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Treats
Here is a list of some acceptable treats to offer:
Unseasoned meats: (baked, boiled, browned or roasted) beef, chicken, duck, lamb, turkey, fish, etc.
Fruits: apple, banana, blackberries, blueberries, cantaloupe, cherry, cranberries, honeydew, kiwi, papaya, peach, pear, plum, pumpkin, raspberries, squash, strawberry, watermelon
Veggies: asparagus, bell peppers, broccoli, carrot, celery, cilantro, corn, cucumber, green beans, green pepper, peas, spinach, sprouts, sweet potato, turnip, zucchini, leafy greens
Unseasoned eggs: scrambled, hard boiled, etc. (it's recommended they be cooked)
Baby food: all flavors should be fine, Gerber Baby meat sticks and sweet potatoes are popular
Wet cat food: choose one without by-products or unhealthy preservatives and feed in moderation, they are usually very high in protein and fat
Cottage cheese and non-sugary yogurt: hedgies are lactose intolerant, but some like this in very small amounts.
Insects: as covered on the previous page
Some treats that are unacceptable to offer are:
Anything citrus: oranges, lemons, limes, grapefruit, pineapple, etc.
Most dried fruits: these can be choked on, and can get caught in the roof of the mouth or stuck in the teeth
Raisins: besides the fact that they are dried fruit, grapes and raisins are toxic even in very small amounts.
Avocados: toxicity unknown
Onions, garlic, chives: these contain poisonous sulfur compounds that are dangerous in large amounts - it's safest to avoid them
Rhubarb leaves: they're not good for dogs, so it's safe to guess they aren't good for hedgies either
Human junk food: these are high in fat, salt, preservatives, and many other things bad for hedgies.
Chocolate: same as for human junk food.
Peanuts and other legumes: these can get caught in the roof of the mouth and are easily choked on.
Pits and seeds: these can be toxic (depending on the fruit) and are a choking hazard. Hedgies are not rodents, they aren't made to gnaw open seeds.
Make sure every treat is unsalted and unseasoned. Veggies are fine fresh or steamed. Make sure whatever you offer is cut into pea-sized pieces, too large can be a choking hazard or get stuck in the roof of your hedgie's mouth. Lunch meat is not a good idea because of how processed it is. They are often smoked, salted, or preserved, and are high in fat. Don't overfeed fruits or vegetables, they are very watery and can cause stomach upsets and loose poop.
It's best to try only one new treat at a time. This is important to avoid stomach upsets (which are common with new foods) and to narrow down what it was if your hedgie had any problems with something offered. If you offer too many things at once, you won't be able to tell which it is that is causing the problem.
A lot of hedgies are not very open to trying new foods. Keep offering the treat for several nights, or wait a while and try again. Sometimes what they refused one night they will devour the next. Try putting the treat in his food dish with his normal kibble. Warming up the treat a bit can also make it smell more appetizing. Remember that some hedgies will just refuse to try new things. As long as he is getting a good mix of high quality foods you shouldn't need to worry.
If you open up a jar of baby food or wet cat food, you can freeze the remaining into ice cubes that way it stays fresh longer. This is especially helpful if your hedgie only eats a tiny bit and you don't want to waste half the jar/can. If you have fruits or veggies you want to save, this works well for them as well."
Some good notes on additional considerations for acidic fruits and sugar:
Additional treats to avoid:
Raw Potatoes (assumed dangerous, they are dangerous to dogs)
Feel free to add or ask about others that aren't listed here! I'll try to update this first post as more foods are discussed to reflect as many as we know are safe or not.
"
Treats
Here is a list of some acceptable treats to offer:
Unseasoned meats: (baked, boiled, browned or roasted) beef, chicken, duck, lamb, turkey, fish, etc.
Fruits: apple, banana, blackberries, blueberries, cantaloupe, cherry, cranberries, honeydew, kiwi, papaya, peach, pear, plum, pumpkin, raspberries, squash, strawberry, watermelon
Veggies: asparagus, bell peppers, broccoli, carrot, celery, cilantro, corn, cucumber, green beans, green pepper, peas, spinach, sprouts, sweet potato, turnip, zucchini, leafy greens
Unseasoned eggs: scrambled, hard boiled, etc. (it's recommended they be cooked)
Baby food: all flavors should be fine, Gerber Baby meat sticks and sweet potatoes are popular
Wet cat food: choose one without by-products or unhealthy preservatives and feed in moderation, they are usually very high in protein and fat
Cottage cheese and non-sugary yogurt: hedgies are lactose intolerant, but some like this in very small amounts.
Insects: as covered on the previous page
Some treats that are unacceptable to offer are:
Anything citrus: oranges, lemons, limes, grapefruit, pineapple, etc.
Most dried fruits: these can be choked on, and can get caught in the roof of the mouth or stuck in the teeth
Raisins: besides the fact that they are dried fruit, grapes and raisins are toxic even in very small amounts.
Avocados: toxicity unknown
Onions, garlic, chives: these contain poisonous sulfur compounds that are dangerous in large amounts - it's safest to avoid them
Rhubarb leaves: they're not good for dogs, so it's safe to guess they aren't good for hedgies either
Human junk food: these are high in fat, salt, preservatives, and many other things bad for hedgies.
Chocolate: same as for human junk food.
Peanuts and other legumes: these can get caught in the roof of the mouth and are easily choked on.
Pits and seeds: these can be toxic (depending on the fruit) and are a choking hazard. Hedgies are not rodents, they aren't made to gnaw open seeds.
Make sure every treat is unsalted and unseasoned. Veggies are fine fresh or steamed. Make sure whatever you offer is cut into pea-sized pieces, too large can be a choking hazard or get stuck in the roof of your hedgie's mouth. Lunch meat is not a good idea because of how processed it is. They are often smoked, salted, or preserved, and are high in fat. Don't overfeed fruits or vegetables, they are very watery and can cause stomach upsets and loose poop.
It's best to try only one new treat at a time. This is important to avoid stomach upsets (which are common with new foods) and to narrow down what it was if your hedgie had any problems with something offered. If you offer too many things at once, you won't be able to tell which it is that is causing the problem.
A lot of hedgies are not very open to trying new foods. Keep offering the treat for several nights, or wait a while and try again. Sometimes what they refused one night they will devour the next. Try putting the treat in his food dish with his normal kibble. Warming up the treat a bit can also make it smell more appetizing. Remember that some hedgies will just refuse to try new things. As long as he is getting a good mix of high quality foods you shouldn't need to worry.
If you open up a jar of baby food or wet cat food, you can freeze the remaining into ice cubes that way it stays fresh longer. This is especially helpful if your hedgie only eats a tiny bit and you don't want to waste half the jar/can. If you have fruits or veggies you want to save, this works well for them as well."
Some good notes on additional considerations for acidic fruits and sugar:
Additional safe treats:moxieberry said:
Additional treats to avoid:
Raw Potatoes (assumed dangerous, they are dangerous to dogs)
Feel free to add or ask about others that aren't listed here! I'll try to update this first post as more foods are discussed to reflect as many as we know are safe or not.
