Hedgehogs - Pet Advice

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Hedgehogs are not the perfect pet for everyone, so before you get one, you need to make sure that you are ready to have a hedgehog as a pet. It's best that you do your research so that you can avoid having to give up your pet because you get bored with it or tired of caring for it after a few weeks or a few months.

Disadvantages to having a pet hedgehog:
* It's cute. Just because it's cute, it doesn't mean that you have to have it, and if that's your only reason, then you don't need a hedgehog as a pet. Pets equal responsibility.
* They don't play fetch, games, or anything at all. Hedgehogs prefer to just eat and run around. You won't find a hedgehog who will cuddle up to or play game.
* They will bite you when they're upset, and because they have sharp teeth, it can be a little painful. Even socialized hedgehogs will bite under certain circumstances, especially if you ignore the huffing and puffing that signal irritation.
* They have short lifespans of only three to five years, so if you're looking for something that lives a little longer, then you'll have to find another pet.
* They can be expensive, depending on the breeder and the color or pattern that you choose, and for only three to five years of companionship, you'll have to weigh if the $200 or more will be worth it.

Advantages of having a pet hedgehog:
* They're plain cute, which is the obvious factor in wanting a hedgehog.
* They don't spread dander, which is great for people who may have cat and dog allergies. You may find that you're allergic to a hedgehog related supply, like the bedding or food, but you will not have a reaction to the animal, itself.
* They are quiet. You may hear them breathing heavily, scuffling noises as they walk around, or noises from a hedgehog running on his wheel, but for the most part, they're pretty quiet.
* They are small, which makes them great for apartments and rental homes that only allow small pets. Just remember that just because they're small, it doesn't mean that they can thrive in a small cage.

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Posted By: Whitney - Category: Hedgehogs

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Cage Accessories for a Hedgehog

May 21st 2009 16:28

Getting the housing correct for your hedgehog is important so that he has access to the a sleeping area, potty place, eating area, exercise spot, and room to walk around. It's important that you know what you can put in the enclosure that is safe and that your hedgehog will enjoy, and what type of cage you should use.

Below, there are a few toys and accessories that you should include in your hedgehog enclosure. Remember that exercise is important in keeping your hedgehog at a healthy weight, so the exercise wheel is really a must.

* Large or giant super pet igloo
* Super Pet Silent Spinner Wheel
* Horizontal ferret tubes to run through (never vertical)
* Cat toys such as the balls with bells
* Human baby toys that can be pushed around
* Exercise ball

Do not leave toys in the enclosure that has slits or holes because your hedgehog can get their feet stuck in the holes. Also, be leery of toys that are meant for hamsters, rabbits, or gerbils that are meant to be chewed, as hedgehogs do not need to chew wood toys.

For more information about setting up an enclosure for a hedgehog and different types of enclosures, check out Housing a Hedgehog. Remember that the accessories inside the cage is not the sole factor of a good cage and enclosure design or a happy hedgehog.

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Posted By: Whitney - Category: Hedgehogs

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How to Hold a Hedgehog

May 18th 2009 16:21

Hedgehogs can be held, but it depends on the individual hedgehog as to whether or not he enjoys it. Typically you want to make sure that you support your hedgehog with both hands; this will create support and it will potentially prevent the hedgehog from curling up.

You'll find that the quills are not barbed but they are sharp, so you can get a cut or two if the hedgehog gets stress or feels threatened, which is why proper handling techniques will need to be developed. Just remember that not all hedgehogs like to be held. Some prefer to just explore and nap.

When a hedgehog is calm, you'll notice that the quills will be relaxed, laying along the back and sides of the body. You'll want to pet your hedgehog towards the back, if you don't you'll quickly find out why it's recommended to pet backwards.

When handling your hedgehog, you should try to gently scoop it up from the underbelly and sides, ensuring that you get more contact with the soft fur on the belly versus the quills. Hedgehogs are typically pretty protective of their faces, so it may take some time before you're allowed to touch anywhere near the face.

Even though some people will use gloves when handling their hedgehogs, it's really not the best idea. It is always better to let your hedgehog relax and sniff you, especially when you're first socializing it.

Outgoing hedgehogs will start exploring right away, whereas it may take more shy hedgehogs longer to get to used to you.

