Hedgehog

[SteveD]

I just looked out of the kitchen window and saw a hedgehog walking across the garden.  I thought they should be hibernating at this time of year or do they wake up on occasion?  I gave it some cat food which it is wolfing up.

Is there anything I should do or should I leave it to its own devices?

I'm in Belgium.

[willowherb]

i lived in germany once and i had a hedgehog in the garden..which we fed if you keep putting food out it will be a regular visitor which will be nice to watch,,maybe as its been so mild the hedgehog may be lulled into false security that its nearly spring and its obviously hungry..they like bread soaked in milk also.

[SteveD]

But there was snow on the ground this morning!

I have read that you should NOT give hedgehogs cow's milk as they cannot digest it.

I have now found this web site with a paragraph about hedgehogs in the winter:

http://www.pro-igel.de/english/care.htm

[natalie_1982]

Shouldn't give them bread and milk it makes them poorly.

[bernardo]

willowherb - No no no!!!!  You should NOT give bread and milk to a hedgehog!  Milk would make a hedgehog very ill or dead.  Cat food or dog food is ideal - i.e. meat i.e. worms and stuff.

[FP]

Just to add Hedgehogs should definitely not be give bread and milk.  They can't tolerate cows milk and will become very ill.  Cat and Dog Food is ideal.

[willowherb]

well i had a hedgehog for 3 years and it ate bread and milk and didnt die,,so it cant be right that its bad for them and if i could scan a photo in i could show you all a photo of my hedgehog tucking into milk... 

[willowherb]

i have just looked under the hedgehog conservation and it is quite allright to give them milk as long as they are not in captivity as they can then add other things to their diet,,if i kept one as a pet and just fed it on milk then yes it would get diarrohea and be poorly..but as the one i had only visited at certain times then it was okay..hope this clears this up as i love animals and spent many years fund raising for the rspca and fostering dogs,,and i feed horses and squirrells and birds now daily so i am not exactly out to poison the animal kingdom..

[FP]

Sorry willowherb, I love your postings and never meant to infer that you would ever do anything to harm an animal.

However,  I have always been told by the animal sanctuary I volunteered for that you should never feed a hedgehog bread and milk, and have just found this on the web.

Recommended hedgehog food
Cat or dog food not with fish. Hedgehogs particularly like turkey, chicken and rabbit flavours.
Cat biscuits crunchy biscuits are a hedgehog favourite.
Hedgehog food "Spike's Dinner" is available at many pet shops and some supermarkets.
Raw mince
Water Also provide drinking water.
NEVER feed a hedgehog bread and milk!

Obviously, I would think that a little milk wouldn't harm a healthy adult hedgehog living in the wild.  However, if an adult is ill or out and about in really bad weather or with baby hedgehogs, milk would be a very bad idea. 

[FP]

ps  I didn't realise myself, however, that cat or dog food containing fish was bad for hedgehogs.

[willowherb]

fp..i wouldnt give a hedgehog milk and bread again as i wouldnt wish to give it diarrohea,,but the one i fed did not just come for his daily pint of milk and a loaf i gave him other stuff as well..and also as he forraged for food i guess thats why it didnt make him ill..i was unaware that it could and that is just ignorance on my behalf..but never would i harm any animal as i love all creatures,,and the hedgehog i had was still alive when i moved,,so he obviously thrived on it..i also apologise to steve d as if i am in the wrong then i am big enough to say so ..

[FP]

I hope your hedgehog is still going strong willowherb and that the people who took your house over still look after him as well.

Like you I love all creatures - I even feel sorry when I stand on bugs! 

[ursula62]

As well as dogfood, I think you need to put out fresh water for them to drink.

[Mynx]

Hedgehogs also like fruit or rotting fruit.

Think it can make them a little tipsy if they eat too much too. Cute.

I second (or third) the no milk rule. They are lactose intolerant. It's an old fashioned thing that we've discovered is not good for them. Same as lettuce for rabbits. We all thought it was ok but now science proves otherwise.