Content

• Steps
• Part 1 of 4: Choosing a Hedgehog and Transporting It Home
• Part 2 of 4: Placing the hedgehog
• Part 3 of 4: Feeding your hedgehog
• Part 4 of 4: Caring for the well-being and health of your hedgehog
• Tips
• Warnings

Hedgehogs are great pets for those people who have enough patience and are ready to devote their time to caring for them. The domesticated species of hedgehogs, the African pygmy hedgehog, is a hybrid of two wild species of African hedgehogs and is renowned for its quick wit, friendliness and willingness to communicate with a caring owner. As with choosing any other pet, you should first study the information about hedgehogs and the care they need to understand if such a pet is suitable for your lifestyle. To prepare for your hedgehog and to provide him with the best possible care, it is imperative to understand what kind of home the hedgehog needs, as well as how to properly feed him.

Steps

Part 1 of 4: Choosing a Hedgehog and Transporting It Home

1. 1 Make sure your area is free of domestic hedgehogs. The hedgehog is considered an exotic pet and its content may be subject to certain laws in your region or country. In some places it is illegal to keep hedgehogs, and in some it will require a special permit. For more information on possible restrictions on the keeping of exotic animals, please consult the relevant laws and regulations in your region, city or town.
   • If you need help getting information about possible animal restrictions or need to find safe housing for a hedgehog that you are not allowed to keep, contact your local animal protection organization or even one that is exclusively dedicated to hedgehogs.
2. 2 Try to get your hedgehog from a responsible breeder. A hedgehog bought from responsible breeders is more likely to be perfectly socialized, and due to the breeder's excellent knowledge of the entire hedgehog pedigree, the chances of getting a healthy pet will be significantly greater. That is to say, it is very important to find good breeder. If you don't take care of this, you may end up with an irritable or sick hedgehog.
   • Make sure the breeder's breeding animals do not have any animals with degenerative myelopathy (staggering hedgehog syndrome) or cancer in their pedigree.
   • If you are purchasing a hedgehog in the United States, the breeder must be licensed by the USDA. The purchase itself in this case will be accompanied by the preparation of the necessary documentation indicating the breeder's license number.
   • Beware of buying a hedgehog from advertisements on the Internet.
   • Ask the breeder if he can provide assurance that the hedgehog is healthy. The options for executing such a guarantee may vary, but you will be more comfortable if you have the opportunity to return or exchange a hedgehog in case of health problems found in it shortly after purchase. It will also alert the breeder to potential health problems in certain lineages, so a breeder's concern about these issues speaks to his responsible approach to business.
3. 3 Check that the hedgehog is healthy. There are several signs of a healthy hedgehog that you should pay attention to before choosing an animal.
   • Clean eyes: the hedgehog should behave vigilantly, there should be no crusts in the eyes, they should not be sunken or bulging.
   • Clean fur and needles: While a little saliva is normal (see below), fecal matter around the anus may indicate diarrhea or other health problems.
   • Healthy skin: cracking skin and needles may indicate dry skin or the presence of ticks (in the latter case, you will have to treat the hedgehog from them), you should also pay attention to the presence of fleas in the form of small brown quickly jumping dots (they also need treatment).
   • No scars or injuries: If there are scars or injuries, the breeder should explain what happened to the animal, and it should be obvious to you that the hedgehog is recovering. While hedgehogs can survive early trauma (such as blindness, loss of a limb, etc.) and continue to live a healthy and happy life, you will need to think about the specific care they need and whether you can provide it.
   • Vigilance: a hedgehog should behave vigilantly and react to what is happening around him, and not be lethargic and unresponsive to anything.
   • Feces: Check the cage for green feces or signs of diarrhea. If they are present, then this is a sign that the hedgehog has health problems.
   • Moderate weight: an obese hedgehog has fatty "bags" in the armpits and cannot curl up into a ball, a too thin hedgehog will have a sunken belly and retracted sides. Both of these conditions can be a sign of health problems.
   • Healthy feet: The nails should be cut short to avoid curling. If the nails are too long, ask the breeder to show you how to trim them.
4. 4 Get the right approach to transporting your hedgehog home. Before buying, you should make sure that everything is ready for the appearance of a hedgehog in your home. For at least the first month, give the hedgehog the opportunity to get used to you, to new smells, new surroundings. He just went through a huge change in his own life!
   • Pick up your hedgehog daily to get used to you. You can just sit him on your lap and talk to him. Increase your pet's trust with hand-given treats. You can also put your old worn T-shirt in the cage next to your hedgehog to get used to your scent.
5. 5 Get ready to self-lick your hedgehog. One of the more unusual hedgehog behaviors is associated with excessive production of saliva in the presence of new food, smell or salt. The hedgehog turns S-shaped, turning its head to the back, and begins to cover the needles with saliva. While no one really knows exactly what caused this behavior, it is widely believed that because of the coating with an irritating substance, needles are the best weapon. Therefore, you may notice a slight irritation in yourself when you first take a hedgehog in your hands.

