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INGREDIENTS

• 1 Tablespoon Chia
• 6 Tablespoons water
• 4 oz container of high calorie baby food [1]
• 1 Tablespoon olive oil
• 1 scoop Esbilac powder
• 1 Tablespoon Brewer's Yeast
• 2/3 cup block powder (below)

BLOCK POWDERWe use and recommend Mazurirat and mouse blocks, available at Petco. Quickly pulse a handful of blocks in a blender until they create a fine powder. Store in an airtight container.
PROCEDURE

1. Bring water to a boil. Measure out chia in a heatproof, medium-sized mixing bowl. Pour boiling water over chia, stir. Let soak for 5 minutes, stir again.
2. Add baby food, and olive oil to chia. Mix to combine.
3. Add Esbilac powder and brewer's yeast to bowl. Mix until homogenous.
4. Slowly add block powder, a few spoonfuls at a time. Mix in between each addition. When finished, mixture should resemble a cookie dough consistency.
5. Serve a tablespoon-size amount up to twice daily. Remove from cage after a few hours.
6. Keep refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

WHY THESE INGREDIENTS?

This recipe was curated based on a lot of research and expertise! Here is a basic run-down:

• Chia: Shown to increase appetite in hamsters, plus a great hydration source
• Baby Food: Provides a simple but nutritious base and dense calories
• Olive oil: Adds healthy fat for weight gain and maintenance
• Esbilac powder: Dense fat and calories, packed with probiotics for gut health
• Brewer's Yeast: Great source of protein and fiber. Also rich in vitamins & nutrients
• Block Powder: Ensures more rounded and balanced nutrition

This recipe was developed by Tony Adler, to aid in weight gain/retention for hamsters with hydrocephalus, who often have missing or brittle teeth. That hamster was Wendell, for whom the recipe is named.  The ingredients were chosen thoughtfully, based on empirical research in hamster nutrition and anecdotal evidence of palatability. That evidence also showed that the same diet, when fed to aging or slow-to-thrive hamsters, visibly improved health. Moms and litters kept on a version of the diet also produced healthier pups. 

The "magic" of Wendell's Wonder Food lies in its dense calorie content and its high moisture. As hamsters age (or have health issues) they are less apt to visit their water source as regularly. As in humans, dehydration becomes a very serious concern, often leading to additional health issues. The palatability of the food, (along with its ingredients, like chia) encourages appetite and consumption, then the increased calorie and water intake improves energy and health.

There are quite a few foods which get bad reputations in the hamster community because of our preconceived notions. Below are some of the most “controversial” foods that are in fact safe. Where applicable, peer-reviewed scientific sources are provided. Thanks to the Ontario Hamster Club for comprising this list with our collaborative readings.

Garlic

Garlic has previously been thought as quite a dangerous food for hamsters. However, studies are showing that it actually has nutritional benefits! We still advise owners to not feed their hamsters raw garlic, or garlic on its own, however it is perfectly safe when cooked into other foods (ie. savoury baby food purees).

“The findings in this study further demonstrate that unlike most of the standard antileishmanial drugs, which require protracted parenteral therapy and are toxic, an agent derived from garlic can be administered either orally or intraperitoneally with similar effectiveness against Leishmania parasites.”” http://www.mrcindia.org/journal/issues/473160.pdf

“Administration of a combined dose of tomato and garlic significantly decreased the incidence of HBP carcinomas and mean tumor burden and the frequency of bone marrow micronuclei. . .The present study, an extension of our previous work, demonstrates the efficacy of the combina- tion in modulating xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes and the increased frequency of bone marrow micronuclei. To- gether, these findings substantiate the antigenotoxic and anticarcinogenic effects of tomato and garlic reported by us and other workers.” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15925298

“Administration of tomato and garlic, both alone and in combination, significantly decreased HBP tumor incidence and tumor burden. This was associated with modulation of lipid peroxidation and increase in GSH-dependent antioxidant enzyme activities and GSH/GSSG ratio in the buccal pouch, liver, and erythrocytes. From these results, we suggest that the enhancement of GSH and GSH-dependent enzymes by a tomato and garlic combination may be attributed to modification of the thiol status.” https://www.sciencedirect.com/…/pii/S0271531703002409

