Baby food for hedgehogs

Hedgehog Treats - Millermeade Farm's Critter Connection

Last Updated on October 29, 2022.

- Treats that provide nutrition are always more beneficial than food items that seem to be nothing more than empty calories.
- Establishing a regular routine when offering treats may help your hedgehog try new treats since they know treats are expected at that time.
- Perishable treats should be removed after one hour.
Insects
- Insectivores by nature, hedgehogs typically love insects. It is a good idea to include insects as part of your hedgehog’s balanced diet.
- The most popular insects of hedgehogs and their owners are live mealworms, wax worms, silk worms and crickets.
- Canned crickets, mealworms (only one or two per day), wax worms or other insects can be used but they tend to smell bad and should ideally be used within a week of opening. Rancid canned insects can cause stomach upset to hedgehogs.
- Amy Hood of Hood Petz had a necropsy report that showed that one of her hedgehogs died from a freeze-dried mealworm impaction in the intestinal tract. This was due to the hedgehog’s inability to digest the freeze-dried mealworms. For this reason, many hedgehog breeders and enthusiasts do not recommend freeze-dried insects.
- We prefer to use pet-quality, farm raised insects to wild caught insects because of the risk of parasite infection, insecticide exposure, or other toxins in bugs caught in the wild.
- Even though hedgehogs are insectivores, a captive hedgehog diet of only insects would not be nutritionally balanced.
- When purchasing insects one needs to find out if they have been recently fed or “gut loaded”. Insects that have not been fed are mainly empty shells that are imbalanced in calcium and phosphorus. (Graffam)
- Please refer to our Insects A La Carte guide for more information on this subject.

VIDEO.: Types of hedgehog treats

VIDEO.: Hedgehog enjoying a freeze dried chicken/banana treat

Purchase treats here: Food & Treats

Meat

- Most meat is fine as long as they are grilled, broiled, baked, boiled, or even cooked in the microwave. Do NOT feed raw meat or processed meat.
- Meat should NOT be cooked with oil or butter and should not be seasoned.
- It is never a good idea to feed raw meat, because of the risk of salmonella or other bacterial or parasitic infections.
- Meat should be cooked until tender and cut into small pieces.
- Some hedgehog meat favorites are: grilled salmon, chicken, and turkey.
- Beef and pork are acceptable, but should be fed in moderation. These meats are not easily digested and contain lower calcium and higher phosphorus levels than other alternatives.
- Meat is not suitable as a main portion of the hedgehog’s diet. Non supplemented meats do not provide adequate calcium, balanced minerals, tooth abrasion, or adequate vitamins. (Graffam)
Eggs, Tofu, and Rice
- Scrambled, hard-boiled, or mashed hard-boiled eggs are a popular treat for many hedgehogs.
- Be sure that you don’t add seasonings while cooking and try to stay away from too much butter or oils.
- We scramble one egg with about a teaspoon of water and put it in the microwave for one minute or until cooked throughout. The water makes the egg a little lighter and fluffier than plain eggs. The best way to scramble eggs is in the microwave with no added oils or seasonings.
- Make sure the eggs are not too hot when you give them to your hedgehog.
- One hedgehog owner told us that her hedgehog enjoyed ONLY fresh scrambled eggs for breakfast rather than leftovers from later in the day.
Fruits and Vegetables
- Hedgehogs do not break down cellulose in plant and vegetable matter as well as other animals. Fruits are softer and typically easier to digest than vegetables.
- All vegetables should be diced into small pieces and most should be cooked in the microwave, boiled, or steamed so that they are soft.
- Hard vegetables such as carrots and sweet potatoes should be cooked to prevent choking hazards.
- Corn and peas contain excess phosphorus, which decreases the calcium absorption and should only be fed in small amounts.
- All skin and seeds should be removed from fruits and vegetables.
Popular Fruits
- Apple
- Banana
- Blueberries
- Cantaloupe
- Honeydew
- Mango
- Papaya
- Pineapple
- Raspberries
- Strawberries
- Watermelon
Popular Vegetables
- Asparagus
- Bell Peppers
- Butternut Squash
- Carrots (cooked)
- Cucumber
- Green Beans
- Peas
- Radishes
- Sweet Potato (cooked)
- Turnips
- Zucchini
*Sweet potato, pumpkin, and butternut squash are all high in fiber and are therefore extra beneficial for regulating bowel movements. Watermelon can also act as a diuretic.

