Hedgehogs - Small Pet Site

If you go to any hedgehog forum, you can see regular questions about what hedgehogs should eat safely. In this first part of a series, we tackle the vegetables which hedgehogs can eat and the ones they shouldn’t. We have also included their nutrient values to make your choices a little simpler. Check out the second article here. Do hedgehogs eat vegetables? Hedgehogs are omnivores[1] in nature, and therefore they can eat a lot of vegetables available in the market. But, you have to make sure that most vegetables are cooked and easy to eat. Hedgehogs have a small metabolic system, and therefore, it is hard for them to digest everything. Moreover, some vegetables could harm your hedgehogs, and therefore we have created a list of them for you. Vegetables that hedgehogs can eat safely: corn Pumpkin Artichoke Okra Mustard greens Escarole/endive Parsnips Chard Beets (Beetroot) Cauliflower Radish carrots lettuce cucumbers kale asparagus peas broccoli spinach celery zucchini lentils green beans (Snap beans) green peppers (sweet ones) yellow sweet peppers honeydew iceberg lettuce eggplant kale sweet potatoes romaine lettuce bell peppers (capsicum) cabbage cilantro mint leaves sprouts (Brussels sprouts) turnip Vegetables that should not be provided to a hedgehog: Leeks raw carrots raw potatoes Any hard raw vegetable tomatoes wild mushrooms garlic onions hot chilli peppers onion powder raw sweet potatoes Scallion Shallot Chive Chinese onion Any vegetable from the Allium family Detailed Explanations Can Hedgehogs eat corn? Hedgehogs can definitely eat corn or sweetcorn. But do remember that raw corn is not easy to digest for hedgehogs so to prepare it before providing it to the hedgies. Also, corn is mostly carbohydrates filled with sugars (over 33%) and has very few vitamins and minerals. So, providing it as a daily treat would not be advisable. Can hedgehogs eat Pumpkin? Hedgehogs do eat Pumpkin, and according to most reports, they like them quite well. But, there are not many nutrients inside pumpkins. Pumpkins have a high amount of carbohydrates (88%) but other than that it lacks in other macronutrients. Pumpkins to have a high amount of vitamin A and therefore could be provided in small amounts. They are hard so to prepare them before providing to your hedgehog. Can hedgehogs eat Artichoke? Hedgehogs can eat artichokes but do remember to provide only the soft and mushy internal parts to the hedgie. Artichokes have a high amount of dietary fibers (close to 50% of the carbohydrates present) and have a substantial amount of proteins present in them (17%). They are also a good source of vitamin K, vitamin C in vitamins and magnesium, manganese, and phosphorus in minerals. Can Hedgehogs Eat Okra? Hedgehogs can eat some amount of okra, but providing large amounts can cause digestive issues. Also, provide cooked okra to them to have better results. Okra has a substantial amount of proteins in them (14%) and are rich in dietary fibers (up to 40% of carbohydrates present). They are also a great source of vitamin K, vitamin C, and vitamin B6. Can Hedgehogs eat Mustard greens? Hedgehogs can eat mustard greens but in small amounts. Do remember to provide them only in a cooked form and never as raw. Mustard greens contain a diverse portfolio of macronutrients (61% carbs, 13% fats, 26% proteins). And, therefore, are suitable nutritionally. However, if you see adverse reactions or digestive issues, stop them immediately. Mustard greens are also quite rich in vitamin K, vitamin A, vitamin C and have some amount of vitamin B6 present in them. They also contain a substantial amount of copper (18%). Can hedgehogs eat Escarole/endive? Hedgehogs will have no problems eating Escarole or Endive if they are cooked properly to avoid any digestive issues. Endives are also quite low in calories (17 cal per 100g) while having a sufficient macronutrient ratio (72% carbs; 10% fats; 18% proteins). They are also quite rich in Vitamin K and Vitamin A. Can hedgehogs eat Parsnips? Hedgehogs can eat some amount of cooked parsnips as these veggies are closely related to carrots. Parsnips are slightly higher in calories compared to other vegetables (75 cal. per 100 g). And, most of these calories come from carbohydrates. So, provide them in moderate amounts. They also have an acceptable amount of vitamin C and vitamin K in them. Moreover, Parsnips are also a source of manganese and phosphorus minerals. Can Hedgehogs eat Leeks? You should not provide leeks to your hedgehogs as they are part of the allium family[2] and are hazardous to other animals like dogs. They are also not very macronutrient rich as most of their calories come from carbohydrates (89%). The dietary fiber concentration in leeks is also low (around 10%). So, not much value anyways. Can Hedgehogs eat Chard? Hedgehogs can definitely eat Chard. Chard is very low in calories while being high in proteins (23%). Chards are also high in the dietary fibers containing as high as 40% of the total carbohydrate value. They should be only given in a cooked or boiled form, so your hedgehog does not have any problems in digestive them. Chards are also an exceptional