Skip to main content

My hedgehog does not eat - Causes and solutions

My hedgehog does not eat - Causes and solutions

If you have a hedgehog as a pet you will know that Obesity is a problem that occurs frequently in these animals.A healthy and balanced diet will help prevent this problem.However, sometimes you may notice that your hedgehog stops eating or dramatically reduces its feeding.This may be caused for several diseases or for a bad diet.

If you want to know the causes that cause your hedgehog to not eat , keep reading this article from Animals and Pets Online and discover it to solve the problem as soon as possible possible and offer you a full and happy life.

Hedgehog feeding

Hedgehogs are omnivorous animals in captivity, they feed on fruits, vegetables, but mainly insects and small animals.They are classified as insectivorous because their diet in the wild is based on insects and small vertebrates and invertebrates.However, as we have just said, in captivity your diet also includes fruits and vegetables that provide vitamins.

In captivity you can feed with high quality cat feed (never of dogs) or specific feed for hedgehogs.Canned cat food is also suitable for hedgehogs.Remember that the pieces must be small, according to the size of your hedgehog.Of course, we can also include small insects to the diet, mealworms, bait or crickets.One day is enough.On the other hand, the fruits and vegetables will be occasional and in small quantities.You can offer small pieces of banana, Potato, peas, tomatoes...

The food ration is usually given at dusk.The hedgehogs are nocturnal animals , so they will be more active during the night hours than during the day.they are very large.If we will avoid overweight problems.In the morning it is convenient to remove the food that has been left over.

During the day you can leave a small amount of feed and remember that you should always have water, especially if It feeds on dry food.

If you do not give it feed, you can divide the night ration into two rations.Increasing the amount of insects and animal proteins to compensate.

  • Prohibited food for hedgehogs

Sweets, milk, onions, nuts, peanuts and raisins are harmful foods for hedgehogs.They should be avoided in your diet.

My hedgehog does not eat - Causes and solutions

How much should my hedgehog eat?

Each hedgehog needs a different ration .Aspects such as age, health status and variety of hedgehog should be taken into account.Young hedgehogs and pregnant or lactating females should have of more quantity, in addition to a greater protein intake.

As a rule, an adult male weighs between 500 and 600 grams and an adult female 250-400 grams.Depending on the hedgehog variety its ideal weight It can vary.

To know how much you should feed you, you should know your hedgehog.Ideally, in the morning you have left a small amount of food.Try different amounts for several days, if you consume all the food in the first hours after offering it is that you are not giving him enough food.

You should also pay attention to what foods he likes best.Like all animals, they have their preferences and not all insects or All the fruits will be to your liking.

Once you have observed what is the amount that co nsume usually keep it.Observe if your hedgehog remains at its weight, and if so, the amount of food is adequate."alt=" My hedgehog does not eat-Causes and solutions ">

My hedgehog does not eat

Although the feeding of your hedgehog is adequate, your hedgehog may not eat.This may be caused by different causes:

  • Parasites: They can suffer like other animals, internal and external parasites.
  • Oral problems: Oral diseases such as gingivitis, tartar or periodontitis are quite frequent in these animals.A correct oral hygiene helps prevent these problems.You can give cat rewards to prevent tartar.Excessively soft diets should be avoided.
  • Intestinal problems: Salmonellosis is a bacterial disease that It can cause vomiting, diarrhea and lack of appetite.
  • Neoplasm: The appearance of tumors increases after three years of age.to the whole body although the most common are breast tumors and oral carcinomas.It causes weight loss and anorexia.It is important that you periodically check your hedgehog's body for possible lumps.
  • Anorexia: Sometimes the lack of appetite can be caused by some sudden change or stress situation.The air currents can affect them a lot.
My hedgehog does not eat - Causes and solutions

Hibernation

In nature , with the arrival of winter hedgehogs tend to hibernate.Not everyone does, only if they have reached the right weight and the conditions are correct.state of lethargy for several months.Depending on the hedgehog variety there may also be variations.For example, the African hedgehog has no tendency to hibernate because in its habitat temperatures are usually high.

In captivity instead, they are not exposed to low temperatures and have constant food, so they do not usually hibernate.However, hedgehogs are very susceptible to temperature changes, and their exposure to very low temperatures or low conditions light can lead your hedgehog to hibernate.

The symptoms that may indicate that your hedgehog is beginning to hibernate are as follows:

  • Body and legs cooler than normal
  • Loss of appetite and thirst
  • Decreased activity both diurnal as nocturnal
  • Less abundant droppings
  • Decay
  • Lack of balance
My hedgehog does not eat - Causes and solutions

How to avoid hibernation

The hibernation process usually causes the animal to reduce weight even more, so if our hedgehog does not eat and, therefore, is below its ideal weight, it will not be convenient to start it.We can prevent our hedgehog from entering hibernation by controlling the temperature and light conditions:

  • Temperature: The ambient temperature must be between 22 and 27 ° C.You must not allow your hedgehog is in colder areas.In winter you can move its cage to the hottest place in the house, where it does not receive drafts.
  • Light: we can offer them natural or artificial light.The important thing is that they have about 10 hours of daily light, so that they do not alter their cycles.

