[ThursdaysGirl]

Hello again

So, being concerned about Thursday's diet (his skin is rather dry, and I've spotted no mites, so I wanted to check into his diet to see if it needs a change) I asked his previous owner (to recap from my question about what wheel I should get for him, he's four months old and I rescued him from someone who couldn't keep him any more, along with all of the things they already had for him, which didn't include a wheel, but did food) I asked his previous owner what type of food they were giving him.

I was shocked when she said "I don't know, really, just some food we got out of a machine at the pet store."

Poor little guy! I can't imagine this food is any good for him whatsoever. No wonder he looks a little pekid with his dry skin and such!

So, here is my question: is there any sort of food that I might be able to make myself for him, by combining different ingredients, that will be a sort of "rescue food" for him, to nurse his poor system into getting what it actually needs?

Let me know what I should do for the poor guy... obviously he needs better nutrition!

Thanks,

A worried hedgie mom

 

[Hedgieonboard]

If you still have some of his old food you can get a new cat food and mix it in with the old to wean him onto the new kind without stomach upset. There is a great list under food and nutrition that has a bunch of different kinds that are recommended. Natural Balance Green Pea and Duck was a hit with mine but theres a lot of other good ones on there too. Ive seen a few people using Royal Canin also. You'll want to shoot for around 30% protein and 15% or less fat with no ethyoxlin, BHA, or BTA in it. Also a thing to look for is good quality meats in the top 5 ingredients and not alot of fillers.

Grats on your new hedgie, he's lucky you have him now and that he has such a good hedgie parent

 

[ThursdaysGirl]

Thanks! I'm so happy to have him. I just hope I get him up to full health soon.

Are there any other supplements, or other such things I could give him that anyone knows of?

 

[Sarahg]

Are there any other supplements, or other such things I could give him that anyone knows of?

Putting some flax seed oil on his food sometimes (I use it once a week) should help with the dry skin.

 

[ThursdaysGirl]

:!: The skin on the edge of his ear just started bleeding a bit today. I almost had a heart attack at first when I thought the bleeding was from inside his ear, but it is from his cracked dry skin on the outside. My poor little boy! (I can't explain how mad I am for his previous owners letting his skin get so dry... but I"ve only had him for five days now, so getting better is indeed a process)

I'm definitely investing in some flax seed oil for him, for on his food and dissolved in water on his skin. Could I do anything immediately for his poor ear, like put some bag balm on it?

I'm happy he is still alert and curious, I just need to conquer the problem of his skin. Poor baby.

It's crazy how quickly he's taken residence in my heart. I need my Thursday to be better!

 

[hedgielover]

I think that bag balm will be fine to put on his ear. You could also regular polysporin for the cracked bleeding part.