Part 2 of 4: Placing the hedgehog

1. 1 Provide a good cage for your hedgehog. Hedgehogs need a large cage to be comfortable in. They love to explore their living space, and in nature their personal habitat is 198-305 meters in diameter. There are also other factors to consider when choosing a cage for your new friend.
   • The cage must be large enough. The minimum cage dimensions are 46 x 61 cm, but if you can afford a more spacious cage, the bigger the better. It is preferable to have a cage measuring 61 x 76 cm, and a cage with a size of 76 x 76 cm will be simply luxurious.
   • The height of the walls of the cage should be 41 cm. While some recommend the use of cages with solid walls, others warn that ventilation in such cages is significantly worse. Be aware that slatted walls can be a problem if your hedgehog loves to climb! Hedgehogs are just masters of arranging shoots. Make sure that the ceiling of the cage closes securely, otherwise or in its absence, check that the hedgehog cannot reach the very top of the cage.
   • The cage should have a solid bottom, as little hedgehogs' legs can slip through the slatted floors, causing injury.
   • Cell not should have more than one level, as hedgehogs have poor eyesight, and their legs break easily. Lattice cages, on the walls of which hedgehogs can climb, are dangerous for those hedgehogs who like to do it! When considering buying or making a cage, also consider the space required to accommodate food bowls, toys, and a litter box.
   • Make sure there is good ventilation in the cage. The air should never stagnate. The only time that air movement should be limited is when the room temperature drops suddenly (for example, when the heating is turned off), when you need to wrap a blanket around the cage.
2. 2 Choose good bedding material. Hedgehogs love sawdust, but aspen should be taken, not cedar, since the latter have carcinogenic phenols (aromatic oils), which, if inhaled, can cause cancer. Alternatively, you can cover the cage with a layer of thick fabric (twill, corduroy, or fleece) cut to fit the bottom.
   • Carefresh is a brand of litter material that resembles shredded gray cardboard. Despite the fact that some recommend it for use, be aware that its particles can get stuck in the male genitals, as well as between the needles.
3. 3 Set up the cage. You will need to add a number of things to the cage to meet the needs of the hedgehog.
   • Shelter. Since in nature the hedgehog is predominantly a nocturnal animal, it needs a safe shelter to hide from light, prying eyes and take a break from everyday activities. A special house or sleeping bag is well suited for this.
   • Running wheel. Hedgehogs need a lot of physical activity, and the wheel is ideal for fun night races. The running wheel should be monolithic, since hedgehogs get stuck in lattice wheels or wheels with crossbars, break their claws and even paws.
   • Do not let the litter material get into the water that the hedgehog drinks. The chemicals it contains can kill the animal.
   • Provide a rimmed litter box no higher than 1.25 cm so the hedgehog can easily climb into it without breaking its legs. If you want to use filler use only Non-sticking cat litter, or just cover the tray with paper towels. The litter box must be large enough to hold a hedgehog, and you must clean it daily. You can use a small kitchen baking sheet or buy a special plastic tray as a toilet tray. Most hedgehog owners place the litter box under the treadmill, as this is where hedgehogs most often go to the toilet.
4. 4 Provide a suitable air temperature. Hedgehogs need a slightly warmer room temperature than people usually tend to maintain at home - about 22.2-26.6ºC. If the temperature is lower, the hedgehog may try to hibernate, which can be FATAL (due to the danger of pneumonia), whereas at hotter temperatures, the hedgehog may experience heatstroke. Adjust the temperature if you notice that the hedgehog is spread out in the cage, as if it is very hot. If the hedgehog is lethargic or its body temperature is lower than usual, immediately warm the pet by placing it under your shirt and heating it with your own heat.
   • If the hedgehog is still cool after an hour, take it to your veterinarian immediately.