Baby Foods
- Many people enjoy giving their hedgehog’s baby food as treats.
- Baby foods are easy to store and relatively inexpensive.
- Gerber Stage 2 Baby Foods Meat in Gravy and Gerber Chicken Sticks are favorite treats. This stage has only meat, water, and cornstarch.
- Baby foods, fruits and vegetables, chicken and applesauce, and meat sticks are also popular.
- Higher stage foods may have added sugar, onion powder, salt, and other ingredients that should be avoided.
Yogurt, Cottage Cheese, and Other Dairy
- Hedgehogs are thought to be somewhat lactose intolerant to milk, but yogurt and cottage cheese seem to be easier for hedgehogs to digest.
- The yogurt and cottage cheese provide extra calcium to your hedgehog’s diet and the yogurt provides beneficial bacteria as well.
- In one of her posts on Chins-n-Quills, Steph Hyne said she feeds Low Fat Plain Organic Yogurt or Low Fat Cottage Cheese to all of her hedgehogs.
- Yogurt can be helpful to sick hedgehogs because it reintroduces beneficial bacteria into the gut.
- Be sure to talk to your veterinarian about yogurt or other dairy products if your hedgehog is on antibiotics or if you are changing an ailing hedgehog’s diet.
- Some hedgehogs do not tolerate yogurt from cow’s milk. Green stools are the most common and obvious signs of stomach upset.
- Soy based yogurts are good dairy alternatives.
- Different hedgehogs have different taste preferences so you’ll have to experiment with various flavors. Some hedgehogs may enjoy fruit flavors and others are happy with plain yogurt mixed into their food or flavored with favorite baby foods.
- Yogurt can be mixed into the hedgehog’s food or fed alone.
- Stonyfield Farms https://www.stonyfield.com/has a wide variety of organic products that are well suited for both humans and pets. They make lots of products of Organic Yogurts, Organic Smoothies, and O’Soy Soy-Yogurt that are all possible options for ailing hedgehogs. Many grocery stores carry Stonyfield Farms products.
- Another option is that many health food stores sell organic yogurt that can be purchased in small amounts.
Cat and Ferret Treats
- Canned or moist cat foods are easily accessible and relatively cheap to try.
- Pet owner, Megan R. says her hedgehog Prickly Piggly Wiggly, loves Temptations brand cat treats.
- Agador, the hedgehog loves Friskies Fillets, claims owner McCayla C.
- Ferret treats are another option if you have them available.
Treats to Avoid
- Sweet foods containing refined or processed sugars are not a good source of treats for your pet. We suggest that you completely avoid chocolate because it can be toxic for hedgehogs and other animals.
- Fried foods are not a good idea because the grease can upset the hedgehog’s stomach and the excess calories are not good for hedgehogs on the heavy side.
- Hard foods such as peanuts, almonds, and raw carrots are choking hazards. One of our customers had an emergency trip to the veterinarian one night because their hedgehog had an almond lodged in its throat!
- Sticky foods such as raisins or other dried fruit are not a good idea, because they can stick to the roof of the hedgehog’s mouth or to its teeth causing discomfort and tooth decay.
- Fibrous or stringy foods such as celery are hard to chew and digest.
- Raw eggs or meat should be completely avoided, because of the risk of Salmonella.
- Spicy foods and ones such as onions and garlic may be upsetting to your hedgehog’s stomach.
- Controversial foods
  - Grapes and raisins are toxic to dogs and many small animals. They may cause renal, liver, and organ failure.
  - Avocados.
- Salty foods such as many canned meats and vegetables can not only upset your hedgehogs stomach, but it can cause electrolyte imbalances as well
Quick Reference List of Foods to Avoid
- Avocado – controversial
- Chocolate
- Eggs – raw
- Fried foods
- Fried Foods
- Garlic
- Grapes
- Meat – canned
- Meat – processed (hot dogs)
- Meat – raw
- Milk
- Nuts
- Onions
- Outdoor insects
- Raisins and other dried fruit
- Seeds

Other Fun Treats

I cook chicken or turkey then send it through my food grinder with green beans, carrots, apples, until it will hold shape. I pack it into ice cube trays and freeze. I pop out the cubes and “frost” at service with flavored applesauce to add color. I grind some of my cat food into semi fine crumbles and add sprinkles.

