Weight loss

[pixieperf]

So, my Quilbur had a URI about two months ago, but fully recovered with antibiotics. She still eats well, and my vet told me to raise the amount of mealies given per week (5-10 worms 2-3 times a week) since she looked a little petite and could probably benefit from gaining a few more grams.

I feed her 85 pieces of Blue Buffalo adult formula every night with mealie supplements like the vet called for, and she always leaves 5-10 pieces left over each night (I make sure to leave more than needed because I don't want her going hungry). But over the past week, she seems even thinner. No loss in appetite, no activity changes, she's not lethargic or acting weird at all. Nothing is different. Unfortunately, I don't have a scale, but after having her for over a year, I can tell when she doesn't look like herself.

So my question is, are there any surefire ways of beefing a hedgie up in a healthy way?

[Tamsyn]

What is the fat percentage in the food?

[pixieperf]

The protein is 34.4% and the fat is 18%. I bought this food because it's one of the highest rated cat foods used for hedgehogs on here.

[Lilysmommy]

Wet cat food is usually higher in fat, so you could try offering some of that each night too, if she likes it. Otherwise, you could add a second food in with the Blue Buffalo, one that has over 20% fat. For other treats, waxworms are higher in fat than mealworms, so if you know someplace near you that sells them, you could see how she likes those.

[pixieperf]

I'll try the waxworms; there's an exotic pet shop close by that we get our mealies from. And I know they've got waxworms as well!