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The first wolves to come begging for scraps at a campfire set in motion a chain of events that eventually led to the creation of chihuahuas‚ pugs‚ and a range of other un-wolf-like dog breeds. According to one popular theory‚ this fateful rendezvous between canids and humans took place around 15‚000 years ago in a cave in modern-day Germany‚ although the authors of an as-yet un-peer-reviewed study have now challenged this idea.Back in 2021‚ researchers published an analysis of large canid fossils found in the Gnirshöhle cave in southwest Germany. Intriguingly‚ the bones were located within a site that was occupied by humans during the Magdalenian period‚ which extended from roughly 16‚000 to 14‚000 years ago.This led the study authors to wonder whether the large creatures lived with humans‚ thus making them the earliest known examples of domesticated canines. Unfortunately‚ however‚ neither mitochondrial DNA nor a morphometric analysis of the animals’ teeth could determine whether they were dogs or wolves.The researchers therefore used isotopic data from the ancient animals’ collagen to try and reconstruct their diet. Noting that they appeared to have consumed less protein than wild wolves‚ the study authors speculated that the Gnirshöhle canids may have been largely fed by humans.However‚ revisiting the analysis presented two years ago‚ the authors of the new preprint suggest that the original “paper is fundamentally flawed and excluded available relevant data.” For example‚ they say that the isotopic values presented indicate that the Gnirshöhle wolves could well have consumed the same diet as their wild equivalents.The issue‚ they say‚ is that different wolf populations can have different trophic enrichment factor (TEF) values‚ which essentially means that they record different isotopic signatures from their prey. To reconstruct an animal’s diet from isotopic data‚ it’s therefore necessary to know the creature’s TEF.However‚ because the correct TEF for the Gnirshöhle wolves is unknown‚ the study authors say the idea that they were fed by humans requires “a major leap of faith.”In the final section of their critique‚ the researchers slam the authors of the 2021 study for making a “tacit assumption” that the Gnirshöhle animals were dogs rather than wolves‚ despite a complete lack of evidence to support this claim. However‚ it’s worth pointing out that the original paper never states that the animals were dogs‚ and the authors were in fact careful to point out that‚ based on their data‚ “an assignment of the canids as dogs or wolves cannot be unambiguously performed.”Thus‚ while many of the points raised in the new paper do muddy the idea that humans were domesticating wolves at the Gnirshöhle cave‚ the authors undoubtedly go a little hard in their criticisms. Perhaps they need to call off the dogs.The unpublished preprint‚ which has not been validated by peer review‚ can be found on bioRxiv.

Astronomers have been excited by outbursts of the exploding comet Pons-Brooks‚ each of which has caused it to brighten up to 100 times. For those in the know‚ reports of its post-explosion magnitude tell them whether it's worth trying to spot the travelling ice-volcano‚ or if that's an impossible dream. It's a common story with comets and other temporary visitors to our skies. Those unfamiliar with the lingo‚ however‚ may miss out on something that might have been their entry to the excitement amateur astronomy can bring. Worse still‚ others spend hours in a cold field looking for something they have no chance of seeing.Even if you're not planning to go looking yourself‚ the magnitude of an astronomical object can be an important feature of information about it‚ and something we include quite frequently. So it's time for an explainer.Astronomical magnitude has ways of puzzling those new to the topic. The first issue people often encounter is that larger magnitudes are fainter than smaller ones. Indeed‚ the brightest objects – such as the Sun‚ Moon‚ and Venus – have negative magnitudes. A negative magnitude comet or exploding star doesn't sound very exciting‚ but it's actually a once-in-a-generation event you really don't want to miss.The first issue