Rebecca Coatney of Harlequin Hedgehogs at the Quillery

www.facebook.com/HarlequinHedgehogsAtTheQuillery

Hi, I have a hedgehog that I bought from you guys back in July and she never really seemed to like any snacks for example I’ve tried giving her water melons, strawberries, bananas, mangos and cantaloupe, crickets and mealworms and she didn’t like any of them, all she eats is her spikes formula food. My sister recently got a bunny so she had to buy some Timothy hay and my hedgehog found a piece and my hedgehog seemed to liked it. I took it away from her right away because I wasn’t sure if she was able to eat it. My question is, is she able to eat the the hay or should I continue to avoid it and are there any other treats that you could recommend for me to try giving her? Thank you very much! HD

That is very interesting that your hedgehog liked the hay. As long as the hay is from packaged from a pet store it should be fine. Hay used for large livestock hasn’t been treated for anything that could make your hedgehog sick. Your hedgehog may like to nest with her hay. As long as her igloo or sleeping area remains clean it is a comfortable, natural bedding. Keep trying a variety of treats. Just because she doesn’t like it one day doesn’t mean she won’t like it another.

Contributors:
Gail Smith, Shelly Fowler – Beach Bum Hedgies, Melissa Ramos, Coley Emde

Picture of Hedgehog Prickly Piggly Wiggly:
courtesy of Megan R.

Reference:
Stonyfield Organic, Retrieved from www.stonyfield.com

Soft Food recommendations | Hedgehog Central

The following was originally posted to CnQ by Laura D.

SOFT FOODS for HEDGEHOGS

Sometimes our little hedgehogs need to be put on soft foods because of tooth loss, gum problems, or other health issues. As always, before changing or adding to your hedgie's diet, please check with your veterinarian; this is especially important if your hedgehog is currently on medication or is having trouble eating their regular food on their own.

There are a couple of things to keep in mind when you're changing your hedgehog's diet. First, you can be pretty much assured that the hedgie's poop is going to change in consistency, color, and possibly scent; this is normal as their digestive system adjusts to the new foods, but talk with your vet about what to watch for (such as mucous in the stool). Second, many hedgehogs take a while to figure-out that the new thing in their food dish is actually food; they may choose to anoint with the new substance, walk through it, poop in it, or do other charming things. Third, hedgehogs seem to do best with foods offered at room temperature or a bit warmer; I've no idea why this is, but it's true at least for the quilled kids here.

Many of the following food ideas can be administered via syringe, should your hedgehog be so ill that they need to be hand-fed. However, if your hedgehog is needing to be syringe-fed, PLEASE clear any of these foods (or any others that you want to try) with your veterinarian before adding them to your hedgehog's diet.

For feeding your little one, I have the following suggestions:

1. Ground-up kibble - I use the same mixture as they've been getting whole (high-protein, low-fat), grind it in a coffee grinder (reserved especially for hedgie food), and store it in a zip-lock bag in the refrigerator. Then I scoop out some and soften it in warm water; it's amazing how much water it can absorb! I usually add what I think will be too much water, and then end-up adding more after it's been sitting for a few minutes. Some times I also add a few drops of Omega-3 oils.

2. Canned and packet versions of their regular kibble - You may want to add some of their regular, ground kibble to the wet version for continuity of flavor.

Also, you may want to look at some of the various canned and pouched cat (and kitten) foods now available. There's lots of options in terms of flavor and consistency (the "pate" versions have been a hit with the hedgies here) and those may be of some appeal to your hedgehog

3. Baby food - I've had good luck with the Gerber "Stage 2" foods, especially the chicken and gravy (ingredients: chicken, water, cornstarch), the sweet potato (ingredients: sweet potatoes, water, cornstarch), and the mixed veggies. Also, many hedgehogs like the Gerber Graduates Chicken Sticks. When the jar is first opened, the sticks are soft (can be difficult to get out of the jar without crumbling) and can be smushed into small bits with your fingers. After the jar has been opened for a day or two, sometimes the outside of the chicken sticks becomes chewy; when this happens, I just peel-off the outside of the stick and crumble the interior. (The fluid that is in the jar with the chicken sticks can become somewhat gelatinous - I sometimes add a bit of this liquid to the moist food.) I also recommend the "Earth's Best Baby Food" brand, too, and there are other brands available throughout the country; just be sure to look for a food that is just the main ingredient, water, and cornstarch. I warm the baby foods a bit before serving.

