what NOT to feed a hedgehog?

lillykins11 on July 4th 2011, 10:46 pm

Hi all,
Today i have been wondering what foods NOT to feed hedgehogs? as i have heard they are not allowed to eat dairy products or products with fish in so i was wondering what other foods they are NOT allowed to eat? foe e.g any friuit or veg, meat ect. Any advice on what NOT to feed a hedgehog would be really appreciated big smile

Catherine x

Jamiioo on July 4th 2011, 10:47 pm

I cant remember them all off the top of my head but if you go to the diets section there is a diet sticky there that has a list of foods bad for hoggies x

lillykins11 on July 4th 2011, 10:51 pm

Thanks will have a look through that now.
Catherine x

angel1 on July 4th 2011, 10:51 pm

I'm sure there are sticky's on this
peanuts or any kind of nut is a chocking hazard
as are grapes and raisins
chocolate is toxic
no citrus fruits
some people feed strawberries but my lot don't touch them
I think most veg is ok but cut it small so there is no chocking hazard
mince is ok, beef or lamb
They mostly like chicken, chicken cat biscuits and mealies big smile

anything extra is usually just a taste

lillykins11 on July 4th 2011, 11:01 pm

Thanks this as helped a lot big smile

Im just trying to gather loads of information about them so i have a wide understanding and knowledge of the pets so i know how to care for them and look after them before buying one.
Catherine x

happyhogs on July 4th 2011, 11:06 pm

avacado is toxic too as are raw green beans and raw potato x

Jamiioo on July 4th 2011, 11:24 pm

Oh, i didnt know about raw green beans and raw potato. Does that mean alot of other veg are harmful presented raw also

Kiania on July 5th 2011, 12:48 am

Didn't know about green beans (or why - curious now!). Potato is because it is part of the nightshade family, I believe - it is toxic to most animals when raw.

Nettle on July 6th 2011, 6:18 pm

Kiania wrote:Didn't know about green beans (or why - curious now!). Potato is because it is part of the nightshade family, I believe - it is toxic to most animals when raw.

I didnt know that. Very useful to know

PresqueVu on July 18th 2011, 2:12 pm

Kiania wrote:Potato is because it is part of the nightshade family, I believe - it is toxic to most animals when raw.

All types of potato? I've heard of people feeding rodents sweet potato, so I guess that should really be avoided?

Kiania on July 18th 2011, 2:19 pm

Sweet potatoes aren't true potatoes. They are an entirely different family of plant, and are only very distantly related to the nightshade-related branch. Sweet potatoes can be cooked, but they can also be fed raw - or at least, can be fed raw to every species I've ever worked with, including guinea pigs, rabbits and all primates.

Potatos in general, shouldn't be avoided per ce, they just should NEVER NEVER NEVER (emphasis there!) be fed raw. To anything. When cooked, they are a-okay for every species I've worked with (list above, plus capybara, coati, red river hogs, pigs, etc).

So your typical new potato, baking potato, or similar...cook it, let it cool, and feel free to feed it to your hog, rodents, etc.
For sweet potatoes, cook it or leave it raw, and it is fine.