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Hedgehog FAQ Sheet
by Linda Woodring
1. What should I feed my hedgehog?
Most
of us feed our animals a mix of several good quality dry
kibbles...high in protein and low in fat...such as Wellness,
Innova, Royal Canin, Chicken Soup for the Cat Lover's soul,
Newman's Own, Natural Balance, Eukanuba, Solid Gold, Felidae
and others. There are also some good quality hedgehog
foods...L'Avian, Spike's Delight, Old Mill, and 8 In 1 .
The foods to stay away from are VitaKraft and Brown's. It's
also okay to feed a little canned food or baby food without
spices or cooked chicken or salmon (watch for bones) or
scrambled eggs and just a tiny bit of cooked fruits of
veggies. Worms and crickets are for snacks and should be
used sparingly. Superworms bite, so if you must feed those
please make sure they're dead first and that that head is
removed. My rule of thumb is about a tablespoon of dry
kibble and a teaspoon of canned and just a dab of
fruits/veggies, but that may have to be adjusted a bit
depending on the size of the hedgie. Although you can
certainly make up your own mix, it's difficult if you only
have one or two hedgehogs.
Be
sure your hedgie always has fresh water. Some people prefer
to use water bottles and others prefer dishes. There have
been rare instances where a hedgie's tooth has been broken
with a bottle. However, it's much easier to keep the water
in a bottle clean. Whichever you decide to use, make sure
your hedgie knows how to use it. If its mom didn't teach it
to use a bottle, it may not know how.
2. What kind of bedding
should I use?
There are a lot of different opinions on this subject. I
think most people starting out use some kind of wood chips
or shredded paper like Yesterdays News. If you must use
wood, stick to aspen as the oils in cedar and pine can make
the hedgehog sick. It also sometimes causes problems with
males getting stuck in their little boy parts. Most of us
like using cloth cut to the size of the cage.
Most of these liners are two layers of
corduroy or cotton with a layer of fleece in between. Be
careful with vellux because there is a fine layer of mesh in
the center of the fabric which can catch little nails if
they dig in it. Be sure them have plenty of fleecy blankets
and some sleepy sacks or hats in the cage.
4 Why is my hedgie losing so
many quills?
If
your hedgie is young it my just be shedding baby quills.
They usually do that between 7 and 12 weeks of age and can
be very grumpy during that period. You'll usually find a
pile of quills where they sleep. Just try not to touch them
too much, and if they really get grumpy sometimes a warm
(not hot) bath with a few drops of Vitamin E or olive oil
might help.
If
you find quills are falling off in patches than you could
have a mite problem and a trip to the vet would be in order
to have it diagnosed and treated. The treatment is usually
two or three steps stretched out over several weeks.
5. Can I house two hedgehogs
together?
There is not a yes or no answer to this. Unaltered males
and females should NEVER be housed together or you will have
babies.
It
is not a good idea to put two males together. There are
some that get along, but more often than not they will, at
some point, fight.
It
is quite possible to put females together, but there are
still some situations were there personalities just aren't
right for cohabitation. When you first put them together,
be sure to monitor them closely for possible problems. (See
HWS Newsletter #16, May-June 2005)
6.
How can I litter train my hedgehog?
I'll
start by saying that not all hedgies can be litter box
trained. The best way is to get a large square ferret sized
little box. Put either a pellet type litter (don't use
clumping cat litter) or paper litter in it or even paper
towels or puppy training pads, and then put their exercise
wheel inside the box. Since they pee and poop on their
wheel, they usually get the idea that this is where to go.
If you find some outside the box, put it inside so they know
that's where it should be. (See HWS Newsletter #1, March
2002)
7. What kind of toys do
hedgehogs like to play with?
All
are different...some don't play, but it seems the favorites
are cat balls with bells in them, scented small tennis
balls, beanie babies and empty toilet paper tubes. Some
also like little toy cars and trucks or "babble ball" that
talk to them.
8. Is a hedgehog like a
porcupine?
No,
hedgehogs are insectivores and are not related at all to
porcupines which are rodents. They're actually related more
closely to moles and shrews.
