In the wild, hedgehogs enjoy a varied diet and consume everything from plants to small mammals. However, wild hedgehogs have better immunity. With domesticated hedgehogs, owners have to be careful about what they feed, as some foods can be harmful to them. So let’s take a look at what is poisonous to hedgehogs:
Some foods which are poisonous to hedgehogs include chocolate, avocados, grapes, and raisins.
Hedgehogs are sensitive animals, and feeding them the wrong thing can have severe effects on their health. In addition, hedgehogs also tend to hide their illnesses. Therefore, you will not notice that your hedgehog is not well until the illness aggravates.
The most common sign of feeding the wrong to your hedgehog is diarrhoea, which further weakens their immune system, making them susceptible to other dangerous diseases.
So, What is Poisonous to Hedgehogs?
While some foods can merely cause a hedgehog’s health to decline, others can kill them. Hence, it is important to monitor your hedgehog and see that it does not eat anything that can threaten its life. Here are some food items which can kill hedgehogs:
Citrus Fruits
One of the foods which can kill hedgehogs is citrus fruits. It is not recommended to give your hedgehog citrus fruits because they are highly acidic.
A hedgehog’s stomach cannot handle the acidity, and consuming citrus fruits like oranges or lemons can cause its digestive system to become destroyed. Your hedgehog will go through a lot of pain after consuming anything citrusy.
Avocados
Many sources on the internet can lead you to believe that avocados are not bad for hedgehogs. However, as pet owners, it is our responsibility not to take such risks and put our hedgehogs in pain. Avocadoes are known to be poisonous to hedgehogs, and consuming them can potentially kill them.
Therefore, you must keep all your avocadoes away from hedgehogs and not feed them even as a treat.
Grapes
Grapes may make a wonderful snack for you, but for hedgehogs, they can become their nightmare. Grapes are toxic to hedgehogs and can cause severe kidney and liver damage.
In addition to grapes, you must also avoid giving raisins to your hedgehog because not only are they a choking hazard, but they also contribute to liver and kidney damage.
Mushrooms
Another food item that you need to be wary of is mushrooms. Not all types of mushrooms are harmful to hedgehogs, but some of them can be. Therefore, if you are not too sure whether a mushroom can be poisonous or not, you must refrain from giving it to your hedgehog.
Chocolate
It is common knowledge that chocolate is toxic to cats and dogs alike. However, this dessert which humans love is toxic to hedgehogs. If you think giving a small amount of chocolate to hedgehogs will not do much to them, you may be wrong. Even a little bit of chocolate can kill hedgehogs.
In addition, chocolate is packed with sugar, and hedgehogs are prone to gaining weight because of their small bodies. Therefore, you must avoid any sugary and fattening food as hedgehogs are likely to become obese and contract diabetes.
Dairy Products
Many people are not aware that hedgehogs are lactose intolerant and, therefore, give their pets milk or yoghurt. Consuming any dairy product is harmful to hedgehogs and causes them to have diarrhoea. Moreover, hedgehogs will become weak and susceptible to contracting more diseases.
What Plants are Toxic to Hedgehogs?
Hedgehogs may not care for plants because it does not form a big part of their diet. While giving your little companion food to eat, it is best to stick with what you know. Hedgehogs are essentially carnivores.
Therefore, there are not any plants known to harm them. However, some toxic plants that are harmful to small mammals should be avoided because they may also harm hedgehogs. Some of the plants which can be toxic include:
- African Daisy
- Aloe vera
- Avocado Plant
- Bluebottle
- California Ivy
What Can Hedgehogs Eat?
Reading about all the foods which are harmful to hedgehogs will make you wonder what they can actually eat. Fortunately, there are still lots of options for you to choose from.
For instance, hedgehogs love munching on fruits. One of the best fruits you can give your hedgehog to consume are strawberries. Strawberries have little sugar in them and will not affect your hedgehog’s weight.
In addition, apples, bananas, pears also make a fine choice. However, it is important to observe moderation when you are feeding your hedgehog. Feeding too much of these food items can cause hedgehogs to gain weight.
Apart from fruits, you can also give your hedgehogs vegetables like lettuce or spinach. Moreover, carrots are also a good option. When giving hard vegetables like carrots, it is important to boil them first, so they become easy to chew for your hedgehog.
Your hedgehog may get bored from eating the same thing over and over. Therefore, you can give it some boiled chicken with no seasoning. Moreover, you can also give some boiled eggs. Whatever you give to your hedgehog, you must never replace it for its actual meal and should only give it as an occasional treat.
Summary
It is important to know what is healthy for your pet and what should be avoided as a pet owner. There are plenty of items you must avoid giving to your hedgehog as they can be toxic to it. For instance, grapes and raisins are toxic to hedgehogs as they can cause liver and kidney damage.
In addition, you should also avoid chocolate, avocadoes, and citrus fruits. Moreover, some plants can also be toxic to hedgehogs.
You can feed your hedgehogs fruits like strawberries, apples, and bananas. Moreover, you can also boil some chicken and eggs to give it as a treat. It is important to observe moderation with whatever you choose to give to your hedgehog.
