Can Hedgehogs Eat Cucumbers?

Cucumbers are fruits but can often be mistaken for vegetables. It contains lots of nutrients that are beneficial to both humans and animals. Cucumbers are low in calories and rich in fiber, which makes them suitable for weight loss and digestion processes. They also contain lots of water that aids hydration and prevents dehydration. Cucumbers are also low in fat, sodium, and cholesterol, which makes them a safe addition to any diet. Cucumbers contain vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that help to prevent medical conditions like cancer and diabetes. 

CAN HEDGEHOGS EAT CUCUMBER?

Even though some don’t, most hedgehogs enjoy eating cucumbers. The only way to find out if a hedgehog likes to eat cucumbers or not is by introducing them to its diet in small quantities and watching the hedgehog’s reaction. The cucumbers can be sliced into tiny cubes or steamed before serving them to hedgehogs to make their chewing and digestion easier.

BENEFITS OF FEEDING CUCUMBER TO HEDGEHOGS

Cucumbers possess lots of vitamins in reasonable quantities, which makes them a safe and healthy addition to a hedgehog’s diet. Below is a table showing the vitamins that 100 grams of cucumber contain according to the USDA nutrient database.

NUTRIENTS	QUANTITY
Water	95.2 g
Energy	15 kcal
Protein	0.65 g
Fat	0.11 g
Cholesterol	0 mg
Caffeine	0 mg
Carbohydrate	3.63 g
Fiber	0.5 g
Sugar	1.67 g
Starch	0.83 g
Calcium	16 mg
Iron	0.28 mg
Magnesium	13 mg
Phosphorus	24 mg
Sodium	2 mg
Zinc	0.2 mg
Copper	0.041 mg
Manganese	0.079 mg
Vitamin A	105 IU
Vitamin B6	0.04 mg
Vitamin B12	0 µg
Vitamin C	2.8 mg
Vitamin K	16.4 µg
Thiamin	0.027 mg
Riboflavin	0.033 mg
Niacin

1. It aids hydration: Cucumbers possess a large amount of water which helps to prevent dehydration in hedgehogs, especially during summer. Staying hydrated helps to prevent constipation and kidney stones in hedgehogs. Hydration also aids hedgehogs in developing a healthy intestine

2. Strong and healthy bones:Cucumbers contain Vitamin K and calcium, essential for healthy bones. The vitamin K in cucumbers aids blood clotting and helps to improve calcium absorption. Both vitamin K and calcium help hedgehogs develop and maintain strong and healthy bones.

3. Prevention of cancer:Cucumbers possess high levels of cucurbitacin nutrients. These nutrients stop cancer cells from reproducing, thereby preventing cancer in hedgehogs. Cucumbers are also rich in fiber, which helps to prevent some types of cancer. 

4. Improves cardiovascular health:Cucumbers contain fiber, which can help prevent cardiovascular problems in hedgehogs. They also have low amounts of sodium, which helps to lower blood pressure and prevent cardiovascular health conditions. 
5. Prevention of diabetes:Hedgehogs are tiny in size, so they will likely become obese if they consume too much food or sugar. Foods that are low in sugar help to prevent hedgehogs from becoming obese. Obesity is the diabetes pathway; it is advisable to feed hedgehogs with low-sugar foods to keep them free from diabetes. Cucumbers contain low amounts of sugar, which makes them a safe addition that prevents diabetes in hedgehogs.

6. Prevents inflammation:Cucumbers possess anti-inflammatory benefits for hedgehogs. Inflammation occurs when there is a problem with the immune system and may lead to severe health conditions like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. Vitamin A aids the functioning of the immune system and prevents inflammation. Cucumbers are rich in vitamin A, so it is plausible to say that cucumbers help to prevent inflammation in hedgehogs.

7. It possesses antioxidants:If free radicals are left to accumulate in hedgehogs, it could lead to severe health conditions like cancer, lung infections, or heart disease. Antioxidants help to prevent the release of free radicals in the body, and cucumbers are rich in beneficial antioxidants that help to keep hedgehogs safe from these health conditions.

8. It aids weight loss:Cucumbers are very low in calories which helps to prevent weight gain and maintain the healthy lifestyle of a hedgehog. The low number of calories and high water content in cucumbers makes them safe for overweight hedgehogs to consume to lose weight and remain healthy. 

                                                                                            

9. It promotes regularity:Dehydration could cause constipation, and indigestion could make it difficult for hedgehogs to pass stool. Cucumbers contain fiber and water, which aids digestion and promotes hydration. The fiber and water contents in cucumbers help to regulate bowel movements in hedgehogs; therefore, eating cucumbers may help support regular bowel movements in hedgehogs. 

RISKS OF FEEDING CUCUMBERS TO HEDGEHOGS

Although cucumbers are safe for hedgehogs to eat, there are some risks involved in feeding cucumbers to hedgehogs. Firstly, the seeds of cucumbers can also be risky for hedgehogs because they contain fatty acids that could result in dehydration. Dehydration can lead to constipation in hedgehogs, so it is advisable to be mindful of the seeds when feeding cucumber to hedgehogs.

Cucumbers contain large amounts of vitamin K and calcium. Overwhelming hedgehogs with these vitamins might put them at risk of metabolic bone disease and kidney stones. It could also affect blood clotting in hedgehogs, so it is preferable to serve cucumbers to hedgehogs in small amounts, not more than two times a week. 

Also, cucumbers have wax on their skin that might contain germs. If hedgehogs consume these germs, they might fall sick and suffer from diarrhea and vomiting, which could become more severe if untreated. It is advisable to wash the skin thoroughly or peel it off before feeding cucumbers to hedgehogs. 

CONCLUSION

Cucumbers are very healthy for hedgehogs to consume but can be harmful too. Overfeeding hedgehogs with cucumber can be risky and cause lots of harm to them. It is commendable to take out the skin and seeds of cucumbers as much as possible to prevent hedgehogs from coming in contact with germs and diseases. It is also advisable to mash the cucumbers before serving them to hedgehogs to make it easy for them to chew and digest. Mashing the cucumbers also prevent hedgehogs from dental problems and choking hazards.