Crazy4Critters
10-07-2006, 11:03 PM
Hi,
I need some advice please : )
Here is my situation. I have a hedgehog that I got into rescue. It was being fed a dry kibble diet of Trader Joe's Premium Chicken Cat Food (protein 30% min, fat 18% min and 3% fiber). I know the fat is way too high and the fiber should be higher at around 8%. I have been slowly changing over to Royal Canin Light 37 Cat food then was going to introduce another high quality cat food that meets the three requirements for protein (higher than 30%), fat (lower than 10%-the lower the better) and fiber around 8%.
I have come across someone who is interested in adopting the hedgehog. I offered her a bag of the Royal Canin food included in the adoption fee. She mentioned that her exotic pet veterinarian recommends Pretty Pets hedgehog food over any of the cat foods including Royal Canin because cat foods are higher in fat and expensive.
Here is the information on Pretty Pets found on their website:
This food contains 32% protein, 6% fat and can be used for both pets and breeder animals. This food has interesting shapes and flavors that hedgehogs really love. Everything necessary for good health is included.
INGREDIENTS:
Corn, Corn Gluten Meal, Poultry Meal, Oats, Beet Pulp Fiber, Potato Protein, Wheat Isolate, Calcium Carbonate, Dicalcium Phosphate, Coconut Oil, Soya Oil, sodium Bicarbonate, Choline Chloride, L-Lysine, DL Methionine, Vitamin E Supplement, Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Ferrous Sulfate, D-Biotin, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Zinc Oxide, Manganous Oxide, Niacinamide, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Mixed Tocopherols, Copper Sulfate, Calcium Iodate, Beta Carotene, Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Sodium Selenite, Folic Acid, Riboflavin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Thiamine Mononitrate, Menadione Dimethylpyrimidinol Bisulfite (source of Vitamin K3), Vitamin D3 Supplement, Cobalt Sulfate, Rosemary Extract.
Guaranteed Analysis:
Crude Protein (min) 32%, Crude Fat/Oil (min) 5 %, Crude Fiber (max) 6 %, Moisture (max) 10 %, Ash (max) 4 %, Vitamin A (min) 17,500 IU/kg, Vitamin D3 (min) 800 IU/kg, Vitamin E (min) 200 IU/kg, Copper (min) 10 mg/kg.
I realize that vets recommend Science Diet as the best cat/dog food and it is not the case because of fillers and animal-by-products. However, it looks to this person that by suggesting she not use Pretty Pets, that I'm contradicting a professional and an expert in exotic pets such as Hedgehogs. By looking at the ingredients in Pretty Pets it appears to meet the requirements for protein, fat and fiber. Can you help me understand why the ingredients in Pretty Pets for Hedgehogs is not a good diet? What else am I missing? :banghead: Is it that protein is not the first ingredient?
I need some advice please : )
Here is my situation. I have a hedgehog that I got into rescue. It was being fed a dry kibble diet of Trader Joe's Premium Chicken Cat Food (protein 30% min, fat 18% min and 3% fiber). I know the fat is way too high and the fiber should be higher at around 8%. I have been slowly changing over to Royal Canin Light 37 Cat food then was going to introduce another high quality cat food that meets the three requirements for protein (higher than 30%), fat (lower than 10%-the lower the better) and fiber around 8%.
I have come across someone who is interested in adopting the hedgehog. I offered her a bag of the Royal Canin food included in the adoption fee. She mentioned that her exotic pet veterinarian recommends Pretty Pets hedgehog food over any of the cat foods including Royal Canin because cat foods are higher in fat and expensive.
Here is the information on Pretty Pets found on their website:
This food contains 32% protein, 6% fat and can be used for both pets and breeder animals. This food has interesting shapes and flavors that hedgehogs really love. Everything necessary for good health is included.
INGREDIENTS:
Corn, Corn Gluten Meal, Poultry Meal, Oats, Beet Pulp Fiber, Potato Protein, Wheat Isolate, Calcium Carbonate, Dicalcium Phosphate, Coconut Oil, Soya Oil, sodium Bicarbonate, Choline Chloride, L-Lysine, DL Methionine, Vitamin E Supplement, Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Ferrous Sulfate, D-Biotin, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Zinc Oxide, Manganous Oxide, Niacinamide, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Mixed Tocopherols, Copper Sulfate, Calcium Iodate, Beta Carotene, Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Sodium Selenite, Folic Acid, Riboflavin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Thiamine Mononitrate, Menadione Dimethylpyrimidinol Bisulfite (source of Vitamin K3), Vitamin D3 Supplement, Cobalt Sulfate, Rosemary Extract.
Guaranteed Analysis:
Crude Protein (min) 32%, Crude Fat/Oil (min) 5 %, Crude Fiber (max) 6 %, Moisture (max) 10 %, Ash (max) 4 %, Vitamin A (min) 17,500 IU/kg, Vitamin D3 (min) 800 IU/kg, Vitamin E (min) 200 IU/kg, Copper (min) 10 mg/kg.
I realize that vets recommend Science Diet as the best cat/dog food and it is not the case because of fillers and animal-by-products. However, it looks to this person that by suggesting she not use Pretty Pets, that I'm contradicting a professional and an expert in exotic pets such as Hedgehogs. By looking at the ingredients in Pretty Pets it appears to meet the requirements for protein, fat and fiber. Can you help me understand why the ingredients in Pretty Pets for Hedgehogs is not a good diet? What else am I missing? :banghead: Is it that protein is not the first ingredient?