makes much more sense when you understand the origins of the magnitude scale. In the second century‚ the astronomer Ptolemy realized that most of the really bright stars he could see (other than Sirius) were of reasonably similar brightness‚ and categorized them as “first magnitude stars”. Those that were modestly but notably fainter were second magnitude‚ and so on.This became the basis of our current system‚ but has since been put on a more rigorous footing. Vega is considered to have a magnitude of zero. Sirius‚ along with some planets and two stars too far south for Ptolemy to see easily‚ gained negative designations.A magnitude of 1 (for example the star Spica) is 2.52 times fainter than Vega. Magnitude 2 is 2.52 times fainter again (Polaris is the most famous example). If 2.52 seems like an odd choice‚ it's used because it means that stars 5 magnitudes apart will be 5 times as bright as each other.A Few Significant ExamplesObjectMagnitudeSun-27Full Moon-13Venus (maximum)-4.8Sirius-1.5Supernova 1987a (peak)2.9Supernova 1054 (cause of Crab Nebula)-6Comet Pons-Brooks (now)12.7Comet Pons Brooks (predicted peak without explosion)4.3Comet Pons-Brooks (potential maximum with well-timed explosion)0Optical instruments have allowed us to extend things much further. Under dark skies‚ it's usually possible to see down to magnitude 10 with a good pair of binoculars – and a backyard telescope can take you into the low teens. The JWST can see galaxies with magnitudes of 34. In all of these cases‚ each additional magnitude means being fainter by a factor of 2.52‚ or 100 to the power of one-fifth.Complicating FactorsMagnitude is not always constant‚ however. Catalogs often list the variable star Betelgeuse as having a magnitude of 0.5‚ but during its great dimming of 2019-20 it got down to 1.7. Then this year it was 50 percent brighter‚ giving it a magnitude of 0.0. Planets can vary by even more. During a close passage such as 2018‚ Mars can reach magnitude -2.9‚ but even when it emerges from behind the Sun it will only be about 1.4.A low magnitude is also no guarantee that we can see something. Besides city lights and clouds‚ other objects in the sky can hinder our view. Comets are usually brightest when close to the Sun in their orbit‚ and unless the Earth's location is very fortunate‚ this tends to make the two line up for us. Even a very low magnitude comet is hard to see if it sets while it's still twilight. Another problem is that there is more than one magnitude to an object. Most of the time‚ when we refer to something astronomical's visual magnitude‚ we mean how bright it looks to the ordinary observer on Earth‚ technically known as apparent magnitude. Occasionally‚ however‚ related but different magnitude scales become relevant.There are times when it's more important to talk about an object's absolute magnitude. A star that is relatively close to Earth will appear brighter than a similar one much further away. Consequently‚ astronomers have created absolute magnitude to measure intrinsic brightness. For stars‚ this measures how bright they would appear at a distance of 10 parsecs (32.6 light years).For planets‚ asteroids‚ or comets‚ however‚ such a distance is fairly useless – almost none of them would be visible from so far away even with our most powerful telescope. Therefore‚ the absolute magnitude of objects reflecting sunlight is measured at a distance of one astronomical unit (distance of the Earth to the Sun).There is one final aspect that is worth mentioning‚ since we have talked so much about comets. When discussing something we see as a faint blob‚ rather than a single point of light‚ the magnitude is the accumulation of all the brightness we can see. When dealing with light pollution or interference from the Moon‚ dispersed light is far more affected. Thus sometimes you may struggle to see a fourth magnitude comet or nebula with binoculars or a small telescope‚ when a fourth magnitude star in the same field of view is easy to spot. Something to remember if 2024's comets live up to hopes.All “explainer” articles are confirmed by fact checkers to be correct at time of publishing. Text‚ images‚ and links may be edited‚ removed‚ or added to at a later date to keep information current.  