4. Mealworms, waxworms, silkworms, crickets, etc. - if your hedgehog is having trouble chewing, they may not be able to get through the exoskeleton of live mealworms and crickets and the freeze-dried or roasted versions may be too crunchy for them. But there are several options you can try:

4A. You can take live mealworms, waxworms, silkworms, and crickets and freeze them. Once dead, you can then let the insects thaw and mash or grind them up and add it to your hedgie's wet food.

4B. With live mealworms, you can keep an eye on them as they grow and feed your hedgehog the worms that have just shed their skin (they'll be white and soft).

4C. If you have freeze-dried or roasted worms (or crickets), you can add these to the kibble when you grind it. Or you can grind them separately and sprinkle the resulting powder on the moistened food (baby food, moistened kibble, canned cat food, etc.).

4D. You can purchase canned insects (which tend to be a bit softer) in the reptile section of many pet stores and then grind or mash them. Remember that you'll need to keep the insects in the fridge or freezer once you've opened the can, though, else they'll turn rancid.

5. Yogurt - you can purchase small amounts of organic yogurt (you may need to experiment with flavors - my hedgehogs like the vanilla and banana flavors) and offer this as an addition to (or mixed in with) the moistened regular food. Stonyfield Yogurt has several options in their "YoBaby" line, including smoothies, whole milk yogurt, and drinkable yogurt. These (and other brands) can be found in the yogurt section of many large supermarkets and in natural food and nutrition stores. Please note, though, that some veterinarians advise against giving hedgehogs dairy products while the hedgehog is on antibiotics, so please ask your vet before adding yogurt to your hedgie's diet. Also, yogurt from cow's milk may cause green feces and other signs of stomach upset, so you need to be very careful. Right now I'm working with some local small farmers to purchase some yogurt made from goats' milk, hoping that it will be easy on my sick hedgies' digestive system.

Another option is cultured soy products, such as Stonyfield Farms' O-Soy cultured soy yogurt, which contains live active cultures that assist in the digestive process. You may need to contact a local health food store to find these items. It's not essential to get a "flavored" yogurt. I often purchase "plain" and stir in a bit of baby food or other items to make it palatable for the hedgehogs.

6. Eggs - One thing that's been a big hit around here are scrambled eggs. I just whip an egg, cover the dish with plastic wrap, and microwave it until done, then cool and crumble before serving. Some people use soy milk added before cooking, resulting in a "soft scramble" and other folks make regular scrambled eggs in a frying-pan with butter. Some of my hedgehogs also like well-mashed hard-boiled eggs.

7. Protein Drinks - There are several protein drinks currently available that people've offered to their hedgehogs with good results; the most common are the Boost and Ensure brands, both of which come in different flavors and different versions. I prefer to offer the Vanilla flavor, but I know that some hedgies prefer the Strawberry. Boost comes in a "Boost Plus" version, which I turn to when there's lots of weight loss in the little one. I usually water it down a bit (though some hedgehogs like it straight). Please do not give your hedgehog Chocolate-flavored anything, as we don't know if chocolate is toxic to hedgies.

8. Children's Electrolyte Drinks - While the most common brand is Pedialyte, many stores also offer a store brand. You can now get this in "freezer pop" servings, which you can just store at room temperature. The smaller serving size means less goes to waste. If you desire, feel free to dilute this with water. Also, a powdered version is now available which allows you to mix the amount that you want, to the dilution-level that you want, with not as much waste.

9. Hill's A/D (and other versions), Critical Care for Carnivores, and Feline Rebound - these are items that you will need to ask your veterinarian about, though the Feline Rebound can be ordered on-line from a few websites.

