Apples are readily available all around the globe. Being a fruit lover myself, I always wondered if I can feed apples to my Hedgehogs? Is it safe for them? Let us find this out in our further discussion.
Hedgehogs can surely eat apples once in a while. They are packed with several essential nutrients. A small slice once a week is perfect for them. It is important to serve the fruit in moderation. Overeating apples can lead to health problems such as diarrhea, obesity, diabetes, and kidney stones.
Always make sure you don’t throw in a lot at once or it might be bad for our Hedgehogs.
Apple makes an excellent treat for our Hedgehogs. However, we can not make it a staple part of our pet’s diet. Their major diet consists of kibble and insects/worms followed by occasional treats.
So, in this guide, we shall learn all about the benefits, hazards, the right way to feed apples to your Hedgehogs, and more.
Nutrition In Apples
Let us look in detail the nutritional values of 100 grams of apples.
| Nutrients | Amount |
|---|---|
| Water | 85.56 g |
| Energy | 52 kcal |
| Protein | 0.26 g |
| Total lipid (fat) | 0.17 g |
| Carbohydrate, by difference | 13.81 g |
| Fiber, total dietary | 2.4 g |
| Sugars, total including NLEA | 10.39 g |
| Calcium, Ca | 6 g |
| Iron, Fe | 0.12 g |
| Magnesium, Mg | 5 g |
| Phosphorus, P | 11 g |
| Potassium, K | 107 g |
| Sodium, Na | 1 g |
| Zinc, Zn | 0.04 g |
| Copper, Cu | 0.027 g |
| Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid | 4.6 mg |
| Vitamin B-6 | 0.041 mg |
| Folate, total | 3 µg |
| Vitamin A, RAE | 3 µg |
| Vitamin K (phylloquinone) | 2.2 µg |
Apples are rich in several essential nutrients needed by our Hedgehogs. You might think that apples have a sweet taste. However, the truth is apples do not add to the weight much.
The decent amount of fiber present in apples, makes them an excellent treat for our pet.
Apples also contain a decent amount of calcium. Although calcium helps our Hedgehogs in making their bones stronger, some drawbacks need to be kept in mind before the consumption of calcium. Overfeeding of calcium can lead to kidney stones in out little ones.
To overcome all kinds of diseases, our Hedgehog needs to have a sound immunity system. Apples are extremely helpful in maintaining a robust immunity system.
Are Apples Good For Hedgehogs?
Apples are excellent for our Hedgehog’s health. It contains a lot of nutrients like Vitamin C, fiber, and antioxidants.
The fiber in the apple helps in the digestion of our Hedgehogs. Apples also contain Vitamin C, which is an essential part of the diet of our Hedgehogs. It makes the immune system stronger and prevents a lot of diseases.
The antioxidants also help them in keeping their immune system and proper body development.
Are Apples Bad For Hedgehogs?
Apples are not bad for Hedgehogs if served in moderation. If served in excess, they can be terrible for your Hedgehog’s health.
Some Hedgehogs might eat apples and have no side effects, while others might even suffer from diarrhea and mouth sores.
It is highly recommended to feed a small amount for the first time to know if your Hedgehogs are allergic to it or not. You still have to serve it a moderate quantity if your Hedgehogs show no side effects.
If they start showing side effects, you should immediately remove apples from their diet and visit a vet to know its reason.
How Many Apples Can Hedgehogs Eat In A While?
A Hedgehog should not have anything more than one slice of apple at a time. Even though the serving size depends on factors like age and size, this should be a rough estimate.
You should keep in mind that the staple diet of Hedgehogs consists of kibble and insects/worms. Never add fruits to your pet’s regular diet.
How Often Can Hedgehogs Eat Apples?
Hedgehogs should not eat apples more than 1-2 times a week. Serving anything more than that can lead to several problems.
Overconsumption of any fruit can lead to severe health complications such as diarrhea and diabetes. Also, apple contains a decent amount of calcium, which can lead to kidney stones if served in excess.
If you are feeding apples to your Hedgehog for the first time, always follow all the below-mentioned points. Let’s discuss those points:
- Start by giving your pet a tiny amount of apple at first to check their reaction.
- Observe your Hedgehog’s reaction after feeding the fruit to them.
- If they show any signs of discomfort, then stop feeding it for the time being. You may reintroduce it in the future.
Correct Way To Feed Apples To My Hedgehogs!
Feeding apples to our Hedgehogs is an easy process.
Follow these simple steps to prepare apples for your Hedgehogs:
- The first and foremost step is to choose the correct apple for your Hedgehogs. Make sure that the apples are ripe. Unripe apples can be terrible for our Hedgehog’s health.
- Wash the apple properly. This is essential as it gets rid of all the unwanted dust and chemicals on the skin. I advise you to get your Hedgehogs organic apple only.
- Slice the apples in small sizes so that your Hedgehogs can eat them easily. This ensures that there are no chances of choking.
- Now the fruit is ready to be served to your pet. You can either hand feed them or serve them in their food bowl.
After your Hedgehogs have enjoyed eating their treat, make sure that you remove all the uneaten parts. This avoids bacteria building up in and around the cage.
Related Queries:
Can Hedgehogs Eat Apple Sauce?
Hedgehogs cannot eat apple sauces at all. Apple sauce contains over 50% of sugar, which makes it toxic for our Hedgehogs.
However, you can serve it to your Hedgehogs if you make it at home with no added sugar. I still advise you to avoid it as much as possible.
Can Hedgehogs Apple Skin?
Hedgehogs can eat apple skin without any problems. You can try serving them apple skin if they do not like apples.
Hedgehogs like to nibble on the skin a lot. Apple peels also contain a small amount of sugar. Therefore, do not overfeed it to them. Make sure that you wash it properly because it gets rid of the wax coating
Can Hedgehogs Eat Green Apples?
Hedgehogs can eat green apples. In fact, it contains less sugar than normal red apples. They still are tart and acidic, so do not overfeed them at all.
Can Hedgehogs Eat Apple Orchard Sticks?
Apple tree branches are completely safe for our Hedgehogs to chew on. It is important to prepare the branches properly before serving it to your pet.
Do not forget to dry the branches properly before serving them to your Hamsters. Also, remove all the sharp edges of these branches before serving them to your pet.
The edges can easily hurt the inner part of our Hedeghog’s mouth. Also, I advise you to provide them branches from organic tree branches only.