Comedy Central’s tempt host of The Daily Show‚ Michelle Wolf welcomed correspondents Ronny Chieng and Michael Kosta for a “debate” on who is “America’s greatest war criminal” after the death of former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger. As Chieng and Kosta fake fought over Kissinger and former Vice President Dick Cheney‚ Wolf offered up President Andrew Jackson. Wolf set up the fake ESPN-style debate‚ “But look‚ no matter how you feel about Henry Kissinger‚ ya gotta agree that he is one of America's greatest war criminals. The question is: Is he America's greatest war criminal? So‚ to have that debate‚ let's turn to Ronny Chieng and Michael Kosta. Thank you‚ guys. What do you think? “     Chieng began: Henry Kissinger is the GOAT of war criminals. You know the last few weeks in high school where you skim like 40 years of terrible American history in‚ like‚ two days? That's all him‚ baby. Vietnam‚ Cambodia‚ Chile. Shall I continue? Pakistan‚ East Timor. This dude was doing massacres in countries that Americans didn't even know were countries! He was putting them on the map‚ and then carpet bombing them off the map. He's like a genocidal Carmen Sandiego.  Kosta replied by arguing that responding to 9/11 and detaining terrorists means that Cheney is the correct answer‚ “Sure‚ Kissinger's in the conversation‚ but this debate starts and ends with Dick Cheney. His prime years were fire. Afghanistan‚ Iraq‚ Guantanamo. The man shot his friend in the face. And it was one of the nicest things he's ever done!” Chieng then fired back‚ “To quote the great man himself‚ go [bleep] yourself‚ Michael! Yeah‚ sure‚ Dick Cheney lied about WMDs‚ but my boy Kissinger was using WMDs. Plus‚ he was in the game for over 60 years! Dick Cheney had‚ what‚ five good seasons? Maybe?” “Lied” is a word that goes too far‚ but Kosta still “defended” his choice: Kissinger stayed in the game just to juice his stats. When you look at the season splits‚ Cheney's numbers were better. Not to mention‚ Kissinger came in after Vietnam started! I mean‚ he was chasing wars the way Durant chases rings‚ you know. Anyone can just join a super team. But Cheney built his wars from the ground up! He carried George W. Bush on his back! Also‚ how can Kissinger be the war crimes GOAT when he won the Nobel Peace Prize‚ you [bleep] Idiot?” As Kosta ignored decades of pre-2003 Saddam history‚ Chieng continued his case for Kissinger‚ “That's what makes him the goat‚ you [bleep] moron. Do you know how good a war criminal you have to be to win a peace prize for wars you escalated? The dude has got the numbers and the hardware. Count the rings‚ bitch.” At this point Wolf interrupted‚ “let me throw this out to you guys. Andrew Jackson?” Kosta sort of concurred‚ “Look‚ Michelle‚ you do have to adjust for that era‚ okay‚ but credit where credit is due‚ I mean‚ Jackson was massacring people back when you had to do it with muskets and carrier pigeons. We'll never know what kind of records he could've set if he had had drones and Google Maps.”  After Chieng got in one more argument for Kissinger‚ Kosta wrapped up‚ “I think we can all agree‚ no matter who the GOAT is‚ what is important to remember is‚ Kissinger's passing really puts things into perspective. So‚ listen‚ everyone‚ if there's a war criminal in your life‚ tell them how you feel about them now. Because you never know when they're going to unexpectedly die of being 100 years old.” But what if that means dumbing down the definition of war criminal to somebody you don’t like?  