My hedgehog does not eat

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.

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 ">

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.

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

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.

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.

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

Dog breeds not recognized by the FCI

The FCI is the worldwide canine organization that approves pedigree dogs.There are several dog breeds not recognized by the FCI , even if they meet all the requirements to be considered "pure" breeds from the phylogenetic point of view. In this Animals and Pets Onlinet article We explain to you what these breeds are and why they are not recognized by the Federation Cynologique Internationale . Do not forget that the breed of the dog is not important unless you want to participate in morphology competitions canine.Read more: In many cases, breeds are not recognized by the FCI because they do not have a detailed written standard .In other cases because they do not meet the requirements established by the FCI.And in other cases, simply because no canine person or organization has bothered Evade the procedure so that these races are recognized by the FCI. It is also possible that political aspects outside the canine organizations have prevented the international diffu...

Chiuahua care

Chihuahuas or Chihuahuans are very small dogs that do not reach 3 kilograms and with a hope of life between 15 and 20 years, so they are very long-lived.It is a very widespread breed throughout the world, since it is a pet very sought after for its ease to adapt to life in cities among many other qualities. If you already have or are thinking about sharing your life with one of these cheerful and affectionate companions, pay attention to this Animals and Pets Online article about all chihuahua care. What food should I provide my chihuahua and how? Being the smallest canine in the world, it is very important to keep an eye on the amounts of food we provide.These should be small, because we have to think about the size of your stomach, and distribute them in two portions daily.If you have doubts about the quantity, inform yourself about the amount of food recommended for a Chihuahua. The best type of food is a feed that adapts correctly to the needs of our pet.Today there are fe...

Exercise for an English bull terrier

The English bull terrier are very active dogs that need daily exercise to channel their energy and so avoid behavioral problems.Among the different exercises that your dog can do, we find from games to sports with the owner, so that you can share your time with him and create a stronger bond. If you choose Do high-impact sports with him, such as jogging or cycling, remember that you should monitor his health and his pads to avoid diseases.Also, always carry fresh water with you and do not force the dog to exercise if He does not want or is already very tired.Keep reading this article of Animals and Pets Online to know what kind of exercise for an English bull terrier is used to unleash energy and grow healthy. Games that exercise your English bull terrier To begin with, a good option is to take it to an open and wide space where you can drop it and play with it.Dogs love to play to bring objects, so you can take a ball or a frisbee and throw it to run behind, but remember th...

Why do chow chow have blue tongues?

Chow chow's tongue is blue or purple due to the presence of pigment cells , that is, cells that contain elements called pigments that provide that color.Genetically they have a higher concentration of these cells and, therefore, have a different color to the other races.These cells, in addition to being in the tongue, are, above all, in the mucous membranes, that is why the chow chow is the only dog with lips, gums and palate characterized by being blue/blackish, if not almost entirely. A curious fact is that this characteristic is not only presented by certain dogs such as chow chow, but we also see it present in other animals such as giraffes, the breed of Jersey cattle and some bear families, such as the polar bear.In fact, some studies conclude that chow chow comes from Hemicyon , a species of mammal that is between the dog and now extinct bears, and that he lived in the Miocene.However, there is still no definitive scientific evidence to reduce this hypothesis, so, for ...

12 animals of Patagonia that you should know

Animals of Chilean and Argentine Patagonia Generally, Patagonia is usually "divided" into two large areas or regions: the coastal or coastal zone , which is cleared by the Atlantic Ocean on the Argentine side and the Ocean Pacific, in Chile, and the continental or Andean-Patagonian region that includes the most central regions, with predominantly desert climates, up to the Andes Mountains, with a great predominance of humid and glacial forests. In addition to the differences in the landscape, it is also possible to note that biodiversity is usually different in these regions.In the coastal region, we observe a clear predominance of fish, birds and aquatic mammals, while in the area continental land mammals and species adapted to freshwater bodies, mainly lakes and lagoons stand out. As in both regions, we find several locations with similar microclimates and environmental conditions in both Chilean Patagonia and the argenti na, it is possible to find many species tha...

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...

Paloma Torcaz: characteristics

The wood pigeon ( Columba palumbus ) is the largest of the pigeons and usually inhabits forested areas.Unlike the domestic pigeon, which can have a great variety of shades in its feathers, the coloring pattern of the wood pigeon is always the same, and the white spots on the neck are never missing. It is increasingly common to see this species of the order of the columbiforms in our cities, that is why in this Animals and Pets Online file we want to talk about this beautiful ave.Discover below everything you need about the wood pigeon : origin, habitat, characteristics, food and reproduction. Origin of the wood pigeon The wood pigeon is native to Europe and Western Asia.They are year-round residents in Spain, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Greece, Morocco and other countries in the Mediterranean basin.They have a large breeding area in northern Europe, but in winter they migrate to warmer areas of the south. Several subspecies are known, one of them extinct: Columba...

Ovoviviparos animals - Examples and curiosities

It is estimated that there are around two million species of species in the world Animals .Some of us, like dogs or cats, can be seen almost daily in our cities and we know a lot of data about them, but there are less common animals that are full of curiosities. This is the case of ovoviviparos animals, which have a truly strange form of reproduction and many have curious and unusual characteristics. If you are interested in animals and want to discover some unusual data, here, in Animals and Pets Online, we give some examples of ovoviviparos animals and curiosities concerning them. What are ovoviviparos animals? Oviparous animals, such as birds and many reptiles, reproduce by eggs that the females deposit in the environment (in a process known as "laying"), and after a period of incubation, these eggs hatching out of them and starting a new life abroad. In viviparous animals, which are the majority of mammals, such as dogs or humans, embryos develop inside the mo...

How do horses sleep? - Find out!

Like most herbivorous mammals, horses are not characterized by spend long periods of time sleeping, but the base of the dream and its characteristics are the same as the rest.A good rest is essential for the proper development and maintenance of the body.A being deprived of the necessary hours of sick rest and, most likely, will die. In this article of Animals and Pets Online, we will discover how horses sleep, if they stand on their feet or if the horses go to bed.Find out below! The physiology of sleep In the past, sleeping was considered a "state of consciousness", defined as a period of immobility in which individuals did not respond to stimuli, so it was not treated as a behavior, or part of the ethology of a species.We must not confuse rest with sleep, because an animal may be resting without being asleep. In the studies of sleep in horses the same methodology is used than with humans.Three parameters are measured, electroencephalogram to measure brain activi...

Indigestion in dogs - Symptoms and home remedies

Indigestion or empacho is characterized as a general indisposition caused by excessive consumption of food or some digestive difficulty.Not only we, human beings, can be affected by these episodes, but the empacho in dogs is more common than we tend to imagine. Although we are accustomed to thinking of empacho as something normal or as a "minor problem", episodes of indigestion in dogs should not be ignored, since they can cause digestive problems, such as the accumulation of gases in the gastrointestinal tract , which affect the animal's well-being.Besides, the habit of eating too much or swallowing the food at once without chewing it, is an alarming risk factor for gastric torsion, one of the deadliest diseases in dogs. In Animals and Pets Online always We strive to provide you with content that helps you take better care of your most faithful companion, so we have prepared a special article on dog sitting, its symptoms, causes and risk factors .At the end of ...

Animals and Pets Online

Search This Blog