Part 3 of 4: Feeding your hedgehog

1. 1 Feed your hedgehog varied. Hedgehogs are predominantly insectivorous, but they can also eat other things, such as fruits, vegetables, eggs, and meat. They tend to be overweight, so your care should be taken to ensure that they eat a healthy diet to keep the hedgehog from gaining weight. An obese hedgehog cannot curl up into a ball, it can form "bags" of fat in the armpits, which makes it difficult for him to move.
2. 2 Choose a quality diet for your hedgehog. Although the specific nutrient requirements of a hedgehog are not entirely known, high quality dry cat food is considered a good basic diet for them to be supplemented with the following varied foods. The food you choose should contain less than 15% fat and about 32-35% protein. Look for whole, organic foods, and avoid organ meats, corn, and the like. Give your hedgehog 1 to 2 tablespoons of dry cat food daily.
   • Avoid low quality hedgehog food as it contains a lot of poor quality ingredients. It is acceptable to use higher quality feed such as L'Avian, Old Mill and 8-in-1.
3. 3 If you are not home by the time of feeding, leave the food for your pet in advance. Many owners take a free-flowing approach to feeding, giving the hedgehog so much food that a small amount remains uneaten.
4. 4 Give your hedgehog a variety of treats to avoid nutrient deficiencies. Supplement dry food with a small amount of other food - only 1 teaspoon daily or every other day. Possible supplementary feed options are listed below.
   • Pieces of boiled unsalted chicken or turkey without skin, or pieces of salmon.
   • Small pieces of fruits and vegetables such as watermelon, boiled peas or sweet potatoes, or applesauce.
   • Boiled or fried scrambled eggs, cut into pieces.
   • Mealworms and crickets. They are an important addition to the hedgehog's diet. As insectivores, hedgehogs need mental stimulation from eating live prey, which also has valuable nutritional properties. Give your hedgehog several insects 1-4 times a week. Never do not feed the hedgehog with wild insects (for example, when you manage to catch them in your yard), as they can be contaminated with pesticides or carry parasites, which the hedgehog will subsequently become infected with.
5. 5 Know which foods to avoid. While hedgehogs appreciate a variety of foods, there are some things hedgehogs should not give: nuts / grains, dried fruits, raw meat, hard unprocessed vegetables, sticky / gooey / solid foods, avocados, grapes and raisins, milk and sour milk food, alcohol, bread, celery, onion and onion powder, raw carrots, tomatoes, fast food (chips, candy, sweets, pickles, etc.), very acidic foods, honey.
6. 6 Adjust the amount of feed given if the hedgehog begins to gain weight. If the hedgehog starts to gain weight, reduce the amount of food given to him and increase the physical activity.
7. 7 Feed your hedgehog in the early evening. Hedgehogs are crepuscular animals by nature, so they are most active at dusk. If possible, feed them once a day around this time.
8. 8 Provide the hedgehog with a suitable food bowl. It should be wide enough for the hedgehog to climb into, and heavy enough so that he cannot turn it over (and start playing with it).
9. 9 Provide the hedgehog with water in a bowl or drinker. Fresh water should always be available.
   • When using the water bowl, make sure it is heavy so that it does not tip over, and that it is shallow enough. Wash the bowl daily and fill it with fresh water.
   • When using a drinking tube with a drinking straw, make sure your pet can drink from it! Perhaps his mother has already taught him this, or you may have to show your pet how the drinker works. Remember that the water in the drinkers should also be changed daily to prevent bacterial growth.

