Hedgehogs are adorable and unique animals that started becoming popular as pets around 2014 (partially because of Sonic the Hedgehog and partially because of the viral nature of the internet). They’ve continued as pets to this day, but because hedgehogs are more exotic pets, many people are unclear on how to care for them properly. This includes not knowing what kind of people foods are safe to give them.
One common question is can hedgehogs eat avocado? The answer to that is no! Plus, there are other veggies, fruits, and people food your hedgehog shouldn’t eat either. There are some vegetables and fruits (and a little bit of other people foods) they will be able to eat. Avocado, though, is definitely not one of them.
Can Hedgehogs Eat Avocado?
Can Hedgehogs Eat Avocado?You should never, ever feed your pet hedgehog avocado. Avocado contains toxins that could be deadly to your hedgehog. Avocados are also high in fat, and hedgehogs need a low-fat diet as they are inclined toward obesity.
There is also the matter of the lack of cecum in hedgehogs. The absence of this part of the large intestine means their bodies are less suited to digesting plant matter. That doesn’t mean they can never eat plants, just that they will have a harder time digesting them.
What Other Foods Should Hedgehogs Not Eat?
Avocado isn’t the only people food—or even vegetable or fruit—your hedgehog should avoid for a long and healthy life. There are several other foods out there that can cause harm, ranging from illness to death.
Then, there are foods that won’t cause your hedgehog to become ill, but they are better off not eating as the foods don’t fare well nutrition-wise.
What Foods Can Hedgehogs Eat?
Now that you know which foods not to feed your pet hedgehog, you’re probably wondering what foods are safe for them to eat—human or otherwise.
What Do Hedgehogs In The Wild Eat
Wild hedgehogs are insectivores, meaning they eat primarily insects. Occasionally, they’ll also eat lizards, snails, fish, or even birds’ eggs. But, how does a wild hedgehog diet compare to a pet hedgehog diet?
What Do Pet Hedgehogs Eat
Clearly, you won’t be feeding your pet hedgehog any lizards or birds’ eggs, but you can (and should!) feed them insects such as mealworms or crickets—at least on occasion. However, insects won’t make up the majority of a pet hedgehog’s diet. The majority will consist of high-quality hedgehog food that is high in protein and low in fat. You can supplement the hedgehog food with insects, fruits, and vegetables, plus the rare treat of a few other human foods that are safe for your pet to eat (just not too often!). While it’s safest to always check with your vet before feeding your pet a new food, some of the safe human foods for hedgehogs to eat include:
While it’s safest to always check with your vet before feeding your pet a new food, some of the safe human foods for hedgehogs to eat include:
A note on vegetables—since hedgehogs do have trouble digesting plant matter due to the absence of the cecum, you’ll want to be sure that any veggies are cut into tiny, bite-sized pieces. And, if it’s a vegetable that’s on the harder side, you’ll need to cook it first to make it softer and more palatable.
Conclusion
You should never feed your pet hedgehog avocado as it can be toxic to them! There are also several other vegetables, fruits, and people foods you should avoid feeding them. Instead, you should give your hedgehog a high protein, low-fat diet that consists mainly of high-quality hedgehog food and a few insects.
This doesn’t mean you can’t give them any vegetables, fruits, or people food. There are several fruits, a few vegetables, and a couple of other human foods that are perfectly safe for them to eat (though some of these may require a bit of cooking or chopping before being fed to your pet). Always talk to your vet before giving your hedgehog a new food, as they will be able to best tell you what is safe or not.
