pet Hamster. Some types of paper towel brands and toilet paper contain bleach or another cleaning agent that is extremely dangerous to pet animals, especially small pet animals, including rodents, hamsters, and rabbits.
If your pet ingested any such type of paper containing any cleaning agent, you should take your pet white away to the nearest veterinarian and check it. There is a huge possibility that it can poison your hamster.
Safe Way to Use Toilet Paper Rolls for Hamsters
Even though there are some potential risks, you can safely use toilet paper rolls for your hamster as an engagement activity or a toy to play with. If you want to do so, there are a few steps you should take.
First, remove all excess paper from the roll before offering it to your pet. You should always avoid large pieces of paper that may pose a choking hazard. Secondly, you should always supervise Hamsters when they are playing with any type of paper material, including toilet paper rolls.
Remove the roll immediately if you notice your hamster chewing any large piece of paper or struggling to eat it. You must only use toilet paper rolls as a part of enrichment activities for them. If you want to encourage your hamster to forage and explore their surroundings, you can stuff the toilet paper roll with hay or any other safe material.
Can Hamsters Have Paper Products?
Can Hamsters Have Paper Towel Rolls?
No, your hamster cannot have a paper towel roll, just like the toilet paper roll, as it’s not recommended. You should neither offer paper towel rolls as a toy nor as chew items for Hamsters. This poses the same risk as toilet paper, including digestive issues, impaction, and choking.
Is It OK if My Hamster Eats Toilet Paper?
If your hamster has ingested only a small amount of toilet paper, there is nothing to be concerned about. However, if your hamster exhibits any sign of discomfort or seems sluggish in terms of behavior, you need to get it checked by the veterinarian.
There is a possibility that your hamster might have ingested toilet paper in a greater amount, which is causing serious harm. Plus, any Hamster that has ingested toilet paper in a high amount will also exhibit signs like constipation, diarrhea, and vomiting.
Is It OK for a Hamster to Eat Cardboard?
Yes, it’s OK for Hamsters to eat or chew on cardboard as it is safer than toilet paper or paper towel rolls. It is still recommended that you keep your hamster under supervision so that you can remove any large piece that may pose a serious choking hazard. I used to like to offer small pieces of cardboard as a DIY toy or enrichment.
Can Hamsters Chew on Wrapping Paper?
Never. The hamster should never chew on wrapping paper as it might be coated with glitter or a chemical that seems harmful if ingested. Even though your hamster might seem interested in chewing on wrapping paper, it will have difficulty chewing, increasing the risk of choking or digestive issues.
- Some Related Contents If You’ve Dogs or Planning To Have One
- Will My Dog Eat My Hamster? (5 Critical Signs)
- Can Dogs Eat Hamster Food?
Conclusion
So, Can Hamsters eat toilet paper rolls? No, a hamster should not be allowed to chew on toilet paper rolls as they can be potentially riskier than you might think. It is best to provide your hamster with chewable toys & enrichment activities through obstacles to play with.
However, if you are providing any kind of paper product to your hamster, as I said, you should be nearby monitoring them. Also, avoid keeping any type of paper product or material nearby your hamster home that might be coated with chemicals.
It is better to provide them with safe chew toys like cardboard or wooden blocks. I have given my best to give you all the information you need to know all the questions: can hamsters eat toilet paper rolls?
If you find this article helpful, then please consider sharing it. Your share will help many people learn about the risks & hazards of offering any paper product to their pet hamster. If you liked this article, I would advise you to consider checking our other helpful posts on Hamster food types, reviews, and recipes. See you in the next post, till then, take care and goodbye.
