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Essential Vitamins
Water soluble vitamins
Most of the vitamins your hamster will need are to be found in the food that he eats. Extra vitamins added to the hamsters water bottle are not generally needed. Most of the vitamins that are 'Added' to the food and water are largely synthetic. Synthetic Vitamins are very difficult to digest. The body has to do a lot of work to digest, and assimilate them. Vitamins are sometimes added to the water bottle: these are water soluble vitamins. Extra doses of water soluble vitamins will not cause vitamin toxicity, and will simply be flushed out in the urine.
There are nine water soluble vitamins, eight of which are B Vitamins. Water soluble vitamins are vitamins that are not store in the body. They are: Vitamin B1: (Thiamin), B2: (Riboflavin), Niacin, Vitamin B6: Folacin, B12: Pantothenic Acid and Biotin.
Vitamin C
Ascorbic Acid: this is an essential vitamin found mainly in fruits and vegetables. Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin. Large amounts of vitamin C may cause diarrhea. Vitamin C supports a variety of the body's structures and is essential to the formation of bones. Good sources of vitamin C can be found in vegetables, preferably raw, such as cauliflower, broccoli, strawberry, spinach, and eggs. All fruit and vegetables contain varied amounts of vitamin C.
Fat soluble vitamins
There are four fat soluble vitamins these are, Vitamin A. Beta Carotene or Retinol. Vitamin: D, E, and K. these vitamins are soluble vitamins. Theses are vitamins that are stored in the body. For this reason an excessive amount of these vitamins can become toxic. Many people do not appreciate that their pets are not little people. They often think that a supplement that they may take themselves is good for their pet, that is not always the case.
Vitamin A
Also known as Retinol, Vitamin A. is not found in plant material. Animals deficient in vitamin A are more susceptible to infections and stress related disorders. Vitamin A is also responsible for maintaining a normal surface on the eye (the cornea) and a deficiency in this vitamin can lead to drying of the eye surface. This can lead to a blue cloudiness of the eye, followed by ulcer formation. Good sources of vitamin A is cheese, eggs, oily fish, and yogurt. Most good brand names of commercially prepared hamster foods contain adequate amounts of vitamin A.
Vitamin B.
Vitamin B1: Thiamine. This is essential for normal growth and development. Vitamin B also helps to maintain proper functioning of the heart, the nervous and digestive system.
Thiamine occurs naturally in the following foods, Green peas, Nuts, Bananas, Soy beans, Whole grain, and Legumes. Common Legumes are alfalfa, peas, beans, lentils, and peanuts.
Vitamin B2: Riboflavin. This plays a key role in energy metabolism and is required for the metabolism of fats, carbohydrates, and respiratory proteins. It is important for normal vision and to prevent cataracts. Good food sources of Riboflavin are yogurt, soybeans, spinach, egg, almonds, and broccoli.
Vitamin B3: also known as Niacin. (Nicotinic acid) this helps to rid the body of toxic chemicals. It promotes good digestion and healthy skin. Food sources are eggs, fish, and chicken. Vegetable sources include broccoli, carrots, peanuts, barley, almonds, corn, and pasta.
Vitamin D
The question often arises whether vitamin D is actually a vitamin or a steroid. Vitamin D is also known as the Sunshine Vitamin. The body manufactures the vitamin after being exposed to sunshine. Because Vitamin D is manufactured by the body, therefore it cannot be classed as a vitamin. We just use this word for simplicity.
Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin: This is one of the most important vitamins to watch very closely. Particularly with rodents that get no exposure to natural sunlight. Animals that are kept indoors require a dietary source as vitamin D promotes the body's absorption of calcium, this is important for building strong bones. Adequate Vitamin D levels have long been linked to good bone health. Vitamin D is crucial to the absorption of dietary calcium and phosphorus. When calcium levels are low in the blood the body responds by dissolving bone as a source of calcium. The biggest bones in the body are the first casualty of this process. Vitamin D deficiency can lead to muscular weakness, in addition to weak bones, and can be one of the major causes of hind leg paralysis. The first bones to be affected in the body are the larger ones, particularly around the hips, and hind legs. Most animals that are usually exposed to natural sunlight are thus assured a source of vitamin D. Herbivorous diets are very likely to contain sufficient vitamin D. However, with improper husbandry and an improper diet a vitamin D deficiency can occur in any species.
It is also important to know that ingestion of a high fat diet (such as eating primarily, sunflower or seed diet) may be detrimental because fats may reduce calcium absorption.
Only a few foods naturally contain significant amounts of vitamin D these include fatty fish and fish oils. Cod liver oil is the richest source of vitamin D. Just one teaspoon has 4,500 IU. Fish oil has a much lower content of vitamins A and D compared to liver oils C.L.O Also contains vitamin A. which is essential for the immune system, night vision, and cellular growth.
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