10. Emma's Mix - I am currently syringe-feeding a little hedgehog who cannot eat on her own because of a lack of teeth and neurological problems. I feed Emma several a day and she receives between 9 and 15 cc's (she starts "blowing bubbles" with her food when she's full) at a time. Her weight is stable at about 320 grams, which seems to be a good weight for her body size. The mix consists of the following:

2 jars (2.5 ounces) Gerber 2nd Foods Chicken
½ jar (about 1.25 ounces) Earth's Best Organic First Sweet Potatoes
½ jar (about 1.25 ounces) Earth's Best Organic First Apples
½ container (about 1 tablespoon) YoBaby Organic Whole Milk Yogurt, Banana or Vanilla OR ½ container Stonyfield Farms' O'Soy cultured soy yogurt (2-3 ounces)
1 tablespoon Earth's Best Organic Whole Grain Oatmeal or Rice Cereal

I mix these five items in a microwave-safe container and store in the refrigerator; I warm the mix for about 30 seconds (until it's about room-temperature) before feeding it to Emma. One batch lasts about 3-days. I feed the leftover foods (which shouldn't be stored for more than a day or two in the refrigerator, once opened) to my pet rats, who are very appreciative of the treat. Feel free to experiment with the different baby foods until you find a mixture appealing to your hedgehog.

Keeping African Pygmy Hedgehog

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In recent years, there has been a marked increase in interest in keeping African hedgehogs at home. Despite good health, they get sick just like any other pets. In order for the hedgehog to live a long active life, it is important to properly maintain and feed it.

How to set up a hedgehog cage

When purchasing a hedgehog cage or terrarium, remember that hedgehogs are excellent climbers, so an open top cage or terrarium is not a good fit for your pet: they will certainly try to escape. The dwelling should be as spacious as possible. Use 9 as a filler0047 sawdust or wood litter for rodents purchased at a pet store. . The cage should have shelters, a “toilet” corner, feeders, drinkers and, of course, a running wheel with a diameter of at least 28 cm. It should have good ventilation. However, it is important to avoid drafts, merciless direct sunlight: the hedgehog should always have the opportunity to hide from them. The optimum temperature in the room is 20-25°C, overheating is extremely dangerous for the hedgehog's health.

The cage should be cleaned daily. Feeder and drinker always must be clean!

What to feed the African hedgehog

The main diet of the African pygmy hedgehog is natural food: insects, vegetables / fruits, meat. You can give specialized dry food. However, the crumbs have a very weak liver, if it is overloaded, the animal can die very quickly, hardly reaching 3-4 years. Therefore, once a week, as a preventive measure, it is necessary to arrange a fasting day when he does not receive any dry food.

Lean meat (chicken, turkey, lamb, duck, etc.) boiled or steamed without salt or spices.
Hedgehog fish is also boiled or steamed without bones, salt and spices. Such food can affect the smell of feces and urine.
Day-old chickens, butchered and ground into minced meat: 1-1.5 tablespoons minced meat scalded with boiling water per 1 feeding.
Mice / rats / hamsters naked (newborn): as a treat once a week 1-2 pieces depending on size.
Fruits: apples, bananas, melon, pitted cherries, cranberries, papaya, pears, peaches, apricots, pumpkins, raspberries, Jerusalem artichokes, strawberries, watermelons, blueberries, blueberries, kiwi.
Vegetables: asparagus, broccoli, carrots, cucumber, green beans, peppers, peas, spinach, zucchini.
Hard-boiled or scrambled eggs without salt, sauces or spices. Quail eggs can be given raw.
Baby food without dyes and preservatives.
Insects: zoophobes, crickets, grasshoppers, cockroaches, silkworms, etc. v

Many breeders recommend feeding hedgehogs premium dry cat or dog food. The composition of such feeds should not contain any starchy foods, such as corn or potatoes, as well as any substitutes and dyes. The first five ingredients should include meat (e.g. chicken, turkey, lamb, beef), as well as fruits and vegetables. The issue of feeding hedgehogs with dry cat or dog food causes serious concerns among veterinarians, as cases of severe allergic reactions to them and fatty degeneration of the liver have become more frequent. Whether or not to feed your hedgehog this type of food is entirely up to you. There is no guarantee that if parents ate this or that cat / dog food without any problems, then this will never happen to at least one of their children.

The choice of this or that feed is always based on the individual tolerance of the animal, its health, life expectancy and reproductive performance. When buying an animal, be sure to ask the breeder what kind of food the animal and its parents ate, if there were any allergic reactions or eating disorders to it. Keep in mind that feeding natural food is healthier for the hedgehog than feeding dry food. With natural feeding, your pet will be healthier and live longer. You need to gradually transfer the hedgehog to a new food.

