February 26, 2010

I Can Haz Cilantro?

I have talked about food a lot here this week so lets all enjoy Charlotte the Hedgehog eating cilantro. Happy Weekend!


Video: ohhaveyouseenthis.blogspot.com

February 25, 2010

Toxic Lunch


Some foods and products that seem harmless are quite poisonous to your spike ball. Be careful what you feed her and don't assume because people can eat it your little critter can!

Here is a list of things to keep away from her:
  • Dairy Products
  • Grapes and Raisins
  • Nuts and Seeds 
  • Chocolate
  • Junk food
  • Tea Tree Oil (any product with even a bit can be deadly!)
  • Ivermectin (an anti parasite medication)
  • Ethoxyquin/BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole)/BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene) (Preservatives found in some pet foods)
  • Polysporin and Neosporin Pain Relief or Extra Strength 
There are more in-depth descriptions about why each can be dangerous at: wiki.hedgehogcentral.com .  I would have written more details here but they are so excellently clear at hedgehog central that I would just be plagarizing them.

Wade Hedgehog


This is my Wade Hedgehog. When I was a little girl my grandmother mailed it to me and it had a place of honour in my mother's hutch high up and away from my clumsy, sticky fingers. I am very happy my mother kept it for me because as I grew older and moved away I forgot about this little guy. We have since been reunited and he now sits in a place of honour by my desk away from my still clumsy and still sticky fingers.

February 24, 2010

Hedgehog Fine Dining


When I first got Peggy she came with a ziplock bag of kitten kibble and I was told "She likes chicken flavour". This was not exactly helpful once she had depleted this bag and I went to the pet store for chicken flavour. Turns out many, many, many things are chicken flavour. After a bit of trial and error I found a dry food she really liked and would eat. The kitten food has small enough pieces for her to chew and has a fibre/protein/fat content that is almost ideal. The fat content is a bit high for her overall so I work to make sure she gets exercise every day to help burn off a bit of it. I don't feed her "hedgehog" food because I find she doesn't like it and for the price it isn't any better nutritionally for her.

Hedgehogs also need bugs in their diet. Awesome, I know! The protein and nutrients they get from meal worms, crickets and other creepy crawlies are essential and won't be found in cat food. You can get live bugs from pet stores that specialize in reptiles. Or you can be a baby like me and get cooked ones. I prefer the cooked kind because they won't wriggle away if she doesn't eat them immediately. Insects must be a supplement to her diet but don't over do it. They are candy to hedgehogs so keep it as a treat a few times a week. I love to feed her out of my hand so that she knows I am the source of all the tasty goodness in her day. Plus her nibbling is adorable.

Hedgehogs can also eat cooked egg, fruits and vegetables and some cooked, unseasoned meat. Peggy won't eat any of these so her treat selection is reduced to just bugs. But since she loves these she certainly isn't deprived by her dislike for actual chicken instead of chicken flavour.
   

February 11, 2010

You make me so thorny


Picture: AfricanGrey's shop at Etsy.com

Happy show love awkwardly by purchasing stuff day from Peggy! If anyone is looking to be Peggy's valentine they must show up at dusk with a box of mealworms and tubes.


February 09, 2010

Clipped the Quick


It happened. I cut the quick of her nail. On the last nail of the last paw she flinched as I clipped and I nipped the quick with the clippers.

She didn’t make a sound but rolled up defensively. I had to wait for her to uncurl so I could apply the Styptic to the nail to stop the bleeding. Thankfully she only bled a little but I feel just awful about it. I wrapped her in a towel and cuddled with her to make sure that the bleeding did stop before I put her in her cage with some treats. I gave her so many treats in my guilt haze that she got a bit sick from the richness of the mealworms. This completely compounded my palpable guilt.

This was a very clear reminder to me that no matter how careful I am I need to keep the Styptic jar on hand. She seems completely recovered from the accident, but I am definitely not. I feel incredibly guilty for unintentionally hurting her. I really wish there was an easier way to do this nail care business.
  

February 04, 2010

Hedge Fund


Picture: http://icanhascheezburger.com/?s=hedge+fund

Hedgehog Bathing Video

I cant stop giggling at this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXjPQYgT25Q

This roly poly hedgehog named Shming is taking a bath and loving it! I love the lazy back float that lasts a few minutes! Thank you Google Alerts!

Source: http://blogs.laweekly.com/westcoastsound/mp3/radiohead-haiti-benefit-free-m/

February 03, 2010

Copy Right On!


Picture via: The Daily What www.thedw.us

Why have one copyright infringement when you can have three? Go Sonic Obama magic Harry Potter hedgehog who is number 10 in the marathon!