The teeth of hamsters keep growing continuously, so they need to grind their teeth regularly to maintain dental health. Here are the commonly used tooth-grinding items for hamsters and their characteristics:
1. Natural Wood
Hard wood blocks such as apple wood and pear wood are ideal tooth-grinding items. They have a moderate hardness and contain natural fibers, which can not only help with tooth grinding but also be beneficial to the health of hamsters.
Apple branches are also very popular. They have a faint sweet taste and a tough texture, making them suitable for hamsters to gnaw on.
2. Tooth-grinding Stones
Tooth-grinding stones are specially designed tooth-grinding tools for small pets. They are durable and non-toxic, and can effectively prevent the teeth from growing too long.
However, not all hamsters like tooth-grinding stones, and it may be necessary to guide them to use them.
3. Tooth-grinding Sticks
Tooth-grinding sticks are usually made of grains and have a relatively hard texture. Some of them also contain woody parts, which are suitable for hamsters to grind their teeth.
When choosing, pay attention to the ingredients and avoid products with unknown ingredients.
4. Tooth-grinding Feed and Synthetic Feed
Synthetic feed and tooth-grinding feed are not only nutritionally comprehensive but also can help with tooth grinding, making them a convenient choice.
However, some hamsters may not like synthetic feed due to being picky eaters.
5. Other Tooth-grinding Items
Nuts such as walnuts can grind the teeth, but they are high in calories, so they need to be fed in moderation.
Hay or hay balls are rich in fiber, which can not only grind the teeth but also supplement nutrients.
Paper items such as inkless paper or cardboard are safe and can provide the fun of gnawing.
Precautions
When choosing tooth-grinding items, make sure the surface is smooth to avoid sharp edges and corners from hurting the hamsters' mouths.
Provide a variety of tooth-grinding items to meet the different preferences of hamsters.
Through the above items, it can effectively help hamsters grind their teeth and maintain dental health.