Post by greatbluehopeful on Jun 3, 2020 7:58:40 GMT
Hi Karen and all,
This is an old post on feeding hedgehogs, thanks Karen.
But I wanted to add a post about it, as some confusion has just cropped up recently for me, now that I am getting involved in the world of wild Hedgehogs.
Just on the hedgehog eating nuts thing.
I'm seeing this alot there seems to be loads of conflicting advice out there between what Online & Retail outlet Pet shops are saying versus Hedgehogs Conservationists and Vets.
I'm talking about the fact that people are being sold branded Hedgehog / Wildlife food mix that may not be actually suitable for Hedgehogs?
Vets say a definite NO to nuts, especially Peanuts! As they have to deal with the aftermath of having to remove a nut stuck in the roof of the Hedgehogs mouths...it can cause terrible infection, canker sores make them unable to eat, sickness from bacteria build up, low weight, and eventually death if it is not removed.
According to a number of websites who deal with the conservation and welfare of Hedgehogs in summary :
What can hedgehogs definitely can’t eat:
Allium vegetables (onion, garlic, etc)
Avocados
Chocolate
Citrus fruits
Grapes and raisins
Insects bought from fishing shops or found from the wild
Meat (canned, fried, processed, raw, or seasoned)
Milk and dairy products
Mushrooms
Nuts and seeds
Potatoes
Pineapple
But yet there is loads of pet food selling sites claiming these ARE the foods that Hedghogs eat and they are selling bags of wildlife feeding mixes claiming to be the perfect combination suitable for hedgehogs, badger and foxes.... and they include the whole nuts, including peanuts, raisins and seeds too.
Personally, I would trust the Hedgehog conservation & welfare sites over the retail outlets/pet shops selling these mixes to the uninformed public for profit.
Not to mention the fact that baby birds can choke on whole nuts too. It just seems very wrong that they are included in these mixes when there is lots evidence and photo graphical proof that they may be detrimental to smaller wildlife, not just Hedgehogs.
At the very least the nuts should be broken down into tiny pieces I would have thought?.
I would be heartbroken if I thought something I put out for these little guys were inadvertently hurting them. Its really bothering me though - People put their trust in pet shops and sites selling these products - I think it is very irresponsible.
So, I suppose I just want to say to anyone looking in here doing their own bit of research - "buyer beware ".
This is an old post on feeding hedgehogs, thanks Karen.
But I wanted to add a post about it, as some confusion has just cropped up recently for me, now that I am getting involved in the world of wild Hedgehogs.
Just on the hedgehog eating nuts thing.
I'm seeing this alot there seems to be loads of conflicting advice out there between what Online & Retail outlet Pet shops are saying versus Hedgehogs Conservationists and Vets.
I'm talking about the fact that people are being sold branded Hedgehog / Wildlife food mix that may not be actually suitable for Hedgehogs?
Vets say a definite NO to nuts, especially Peanuts! As they have to deal with the aftermath of having to remove a nut stuck in the roof of the Hedgehogs mouths...it can cause terrible infection, canker sores make them unable to eat, sickness from bacteria build up, low weight, and eventually death if it is not removed.
According to a number of websites who deal with the conservation and welfare of Hedgehogs in summary :
What can hedgehogs definitely can’t eat:
Allium vegetables (onion, garlic, etc)
Avocados
Chocolate
Citrus fruits
Grapes and raisins
Insects bought from fishing shops or found from the wild
Meat (canned, fried, processed, raw, or seasoned)
Milk and dairy products
Mushrooms
Nuts and seeds
Potatoes
Pineapple
But yet there is loads of pet food selling sites claiming these ARE the foods that Hedghogs eat and they are selling bags of wildlife feeding mixes claiming to be the perfect combination suitable for hedgehogs, badger and foxes.... and they include the whole nuts, including peanuts, raisins and seeds too.
Personally, I would trust the Hedgehog conservation & welfare sites over the retail outlets/pet shops selling these mixes to the uninformed public for profit.
Not to mention the fact that baby birds can choke on whole nuts too. It just seems very wrong that they are included in these mixes when there is lots evidence and photo graphical proof that they may be detrimental to smaller wildlife, not just Hedgehogs.
At the very least the nuts should be broken down into tiny pieces I would have thought?.
I would be heartbroken if I thought something I put out for these little guys were inadvertently hurting them. Its really bothering me though - People put their trust in pet shops and sites selling these products - I think it is very irresponsible.
So, I suppose I just want to say to anyone looking in here doing their own bit of research - "buyer beware ".