source of vitamin K and have high amounts of vitamin A and vitamin C. They are also quite rich in minerals, including iron and copper. Can Hedgehogs Eat Beets (Beetroot)? Hedgehogs can be given beets in a cooked form without any problems. But, do remember that these are starchy vegetables come with high amounts of sugar (close to 70% of the carbs present). So, provide them as a treat and not as a daily addition to the diet. Beets are also not a great source of any vitamins or minerals. Can Hedgehogs Eat Cauliflower? Cauliflower can be a great addition to your hedgehog’s diet. They are low in calories (only 25 cal per 100 g) and have a substantial amount of protein in them (19%). They are also quite high in dietary fibers containing as high as 40% dietary fibers of the carbohydrate value. Cauliflowers are also quite rich in vitamin C (54% of the daily required value for a human) and have a substantial amount of vitamin B6 and vitamin K. Can Hedgehogs eat Radish? There is no harm in providing radishes to your hedgehogs as they are quite low in calories and are high in dietary fiber values (close to 45% of the carbohydrates present). As radishes are quite hard to chew, make sure to cook them properly before providing to the hedgie. Providing small amounts would not be a worry, but as radishes do not contain any minerals and vitamins in high quantities, there is no reason to make them a staple food in your hedgehog’s daily diet. Can Hedgehogs eat carrots? Yes, hedgehogs can eat carrots, but you need to remember two things— first carrots are hard to chew so cook them a bit and then proved tiny pieces to the hedgy. Also, carrots are all water and sugars with some dietary fibers. So keep a low amount. Can hedgehogs eat raw carrots? Raw carrots are hard to chew so only provide them in cooked form. In Raw, they can get stuck in the hedgies throat and can cause digestive issues. It would also be hard for such a tiny creature to get all the nutrients from raw carrots. Can hedgehogs eat lettuce? You can surely provide lettuces to your hedgehog. Lettuces contain high amounts of protein (over 20%) to making them quite viable for your hedgehog. You can provide them in small amounts, bi-weekly or every other day. It would be a better idea to provide them cooked instead of raw. Can hedgehogs eat cucumbers? Hedgehogs can definitely eat cucumbers, but we would not suggest you make them a regular part of the diet because cucumbers are mostly carbohydrates and water. They also do not contain any nutrient in any sufficient amounts. So, you can provide them sometimes but not often. Can hedgehogs eat kale? Kale is a very good source of vitamin C, vitamin B6 and even vitamin E.[3] Its macronutrient distribution is also quite diverse with substantially high amounts of protein and fats for a vegetable. Therefore, you can definitely provide your hedgehog with soft and tender pieces of kale. It can also become a tiny part of his daily meal plan. Can hedgehogs eat asparagus? You can surely provide your hedgehog with some asparagus. Unlike many vegetables, asparagus contains high amounts of protein (over 25%) and contain a substantial amount of vitamin A, vitamin B6, vitamin E and vitamin C. It is also rich in minerals like iron and copper. Can hedgehogs eat raw potatoes? You should not feed your hedgehog raw potatoes. Raw potatoes are considered dangerous for dogs, and therefore they can be dangerous for your hedgehog as well. Besides that, they are mostly filled with carbohydrates. So, they are not that good a source of nutrition for the hedgie. Instead, look towards sweet potatoes for a better alternative. What about cooked potatoes? Hedgehogs can eat cooked potatoes but do remember that potatoes are mostly carbohydrates (89%) and have very little to no amount of other macronutrients. On the other hand— they have some amounts of dietary fibers (20%), are rich in vitamin B6, and have some amount of vitamin K present in them. They are also high in copper and manganese. So provide them as a treat sometimes. Can hedgehogs eat peas? Hedgehogs can definitely eat peas but as they are hard, make sure to cook them before placing them in your hedgie’s plate. Also, remember that they contain mostly carbohydrates (over 70%) and some amount of protein (close to 20%). And, half of these carbohydrates are sugars. So providing them with a daily dose of peas is not a good idea. Peas also contain a sufficient amount of dietary fiber and are rich in vitamins like vitamin B6 and vitamin C. Can hedgehogs eat tomatoes? You should not provide your hedgehog tomatoes. Just like oranges, tomatoes also have acidic parts[4], and therefore they should not be provided to hedgehogs. They can create digestive problems and bowel issues. Can hedgehogs eat broccoli? Broccoli can be provided to hedgehog but make sure it is soft and mushy so that your hedgehog can eat it properly. You can boil them a bit to achieve that form. Make very small pieces (pea-sized) to make it easier for the hedgehog to eat. They also are a very good source of protein (over 20%) and are a good source of vitamin A and vitamin C. Do not provide raw broccoli to you hedgehogs. Broccoli