Here is a transcript for the November 30 show: Comedy Central The Daily Show 11/30/2023 11:05 PM ET MICHELLE WOLF: But yes‚ Henry Kissinger is dead. Which just goes to show that if have zero morals‚ you will lead a long‚ stress-free life. He committed massacres and lived to be 100! While the rest of us over here are dying at 47 because we can't stop stressing over the time we waved to a person who is actually waving to somebody behind us.  But look‚ no matter how you feel about Henry Kissinger‚ ya gotta agree that he is one of America's greatest war criminals. The question is: Is he America's greatest war criminal? So‚ to have that debate‚ let's turn to Ronny Chieng and Michael Kosta. Thank you‚ guys. What do you think?  RONNY CHIENG: Oh‚ there's no question‚ Michelle. Henry Kissinger is the GOAT of war criminals. You know the last few weeks in high school where you skim like 40 years of terrible American history in‚ like‚ two days? That's all him‚ baby. Vietnam‚ Cambodia‚ Chile. Shall I continue? Pakistan‚ East Timor. This dude was doing massacres in countries that Americans didn't even know were countries! He was putting them on the map‚ and then carpet bombing them off the map. He's like a genocidal Carmen Sandiego.  MICHAEL KOSTA: Can I get a chance to talk over here? Ronny‚ you’re clowning yourself. Sure‚ Kissinger's in the conversation‚ but this debate starts and ends with Dick Cheney. His prime years were fire. Afghanistan‚ Iraq‚ Guantanamo. The man shot his friend in the face. And it was one of the nicest things he's ever done!  WOLF: That's a good point. Ronny‚ maybe this is a tie.  CHIENG: To quote the great man himself‚ go [bleep] yourself‚ Michael! Yeah‚ sure‚ Dick Cheney lied about WMDs‚ but my boy Kissinger was using WMDs. Plus‚ he was in the game for over 60 years! Dick Cheney had‚ what‚ five good seasons? Maybe?  KOSTA: Exactly! Exactly! Kissinger stayed in the game just to juice his stats. When you look at the season splits‚ Cheney's numbers were better. Not to mention‚ Kissinger came in after Vietnam started! I mean‚ he was chasing wars the way Durant chases rings‚ you know. Anyone can just join a super team. But Cheney built his wars from the ground up! He carried George W. Bush on his back! Also‚ how can Kissinger be the war crimes GOAT when he won the Nobel Peace Prize‚ you [bleep] Idiot?  CHIENG: That's what makes him the goat‚ you [bleep] moron. Do you know how good a war criminal you have to be to win a peace prize for wars you escalated? The dude has got the numbers and the hardware. Count the rings‚ bitch.  WOL: Okay‚ okay‚ okay‚ okay‚ guys let me throw this out to you guys. Andrew Jackson?  KOSTA: That's a good point‚ good point.  CHIENG: Oh‚ yeah‚ I mean‚ he did the numbers.  KOSTA: Look‚ Michelle‚ you do have to adjust for that era‚ okay‚ but credit where credit is due‚ I mean‚ Jackson was massacring people back when you had to do it with muskets and carrier pigeons. We'll never know what kind of records he could've set if he had had drones and Google Maps.  CHIENG: Okay‚ look‚ we can throw around hypotheticals all day‚ but the bottom line is‚ Andrew Jackson wasn't an international player the way Kissinger was. Jackson only put up decent numbers at home. He wasn't strong on the road.  KOSTA:  Ronny‚ just because you speak loudly doesn't make it more true‚ all right? Look‚ look‚ look. I think we can all agree‚ no matter who the GOAT is‚ what is important to remember is‚ Kissinger's passing really puts things into perspective. So‚ listen‚ everyone‚ if there's a war criminal in your life‚ tell them how you feel about them now. Because you never know when they're going to unexpectedly die of being 100 years old. 

