Caring for a hedgehog as a pet is crucial, especially if you are fond of a beautiful small animal.
However, hedgehogs are unique animals; hence they are special pets. That is because even their food is different compared to most pocket pets.
Even the way they hibernate when under stress or scared by rolling into balls makes them unique. You must know how to handle tiny, good-looking hedgehog pets.
Stay tuned as I take you through.
6 Tips on Proper Caring for a Hedgehog as a Pet
1. Hedgehog Health
Hedgehogs are always prone to multiple diseases and infections like tumors, lice infestations, intestinal parasites, dental infections, et cetera. Parasite-like mites are why hedgehog pets lose so many spines hence having bald patches.
Your hedgehog is also prone to salmonella infection. Signs of the disease include; reduced appetite, diarrhea, lethargy, et cetera.
The condition can also be transmitted to humans; hence highly advised you correctly clean yourself after handling your pet or cleaning its cage.
When your hedgehog becomes older, it becomes prone to heart conditions. Signs will include; weight loss, weakness, difficulty breathing, et cetera.
If you can diagnose the heart condition early, you can manage it medically and prolong the life of your pet.
You should apply neutering and spaying to avoid organ tumors affecting your pet.
You also should ensure that you do thorough dental checkups on your hedgehog and do professional cleaning of its teeth to prevent your pet from developing dental infections or losing teeth.
2. Exercise
Another common health problem associated with hedgehog pets is obesity. You should be keen on how much food you feed your pet to avoid such an occurrence.
Also, you should ensure your hedgehog exercises. You can provide mental stimulation instruments in their cage like ledges, ramps, tunnels, chew toys, smooth wheels, et cetera.
Such instruments will keep your pet busy and physically fit.
3. Hedgehog Diet
Hedgehogs have an appetite for insects and animals that crawl and creep. Insects like crickets and mealworms are the ones your pet may gravitate toward most.
But, it is prudent to acquire a staple diet for your pet from a store, especially hedgehog food or kibble.
You should acquire a kibble brand with no insect substances to supplement the kibble with live mealworms and insects so that your pet gets the ultimate satisfaction when feeding.
There are some hedgehog pet owners with a tendency to feed their pets kitten food.
While it may be working for them, it is not advisable since the food lacks chitin and blood meal which are essential for your hedgehog’s growth.
You should also ensure you provide clean drinking water to your pet in a water bottle. If it misbehaves with the bottle by chewing it, you can switch to a bowl that is heavy enough not to tip over.
4. Personality
After acquiring your hedgehog as a pet for the first time, it may have an irritable personality because of the change of surrounding and home.
You should give your new pet time to adapt to the new environment and ensure speaking gently and softly to it. Ensure you approach it quietly without surprises.
Your new pet will become less irritable as it adjusts to its new surrounding and adapts to your kind gesture of treating and handling it.
Your Hedgehog will be quiet and playful when they get used to you, especially if you are observant, gentle, and patient.
5. Grooming
You need to keep your hedgehog neat and clean, which ensures fewer infections and good health.
One area you should be keen on is your pet’s nails. They need to be trimmed often. When bathing, you should not wash your pet daily unless it makes itself extremely dirty with its droppings or food.
If a bath is needed, you should fill your basin with an inch of warm water and place your hedgehog in it. You can then use a soft small brush or toothbrush to scrub your pet from front to back gently.
6. Hedgehog Habitat
A hedgehog cage should not have any escape openings. It should have a wire enclosure, but the floor should be solid, so your pet doesn’t get caught by its feet.
You should put a lining of either washable clothing or paper bedding to ease cleaning the cage.
It’s also possible to train your hedgehog to use litter boxes, which should have a lining and be placed strategically for your pet to identify and retrieve quickly.
You should keep your hedgehog’s habitat tidied daily to avoid contamination of its food with leftovers and fecal matter.
Wrap Up
You now know how to care for a hedgehog, and I encourage you to get one as a pet because hedgehogs are adorable and entertaining.
However, as much as they are cute, they need proper care and maintenance, so kindly follow my guidance, as I have highlighted above.
