Oh! You are the new owner of a hedgehog! Congratulations!
Hedgehogs are known for being skittish and shy. However, these little creatures do love to eat, so feeding time can be important for bonding with your new pet.
Hedgehogs are omnivores, which means they are not restricted to a particular class of food, like herbivores and carnivores. Knowing this, you may then have a series of questions about what hedgehogs can and cannot eat, and what is best for them.
This article will focus on hedgehogs and apples.
Can Hedgehogs Eat Apples?
Yes, they can eat apples. Hedgehogs eat a wide variety of food, apples included. However, apples aren’t necessarily one of their favorites.
The nutritional benefits of apples are well-documented. They are very rich in essential minerals and exist in over 7500 different varieties. With that much choice, you should be able to find one that your hedgehog prefers.
Are Apples Perfectly Safe for Hedgehogs to Consume?
We know you are concerned about feeding your hedgehog the best possible foods, so rest assured, apples are completely safe for your hedgie. Apart from being safe to consume, they are also highly nutritious fruits.
Apples are a great source of Vitamin A and Vitamin C. They contain essential antioxidants to slow down the process of aging in both humans and animals. They also supply the necessary amounts of dietary fiber for your hedgehog.
Apples contain a great deal of water. A moderate-sized apple is made up of about 85% water.
When you feed your hedgehog with apples, they are also getting hydrated. We all understand how vital water can be for the metabolic processes of living beings.
Before feeding your hedgehog with apples, it’s important to remove the seeds. They do not find it comfortable to chew the seeds along with the core. To do this, slice the fruit, remove the seeds and core, and give your hedgehog clean apple slices.
Hedgehogs need a healthy diet for them to survive, so do exercise caution when including apples. Excess amounts of sugar are harmful to hedgehogs, so their intake should be watched.
Apples contain a considerable amount of sugar, and therefore should not be part of a daily regimen. Hedgehog diets need to be monitored and balanced.
Can a Hedgehog Eat Every Part of an Apple?
Hedgehogs prefer fresh fruit over dried fruit. When it comes to apples, they can eat both the skin and the flesh. Apples are indeed great for hedgehogs. Unfortunately, they don’t like the seeds.
Let’s briefly examine the different apple parts in detail:
Apple Stem
Apple stem is the only part of the apple fruit not fit for consumption. When you touch the stem of an apple, it feels as if you are holding a softwood twig. The bottom line is—remove the stems before treating your hedgehog.
The stem is not edible for your hedgehog. If you do mistakenly give it the apple stem, it will likely not eat it.
Apple Peel
Apple peels are arguably the most nutritious part of the apple fruit. The skins contain minerals like Vitamin A, Vitamin C, and flavonoid quercetin. When planning to give your hedgie some apples, don’t peel off the skin!
When you decide not to peel the apple skin away, you are indirectly giving your hedgie a treat. Everyone loves a treat, including hedgehogs, so give them one!
Apple Flesh
Few things can be compared to munching on a fresh apple. It is the most delicious part of an apple. It contains essential minerals as well. Trust me, your hedgehog will like this part because it is yummy.
Are you aware that animals also develop cancers? Unfortunately, they do. Consuming apple flesh is a great way of preventing cancers.
Hedgehogs are indeed very prone to diabetes and cancers. The antioxidants in apples can help in preventing these deadly diseases.
Apple Seeds
No, we don’t advise feeding the seeds for several reasons.
Apple seeds can be difficult to digest for hedgehogs. They also contain cyanide in trace amounts. When hedgehogs take the seeds in large amounts, it prevents haemoglobin from binding to oxygen in their body.
Make sure not to feed them with seeds. Apple seeds can be detrimental to their physical health.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can hedgehogs eat spoiled apples?
Under no circumstances should you feed your hedgehogs with spoiled apples. Rotten fruits are known to be infected with harmful microorganisms.
When your hedgehog eats spoiled food, they are likely to be infected and become sick.
Can I give my hedgehog apple milkshake?
Do not give your hedgehog apple milkshake. They are known to be lactose intolerant. Hedgehogs lack the vital enzyme needed to digest the sugar (lactose) found in milk.
If you feed them with an apple milkshake, after a couple of hours, they will develop some signs and symptoms such as bloating, abdominal pain, and diarrhea.
Important Tips to Remember When Feeding Your Hedgehogs Apples
Wash the apples thoroughly
Before feeding your hedgehog apples, make sure they are thoroughly washed. It is never safe to consume unwashed fruits, be it a human or an animal. Wash the apples with clean water before giving them to eat.
The most effective way of washing is to rinse under running water. Using this method makes the apples fit and safe for consumption. Raw fruits at times contain harmful chemicals in the course of harvesting and storage.
Slice the apple into cubes.
Hedgehogs are relatively small animals. Therefore, don’t give the whole apple to them at once.
You can do them a great favor by cutting the apple into smaller pieces. This will go a long way in helping them enjoy their treat.
Hedgehogs are nocturnal
Always remember that hedgehogs are nocturnal animals, so they are most active at night. They are used to eating at night. Make sure to give them adequate food before you go to bed.
Lastly, always remember to give your hedgehogs a variety of food. Their favorite is a protein-rich food. They enjoy eating well-cooked meats and different types of worms. Avoid overfeeding them with apples constantly.
Endnotes
Like humans, no two hedgehogs are the same. A particular hedgehog may find an apple treat to be really tasty, while another may not like eating it.
The good thing is that apples are generally safe for them to consume. For any type of food you are giving to them, moderation is key. You should not overfeed them with a particular type of food.
On a final note, always ensure to remove the seeds when giving them apples to eat. Apple seeds are not safe for them to consume. The two parts of an apple they enjoy the most are the peel and flesh. Don’t deprive them of this healthy fruit!
Resources
We referred to a variety of sources when writing this article. Here is the list of sources used:
- https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_apple_cultivars
- https://www.hedgehogworld.com/what-do-hedgehogs-eat/
- https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/apple-seeds-harmful/
- https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/10-health-benefits-of-apples#
- https://animalhype.com/pets/can-hedgehogs-eat-apples/
- https://www.thesprucepets.com/what-do-hedgehogs-eat-4588705