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 ">
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.
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.
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