I want to add my thanks for this video & the Tiki cat food suggestion. I have an older rescue that stopped eating & his activity level also declined. The Tiki was quickly available at the pet store & is the only thing offered that has encouraged his appetite again. Im not sure if he will recover or not, but eating & a little more activity gives me hope. Thank you.
Thank you so much, Gail. My hedgehog was very, very ill. We went out of town and she was cared for by my elderly parents, who have cared for her several times before. They forgot her care instructions and accidentally fed her every time she flipped her food dish. Her main diet is two parts cat food mixed with 1 part dried meal worms. (She has been on this diet for 4 years and was doing great!). When we returned, she had basically eaten at least 6 weeks worth of meal worms (she LOVES the meal worms and was getting so many worms that she rejected the cat food and only ate the worms). She was so constipated and lethargic. She even had mild symptoms of Wobbly Hedgehog Syndrome - very shaky and unsteady. She was also not running in her wheel, which she loves to do at night (of course, this activity helps keep her bowels moving as well). I had tried so many things - forced movement by having her walk around outside of her cage, a warm bath, feeding her water with a dropper, and more. After a 2 days (that is when I realized she was declining), I was scheduling a vet appointment as she was no longer eating (I was only offering her the cat food at this point). Then I saw this video. I went out and got a packet of Tiki Cat with Chicken, Pumpkin, and Egg. Note, this hedgehog is INCREDIBLY picky. We have offered her every single things allowed on the hedgehog diet over the years, and she always rejects them. I put a teaspoon by itself on her dish. At first, she only poked at it, but by 6 AM, it was gone. Then I gave her another that morning. It was soon gone. Be evening time, she pooped! I continued to give her only this for 2 days until she was regular and had flushed out her system. I was concerned that it would cause loose stool, but it did not. By the 3rd night, I heard her on her wheel again. I also realized how much she really didn't like the cat food brand I was giving her since birth anymore - Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Diet Green Pea & Duck Formula. I found the great site that lists what to feed hedgehogs according to their age and activity. The information is well laid out so I could easily see what foods they suggested for my specific hedgehog. www.smallpetjournal.com/best-cat-foods-for-hedgehogs/ She is just turning 4, and is considered "elderly." The recommended food (with amazing explanations) is "Blue Buffalo Tastefuls Weight Control Natural Adult Dry Cat Food, Chicken. I ordered it to be shipped overnight. As always, she poked around at first, but then she GOBBLED it right up!! (In the past, she would never completely finish her other food.) Gail, I am very grateful for your thoughtful, thorough video. You helped save our very loved member of the family.
Hi Gail! Thanks for the info. :) My little hedgie was unfortunately diagnosed with lymphoma a while back. :( She has been doing great overall and feeling better since being on some meds, but she has lost a little weight. The vet would like her to gain a little more weight-looking into the Tiki cat pouches-how much should you feed and how long will the pouch last in the fridge? Could this be added daily to her regular kibble? Thanks for your help and sharing your knowledge!
Sorry to hear, hopefully she gets her weight back on track. Yes you can add a scoop to her daily kibble. Should last 2-3 weeks in fridge, but I would give to her at room temp.
I want to add my thanks for this video & the Tiki cat food suggestion. I have an older rescue that stopped eating & his activity level also declined. The Tiki was quickly available at the pet store & is the only thing offered that has encouraged his appetite again. Im not sure if he will recover or not, but eating & a little more activity gives me hope. Thank you.
Thank you so much, Gail. My hedgehog was very, very ill. We went out of town and she was cared for by my elderly parents, who have cared for her several times before. They forgot her care instructions and accidentally fed her every time she flipped her food dish. Her main diet is two parts cat food mixed with 1 part dried meal worms. (She has been on this diet for 4 years and was doing great!). When we returned, she had basically eaten at least 6 weeks worth of meal worms (she LOVES the meal worms and was getting so many worms that she rejected the cat food and only ate the worms). She was so constipated and lethargic. She even had mild symptoms of Wobbly Hedgehog Syndrome - very shaky and unsteady. She was also not running in her wheel, which she loves to do at night (of course, this activity helps keep her bowels moving as well). I had tried so many things - forced movement by having her walk around outside of her cage, a warm bath, feeding her water with a dropper, and more. After a 2 days (that is when I realized she was declining), I was scheduling a vet appointment as she was no longer eating (I was only offering her the cat food at this point). Then I saw this video. I went out and got a packet of Tiki Cat with Chicken, Pumpkin, and Egg. Note, this hedgehog is INCREDIBLY picky. We have offered her every single things allowed on the hedgehog diet over the years, and she always rejects them. I put a teaspoon by itself on her dish. At first, she only poked at it, but by 6 AM, it was gone. Then I gave her another that morning. It was soon gone. Be evening time, she pooped! I continued to give her only this for 2 days until she was regular and had flushed out her system. I was concerned that it would cause loose stool, but it did not. By the 3rd night, I heard her on her wheel again.
I also realized how much she really didn't like the cat food brand I was giving her since birth anymore - Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Diet Green Pea & Duck Formula. I found the great site that lists what to feed hedgehogs according to their age and activity. The information is well laid out so I could easily see what foods they suggested for my specific hedgehog.
www.smallpetjournal.com/best-cat-foods-for-hedgehogs/
She is just turning 4, and is considered "elderly." The recommended food (with amazing explanations) is "Blue Buffalo Tastefuls Weight Control Natural Adult Dry Cat Food, Chicken. I ordered it to be shipped overnight. As always, she poked around at first, but then she GOBBLED it right up!! (In the past, she would never completely finish her other food.)
Gail, I am very grateful for your thoughtful, thorough video. You helped save our very loved member of the family.
Amazing! Thank you for sharing your (scary) experience. So happy to hear she is on the mend and doing great!
❤ thank you very much!
Very informative as always 😊
Thank you!
Oh my god bean loves her worms, but she suddenly stopped eating I’m so nervous! I know she just stopped and didn’t eat for atleast a night, :(
Hi Gail! Thanks for the info. :)
My little hedgie was unfortunately diagnosed with lymphoma a while back. :( She has been doing great overall and feeling better since being on some meds, but she has lost a little weight. The vet would like her to gain a little more weight-looking into the Tiki cat pouches-how much should you feed and how long will the pouch last in the fridge? Could this be added daily to her regular kibble?
Thanks for your help and sharing your knowledge!
Sorry to hear, hopefully she gets her weight back on track. Yes you can add a scoop to her daily kibble. Should last 2-3 weeks in fridge, but I would give to her at room temp.
@@HedgehogConnection Thanks so much!!!
It's too late now...he ummmmmm.....he died he was a baby as well he was at least 4-3 months old....