“The addition of garlic or onion facilitated lowering plasma lipid and enhanced the antioxidant function; suggesting that garlic had more effectiveness on lowering plasma lipids and inhibiting the accumulation of liver lipids, and suppress- ing antioxidative enzyme activities than onion.” https://www.atherosclerosis-journal.com/article/S0021-9150(97)84698-9/pdf

Leek

Again, leeks are another commonly thought “dangerous” food. Studies show that they may have beneficial health impacts.

Persian leek is one of the most widely used herbal foods among Iranians. In this study, effects of oral administration of Persian leek on plasma and liver lipids were examined in hamster.Male Syrian hamsters were randomly divided into three groups: control (standard diet), high fat control (high-fat/high-cholesterol diet), Persian leek (high-fat/high-cholesterol diet + 1% per weight of diet from dried powdered Persian leek) for 14 weeks. High fat diet increased plasma and liver lipids as compared to standard diet. Adding Persian leek to the high-fat/high-cholesterol diet resulted in no significant changes in the concentration of the plasma lipids or liver cholesterol. However, liver triglycerides (TG), plasma Alanine aminotransferase and gene expression of tumor necrosis factor- α were decreased in hamsters fed high-fat diet containing Persian leek as compared to high-fat diet only. Persian leek might be considered as a herbal food that can reduce liver TG accumulation induced by high fat diets. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27516982

Onion

Similar to garlic, onions have also shown that they’re safe, when cooked into other foods. We recommend owners only feed cooked onion, and when included in other food (like purees), as opposed to on its own.

“Onion has been shown to favorably modify the lipoprotein profile. However, research on its underlying mechanism is lacking. The present study investigated the interaction of dietary onion powder with the protein expression of key receptors and enzymes involved in cholesterol metabolism. Thirty-six male hamsters were randomly divided into three groups and fed a high-cholesterol control diet or the two experimental diets supplemented with 1% onion powder (OP-1) or 5% onion powder (OP-5), for a period of 8 weeks. It was found that onion dose-dependently decreased plasma total cholesterol (TC) level. The change in plasma lipoprotein profile was accompanied by a greater excretion of both fecal neutral and acidic sterols. Western blot analysis revealed that onion up-regulated sterol regulatory element binding protein 2 (SREBP-2), liver X receptor alpha (LXRα) and cholesterol-7α-hydroxylase (CYP7A1) with no effect on 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase (HMGR) and LDL receptor (LDL-R). It was concluded that the hypocholesterolemic activity of onion powder was mediated by enhancement of fecal sterol excretion and up-regulation of LXRα and CYP7A1.” http://pubs.rsc.org/en/Content/ArticleLanding/2010/FO/c0fo00036a#!divAbstract

“The addition of garlic or onion facilitated lowering plasma lipid and enhanced the antioxidant function; suggesting that garlic had more effectiveness on lowering plasma lipids and inhibiting the accumulation of liver lipids, and suppressing antioxidative enzyme activities than onion.” https://www.atherosclerosis-journal.com/article/S0021-9150(97)84698-9/pdf

Some of the hamster community has confused human grade almonds with bitter almonds, which are not sold for human consumption and contain cyanide. If you can eat it, so can your hamster.

Based on research into the rat fancy, provided it does not include the pit or skin, avocado is safe. It is also recommended that you use flesh that is NOT touching the pit. It is very high in fat, something the owner should consider.