If you act quickly you can reverse the process of hibernation.Place a heat source, such as a hot water bag in your hedgehog's cage.Little by little, recovering its body heat will recover.and do not apply very strong heat sources, since your body does not respond and can not get away if it burns.It must be a gradual process.

My hedgehog does not eat - Causes and solutions

What can i do?

  • If it has been more than two days since your hedgehog has stopped eating you should go to your veterinarian .If you will rule out the diseases that you may suffer and that as we have seen They affect your appetite.
  • On occasion, your hedgehog can stop eating for a day or two. Vary your diet a little and include some insect if you don't usually do it.If your hedgehog's feeding is varied and balanced you shouldn't have trouble eating.
  • Make a clean of teeth complete your hedgehog from time to time, so you will avoid oral problems.Some also need a regular cut.
  • You should not forget to deworm it both internally and externally.periodically.Consult your veterinarian on the subject.
  • Take care of your surroundings .Make sure that the conditions of temperature, humidity and light are the suitable.Incorporate a tea rmometer and a lamp or heat mat in your cage to control your environment more effectively.

Following these tips and knowing the most common diseases that affect hedgehogs we can act and prevent feeding problems.We will ensure that our hedgehog is healthy and happy.

My hedgehog does not eat - Causes and solutions

If you want to read more articles similar to My hedgehog does not eat-Causes and solutions , we recommend that you enter our section on Feeding Problems.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Advantages of having a Siberian husky

The Siberian husky is a possessor of stunning beauty, with its striking celestial eyes and its appearance that resembles wolves.But as with all races, adopting a Siberian husky has its pros or cons, or its advantages and disadvantages . Logically, for us, dog lovers, adopting a dog is a synonym for pure joy, regardless of race, sex, age or color, but it is always important to highlight that giving A decent life for a dog also presupposes responsibilities, a certain economic solvency and time availability. When we talk about "disadvantages", in reality, we refer to the aspects that can make raising a certain breed more difficult , either for requiring a more detailed maintenance that requires a lot of time from your tutor, for needing ample space To live comfortably, to maintain a more fragile health, or to require a special diet or more specific care that implies higher expenses. In this article of Animals and Pets Online we want to talk to you about the advantages...

Persian cat hair care

The Persian cat is characterized by its long and dense fur, regardless of its face Of such characteristic features in this luxurious feline breed.Obviously this type of mantle requires meticulous care that other cat breeds do not need. In Animals and Pets Online we will provide you with the guidelines so that your Persian cat always looks good groomed and beautiful in this article on the Persian cat hair care . Discover what ideas we propose, read on: Daily care All Persian cats need daily care on our part.It is our obligation to provide them with food and water every day, while keeping their sand clean.Although we do not create the benefits of healthy and healthy feeding.quality will directly affect the animal's mantle. In the case of the Persian cat there is a daily obligation added: comb it . Naturally, we must do it with carino and with the appropriate material for this, keep reading to discover the indications recommended by Animals and Pets Online. Material f...

How does the change of address affect dogs?

Domestic animals, such as dogs and cats, They are usually very sensitive to the changes that occur in their environment, stressing and even getting sick from things like the arrival of a baby or another pet or a move. It is because What we want to talk to you about How does the change of address affect dogs? , so you can have the necessary tools to help your dog overcome this change and that the process is not traumatic for him. Similarly, from Animal Expert we urge you to not abandon your pet before a change of address, however far away it may be: always you can get a place that is suitable for both of you, and the adaptation will be easier for both of you if you go through it together, with the love you have always had. Why does a move affect dogs? Dogs are not only animals of customs , but also are territorial , so a house change It implies for them to abandon what they have already marked as their territory, to enter a completely new one. It is perfectly norma...

How to know what size a mongrel dog will be?

When we talk about a mixed breed dog or mixed breed dog , generally we refer to a dog whose ancestry is unknown and that has typical characteristics of two or more breeds.This is usually the result of a non-selective breeding, but generally fortunate, since a mongrel dog can be exactly as good companion as a dog of a certain breed. Due to numerous factors, although here it is worth highlighting the great genetic variability, there are many advantages of having a mongrel dog and it is important to emphasize this point since unfortunately it is usually grant a lower value to a dog of these characteristics.If you are thinking of adopting a mixed breed dog, you are surely gathering all the necessary information, if you are wondering how to know what size a mongrel dog will be I didn't leave It is to read this article of Animals and Pets Online. Is it possible to know the size of a mongrel dog? Of course, estimating the exact size of a mongrel dog is not an easy task, although ...

