Hedgehogs can't have milk, bread, nuts, seeds, mealworms, or sugary treats (like dried fruit, grapes, or chocolate) as these cause health issues like Metabolic Bone Disease, digestive problems, or tooth decay, and some foods like dairy are lactose-inducing. Avoid anything processed, salty, or spiced, and never feed them raw meat or fish, onions, or garlic; stick to meat-based cat/dog food or specialist hedgehog food.
Toxic foods for hedgehogs include chocolate, caffeine, dairy products, and certain fruits like grapes and citrus. It's essential to avoid these items to ensure your hedgehog's health and well-being. Always consult your veterinarian for specific dietary advice.
Provide some fruits, such as apples, plums or pears, and nuts, such as unsalted peanuts or brazils. Leave out root vegetables like carrots, along with some cooked potato. If food isn't eaten overnight, remove anything that will go off and replace it with fresh offerings in the evening.
Hedgehog - Threats to the Hedgehog
Hedgehogs are lactose intolerant.
This means you should never leave milk out for them – or bread (which isn't very nutritious to hedgehogs).
Hedgehogs can be allergic to a variety of foods, including milk and dairy products, chocolate, raw eggs, onions, garlic, and grapes. These foods can cause digestive issues, skin reactions, or other health problems in hedgehogs. Allergies vary from hedgehog to hedgehog, so vigilance is essential.
Hedgehogs are very sensitive to smells. Often, when they encounter a new smell, they will start to produce a large amount of frothy saliva. Then, they reach to their side and spread the saliva over their spines. They often wiggle around in weird positions in order to try to cover all of these spines.
Common conditions of pet hedgehogs include internal and external parasites, ringworm, cancer, pneumonia, gastrointestinal disease, and obesity. Signs of illness or disease are often vague and non-specific, such as lack of appetite and lethargy.
Motion activated sprinkler repellents provide an innovative way to deter unwanted animals, such as hedgehogs. They use a blast of water to safely and effectively scare away intruders and keep your garden free of pests.
Leaving food and fresh water out in the garden each night will encourage visiting hedgehogs to return regularly. Try tinned meaty cat or dog food and crushed cat or dog biscuits. Place the food and water in shallow bowls so they can access them easily. Refresh daily, disposing of food if it's not been eaten.
Hedgehogs will generally try to run away from people or if shocked will curl up in to a spiky ball. They have sharp needles all over their backs which can penetrate the skin. It will often itch if a needle does and may cause a rash.
The British Hedgehog Society recommends that in captivity adults should be fed a meat- based tinned dog or cat food mixed with unsweetened cereal (Weetabix, oats or bran). Complete dry cat biscuits are good for the teeth.
Hedgehogs mainly eat creepy crawlies
The majority of their diet is made up of invertebrates (or creepy crawlies). We know what they eat from scientific studies that have analysed hedgehog poo or looked in the stomachs of hedgehogs killed on roads.
Don't forget to put out a shallow dish of water which can be a lifeline for hedgehogs, especially during a hot, dry summer. Contrary to popular belief, hogs are lactose intolerant and milk can make them ill, so please only offer them water.
No! Please don't do this. It's great that you want to encourage hedgehogs into your garden, but taking one from an area where it knows food and water sources to an unknown area isn't fair. More worryingly, it could have dependent young in a nest – without its return, the nest will fail and the young won't survive.
Check if the hedgehog:
Hedgehogs can develop a variety of illnesses. Some of the ones we most often see in these little guys include respiratory issues, gastrointestinal problems, and eye troubles. There's also Wobbly Hedgehog Syndrome, a degenerative, neurological disease which affects Hedgie's ability to walk and move.
If your hedgehog is unusually still in the evening—sleeping in short, restless bursts, waking and dozing repeatedly, or staying sluggish when they would normally explore—it can be a sign of unhappiness or even illness.
As pets, hedgehogs can recognize and remember their owners' scent and voice, making them a loyal and affectionate companion. They can also quickly learn routines and habits, such as when it's time to eat or play.
If you hear a hedgehog scream you may well think the sound is coming from a very upset human baby. This noise is only made by hogs in severe distress and pain. The hog will be injured or maybe trapped somewhere. If you hear this noise you should definitely investigate as the hedgehog will need your help.
Dairy Products: Hedgehogs are lactose intolerant; milk and dairy products can cause severe digestive upset and even death. Problematic Treats: Mealworms, calciworms, peanuts, and sunflower hearts should be avoided as they lack nutritional value and can lead to diseases such as metabolic bone disease.
What should I never feed a hedgehog? Foods that are toxic to hedgehogs...
Not all hedgehogs have fleas; many of those rescued have none, however, hedgehogs do not NEED their fleas to survive, that's an old wives tale. Hedgehog fleas are host specific so while they may jump onto a cat or dog, they won't infest them.