“This study investigated the impact of diets contain- ing various levels of avocado (5, 10 and 15%) on gut health in rats fed for six weeks. Avocado-fed rats had significantly higher food intakes while their body weights remained similar to the control diet-fed rats. No significant changes in intestinal bacterial populations (ileum, cecum and colon) were found in rats fed avocado diets compared to the control diet. Ileum and colon tissues of rats fed avocado diets showed significantly higher expression of genes (β-defensin 1, mucin 3 or mucin 4) and a greater number of mucin-producing goblet cells in the colon. The percentage of avocado in the diet had varying effects in altering the biomarkers, whereby diet containing 15% avocado was the more effective diet. This study delivers new knowledge on the role of avocado on gut health in rats.” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/28550342/

Chocolate is a very contested topic in small pet communities. Ultimately, chocolate is perfectly safe, however many owners still feel an initial knee-jerk reaction. Since the active ingredient in chocolate (theobromine) is toxic to dogs, many people push hamsters under this umbrella. It couldn’t be further from the truth - in fact, chocolate could mean the difference between life and death for a hamster or rat!

“Hamsters and mice were much more resistant to theobromine than were rats. A decrease in growth and in thymic weights occurred only at the highest dose levels of theobromine and testicular and thymic changes were completely absent in hamsters. “ http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0041008X79902850

“…more resistant than rats, while hamsters were almost completely resistant to the effects of high doses of theobromine (Tarka et al., 1979).” http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0041008X80903609

“Theobromine shows moderate acute toxicity and the dog is more susceptible than rodents.” http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/doc/725.pdf The use of theobromine (the active chemical in chocolate) as a bronchodilator:

“Suprisingly, accumulating evience suggests that dark chocolate can carry antitussive effects. Although mechanisms remain unknown, it is thought that theobromine, a methylxanthine intrinsic to dark chocolate, might potentially suppress cough.” http://dx.doi.org/10.3816/SCT.2007.n.006

Further Reading: http://dmd.aspetjournals.org/content/12/2/154.short

Owners have cautioned against the use of citrus fruits and tomatoes for years, citing they are “too acidic”. However, there is no scientific evidence that supports this. Instead, science points to citrus fruits being beneficial. We advise owners use their better judgement, and stick to “sweeter” citrus fruits, such as tangerines and mandarins.

Citrus Fruits

“To investigate the molecular mechanism based chemopreventive efficacy of hesperetin on 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA) induced hamster buccal pouch (HBP) squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). The oral tumour was provoked by painted with 0.5% DMBA on left buccal pouch thrice a week for 10 consecutive weeks developed well-differentiated SCC and tumour formation was 100% in DMBA alone. We evaluated the chemopreventive potential of hesperetin by assessing the lipid peroxidation (LPO) by-products, status of enzymatic, non-enzymatic antioxidants, detoxifying agents etc. Moreover, modulating expression of apoptotic and cell proliferation markers were observed in HBP SCC experimental hamsters. Oral administration of hesperetin (20 mg/kg b.w.) to DMBA painted hamsters significantly reversed the stages of oral SCC. Our findings indicate that hesperetin possesses a chemopreventive effect in DMBA-induced oral SCC by exerting anti-carcinogenic property.” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28457144

“The results of this study suggest that lemon peels and the waste stream of the lemon peels are as effective in lowering plasma and liver cholesterol in hamsters as the pectin extracted from the peels and that also compounds other than pectin are probably responsible for the cholesterol lowering effect of the citrus peels.” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11990004

“The data show that 4 flavonoids (hesperetin, neohesperidin, tangeretin, and nobiletin) were inactive. The results with naringin and naringenin show that both of these flavonoids significantly lowered tumor number [5.00 (control group), 2.53 (naringin group), and 3.25 (naringenin group)]. Naringin also significantly reduced tumor burden [269 mmm3(control group) and 77.1 mmm3(naringin group)]. The data suggest that naringin and naringenin, 2 flavonoids found in high concentrations in grapefruit, may be able to inhibit the development of cancer.” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18444138

Additional Reading:

• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11062760
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25896273
• https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S175646461500612X?via%3Dihub
• https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095496417603273?via%3Dihub
• https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0024320506000762?via%3Dihub

Tomatoes

Tomatoes are often thought to be unsafe because they are “too acidic”. Fresh, their pH is 4.3-4.9. For reference, apples fall in the 3.2-4.0 range… so apples are more acidic based of pH. Tomatoes are perfectly fine as a treat.