15 pollinating animals - Characteristics and examples

What is pollination? Reproduction of most plant species occurs sexually, that is, it requires the union of female and male cells for fertilization .Cells are found in pollen (male), so it needs to be transferred to the flower pistil (female), where fertilization occurs and, after this process, the flower becomes a fruit with seeds. So, when we talk about the reproduction of plants, the intervention of a third party is often required, which is known as " pollinator " to do it possible. These pollinating agents can be insects, other animals and even natural elements such as water and wind.In the case of animal species, they have found a balance with the flora and evolved together, so that plants have been able to produce flowers of different aromas, shapes and colors in order to attract pollinating agents to feed on the nectar. When animals feed on the nectar, transport pollen involuntarily on their legs, wings or another part of the body.When covered with polle...

Most common diseases in horses

Horse colic Already addressing the corresponding article on the most common diseases in horses, colic is a set of diseases that lead to spasmodic pain in the abdomen .Remember that it may be due to multiple causes, and therefore its treatment is different depending on what it obeys, but in general the signs that we will find in a horse suffering from colic will be: Sweating Nerviosismo Uncontrolled movements, even self-harm: hitting the flanks with the hind legs... The animal can roll over itself to relieve pain, what can aggravate the picture Dehydration Constipation/diarrhea Anti-algae postures to avoid pain: seated animal if it is a colic whose origin is in a dilation of stomach by cumulus of gases. Although with the colic term we include too many pathologies to be able to generalize (since it impacts cion of the large intestine for not being able to eliminate fecal matter, even the presence of foreign bodies in the intestine), there are certain guidelines that c...

EVERYTHING about PETERBALD CAT

Peterbald cats are part of the so-called hairless cats , because they do not have fur, unlike most feline breeds.Specifically it is an "oriental version" of the famous sphynx cats, obtained from crossing with other feline breeds.In addition to their appearance, these cats stand out for their affectionate and affectionate character, so if you are a person with enough time, peterbald can be your best companion. Do you want to know everything about peterbald cats and their recent origin? From ExpertAnimal we will tell you all about these curious felines without hair, we will talk about the characteristics of peterbal, care and much more. Origin of the peterbald cat Peterbald cats are originating in Russia , where in the 90s eastern shorthair cats with Siamese cats and a certain variety of sphynx cats were crossed, as the intentions of the breeder who made these crosses was to obtain a cat like the sphynx but in an oriental style. It was not long until in 1994 the cr...

10 games to entertain my cat

The importance of play in cats Cats are curious animals by nature and, therefore, offering them elements that keep their mind stimulated is practically obligatory for us if we want to enjoy healthy and happy animals.A good way to get it is through play, since through it we will be able to cover his need for fun and his hunter's instinct. The lack of game generates boredom in the cat , which in turn can develop stress and related problems such as the destruction of furniture. As you may have noticed if you live with a cat, chasing possible prey to hunt them down is one of their favorite activities.If this instinct covers it with objects , nothing happens as long as it does not involve the destruction of things relevant to us, such as underwear, shoes, etc., and does not involve any damage to the animal, such as cables.The problem lies when we stop the prey.animals, intent I'm attacking our hands and feet or bringing dead animals home.As we say, it is part of their insti...

How many times do you have to walk a dog?

There are many people who have doubts about how many Sometimes a dog must go for a walk and it is that there is no exact number of walks that can be considered the ideal, as well as a certain time.Each dog is different and has specific needs, for that reason, in this Animals and Pets Online article we will talk about the needs of walking in dogs, according to their age and characteristics. Do not forget that the walk is a very important routine for the dog, since It depends on her well-being and part of her daily socialization.Find out below how many times you have to walk a dog a day ! How many times should a puppy walk? After three months most puppies have already started on the vaccination schedule and, at that time, they are ready to start their first walks .This routine It is essential if we have a puppy dog, since we must teach him to urinate in the street, allow him to socialize with other dogs or people and make sure he enjoys this activity, as he will do it throug...

Types of monkeys and their names

Monkeys are primates classified according to scientific jargon in the Platirrinos or monkeys of the new world and the Cercopitecoideos or monkeys of the old world.The hominoids, which would be primates that have no tail, where man enters. Animals such as orangutan, chimpance, gorilla or gibbons also do not enter the scientific classification of monkeys, since the latter, in addition to having a tail, have a more primitive skeleton and are small animals. Then you can see the scientific classification of monkeys in more detail, where you can distinguish two different parvordenes and a total of six families of monkeys, all this in this article of Animals and Pets Online.The different types of monkeys and their names you can see them below: Classification of the Simiiform infraorder To correctly understand everything about the types of monkeys we must detail that there are a total of 6 families of monkeys grouped in 2 different parvordenes. Parvorden Platyrrhini: This in...