Health problems in African hedgehogs

The most basic anxiety factor is the refusal to eat. This does not apply to those situations where the hedgehog has just moved to a new place of residence or has been transferred to an unusual food for him. Any change or stress can lead to food refusal
Unusual activity at unusual times is also a worrying factor. If the hedgehog is awake during the day, it must be pulled out of the dwelling and carefully examined, as well as carefully observed for several days.
Any growths on the body and in the mouth are a serious reason to go to the veterinarian.
Changes in eye color or size are indicative of eye infections that can be treated quickly if caught early.
A change in gait, leaning on one side, or stretching of the paws may indicate injury or staggering hedgehog syndrome. This is a neurological disease, the cause of which has not yet been determined. At the moment, there are no medical preparations with which it would be possible to defeat this disease, but there are methods of therapy that facilitate and prolong the life of hedgehogs.
A change in stool consistency or odor, ie diarrhea or putrid odor, is also indicative of a health problem.
Blood spots and any spots of unknown origin are one of the reasons why you should immediately consult a doctor.
Snot and frequent sneezing indicate a cold that must be treated.

Feeding good food, insects, observing the temperature regime, the lack of free range, including outdoors, is the key to the health of pygmy African hedgehogs. Be attentive to your pet: hedgehogs are famous for their vitality and the fact that even if they feel unwell, they can run around as if nothing had happened. If the animal is sick, immediately contact a good specialist in your city.

Nursery of dwarf African hedgehogs Keskus | St. Petersburg

Nutrition

You need to feed a hedgehog at any age once a day in the evening (20:00-22:00). All food should be at room temperature. Hedgehogs drink plain water at room temperature. No milk, dairy products are not digested by hedgehogs.

Feeding natural food is healthier for the hedgehog than feeding dry food. With natural feeding, the hedgehog will be healthier and live longer. Hedgehogs have a weak liver, if it is overloaded, the animal can die very quickly, hardly reaching 3-4 years. Therefore, as a preventive measure, a hedgehog needs to arrange a fasting day once a week, when he does not receive anything other than vegetables / fruits.

meat / minced chicken / offal / fish / seafood

Boil or scald with boiling water, remove bones and shell. You need to cook without salt and spices, then you need to cool to room temperature and cut into small pieces. Food from this category can be given 2 times a week. Trim fat from chicken hearts.

Day old chick mince is a completely safe and very healthy product for hedgehogs. Chickens are much safer and healthier than chicken or turkey meat. They do not contain any hazardous additives, growth stimulants and chlorine-containing substances. Including meat in the diet of every hedgehog is very important, especially from day old feed chicks. Meat is rich in vitamins and microelements, strengthens the immune system and has a beneficial effect on the digestive system of the animal. Minced meat is recommended for consumption by both healthy and sick, and weakened individuals. The recommended intake of minced meat is 2 servings per week.

Lean meat (turkey, rabbit) boiled or steamed without salt or spices. Give one tablespoon, finely chop or grind into minced meat.

Meat must be 100% safe, without any additives, food coloring, growth hormones, etc. If you give your hedgehog meat, buy it from trusted places, directly from farmers or people who raise poultry for themselves. It is enough to give meat 2 times a week (provided that you do not feed minced meat from day old chickens).

Chicken hearts - boiled or steamed without salt or spices. They are a rather fatty product, so you should give one tablespoon (1 large heart or 2 small ones), finely chopped or ground into minced meat, no more than once a week. Be sure to cut off the fat.

Fish - in general, all types are safe, but eating them can affect the smell of the animal's feces, urine, and skin. Boil or steam without bones, salt or spices. Give one tablespoon, finely chop or grind into minced meat. Remember that fish may contain bones, so before giving it, you need to make sure that it is clean.

Seafood - squid, shrimp. We cook without salt and spices. You can give 1 tablespoon.

Mice - they contain a huge amount of vitamins, they can be given 1-2 times a week, especially to sick and weakened (including giving birth) individuals. You need to start with naked.

Cereals - rice or oatmeal. Half a teaspoon of cereals boiled in water without a slide, once a week. Mix with meat or seafood, you can add vegetables. Groats are fiber, which is also necessary for the health and normal functioning of the internal organs.

Eggs (once a week) - one quail can be boiled or raw.

