A hedgehog’s diet is one of the most critical aspects of its care and ensuring representation of the right nutrients can make a difference. Not only do hedgehogs need balanced diets for optimum growth prospects but their well-being can be on the line too.
This article discusses the question “Can Hedgehogs Eat Dog Food?” by uncovering whether dog food can meet the hedgehog’s dietary needs and potential side effects to look out for when offering it as a staple diet.
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Can Hedgehogs Eat Dog Food?
Hedgehogs cannot eat dog food as a staple because it does not contain the right nutrients to maximize their growth and well-being. Hedgehogs should only eat nutritious cat food or commercially packaged hedgehog food as a staple supplemented by fruits and vegetables, mealworms, hardboiled eggs, and other protein-based diets.
Dog food is not exactly poisonous for hedgehogs and if you accidentally run out of cat food or other supplements at night when the local pet store is closed, offering dog food to your hedgehogs could be fine.
However, making dog food a staple is not advisable because it can be problematic for hedgehogs in the long run.
What is Dog Food?
Dog food is a diet specially formulated to meet the nutritional needs of various dog breeds. Two main types of dog food are available i.e. dry kibble and wet dog food.
Common ingredients in these canine diets include:
- Veggies
- Cereals like grains, rice bran, and beet pulp
- Fish
- Fats and Oils
- Salt
Reasons Why Dog Food is Bad For Hedgehogs?
Here are a couple of reasons why dog food is not recommended as a staple diet for domesticated hedgehogs.
Low Nutritional Base
Dog food offers a relatively poor nutritional base that usually fails to meet the hedgehog’s requirements. Compared to cat food, the protein, fat, and vitamin content in wet and dry dog food is low. This is thanks to the large cereal component made up of grain, rice bran, and beet pulp.
Serving dog food primarily to hedgehogs can lead to knock-on effects like stunted growth and weight loss particularly if they’re highly physically active. The lack of adequate vitamin supply may affect their immune system functionality leading to a restricted ability to fight diseases and infections.
If you’re looking for a good substitute for cat food, dog food is definitely not the solution even if it may sound like a convenient option for hedgehog owners raising canines simultaneously.
Excessive Fats
Dog food typically contains high-fat quantities resulting in a higher calorie count compared to cat food. More often than not, the fat content can be significantly higher in the same quantity of dog food as cat food.
Hedgehogs may be exposed to obesity and related side effects like diabetes and heart disease when wet or dry dog food is eaten for extended periods. This could lower their quality of life and lifespan considerably.
Digestion Issues
The high cereal content in dog food may pose digestion problems for hedgehogs. Their delicate stomachs are unable to effectively process high carbohydrate quantities and this may result in not only tummy trouble but breathing difficulties and lethargy as well.
Larger Chunks
A quick glance at dog food reveals chunks that are physically larger than cat food since dogs have sharper teeth and even the smallest breeds tend to have relatively wider mouths. The presence of canine teeth means dogs are able to chew through those large chunks effortlessly.
However, hedgehogs are much smaller animals with corresponding mouth sizes. They are also endowed with mammal teeth that lack the incisors dogs are endowed with. Chewing through these large chunks could be challenging for hedgehogs, unlike cat food.
Since the size of the average cat may not be too different compared to hedgehogs, their food comes in smaller chunks to ease nibbling and swallowing.
Terrible Taste
Dogs eat a wide variety of foods thanks to their omnivorous habits and a side-by-side comparison with cat food makes clear the former’s inferior taste. This is because cats have more advanced taste buds which enhances their appreciation for tastier food.
Cats are more likely to reject food that contains minimal quantities of animal-based proteins and this explains why they end up with more nutrient-rich diets. Hedgehogs take to cat food easily thanks to the amazing taste and this is why many folks prefer that to even commercially packaged hedgehog diets.
When Is Dog Food OK for Hedgehogs?
Here are a few circumstances under which dog food may be served to hedgehogs without many problems.
Occasional Treat
Dog food can be a good alternative for hedgehogs to bring variety especially when they’re exhibiting signs of dietary boredom from eating the same monotonous food. It could be offered together with options like insects, fruits, and vegetables.