This week‚ pockets of the liberal media got their panties up in a wad and lied about a November 17 proposal from Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) entitled the Safeguarding Free Speech Act to “prohibit federal agencies from forcing an employee or contractor to use personal pronouns that contradict with an individual’s biological sex.” Given this touches the proverbial electrified rail of transgenderism‚ Cruz came ready to respond to the ninnies seeing as how his bill would keep the federal bureaucracy from forcing its workers to use such nicknames and preferred pronouns if using them conflicts with their sincerely held religious beliefs. But‚ first‚ the idiocy and misconstruing. First up‚ there’s San Antonio’s newspaper‚ the Express-News‚ who had an X post that was a straight up logical fallacy: “Sen. Rafael Edward Cruz‚ who uses the preferred name Ted‚ has introduced a bill to limit the use of preferred names and pronouns.” The best part? The actual Express-News story was written on behalf of Cruz’s enemies by staff writer Shepard Price‚ who...uses they/them pronouns. In other words‚ the notion of someone not being forced to care about their pronouns and gender identity is offensive. Conflict of interest much? Nonetheless‚ let’s see some of what Price blabbered about (click “expand”): Sen. Ted Cruz has introduced a bill that would limit the use of preferred names by trans people. The irony‚ critics point out? The senator‚ whose legal name is Rafael Edward Cruz‚ uses a preferred name himself: Ted. (....) "Anti-LGBTQ extremists attempting to erase trans people by purposely ignoring their pronouns‚ gender and authentic name are nothing new‚" Sarah Kate Ellis‚ president and CEO of GLAAD‚ told the Advocate. "This latest attempt by Senator Cruz‚ who does not go by his own legal name‚ to prohibit the federal government‚ the nation's largest employer‚ from respecting employees' authentic name and pronouns‚ is not only dangerous and demeaning‚ it's hypocritical." Not only was it picked up and reposted by the Houston Chronicle‚ but Newsweek gleefully posted a story with the headline‚ “Ted Cruz Brutally Mocked by Texas Newspaper.” “Brutally Mocked”? Price engaged in a litany of logical fallacies to do so‚ meaning the so called “mock[ing]” has no real bearing on facts. Cruz excoriated the Express-News clown show in an X post of his own‚ calling them “lying hacks” in need of “fix[ing] your dishonest headline”: Lying hacks. My bill doesn't ban anyone from saying anything. The First Amendment allows you to call me "Ted‚" "Rafael‚" "a wacko bird‚" or whatever else you want. Rather‚ my bill prohibits the federal government from FORCING anyone to use preferred pronouns or names. IE‚ it… https://t.co/Id45Q5J3qp — Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) December 1‚ 2023 Two LGBTQ blogs also had meltdowns. The Advocate‚ which Price quoted from‚ seethed with similar holes‚ equating the nicknames with gender identity/dysphoria and pronouns (click “expand”): Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz‚ legally named Rafael Edward Cruz‚ has introduced a bill in the U.S. Senate titled the Safeguarding Honest Speech Act. The legislation proposes prohibiting federal funds from enforcing policies requiring federal employees to use preferred pronouns or names other than an individual’s legal name. (....) This move by Cruz‚ who is widely known by a nickname for his middle name‚ “Ted‚” rather than his legal first or middle name‚ Rafael Edward‚ has sparked a debate not only about the bill’s potential impact on the LGBTQ+ community but also about the perceived irony in the senator’s personal name usage. Critics‚ including advocacy groups and members of the LGBTQ+ community‚ also view the bill as regressive in recognizing and respecting gender identity in federal workplaces. Referring to a statement from the CEO of GLADD‚ The Advocate argued there’s “severe effects of misgendering and deadnaming‚ practices that show disrespect for a transgender person’s gender identity and can lead to psychological distress‚ discrimination‚ and violence. Pride was also in a tizzy‚ but they should cheer up as their hissy fit “Ted Cruz Is A Supernova Of Hypocrisy. That's Right‚ We See You *Rafael*” was cross-posted at Yahoo! News. Calling it an “absolute black hole of hypocrisy‚” it lamented Cruz’s proposal was “rich” since he “goes by his preferred name‚ ‘Ted’ instead of his legal name Rafael Edward Cruz. Indeed‚ the Republican party’s hypocrisy knows no bounds”. Now‚ what about the facts? Here was more from Cruz’s press release arguing why his proposal’s necessary (click “expand”): On October 11th‚ 2023‚ the Department of Health and Human Services issued a new “Gender Identity Non-Discrimination and Inclusion Policy for Employees and Applicants.” Among many other harmful changes‚ this policy compelled speech by requiring employees and contractors with HHS to call other employees by their “preferred pronouns‚” even if those pronouns do not align with biological reality. This speech mandate violates the First Amendment by compelling government employees and contracts to affirm the idea that a person’s “gender identity” can be separated from their biological sex. Aside from being a violation of the Free Speech Clause‚ it is also a violation of the Free Exercise Clause‚ as anybody who has religious convictions that differ from HHS’s view on human sexuality would be forced to publicly deny their faith.