Part 4 of 4: Caring for the well-being and health of your hedgehog

1. 1 Keep your hedgehog in a quiet place. Do not place your hedgehog under a stereo system or TV. As an animal usually hunted by predators in nature, the hedgehog relies heavily on its hearing, and the presence of constant noise and great activity around it will expose it to stress. Make sure that noise, light and activity levels are low in your hedgehog's habitat, and if they rise, for any reason, move the cage to a different location. A hedgehog can be taught to noise if you do it gradually.
2. 2 Provide the hedgehog with ample opportunity to exercise. Hedgehogs are prone to obesity, so physical exercise is imperative for them. Therefore, in addition to the running wheel, you should provide the hedgehog with a large number of toys. Toys must be such that they can be chewed safely without being able to tear off and swallow pieces, push, sniff and even turn them over. Make sure the hedgehog's claws do not get tangled in any strings or get stuck in small holes.
   • Possible toys include rubber balls, old children's toys, rubber figures, baby teethers, toilet paper rolls cut in half, cat balls or toys with bird bells, and so on.
   • Periodically release the hedgehog to play in a larger enclosure. To do this, you can purchase a large plastic trough or let the hedgehog run in the bathroom (of course, without water in it).
3. 3 Monitor your hedgehog's behavior and feed / water intake. Hedgehogs can hide their diseases very well, so it is imperative to know well the characteristics of your hedgehog.Watch for any changes and, if necessary, see your veterinarian to see if they require more careful medical attention.
   • If the hedgehog hasn't eaten for a day or two, something is wrong with it and should be shown to the vet. A hedgehog that will starve for more than two days runs the risk of fatty liver infiltration, which is life-threatening.
   • Look for flaky, dry skin at the base of the needles, as this could be a sign of mites, which, if left untreated, could undermine your pet's strength.
   • Sniffing or wheezing, as well as discharge on the face or wrists, are signs of a respiratory infection, which is common enough for hedgehogs to be a serious condition.
   • Loose stools for more than one day or diarrhea combined with apathy or loss of appetite may be signs of a parasite or other illness.
   • Hibernation, although normal for wild hedgehogs, is unsafe for pets. As mentioned above, if the hedgehog's tummy is cool, try to warm it under your shirt with your own warmth. If you can't warm up your hedgehog within an hour, take it to your veterinarian immediately.
4. 4 Handle your hedgehog regularly. The calm attitude of the hedgehog to being picked up is born from the regularity of this procedure. When you take a hedgehog, do it confidently, they are not as fragile as they seem. The general rule is daily 30-minute communication with a hedgehog in your arms.
   • Approach the hedgehog quietly and slowly. Take it, lifting it from below, and then substitute both hands under the animal.
   • Take time to play. In addition to communicating with a hedgehog in your arms, do not be afraid to join his games. The hedgehog will appreciate your participation if you play with him regularly.
5. 5 Clean your hedgehog cage regularly. Wash bowls and drinker daily with hot water. Clean the treadmill and spot litter daily, and complete litter changes weekly or as needed.
6. 6 Bathe your hedgehog as needed. Some hedgehogs are cleaner than others, so you may need to bathe your pet less or more often.
   • Fill a sink with warm (not hot) water up to the level of the hedgehog's belly. Water should not get into his ears or nose.
   • Add mild oat-based bath foam or puppy bath foam to the water and use a toothbrush to comb the hedgehog's needles and feet.
   • Rinse your hedgehog with warm water and pat dry with a clean, dry towel. If your pet is patient, you can use the hair dryer at minimum power, otherwise use only a towel. Never put a hedgehog wet in a cage.
7. 7 Check the condition of the hedgehog's claws regularly. If they are too long and begin to curl, they can be torn off when running in the wheel.
   • Trim your hedgehog's nails with small nail scissors, cutting off only the very tips.
   • If the hedgehog is bleeding, apply a little starch to the claw with a cotton swab. Do not use commercial styptic powders as they can cause a burning sensation.
8. 8 Be prepared for needles to fall out. The loss of needles in a hedgehog is similar to the loss of milk teeth in children or the shedding of old skin by a snake. This process begins in hedgehogs from the age of 6-8 weeks and lasts for the entire first year of their life as children's needles are replaced by adults. This is normal and should not be a cause for concern unless the hedgehog is showing signs of illness or discomfort, or new needles refuse to grow. During this process, the hedgehog may be irritable and less patient to be picked up. To relieve discomfort, you can give your hedgehog an oat-based foam bath. This is only a temporary stage in his life.