9.
My hedgehog weighs... Is that a good weight?
All
hedgehogs are different...just like people. Rule of thumb
is that if a hedgie can comfortably roll up in a tight ball,
he/she isn't too fat. On the other end, they shouldn't look
like a squished Twinkie. We've had hedgies that have been
perfect at 250 grams and others at 700+ grams.
BUT,
it is very important to weigh your hedgehog at least once a
week (preferably more often) because rapid weight loss is
often the first sign of illness. Very nice scales made by
Good Cook can be found at most discount stores like Target,
WalMart, etc. Be sure any scale you buy weighs in grams as
well as ounces (you can get a more accurate reading), and be
sure they have a large flat top to put the hedgie on. I
like to use a salad bowl (the kind you get with McDonald's
salads) on top of the scale...they sit real nice in there
for their weigh-ins. Be sure to reset the scale to zero
before weighing.
10.
My hedgehog has dry skin. What can I do?
First of all, is there quill loss? If your hedgehog is
loosing lots of quills, leaving bald patches, and if they
have dry skin and/or tattered ears, a vet visit is in order
because this could be a sign of mites.
However, a lot of hedgies go through periods of dry flaky
skin. You can give them a warm (not hot) bath with an
oatmeal shampoo (Aveeno is good) and add just a few drops of
oil (olive, vegetable) or Vitamin E. You can also take some
Vitamin E or oil and apply it directly to their quills (not
too much).
11. My new hedgehog doesn't
like me. What can I do?
Hedgehogs, like people, all have their own little
personalities and quirks. Some are naturally more outgoing
than others.
If
you got your hedgie from a breeder, hopefully it has been
well socialized and is just reacting to a new situation. If
it's a rescue or came from a pet store, it may or may not
have been handled much, and it may take a bit longer to gain
his/her trust.
If
he hisses when you take him out of his cage and settles down
right away, that's pretty normal. If he continues to hiss
or won't unroll, let him sit on your lap with a blankie
covering him, and just be available if he wants to sniff you
and check you out. You might also try bribery...like a worm
or a favorite treat. The other thing you can try is putting
an old tee shirt that you've worn in the cage with him so
that he associates you scent with security. Give it
time...this doesn't happen overnight.
Be
sure to give your hedgie some "lap" time everyday to keep
him well-socialized. TV watching and computer time can be
shared with your hedgie.
12. How often should I give
my hedgie a bath, and how do I do it?
There's no rule of thumb on this one. When they're
dirty...give them one. Some hedgies are very tidy and
seldom need baths. Others seem to need them weekly.
There are also many different opinions on how to do this,
but basically use warm (never hot) water. Run enough in the
sink to come up to their belly or a little higher. Be
careful not to get water in their nose or ears. Use a mild
shampoo like Aveeno Oatmeal Wash or Baby Wash (can buy at
any drug store), puppy shampoo with conditioner or baby
shampoo. Get them wet and then brush their quills with a
small hair brush or toothbrush to get everything out that's
in between the quills. Be sure to get all the poop boots
off their feet.
Rinse with warm water and put in a towel to dry...or use a
hair dryer on low if they'll put up with that. Then
transfer to a dry towel and snuggle until completely dry.
Never put them back in the cage wet, especially if you use
wood chips in the cage.
13. How do I cut my
hedgehogs nails and how often should I do it?
Whew...there are a lot of opinions on this one, too, and a
lot depends on the personality of the hedgie. Most often
it's easiest to do right after a bath when the nails are
clean and soft. As for frequency, it all depends on the
hedgehog. You don't want them to get too long so they get
caught on things or start to curl under.
Some
people like to clip them while they're in the bath. Use cat
scissors or small manicure scissors and be careful not to
cut them too short.
Another real good method if you have two people is to let
one person hold the hedgehog. Let one foot fall through
between two of your fingers, have the other person grab it
and clip.
The
third method which is good for biters...put the hedgehog on
it's back. Instinct will be to ball up. As they start to
stretch out to unball, grab a foot and pull it as far from
the mouth as possible, and clip.
