Feeding Hedgehogs

Hedgehogs are Lactose intolerant. They cannot digest it and it causes diarrhoea stripping them of nutrients.  Cooked meat & cooking fat quickly putrefy (especially in hot weather) and become breeding grounds for Salmonella & other food poisoning bacteria.

I am constantly asked about feeding mealworms to hedgehogs. DEFINITELY NOT! Mealworms, Sunflower seeds (hearts) & Pea nuts are extremely high in Phosphorus.  When an imbalance of calcium & phosphorous is created, as would happen this results in the hedgehogs getting a crippling disease called Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD).

Any animal with this will suffer micro-fractures of the bones & brittle bones. They cannot walk properly & wobble as they try. They need to be taken to a vet in that case, who will pts to end their suffering, there is no cure. PLEASE do not feed any Mealworms, Sunflower seeds &/or Pea nuts. An odd one or two fallen from the bird table, mixed with a sensible diet should be fine, but please do not feed them in bowls &/or feeding stations.

Calci worms however, are comparable to dried mealworms, but have a much higher nutritional value. They naturally have 23 to 61 times more calcium than other commonly used feeder insects & also have a well-balanced calcium-phosphorous ratio of 3:35.  The healthy balance of calcium and phosphorus in Calci Worms means that unlike mealworms, they are safe for hedgehogs to eat. The high levels of calcium, fat & protein in Calci Worms make for a nutritious & tasty meal for our spiky friends.

As well as an imbalance of calcium/phosphorous in the body through diet, stress and anxiety can disrupt digestion and affect calcium absorption!

Good quality hedgehog food like Natures Grub, scientifically made into pellets (insects) with a few added Calci Worms, is the best food you
can purchase. Available from me at the rescue, wet dog &/or cat food, are good for their dietary needs. Dry dog food &/or cat biscuits are ok as an added ingredient in their diet.