Unlike many other animals, hamsters are not lactose intolerant. This means they can consume dairy and dairy products without any issue.

Hamsters also demonstrated the highest levels of lactose consumption. […] The hamster’s pregastric pouch is similar in both structure and function to the rumen of herbivores. It is likely that the ruminant type microorganisms residing in the pregastric pouch, like those of the rumen of herbivores, rapidly attack and digest water soluble carbohydrates such as lactose, thereby minimizing the amount of ingested lactose that reaches the small intestine intact and sparing hamsters the negative consequences of lactose ingestion that are typically experienced by monogastric animals such as rats. Voluntary Lactose Ingestion in Gerbils, Rats, Mice, and Golden Hamsters, David DiBattista, Physiology and Behaviour, Vol. 52, pp 59-63, 1992.

Which then led him to further studies, which proved said hypothesis below.

It is surprising that adult golden hamsters, which resemble other animals in intestinal lactase nevertheless prefer lactose solutions to water over a wide range of concentrations and voluntarily ingest substanstial amounts of lactose […] the hamster’s unusually high level of voluntary lactose consumption depends upon its possession of a pregastric pouch that is similar in both structure and function to the rumen of herbivores […] In the golden hamster, ingested food first enters the pregastric pouch, where it remains for up to an hour or more, with volatile fatty acids being produced and absorbed into the bloodstream. Food then passes into the gastric pouch, which is similar to the glandular stomach of monogastric mammals such as rats, mice and gerbils. […] The microorganisms of the pre-gastric pouch allow hamsters to utilize nonprotein nitrogen sources, such as urea, and may play an important role in the digestion of plant material. Futhermore, those microorganisms, like those residing in the rumen of herbivores, would reasonably be expected to attack and digest water-soluble carbohydrates such as lactose, and thereby to minimize the amount of ingested lactose that reaches the gastric pouch and the small and large intestines. […] 

This experiment demonstrates that surgical removal of the hamster’s pregastric pouch causes a 40% reduction in voluntary lactose consumption. Surgical Removal of the Pregastric Pouch Reduces Voluntary Lactose Consumption in Golden Hamsters, David DiBattista and Michele Robillard in Physiology and Behaviour, Vol. 53, pp 425-429, 1993

Similar to chocolate, since many dogs cannot tolerate grapes many hamster owners and keepers have deemed grapes and raisins unsafe. There is evidence to support grapes having health benefits.

“These findings suggested that consumption of wild grape WSCC might diminish the exposure of intestinal mucosa to toxic ammonia and other detrimental compounds and, hence exert, favorable effects on improving gastrointestinal milieu.” http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/jf300942p

“This is the first time that chronic consumption of grape phenolics is shown to reduce obesity development and related metabolic pathways including adipokine secretion and oxidative stress.

Chardonnay grape seed procyanidin extract supplementation prevents high-fat diet-induced obesity in hamsters by improving adipokine imbalance and oxidative stress markers (PDF Download Available).” Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/23499367_Chardonnay_grape_seed_procyanidin_extract_supplementation_prevents_high-fat_diet-induced_obesity_in_hamsters_by_improving_adipokine_imbalance_and_oxidative_stress_markers.

Further Reading

• http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/jf040125d
• https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0021915000006250
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2728696/
• https://academic.oup.com/jn/article/139/9/1801S/4670549
• https://open.library.ubc.ca/cIRcle/collections/ubctheses/24/items/1.0342344

The concern with peanut butter is simply it being sticky and gettting stuck in pouches. The best type of peanut butter to use is all-natural, with peanuts as the only ingredient. A small amount is perfectly fine, and a great way to encourage a picky hamster to take their medicine!

Cucumber and watermelon both get a bad reputation as more watery fruits. They are perfect foods for providing hydration especially on long journeys. As well, a hamster will simply moderate their water intake to make up for it. When worried, just remind yourself that we allow our animals free access to water… which is arguably much waterier than cucumber or watermelon!