Of course hamsters can fart. As with any other mammal, certain foods can cause gas to build up in the intestines. The result is that a hamster farts. We would like to inform you about which foods lead to the formation of these gases in hamsters.

Feed properly so that your hamster does not fart

That your hamster farts, is not bad at first. Because each of us knows it that we sometimes have flatulence and these must escape again from our intestines. The same is true for hamsters, the normal gas formation is harmless and should not cause any problems for your animal. Especially cabbage in every variation should be left out when feeding.

The main food source for hamsters should be dry food and a few mealworms. Fresh food may be given, of course, but only in small quantities. Carrots and peppers are particularly suitable here. Fruit should only be offered in very small quantities and mainly when you want to treat your pet to something special.

This is because fruit contains fructose in high quantities, which a hamster does not need at all in its physiology. Important for hamsters on the supply of animal protein, this is supplied in the form of dried insects. The best option here is mealworms, which every hamster loves. A little cheese or egg can also be used as a supplier of animal protein.

Hamsters fart due to their sensitive digestive tract

Hamsters have a very special and sensitive digestive tract. Whenever they get new food, their digestive system has to adjust to it. Therefore, with new variants in the food always start with a small amount and watch your animal closely. Especially young hamsters react to food with a high liquid content with diarrhea.

If you notice this in your hamster, then give only dry food for the time being and observe closely whether your animal sits in the corner, possibly apathetic. The combination of diarrhea and farting can be life threatening for a hamster. If you are unsure and your animal is no longer taking in fluids and food, then present your hamster to a veterinarian immediately.

If your hamster has diarrhea, you can offer him a thin chamomile tea as a soothing agent for his digestive system. This is done through his normal water intake or through a pipette that you hold directly to his mouth. In this way you prevent dehydration, which can happen quickly with the little animal.

Why does a hamster have to fart?

Almost always the reason for farting, is the ingestion of food that starts a fermentation process in the intestinal tract of the hamster. This so-called fermentation is started by alcohol and sugar compounds. As a result of this chemical process, gas is formed in the intestine, this is a normal process and with good feeding, a concomitant process that does not harm your animal.

However, if the amount of food is too large, then painful flatulence will occur, which can also manifest itself in a bloated belly in your pet. Therefore, you should feed the following foods only in small quantities:

• Fruit
• Dairy products
• Vegetables
• Legumes

Every living creature automatically takes in air when drinking and eating and carries this air with the food mush into the gastrointestinal tract. Humans and animals that ingest their food rapidly also take in a higher amount of air. This air must now be removed via farting or via the bloodstream. If the amount is high, this is largely done via flatulence and thus via the anus.

Every hamster needs protein to keep its metabolism going and to be able to release energy. Many owners are therefore convinced that especially yogurt and cheese are a useful way to supply this protein. However, we do not recommend this. The reason is that hamsters are often lactose intolerant, which means that ingestion of these protein products causes flatulence and colic.

This in turn causes the hamster to fart. A last possibility why your hamster farts is that he has certain intestinal bacteria in too high a number. These bacteria cause more gas to be produced, which in turn has to escape through the anus.

How do I know my hamster has flatulence?

The surest signs are loss of appetite, sitting or lying down for long periods of time, and an increased need for rest. Weight changes can also indicate a problem with the gastrointestinal tract, and other signs include a hunched back and a sitting position that looks fluffed up. If you see one or more of these signs, pay close attention to your pet's bowel movements.

If this is additionally thin or similar to diarrhea, then we recommend that you immediately present your pet to a veterinarian.

Other possibilities why your hamster has flatulence

It is often forgotten that a hamster is a rodent. This means that he always has to work down his teeth, because they grow back incessantly. In order for these to be worn down, we as pet owners must ensure that the provide materials for the hamster to nibble on. These are twigs, branches and also pieces of wood.

Should your hamster no longer be able to shorten these teeth independently, then he can also no longer grind his normal food properly. This puts a strain on the stomach and can cause your hamster to have gas and fart. Hamsters are known to create multiple hiding places where they deposit their food. You will need to inspect these food places on a regular basis.

If this is not done regularly, then there is a risk that food will spoil there and the hamster will ingest this spoiled food. This ingestion in turn leads to flatulence and thus also to farting. Hamsters are very clean animals and sometimes spend several hours a day cleaning their fur. In doing so, the hamster inevitably picks up hair from its fur.

These enter the gastrointestinal tract and can clog or strain it. This also causes flatulence.

What helps against farting?

There are some herbs that can be actively given for flatulence. These include dill, parsley and basil. Some hamster owners also swear by ginger and fennel, which they give to their animals. Personally, we would avoid ginger, but can imagine that fennel seeds work very well for flatulence. We know the positive result from us humans.

As described above, a chamomile tea and, accordingly, a fennel tea can be administered to relieve flatulence. This is best done in combination with the kitchen herbs listed above. Alternatively to the kitchen herbs, however, wild herbs can also be used. Dandelion, yarrow and true chamomile have proven to be effective here.