is a hard vegetable to chew and digest for a small creature like a hedgehog. And, hence only cooked versions should be put in their bowl. If you see digestive issues, stop providing it to them even if it is cooked. Can hedgehogs eat spinach? Hedgehogs can be provided with spinach, but it would be recommended to provide them in a cooked form rather than as raw. Spinach contains a very high amount of protein for a vegetable (over 40%) and has some amount of fat as well. They are also an excellent source of iron, vitamin A, and vitamin C. Can hedgehogs eat mushrooms? There is some talk in the hedgehog community that wild mushrooms can be poisonous[5] to animals like cats and dogs and therefore are dangerous for hedgehogs also. But, commonly available mushrooms like white button mushrooms can be fed to the hedgehog. They also contain a good amount of chitin in them. Mushrooms are also macronutrient diverse and provide ample amounts of fats, proteins, and carbohydrates distributed fairly. They also have vitamins like vitamin B6 and meagre amounts of vitamin C. Can hedgehogs eat celery? You can surely provide your hedgehogs with some celery, but we would recommend that you should provide it cooked, warm and mushy. That way, it is easier for the hedgehog to eat them. Celery does contain some amount of protein (over 15%), but it’s mostly carbohydrates and water. So do not provide it regularly. It is also a good source of vitamin A and vitamin C. Can hedgehogs eat zucchini? You can provide your hedgehog with some zucchini as these vegetables are quite low in calories (21 cal per 100 grams). They also have a substantial amount of protein (31%) and some amount of fat. Zucchini is high in vitamin C and B6, so that’s a plus too. Provide them in small pieces and easily chewable and in that way your hedgehog will be happy to eat them. They are also a good source of potassium and phosphorus. Can hedgehogs eat garlic? Absolutely not! Garlic and other such vegetables from the allium family cause poisoning in dogs and cats. Therefore they should not be provided to your hedgehog. They are mostly carbs (85%), so you are not losing much here either. If you have mistakenly provided your hedgehog with some garlic, do consult your vet immediately. Can hedgehogs eat onions? Similar to garlic, onions can also be a harmful substance for hedgehogs. You should not provide them with these veggies at all. Also, they are mostly carbs (90%) and lack in almost all minerals. Can hedgehogs eat lentils? You can provide lentils to your hedgehog but make sure they are mushy and easily chewable so that your hedgehog does not have problems while eating or swallowing them. Lentils are a great source of protein with as high as 24% protein in every 100 g of raw lentils. They are also a good source of vitamin B6 and have some amount of vitamin C. Can hedgehogs eat green beans (Snap beans)? Raw beans are quite hard to digest for even humans, so providing them to small creatures like hedgehogs would not be a good idea. Cook them properly and then provide to your hedgehog. Make sure they are mushy and easy to eat. Raw green beans are quite low in calories (about 31 cal per 100 g). They are quite high in dietary fibers also (40%), but they have substantial amounts of sugar levels as well (45%). Raw green beans are also a great source of vitamin K and have some amount of vitamin A and vitamin C. Can hedgehogs eat hot chilli peppers? We would not recommend that as it would not be a good idea to feed hot chilli peppers to your hedgehog. Chilli is known to create digestive issues in larger animals like dogs, and as hedgehogs as quite small, they could do further damage. We would strongly advise against it. Can hedgehogs eat green peppers (sweet ones)? You can provide your hedgehog with some green peppers as they are both low in calories and have a high amount of dietary fibers (40% of the total carbs). But, do remember that a lot of these carbs are sugars. They contain some amount of protein and have substantial amounts of vitamin B6, vitamin C and some amount of vitamin K. Can hedgehogs eat sweet yellow peppers? If they are not bitter, you can definitely provide yellow peppers in small amounts to hedgehogs. Yellow sweet peppers are mostly carbohydrates and have some amounts of protein in them (9%). But, they are a very good source of vitamin C and have some amounts of vitamin B6. There are not many other minerals available so treat them as once in a week treat. Can hedgehogs Eat honeydew? Honeydew is an easily available vegetable in the farmer’s market, and it’s quite tasty to eat. So, you can definitely provide some tiny chunks of honeydew to your hedgehog. It is not quite high in calories (36 cal per 100 g). But, do remember that it has a high amount of sugars in it (90% of the carbohydrates present) and very few dietary fibers. So providing honeydew as a treat would be advised. Can hedgehogs eat iceberg lettuce? You can provide iceberg lettuce to your hedgehog as they are high in dietary fibers and low in calories. There are only 14 cal in each 100 g of iceberg lettuce. It is also rich in vitamin K while having some amount of vitamin B6 and