Dog food may also serve as a substitute when hedgehogs run out of food at night in the middle of nowhere or at a time when the nearest pet food store is closed. It can be mixed up with fruits and vegetables if available to enhance the taste and protect the hungry hedgehog from starvation.
Crushed High Protein Dog Kibble
High-quality dog kibble that meets the hedgehog’s nutritional requirements of 30-35 percent protein and 5-15 percent fats could also be a good option for hedgehogs for owners who insist on serving dog food. But, dry dog kibble should be crushed to minimize the risk of choking when consumed by hedgehogs.
The good news is it is not impossible to find a few dog food brands that can meet the dietary needs of hedgehogs after extensive research.
Can Hedgehogs Eat Wet Dog Food?
Highly nutritious wet dog food is the best option for hedgehogs according to owners who prefer dog food over other alternatives. The protein and fat content should hover around 30 percent and 15 percent respectively to offer hedgehogs the best chance of enjoying healthy lives.
Wet dog foods feature ground meat ingredients and gravy containing vitamins and other complementary nutrients. Unlike dry kibble which contains limited moisture, the water content in wet dog food can be substantial.
A quick glance at wet dog food labels reveals the maximum moisture content can be as high as 78 percent which is in sharp contrast to the 10 percent moisture content found in dry kibble.
What To Do Before Feeding Dog Food To Hedgehogs
If you’re hellbent on feeding dog food to your hedgehogs, extensive research into the nutritional labels of different brands during shopping can be critical. Always choose dog food brands that contain the right amounts of proteins and fats to boost the energy and muscle-building needs of hedgehogs.
Watch out for dog foods that are poultry-based and grain-free to promote easy digestion in hedgehogs while limiting their risk of consuming excessive calories that could trigger obesity and related side effects.
Some of the best brands of dog foods feature additional superfoods that can streamline digestion and enhance the proper functionality of core organs. These superfoods may also encourage the hedgehog’s ability to stave off numerous diseases and infections.
How Much Dog Food Can Hedgehogs Eat?
Generally, hedgehogs can eat 2-3 tablespoons of dog food twice per day. However, this estimated food quantity may vary depending on factors like the hedgehog’s age, gender, and physical activity level.
Generally, male hedgehogs eat more than females because they’re often more physically active. Studies have shown that the average hedgehog runs for 10-12km each night when an exercise wheel is installed in their cages.
Why Can’t Hedgehogs Eat Fish-Based Cat Or Dog Food?
While fish may be a healthy source of animal protein, always avoid dog food or even cat food with fish components. Consuming fish may result in terrible-smelling poop that can take over the entire home environment.
The foul-smelling poop from fish-based diets could also cause breathing difficulties for your beloved hedgehog.
Can Hedgehogs Eat Chinchilla Food?
Hedgehogs should not eat chinchilla food because the latter are herbivores that rely on plant-based foods only. Chinchilla food has no meat content resulting in low nutritional values for proteins and vitamins.
Chinchilla food also features seeds and nuts that may be unhealthy for hedgehogs. This could pose digestion problems and related discomforts when ingested.
Can Hedgehogs Eat Rat Food?
Commercial rat food features low protein and vitamins making it inadequate for the hedgehog’s needs. Rat food may be offered once in a while when your hedgehog needs to eat something different but avoid making it a staple in their lives to promote good health and vitality.
Can Hedgehogs Eat Guinea Pig Food?
Hedgehogs should stay away from Guinea Pig food because the nutritional components fall short of their needs. Long-term feeding of guinea pig food can result in stunted growth as well as weight loss and other health disturbances.
Guinea pig food can make hedgehogs susceptible to a wide range of diseases and infections since it robs them of the required amounts of vitamins.
Conclusion: Can Hedgehogs Eat Dog Food?
Hedgehogs should eat nutritious cat food or packaged hedgehog food instead of dog food because the latter typically contains low quantities of the essential nutrients required for healthy growth and functionality.
Hedgehogs may be offered dog food occasionally as a treat or as an intentional substitute when they get tired of eating the same diet day in and day out. However, most dog foods are poor in terms of the nutrients offered.
Besides, dog food also appears in large chunks that can make chewing and ingestion harder for the small hedgehog teeth and mouth. Crushing dry wet kibble is the only way to prevent dog food from becoming a choking hazard when fed to hedgehogs.