Vet recomendations...

[LexieHeg]

I took Lexie to the vet last weekend for her first check-up. The vet was really nice and seemed really knowledgeable. She came renowned by hedgehog owners in Alberta, some who may even be on this site (so I will not say who the Vet is). She gave me a lot of information but one thing she said has stuck in my head because it the exact opposite what everyone here says...

She told me to take Lexie off of cat food immediately and feed her a combination of hedgehog foods. She said cat food is very bad for hedgies because it is designed for carnivores, and I should not even mix it with hedgehog food (which I was doing). The problem is hedgehog food is made with by-product and corn...which is not supposed to be good for hedgehogs. She said cat food leads to disease and illness in hedgehogs.

Any advice?

Lex loves the cat food, but I don't want to feed her something that will make her sick. Her current mix is high protein low fat cat food (Max and Royal Canin) and high protein low fat hedgehog food (the best brand I could find).

Do I listen to the vet or to the hedgie owners?

 

[Kalandra]

The food debate has been around for ages. You will find some owners who agree with the vets that cat food is bad and others who feel its just fine. I have run into vets who disagreed with cat food and vets who feel the hedgehog food is so chocked full of by-products and harmful preservatives that cat food is the only choice.

I have used both cat food and the various hedgehog foods over the many years I have kept hedgehogs. After learning more about food, I choose to feed cat food made from quality ingredients. I've read a lot and been told by various vets that if you want healthy pets, don't feed junk.

Ultimately it comes down to what you feel is the best for your hedgehog. Do the research and decide.