vitamin C. But, there are not many other minerals due to the calorie numbers. Can hedgehogs eat eggplant? Hedgehogs can eat eggplant but would it would be a better idea to provide them in cooked form. In that way, they can easily digest the eggplant without having any choking or chewing problems. Eggplants are a great source of dietary fibers (50% of the carbohydrates present). They also have some vitamin B6, manganese, and potassium in them. Can hedgehogs Eat onion powder? As it was clearly said about onions, onion powder would likely cause allium poisoning in hedgehogs, and therefore it is not recommended at all. Also, it could have additives which could further harm your hedgy. Do hedgehogs eat kale? You can provide kale to your hedgehog often as it is quite low in calories (35 cal per 100 g of kale) and has a more than satisfactory macronutrient ratio (45% carbohydrates, 35% fats, and 20% proteins). It is also a prime source of good carbohydrates (the ones with high dietary fiber). There are not many minerals in kale, but there are some parts of manganese and phosphorus present in it. Can hedgehogs eat sweet potatoes? Many hedgehog owners provide sweet potatoes to their hedgehogs, and most hedgehogs love to eat them. So, it is perfectly ok to provide sweet potatoes to hedgehogs. Do make sure to cook them properly and mash them a bit so hedgehogs can eat them without any queries. Can hedgehogs Eat raw sweet potatoes? Do not provide them potatoes in raw form is that it could create problems with their tiny digestive system. Sweet potatoes are mostly carbs (94%) but have moderate amounts of dietary fibers present in them (15%). They also are a good source of vitamin A and have moderate amounts of vitamin B6. There are not many minerals present in sweet potatoes, but they have some copper and manganese. Can hedgehogs eat romaine lettuce? Hedgehogs can eat romaine lettuce as its quite low in calories (only 17 cal per 100 g) and have an acceptable macronutrient ratio (68% carbohydrates/15% fats/70% proteins). These lettuces are also quite high in dietary fibers (66%). In vitamins, they are rich in vitamin K and have very high amounts of vitamin A present in them. Though, there are not many minerals in romaine lettuces. Can hedgehogs Eat bell peppers (capsicum)? You can include capsicum/bell peppers in your hedgehog’s diet as they are quite humble in calories (31 cal per 100 g) and have a pretty good dietary fiber ratio (33% of the whole carbohydrates). They are also quite high in vitamin K and have a substantial amount of vitamin A presenting them. Though, they do not contain any minerals in high amounts. Can hedgehogs eat cabbage? You can surely provide your hedgehog with some cooked cabbage in their diet. Cabbages are mostly carbohydrates (84%) but have a high amount of dietary fibers present in them (40%). They are also quite rich in sugars (50%). So, providing them often to your hedgehog is not advised. In vitamins, cabbages are high in vitamin C (41% of the daily required value for a man), vitamin K (63%), and some vitamin B6 (10%). Can hedgehogs Eat cilantro? Hedgehogs can definitely eat cilantro but make sure the cilantro salad is easy to eat and chew. Cilantros are quite low in calories (only 23 cal per 100 g) and have an acceptable macronutrient ratio (58% carbohydrates-19% fats-23% proteins). They are also quite high in dietary fibers (75%) and have low amounts of sugars which makes them an excellent addition to the hedgehog’s diet. Cilantro is an excellent source of vitamin A and vitamin K but also have some amounts of vitamin C and vitamin B6 present in it. It also contains copper, manganese, and some amount of potassium. Can hedgehogs Eat mint leaves? Who doesn’t love mint? Of course, everyone does, and so should your hedgehog. You can definitely provide mint leaves to your hedgehog as they are quite low in calories (40 to 50 cal per 100 g). But, make sure to only provide them as treats/garnishes as they are mostly carbohydrates and have a meager amount of protein (10%). However, they are rich in dietary fibers and contain vitamins like vitamin A, and vitamin C. Mint leaves also contain minerals like iron and calcium. Can hedgehogs Eat sprouts (Brussels sprouts)? Hedgehogs can easily eat Brussels sprouts but do not provide them in raw form as that could lead to digestive problems. Brussels sprouts are quite low in calories (only 43 cal per 100 g). But, these calories come mostly from carbohydrates (75%). They, however, contain a substantial amount of dietary fibers (33%) and are a good source of vitamin C and vitamin K while having some amounts of vitamin B6 as well. Can hedgehogs Eat turnip? Hedgehogs can eat turnips, but providing them in cooked form would be a better idea. Hedgehogs have a very tiny metabolic system, so providing them with raw foods is not a good strategy. Also, turnips are mostly carbohydrates (88%) and 50% of those carbohydrates coming form of sugars. So, treat them as occasional additions and not a staple part of the hedgie’s diet. In vitamins, turnips contain a substantial amount of vitamin C (20%) but except that there are not many vitamins or minerals present.