Syringing food is sometimes required to meet a hedgehog’s nutritional requirements; in some cases it is also used to make giving medications a lot easier.

Every hedgehog owner should keep materials for syringe feeding available at all times.  Hedgehogs have been known to suddenly stop eating for a variety of reasons, and doing so can cause the hedgehog to become weak which can seriously escalate the underlying problem; in addition to that, fatty liver disease can set in after a few days of little to no food. If your hedgehog stops eating or only eats a few kibbles a night for 2-3 days, you should start syringe feeding immediately.You should also watch water intake, because dehydration can set in quickly.

• 1ml/1cc syringes (can be purchased at most pharmacies, including Wal-mart; must have removable needle-points) or 10ml syringes (can be found with kids’ medicines in pharmacies)
• A good mixture recipe
• Paper towels (for any messes that may result)
• Patience

I feel this is one of the best recipes out there, which is why I chose to feature it here.  This recipe is aimed to keep tummy upsets to a minimum.  If you’d prefer to look at additional recipes, more will be listed at the bottom.

Some people will add probiotics to the mixture to also aid GI.  This should only be done in one mix of the day.  Human acidophilus is a favorite, and comes in capsules that can be broken open.  If you’re going to do this, stir it into the mixture right before  administering—not while heating or first mixing.  Half a capsule should be sufficient, aka “a hefty pinch”.  (If giving antibiotics, make sure the acidophilus mix is at least 2 hours after the antibiotic—preferably at the halfway between antibiotic doses; otherwise the antibiotic will just kill the probiotic.)

If you're adding medicines in, such as antibiotics, mix them in to a little serving right before you feed it.  You want the hedgie to take all the antibiotic, so you want to put it into a smaller amount of food so you know all of it is eaten.  If you put it into a big serving, it might not all be eaten. If the hedgie is still hungry after the smaller serving, you can feed more that doesn't have the medicine in it, but you definitely want to be sure all of the medicine is taken so start small.

Be sure to check foods on your wrist to make sure they aren’t too hot before syringing.

You want the hedgehog to eat a minimum of 10 mLs per day.  This doesn’t have to be done all at one time; just a total of all the feedings during the day, which could be several depending on how much he/she is eating at one time.  If the hedgie won’t eat much at a time, you need to feed several times a day; if eating well, fewer times.

 
This is where the patience comes in—and probably the paper towels, too.

You want your hedgehog to be in a natural position, whether in your hand/arms  or sitting on a flat surface.  You do NOT want him/her to be in your hand on their back, as this can cause choking.

Insert the syringe into the corner of the mouth.  You want to feed from the side so that food is not going directly down the throat, also a possible choking hazard.

Slowly squeeze a little food into the hedgie’s mouth, then pull the syringe back out and let him/her swallow--and probably anoint.

Try again, using the same method.  The hedgehog will ideally start getting the idea and begin to bite down onto the nozzle and swallowing the food quickly.  When this happens, you can give the food a little faster.  Just make sure the hedgie is still swallowing; when he/she stops, stop syringing or you’re going to have to use those paper towels.

Most hedgehogs will grow fidgety when they’re finished eating and won’t take the syringe anymore.  Another tell-tale sign is when they start blowing bubbles.  This is a signal that their belly is full.

When you’ve done all this, wipe up any mess that may have resulted and spend some time snuggling your little one, telling him/her to feel better.  Encouragement from their human can go a long way in making a hedgehog get better faster.  If you have a hedgie that isn’t big on snuggling, feel free to put him/her back in the cage and just sit beside the cage talking softly.  

• If you try some foods ahead of time for syringing, you can find out what your hedgehog likes and what he/she doesn’t.  If you plan to use Hills A/D, for example, try it first.  It’s much easier to syringe feed if the hedgehog likes the food being syringed.  Many soft food recipes out there can even be used as an occasional treat.

• The first time you syringe a food, the hedgehog will probably anoint.  Remember to allow time or that.

• If the food seems too lumpy, try running the mix through a blender to make it smoother for the syringing process.

• Most hedgehogs prefer warmed food to cold food.  If you make a mixture that you’re storing in the fridge/freezer, be sure to warm it up to room temperature before feeding.  (Make sure it’s not too hot by testing on your wrist!)

• If your hedgehog is being uncooperative and balling up, use another syringe and gently wiggle it in the ball to the tummy, then squirt a bit of the food on his/her tummy; sometimes when the hedgehog can get the taste that way, they will accept the syringe more readily.

• Nancy from HHC says: “I keep canned Hills A/D on hand just in case I have to syringe feed someone. I've never met a hedgehog yet that didn't like it.”

If the hedgehog has been eating syringed food, sometimes he/she will not want to give it up and therefore won’t eat the normal kibble after feeling better.  It can take some time to wean them off the syringe, but it CAN be done.

There are a few things to try:

• Try putting the mixture you’ve been syringing into a dish in their cage; slowly start decreasing the amount given.

• Try decreasing the amount syringed; he/she will likely start eating the food normal due to still being hungry.

• If the hedgie has difficulty eating hard kibble, try dampened kibble (adding a small amount of water to make it softer) or canned food.

(REMEMBER—ALWAYS CHECK TEMPERATURE ON YOUR WRIST BEFORE FEEDING!)

Bodega’s Blend 

Soft Food Recommendations

Laura Ledet’s Homemade Mash -- This is a page about Wobbly Hedgehog Syndrome, but the recipe will work even if your hedgehog does not have WHS. Toward the bottom there is a section entitled “Syringe feeding” and under that is the recipe, entitled “Laura’s Homemade Mash”.

Miss Murray’s Mash -- might run it through a blender to make it smooth enough for syringing; a soft food for those who have trouble chewing, otherwise

NOTE: Some people like to add human Boost, Ensure, or Pediasure to a mix for nutrition. If you want to do this, AVOID chocolate flavors as we don’t know if chocolate has a bad effect on hedgies and it isn’t worth risking it. Vanilla and strawberry are good flavors for hedgie when it comes to Boost and Ensure;   strawberry, vanilla, and banana cream when it comes to Pediasure.