Tips

• If your home is too cold, turn up the heating with ceramic heaters, or use electric heating pads (however, the latter is not recommended, as rugs can cause serious and life-threatening burns). Do not use incandescent bulbs for heating, as they disrupt the hedgehog's natural sleep-wake cycle.
• Be gentle when you take the hedgehog in your hands, otherwise you risk being bitten.
• If you want to have more than one hedgehog, it is recommended that you keep them separately. Hedgehogs are loners who prefer personal privacy. If you keep them together in the same cage, fights are possible. Males will fight to the death.
• Make sure that the breeder you are acquiring the hedgehog from does not have a history of degenerative myelopathy (staggering hedgehog syndrome) in the animal's pedigree, as your hedgehog may also have this genetic disorder. Take your time with the purchase of a hedgehog, first do your own research to find the right breeder.
• When you let your hedgehog play with a toilet paper tube, cut it in half lengthways to prevent the hedgehog from getting stuck in it.
• Unless you intend to breed hedgehogs, do not buy a male and a female. Female hedgehogs become sexually mature at 8 weeks, but they can only be mated safely from 6 months of age. The last thing you need is an unplanned, unwanted and closely related brood. If the female is too young, the pregnancy can be fatal. Breeding hedgehogs is very dangerous and expensive. Very often the mother and cubs die, so this should not be taken lightly.
• Not all veterinarians know how to handle hedgehogs. For this reason, it will not be superfluous to ask the breeder for recommendations or at the pet store where you buy a hedgehog. Owner and hedgehog fan clubs can also provide you with lists of veterinarians experienced in treating hedgehogs. Contact your veterinarian ahead of time to improve your relationship. before of how possible urgent problems arise.
• Be careful with small strands and hair. They can easily wrap around a hedgehog's paw, squeeze blood circulation and, if removed, lead to the need for limb amputation.
• If there are no hedgehog breeders in your area, you can purchase a hedgehog at a pet store. In this case, do not forget to pay attention to the signs of a hedgehog's healthy state, indicated in the 3rd step of the first part of the article.

Warnings

• Do not allow "half-sleep", it is deadly for dwarf hedgehogs. The most common symptom is extreme lethargy and a cool stomach. If this happens, immediately grab the hedgehog and tuck it under your shirt to warm your body. Continue to gradually warm your hedgehog with warm, but not hot items, such as heated towels, a covered heating pad on the lowest setting, or one or two bottles of warm water. DO NOT dip the hedgehog into water to warm it up. If after an hour nothing helps the hedgehog or he does not become more active, immediately contact your veterinarian.
• Do NOT use wire or mesh running wheels under any circumstances. They are dangerous, as the fingers and claws of a hedgehog can get stuck in them, which is fraught with fractures of the limbs. Do not use silent running wheels, as the hedgehog's fingers can easily get stuck in the gap on these wheels. Use only one-piece running wheels such as those made by Comfort Wheel, Flying Saucer Wheel or Bucket Wheels.
• Attention: not use cedar sawdust, as in contact with hedgehog urine, they can form toxic fumes that are dangerous for him. Improperly dried pine sawdust can also smell when it comes in contact with urine, so take a sniff of the sawdust before purchasing it.If they smell strongly of pine, they may be poorly dried. Try to find a stack of sawdust that smells more like wood than pine.
• If you are not careful, the hedgehog can bite you. Any animal with teeth can bite, although this is rare for hedgehogs, as they rely more on their needles for protection than on their teeth. If a hedgehog has bitten you, do not react, as this can often make it bite you even more. Sometimes you can just carefully free from the teeth of the hedgehog. When the hedgehog releases you, do not put it back in the cage, as this will serve as a reward for the bite.
• Do not confuse changing needles with falling out due to mites, infection, or poor nutrition. If your hedgehog has bald patches on the body, contact your veterinarian.
• Do not handle the hedgehog badly, do not drop it, do not roll it up, do not throw it. This will make the hedgehog incorrigibly irritable and uncommunicative.