If you enjoy the sweet‚ tart taste of citrus fruits like tangerines‚ you might be tempted to share the delicious goodness with your dog. Fortunately‚ most dogs can safely eat parts of tangerines in small quantities. In this article‚ we’ll tell you why tangerines can be a safe treat for most dogs and which health considerations to keep in mind. You’ll also learn which parts of the tangerine are safe for your dog‚ plus the answers to some other frequently asked questions about feeding tangerines to dogs. Tangerines: A Healthy Treat for Dogs Tangerines‚ like other citrus fruits‚ are high in Vitamin C. They also contain fiber and potassium. While dogs can produce their own vitamin C‚ providing them with a little boost now and then can be beneficial. Vitamin C is considered an antioxidant in dogs and humans. Antioxidants protect the body from cellular damage and can be effective in reducing inflammation. Dogs with chronic inflammatory conditions like arthritis or allergies may benefit from taking antioxidants or eating foods that contain these substances‚ such as tangerines. Image Credit: Vicushka‚ Shutterstock Dogs That Shouldn’t Eat Tangerines Although tangerines are a safe snack for most dogs‚ they should be avoided for some pets. Because tangerines are high in natural sugar‚ dogs that are overweight or diabetic should not eat them. Sugar equals extra calories that obese dogs don’t need and can make it harder for diabetic dogs to regulate their blood glucose. In addition‚ the sugar and the high acid content of tangerines may upset some dogs’ stomachs‚ especially if they already have sensitive digestion. For these dogs‚ tangerines may cause symptoms like vomiting‚ diarrhea‚ or loss of appetite. Frequently Asked Questions: What Parts of a Tangerine Can Dogs Eat? Dogs can safely eat the flesh of tangerines in small quantities. However‚ they should never eat the peels or seeds of the fruit. Seeds may pose a choking hazard for some dogs‚ especially puppies and small breeds‚ and can lead to intestinal obstructions. Tangerine peels are also hard to digest and contain heavy doses of citrus oils‚ which are even more likely to cause an upset stomach. How Much Tangerine Can Dogs Eat? Tangerines‚ like any other snack or treat you offer your dog‚ should make up no more than 10% of their daily calories. That means the amount of tangerine your dog can eat will vary based on their size‚ age‚ and activity level. For example‚ half of a tangerine segment may be enough for small dogs‚ while giant breeds may enjoy as many as two segments. Check with your vet to help you decide how much tangerine to feed your dog. Image Credit: Nitr‚ Shutterstock How Do I Feed Tangerines to My Dog? Tangerines should be washed‚ peeled‚ and de-seeded before you feed them to your dog. Chop the segments into small pieces and feed them as a snack or food topper. Another option is to mix them with other safe fruits (more on this later) to make a smoothie or fruit salad for your dog to enjoy in small amounts. Consider freezing the blended fruit mixture into doggy pops or use it as a Kong filler. Which Fruits Are Safe for Dogs? In addition to tangerines‚ the flesh of other citrus fruits like oranges and grapefruit are safe for dogs. Most other fruits‚ including bananas‚ berries‚ and apples‚ are safe for dogs if they are peeled‚ cored‚ or pitted. Never let your dog eat fruit pits or seeds. Speak to your veterinarian to learn about other safe options. Image Credit: New Africa‚ Shutterstock Which Fruits Are Not Safe for Dogs? Grapes and raisins are toxic to dogs‚ even in limited quantities. Never feed these fruits to your dog. Check with your vet before offering any unfamiliar fruit to make sure it’s safe and healthy for them. Conclusion Dogs that thrive on a nutritionally balanced diet don’t necessarily need the extra nutrition that healthy snacks like tangerines provide. However‚ if you want to share food with your dog‚ it’s nice to know they’re also getting health benefits. As we mentioned‚ remember to clear any new foods with your vet before introducing them to your dog. If you serve tangerines to your dog‚ keep the quantities small and infrequent and monitor them for any signs of digestive upset. Sources “Can My Dog Eat Oranges?” “Can Dogs Eat Oranges?” “Health Benefits of Tangerines” “Antioxidants” “The Right Way to Treat Your Pet” Featured Image Credit: JumpStory The post Can Dogs Eat Tangerines? Vet Approved Facts &; FAQ appeared first on Pet Keen.

