{"topic_id":"exotic_enrichment_hamster","category":"exotic-enrichment","context":"---\ntopic_id: exotic_enrichment_hamster\ncategory: exotic-enrichment\ntitle: \"Hamster — enrichment (owner-practical care, Merck Veterinary Manual pet-owner)\"\nlang: en\nsource: \"Merck Veterinary Manual pet-owner version (merckvetmanual.com/all-other-pets), first-hand consumer care text saved to source_file; C1 byte-substring verified. Pulled 2026-08-01.\"\nsource_file: pdf-raw/owner-care/merck_hamster.txt\ndate_parsed: 2026-08-01\ntokens_estimated: 840\nverification:\n  method: substring_match\n  claims: 12\n  passed: 12\n  date: 2026-08-01\nrecovered: false\npath: exotic-enrichment/exotic_enrichment_hamster/01_exotic_enrichment_hamster.md\nsource_document: \"Merck Veterinary Manual — pet owner version (all-other-pets)\"\ncitation:\n  authority: \"Merck Veterinary Manual (merckvetmanual.com), pet owner version\"\n  title: \"Hamster — enrichment (owner-practical care, Merck Veterinary Manual pet-owner)\"\n  url: \"https://www.merckvetmanual.com/all-other-pets\"\n  retrieved: \"2026-08-01\"\n  ref: \"Merck Veterinary Manual pet-owner version — hamster care\"\n  doc_type: \"professional veterinary manual (consumer version)\"\n  needs_review: false\n---\n\n# Hamster — enrichment (owner-practical care, Merck Veterinary Manual pet-owner)\n\nSource: first-hand Merck Veterinary Manual pet-owner text, saved to `source_file`; every claim below is a C1 byte-substring of it.\n\n## Claims\n\n- `Your hamster will need an enclosure with enough space to allow for exercise in addition to areas for feeding and nesting.`\n- `Smooth plastic or glass is preferred for cage walls because hamsters can chew wire.`\n- `For small hamsters, old toilet paper tubes make good running toys.`\n- `A few healthy treats such as fruits, vegetables, or chewy treats sold in pet stores may be given but should be limited to not more than 10% of the total diet.`\n- `Exercise Regular exercise is necessary for your hamster to stay happy and healthy.`\n- `Often, an exercise wheel is part of providing the exercise your pet needs.`\n- `In addition to a suitable cage, your hamster will need a balanced diet and regular time to play or exercise with you.`\n- `A play area can be created with old packing tubes cut into short lengths; just be sure that the tube is large enough for your hamster to move through freely.`\n- `In addition, boxes with holes cut into them make intriguing play areas for your hamster.`\n- `Be sure to select a wheel with a solid running surface to protect feet and bones.`\n- `The wheel should also be large enough for your hamster to move freely inside and to easily enter and exit.`\n- `Pet stores often offer exercise balls that can confine the hamster while allowing it to move over a large area outside the cage.`\n\n---\n\n**Source:** `pdf-raw/owner-care/merck_hamster.txt` · https://www.merckvetmanual.com/all-other-pets\n","sources":["exotic-enrichment — Hamster — enrichment (owner-practical care, Merck Veterinary Manual pet-owner) (retrieved 2026-08-01)"],"source":{"authority":"exotic-enrichment","title":"Hamster — enrichment (owner-practical care, Merck Veterinary Manual pet-owner)","url":"https://www.merckvetmanual.com/all-other-pets","retrieved":"2026-08-01","ref":"","doc_type":"official PDF","source_document":"Merck Veterinary Manual — pet owner version (all-other-pets)","verification_file":"pdf-raw/owner-care/merck_hamster.txt"},"source_document":"Merck Veterinary Manual — pet owner version (all-other-pets)","source_file":"pdf-raw/owner-care/merck_hamster.txt","tokens_estimated":496,"generated_at":null,"tip":"Use /api/v1/topics to discover more topics. /api/v1/nutrient for precise single-point queries. /api/v1/cross_compare for 2-3 standard comparisons."}