Vitakraft Hedgehog Food?

[alanwales]

I saw in my pet shop today Vitakraft hedgehog food. I've read a lot of complaints about Vitakraft but none about this product? I'm still using the Royal Canin 38 but thought this might be good to blend with it. Also is it safe to put tissue (like toilet or kitchen) into my hog's nest or should I just stick with Carefresh? Or a mixture of both? Let me know what you all think

[Sarah+Sonic]

vitakraft wasnt even made for african pygmy hogs, but it shows you how you can stick a name on a box and sell it anyway (eye roll here) Laura at pogstarhedgehogs.com did neocropsies on two? hedgehogs I believe who were fed a vitakraft diet after she sold them to the new owners, despite being told not to. they had organ failure-I dont remember it all exactly, but Laura would probably tell you if you asked her. Its a lot of puffed grains and cereals, anyway.
Sarah

[hedgiebedgie]

Does anybody know whether or not hedgehog enthusiasts have expressed concern to the major pet store chains regarding sale of Vitacraft for hedgehogs?

[alanwales]

It does sound like a lot of scaremongering if it's only based on what is said on pogstarhedgehogs. I'll avoid it anyway, but the food was designed for wild hegehogs which have been brought up eating dirt and insects so I'm not sure which is the worse deal!! *Begins dreaming of feeding all wild hedgehogs a diet of Royal Canin and the occasional mealworm*

[Sarah+Sonic]

No, its not only based on Lauras findings, however that is unarguable proof that at the very least a fully vitakraft diet is bad. if i recall,both hedgehogs were young,too. hedgehogs are insectivores (beetles,worms, grubs, maggots, small lizards/snakes, dead food, scavengers, etc) so the fact it has

"Puffed Wheat, Rolled Oats, Raisins, Crushed Peanuts, Cod liver oil, sunflower Seeds, Shrimp, Sugar Beet Syrup, Dried Pork Meal, Ground Prawn, Corn Meal, Puffed Corn"


Should raise a red flag right away =) Plus its 17% protein and 15% fat.. even if youre using it for fiber, its 2.6% fiber, which is less then most cat foods


my first hedgehog was fed vitakraft for a while before i knew any better. he never gained weight, he had horrible flaky skin/coat, etc. when i switched him to a cat food he immediatly put on some weight in the form of muscles, stopped flaking like mad, etc.. not to mention the problems it put on his organs from using a food which was so unnappropriate for him

[alanwales]

Good research, I'll tell the pet shop owner right away

[HedgeMom]

Does anybody know whether or not hedgehog enthusiasts have expressed concern to the major pet store chains regarding sale of Vitacraft for hedgehogs?
Yes, we have. Loudly and repeatedly. Wanna know what the petshops response was? "Well, if it's so bad, why do I sell so much of it?"

Al, I strongly suggest you join one or two of the hedgehog mailing lists. I strongly recommend hedgehog_help@yahoogroups.com and hedgehogwelfare@yahoogroups.com Both lists are very active with ongoing health and welfare issues discussed daily. In addition, a good majority of the people on that list are extremely experienced hedgehog owners and breeders.

I've noticed that you repeatedly question what is going on in the hedgehog world, including questioning our activism and knowledge sharing. This bulletin board barely scratches the surface of what goes on daily. Those of us who have been around a while (and I've had hedgehogs for over 9 years) tend to gravitate toward information that isn't dispensed by teenagers or those with little or no husbandry experience.

I also suggest you join the IHA. The newsletter is a tremendous source of accurate information ranging through all topics, including literary.

Vitakraft is referred to as Vitacrap for good reason. In the beginning it had whole peanuts that would lodge in the roof of the hedgehog's mouth, causing an inability to eat. Because of a vigorous letter writing campaign, they began breaking them up and chopping the raisins. We've done what we can and will continue to try.

[hedgiebedgie]

Thanks. Gosh, I wasn't aware of having "repeatedly questioned" anything. If I am curious about something, I will generally ask about it but I certainly don't want to be boorish or tiresome. Hopefully at my advanced age I have learned to differintiate between misinformation, hearsay, half-truths and fact so if I see something that evidences lack of maturity or inexperience I can assign to it the degree of consideration it merits.

[alanwales]

You might be pleased to know I am already a part of both those forums you listed :-)

[bloane]

I have personally spoken to Laura of Pogstar and seen the necropsy reports on the two hedgehogs that Sarah mentioned. Yes, they died of severe organ problems, which the vet felt were solidly linked to nutritional problems. Both of the babies were perfectlyo healthy before going to the new homes, and it was only after the new homes took the advice of pet stores on feeding Vitakrap instead of listening to what the breeder told them that their baby became ill and died. Do all hedgehogs fed vitakrap die of this? No. However, I see absolutely no benefits of that food to make it worth feeding. Many of us have complained many times to many stores (and also to the main company) regarding the selling of vitakrap, but so far it hasn't done any good. Will keep chipping away at the stone though. :)
Becca