Click to Skip Ahead What Kind of Oats Can Hamsters Eat? How Many Oats Can My Hamster Eat? Preparation Tips Are Oats Good for Hamsters? Oats have solidified their place as health food over the last few decades‚ thanks to their nutrient profile and health benefits. Are they safe for your hamster‚ though? Can you expect your hamster to experience health benefits from eating oats in the same way that you might? Yes! Oats are a safe and healthy food for hamsters‚ but there are some things to consider before adding oats to your hamster’s diet. What Kind of Oats Can Hamsters Eat? Rolled and quick oats are an excellent food for hamsters‚ and they can be offered raw‚ or prepared as oatmeal. Avoid offering whole oats to your hamster‚ though. Whole oats are contained within a hard shell‚ so they can have sharp edges that can injure your hamster. You also should only feed plain oats. Flavored oatmeal and even some “plain” oatmeals can contain sugar‚ salt‚ and flavorings added‚ all of which should be avoided for hamsters. Image Credit: sue_v67‚ Pixabay How Many Oats Can My Hamster Eat? How many oats you feed to your hamster will depend on their size‚ as well as the rest of their diet. For large hamsters‚ like Syrians‚ a teaspoon of oats‚ cooked or raw‚ every 2 or 3 days is good. For smaller hamsters‚ like Roborovskis‚ oats should be fed in a portion the size of a fingernail or smaller‚ every 2 or 3 days. How Can I Prepare Oats for My Hamster? Many hamsters seem to prefer dry oats because they are easier to eat‚ but if you want to make oatmeal for your hamster‚ simply add hot water to the oats or add water and microwave the oats. For rolled oats‚ you may need to follow the package instructions to ensure enough liquid is absorbed by the oats. Make sure the oats are fully cooled before offering them to your hamster. It’s a good idea to stir the oats as they cool so they cool evenly. Otherwise‚ you may end up with pockets of heat in the oats that can injure your hamster. You can add pieces of hamster-safe nuts and fruits to the oats to make a tasty meal for your hamster‚ but avoid adding sugar and other sweeteners‚ as well as salt. You also need to avoid citrus and other foods that are unsafe for hamsters. Image Credit: Arctic ice‚ Shutterstock Are Oats Good for Hamsters? In the wild‚ hamsters consume cereals as part of their diet‚ so oats can be a good addition to a balanced and varied diet for your hamster. Oats are an excellent source of fiber‚ which supports digestive health‚ and they’re a good source of protein. They’re also a good source of other nutrients‚ including vitamin C‚ iron‚ calcium‚ and potassium. If fed in excess‚ oats can lead to digestive upset‚ diarrhea‚ and constipation. Over time‚ overfeeding oats can contribute to obesity and multiple health conditions. They are not a suitable food to serve as the primary food source for your hamster. In Conclusion Oats are a safe and tasty food for hamsters‚ and they provide a variety of nutrients that can support the health of your hamster. They can be fed raw or prepared as oatmeal‚ although flavored and whole oats should be avoided. Most hamsters prefer to eat oats raw‚ so while you can try offering oatmeal‚ raw oats may be easier and more appealing for your hamster to eat. Featured Image Credit: Vladislav Noseek‚ Shutterstock The post Can Hamsters Eat Oats? Vet Approved Health &; Nutrition Facts appeared first on Pet Keen.