If
you should clip a nail and it bleeds, just apply a little
cornstarch to it to stop the bleeding. It's best not to use
the commercial made products for shaving nicks because they
tend to burn a bit.
14. Should I feed my
hedgehog bugs?
Absolutely!!!! Hedgehogs are insectivores and in the wild
would live on bugs and small reptiles. We don't recommend
feeding wild bugs because you don't know where they've
been. Although you may not use sprays, a neighbor possibly
does, and you don't want your hedgie eating bug spray that
an insect has just eaten.
You
can feed live meal worms, wax worms, silk worms or crickets
which you buy at a pet store. Don't feed Super Worms unless
you kill them and cut off the head first because they do
bite.
You
can also buy freeze-dried worms and crickets or canned.
However canned inspects spoil quickly. We recommend taking
the out of the can, wash and dry the can, spread the insects
on a plate or cookie sheet and place in the freezer for
about an hour. Put the insects back into the can and store
in the freezer. Just remove those you need for the evening
about an hour before serving and make sure they're thawed
before you give them to the hedgie.
Insects should be used sparingly as a snack...not the main
part of their meal since they are high in fat...maybe 3-5
per day...judgment call according to the condition of the
hedgie.
15. What kind of cage do I
need for my hedgehog?
Although hedgehogs are small animals, they do require quite
a bit of exercise and, therefore, need a fairly large cage.
The absolute minimum size would be 30x24, but the larger the
better. The cage also should be at least 15 inches tall to
accommodate a wheel.
Large sterilite containers can be used. Some of the best
cages we've found are at
www.qualitycage.com/collaps.html. The C-O model with
the solid floor is very nice. We would suggest the 30x30x16
or 24x30x16 size.
16.
What kind of wheel should I get for my hedgehog?
Your
hedgehog needs at least an 11" wheel. A wheel is something
that you must have! With very few exceptions, hedgies love
their wheels, and they need the exercise to stay healthy.
Hedgehogs have been known to run as much as five to six
miles a night in their wheels. The wheel should have a
solid surface. There are several types of wheels on the
market. Some of the metal wheels are fine (make sure they
have a substantial stand and won't tip easily). Silent
spinners are okay for small hedgehogs but don't seem to work
as well for larger ones because they are in two parts and
tend to split in the middle. A lot of us really like bucket
wheels which are made from plastic buckets and have roller
blade wheels for the bearings. They are very quiet and easy
to clean. Some hedgies have problems with slipping, so you
can clean them with rubbing alcohol and apply some bath tub
decals for traction.
You
can get nice bucket wheels at
www.hogwheelsbychet.com or at
www.qualitycage.com also has good wheels.
17. My hedgehog has a wide
bald spot down the middle of his head? Should I take him to
the vet?
That
"reverse Mohican" is normal in all hedgies...it's just more
noticeable in some than in others. This has something to do
with allowing them to ball up and is nothing to worry about.
18. Will all vets see
hedgehogs?
Absolutely not! It's a good idea to research the vets in
your area before you have an emergency. You would
want to look for a vet with experience treating
hedgehogs...usually one that is an "exotic" vet. A lot of
vets will say they'll treat hedgehogs but have little or no
experience with them. There is a list of hedgehog friendly
vets on this website (hedgehogwelfare.org) listed by state,
so that's a good place to start.
19. Are hedgehogs illegal in
my state?
Currently there are seven states where hedgehogs are illegal
and can be confiscated and euthanized if you're caught with
one. They are Arizona, California, Georgia, Hawaii, Maine,
Pennsylvania and Vermont. They are also illegal in
Washington D.C. and in New York City (all boroughs) but not
New York State. There are also some local laws in cities or
counties that prohibit the ownership of exotic animals, so
it's always best to check if you're not sure.
As always, these are just
suggestions. If you have more questions, please sign up for
Yahoo group, hedgehogwelfare, and ask away. There are a lot
of people there with a lot of experience that will answer
any questions you may have.
Other good resources are this
website (hedgehogwelfare.org), hedgies.com or
hedgehogclub.com.
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