Baby food - free of starch, colorants and preservatives. It is best to do without it at all, since the composition can sometimes not correspond to reality. Such a product is allowed for consumption only for old or sick animals. Although it is easier to make meat and vegetable purees on your own.

Insects

The hedgehog should receive insects at least 3 times a week, and ideally every day. Live and frozen insects (especially cockroaches) contain a large amount of chitin, which contributes to the gentle cleansing of the intestines, the growth of beautiful healthy needles, and the favorable condition of the skin and coat in general.

Dried insects - TREATS, they are not a necessary part of the diet, they can be given once a week, serving - a teaspoon. You may not give at all.

Canned insects are not the best option for feeding, because they: quickly deteriorate, often thin the stool, do not cleanse the intestines well (because they are ground or in jelly). As a rule, this option is suitable for trips where it is not possible to take a freeze or if you live in a place where you cannot find ordinary insects.

Much depends on the mobility of the hedgehog and its age. The older the hedgehog, the more light and affordable food he should receive. Insects with a hard coating (Madagascars) are gradually eliminated from the diet, being replaced by softer ones (crickets).

Don't give cockroaches running around the apartment! Only fodder insects specially grown for this purpose should be used!!!!

Dry food

1 tablespoon of dry food per meal. The main indicators in dry food: protein 30-35%, fats no more than 15%, fiber no less than 4%. The composition should not contain corn, soy and wheat. The first 3 components are meat.

We recommend the following types of dry food:

NOW FRESH for cats "Weight control" with turkey, duck and vegetables (30 | 14 | 5.5)
GO grain free for kittens and cats with sensitive digestion with duck (31 | 15 | 3.5)
Grandorf for domestic cats: lamb with rice (32 | 14 | 3.5)
NOW FRESH Adult Grain Free with Turkey, Duck and Vegetables (31 | 18 | 3.5)
Grandorf for domestic cats: four meats with brown rice (32 | 14 | 2.5)
Farmina N&D Low Grain for Neutered Cats with Chicken Pomegranate Flavor (38 | 10 | 5. 5)
Grandorf for neutered cats, rabbit with rice (37 | 12 | 3.5)
Grandorf for neutered cats, turkey with rice (37 | 11 | 2.5)
Grandorf for neutered cats, 4 meats with brown rice (37 | 11 | 2.5)
NOW FRESH small breed puppies with turkey, duck and vegetables (28 | 18 | 4)
NOW FRESH adult small breed dogs with turkey, duck and vegetables (27 | 17 | 4.5)
Lapico Advanced Adult Turkey Turkey (33.8 | 15.9 | 2.5)
Lapico Advanced Small Breeds with Turkey (28 | 15 | 4)

Unloading day

Should be done once a week with a hedgehog weighing 500 grams or more. If your hedgehog weighs less than 300 grams and is not prone to weight gain, you can arrange it once every 2 weeks.

The main rule is no dry food or fatty food on this day. Not all hedgehogs like fruits and vegetables, so on this day you can just feed low-fat insects (Turkmen / marbles, crickets, locusts, grasshoppers). If the hedgehog eats fruits or vegetables, then you can give them + low-fat insects.

Serving of fruits and vegetables - 1 tablespoon for the whole day, you can choose from several products - all in one spoon. You can not give fruits more than once a week because of the large amount of sugar.

Fruits - apples, bananas, melon, pitted cherries, cranberries, papaya, pears, peaches, apricots, pumpkins, raspberries, Jerusalem artichokes, strawberries, watermelons, blueberries, blueberries, kiwi.

Vegetables - asparagus, broccoli, carrots, cucumber, green beans, peppers, zucchini and squash.

Overfeeding a hedgehog has a very negative effect on the state of the liver, hormonal system (increased blood sugar from overweight and overeating can lead to premature death of the hedgehog due to excessive stress on the heart and gastrointestinal tract). Well-fed hedgehogs are transferred to a diet, replacing half of the serving with vegetables. Be sure to watch the hedgehog's stool, it should not be liquid, if this has begun, remove canned food from the diet, the same applies to other foods that caused changes.

I advise you to purchase an electronic kitchen scale and weigh the hedgehog every 2 weeks and control it so that obesity does not occur and the weight does not jump.

What NOT to feed a hedgehog: