Hedgehog World - A community for African Pygmy Hedgehog Owners and Breeders - Re:Homemade recipe

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Feeding and Nutrition

General Nutrition

Peppersmama

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Posts: 129

Homemade recipe - 2008/02/21 17:29 So since Pepper's surgery to remove an abcess he just isn't keen on the dry kibble any more. If I add some water to soften it he will eat a bit more, but not like his appetite used to be. I'm afraid we got him too used to soft food when he was recovering. My husband being a chef wants to create a food that we can freeze in ice cube trays and thaw as needed.....good idea? no? Need some advice. I am just afraid he's really not eatting enough but don't like the wet cat foods. Here's what my husband wants to use to create:

- White turkey meat
- Skinless chicken breast
- Tuna
- Steamed corn
- Steamed carrots
- Steamed peas
- Steamed beans
- brown rice
- Hardboiled egg
- frozen meal worms
- Apple
- Yogurt or cottage cheese (small amount)
- Ground up kibble (Innova and Blue spa)

Does that seem like a good mix? Would it be a suitable substitute? Any advice would be great.

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Hedgehogmadhatter

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Posts: 497

Re:Homemade recipe - 2008/02/21 17:48 I think that mix sounds great; you can mush it up in a blender or food processor and freeze it.

How old is Pepper? If Pepper is a bit older and still not eating enough after you make him his microwave dinners, you may want to try wet Purina One kitten food. When my elderly hedge went off her food she LOVED that food. Purina One it’s own it’s not the best nutrition for hedgehogs but according to my vet if it will get an older hedge to eat than it’s great stuff. If Pepper is still not eating after this point, they make a wet supplement for cats that are ill that you can put into a needless syringe and force into Peppers mouth. I forget the name of it but it’s rather common and any vet should be able to get it for you. I wish I still had my tube so I could tell you what it’s called. But it comes in a white tube and I used it to feed Isabel when she was dying of cancer. It gave her a real boost until she went for the wet Purina One, which she ate until she passed.

Isabel was always a picky eater so I was thrilled to find a wet food she would eat. The reason animals LOVE Purina One is because it’s coated in some sweet substance. I couldn’t find it listed in the ingredients but both my vet and breeder verified this so it must be true. I hope this helps.

~Sara “The fox has many tricks, and the hedgehog only one, but that is the best of all”

Archilochus (Greek lyric poet and soldier, 675-635bc)

There's no love like HEDGEHOG love!

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Peppersmama

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Posts: 129

Re:Homemade recipe - 2008/02/21 17:55 Peppers actually only a year and a half. I just hope this helps him maintain his weight....otherwise it'll be a trip to the vet next week. My husband is excited to invent a pet food....apparently people food isn't enough excitement.

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CThogs

Admin

Posts: 1559

Re:Homemade recipe - 2008/02/21 18:06 You can also try a high calorie supplement like nutrical (from the vet) or ferretvite (at pet stores) to keep his weight up.

I know most vets discourage homemade diets because it is really hard to get all the nutrients in there compared to the pet foods already on the market, but it sounds like your hubby is up to the challenge

Ann
Connecticut Hedgehogs

We had a great time at Hedgehog Fest 2008!!!

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Hedgehogmadhatter

User

Posts: 497

Re:Homemade recipe - 2008/02/21 21:44 ANN'S RIGHT!!! THE FOOD IN A TUBE I MENTIONED IS CALLED NUTRICAL!

Hey we need all the entertainment we can get even if we find it while making frozen hedgehog 'lean cuisine"!

~Sara “The fox has many tricks, and the hedgehog only one, but that is the best of all”

Archilochus (Greek lyric poet and soldier, 675-635bc)

There's no love like HEDGEHOG love!

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dzmeadows

Admin

Posts: 976

Re:Homemade recipe - 2008/02/22 10:55 Sounds like a FABULOUS hedgehog treat. In fact, wanna make me a batch without the kibble and mealies? I am kinda hungry.....
Seriously, I think it woudl be fine as part of a hedgehog's diet. However, I would continue to encourage him to eat the crunchy stuff, because that helps take care of his teeth.
I am also curious what the protien/fat content would be in the mixture that you are talking about..... Fat probably wouldn't be too bad, but I fear the protien levels may be pretty high. We have found that hedgehogs fed a diet too rich in protien end up suffering from it. Their kidneys and livers don't seem to be able to manage the richness very well.
Becca

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LORI611

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Posts: 240

Re:Homemade recipe - 2008/02/22 11:54 dzmeadows wrote:
Sounds like a FABULOUS hedgehog treat. In fact, wanna make me a batch without the kibble and mealies? I am kinda hungry.....

Becca
I was thinkin' the same thing myself!Sounds good!

LORI, SOUTHINGTON, CT
Mom of:
Chloe(dog), Mr.Toad(frog) and Hazel the hedgie!!

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Hedgehogmadhatter

User

Posts: 497

Re:Homemade recipe - 2008/02/22 11:56 Beca just pointed out what I meant to say earlier. Because he's only a year and a half you want to keep his teeth as healthy as possible to keep trying to steer him towards kibble and crunchy foods. With older hedgehogs, sometimes kibble isn't worth the fight. Poor Pepper's had a rough week huh? But your husband is ingenius.

~Sara “The fox has many tricks, and the hedgehog only one, but that is the best of all”

Archilochus (Greek lyric poet and soldier, 675-635bc)

There's no love like HEDGEHOG love!

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