You should try to spend at least an hour with your hedgehog every day, especially within the first few weeks. This will be the best socializing techniques, even if you're just watching TV with your pet exploring you and the surroundings around you.

You want to make sure that socializing and the initial training is pleasant. Don't force the hedgehog out of its enclosure or force it to do something that it doesn't want to. You will find that they will quickly curl up when stressed or threatened, and in this case it can be a hard time unrolling them, and you'll be starting over with socializing, especially if the hedgehog curls up frequently when you are trying to handle him..

Just remember to never try to unroll your hedgehog with water! This will place even more stress on your pet than initially, and it can cause water to get into the hedgehog's sinuses.

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Posted By: Whitney - Category: Hedgehogs

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Hedgehog Diet and Nutrition

May 15th 2009 14:58

Hedgehogs are still relatively new to the pet market, so we are still learning a good bit about them, but for now they are considered insectivores, but they do appear to be omnivores. You want to make sure that you include captive bred insects as a big part of your hedgehogs diet, versus just as treats. It is vital that they get that nutrition.

In the wild, they will eat small baby birds, rodents, and lizards, which is why it is a must that you make sure to regulate the protein intake, and include insects and a variety of meats into your hedgehog's diet.

Generally, you can find a good commercial brand of pellets to provide the majority of your hedgehog's diet, but you'll want to vary a hedgehog's diet with fresh fruits, vegetables, ad cooked meats, to ensure a healthy diet.

It's thought that hedgehogs need a fairly good bit of protein in their diet with low fats. It's good to have a diet that's about 30% protein and less than 20% fats.

It's actually believed that high fat diets can cause liver diseases in hedgehogs, so you want to carefully watch the fat intake of your hedgehog.

When feeding your hedgehog, you want to make sure that you create a well balanced diet. Consider some of the following food suggestions.

Meats:
Unseasoned, skinless, minced chicken, turkey, fish, salmon, cod, flounder, and shrimp.

Insects:
Crickets and mealworms.

You can consider the dehydrated mealworms, but it's always a good idea to include live mealworms to the diet. You can purchase live mealworms and crickets at pet stores, bait stores, and in bulk with online suppliers.

Fruits and vegetables:
Apples, asparagus, bananas, carrots, cherries, dandelion greens, grapes, green beans, green peppers, melons, peaches, radishes, sweet potatoes, and turnips.

Peas and corn can be a part of their diet, as most hedgehogs love them, but you should make them a very small part of the diet because both peas and corn are high in phosphorous and sugar.

Supplements:
You should also consider sprinkling supplements onto your hedgehog's food once a day. You may want to consider pure calcium powder without phosphorous.

Dry Kibble:
As mentioned there are a few brands of commercial hedgehog food such as Mazuri Insectivore Diet. Select Diet, L'Avian, Zoo Fare/Insectivore Fare, and a few others, but you can also consider a high quality cat food, such as Eagle Pack Holistic, Innova, Pinnacle, California Natural, Wellness, Royal Canin, or Natural Balance.

Just remember that a commercial food is not going to supply all the nutrition that your pet will need, so you will need to add the other meats, insects, fruits, and vegetables to your hedgehog's diet.

Water:
You should make sure that you have a shallow bowl of fresh water for your hedgehog. Some will drink out of the slipper bottles, such as the hamster water bottles, but the shallow bowl is just as sufficient.

How much should I feed my hedgehog?
When feeding your hedgehog, you want to make sure that you don't over feed or provide too much food because your hedgehog may waste it or he may start to become overweight.

It's a good idea to supply about a teaspoon of dry diet, a teaspoon of fruits and vegetables, about 6 mealworms, 1-2 crickets, and about a teaspoon of minced meat a day. It's best to provide the fresh food every evening.

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Posted By: Whitney - Category: Hedgehogs

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Choosing a Healthy Pet Hedghog

April 8th 2009 20:37

Hedgehogs make for interesting pets, and although I have never had one, I have known a few people who have. The one thing that you want to do when picking a healthy hedgehog is to remember to research responsible and reputable breeders, so that you know that your hedgehog will have a good temperament and will be healthy.

You don't want to just pick up and buy the first hedgehog that you see available for sale. This could cause you many vet bills in the end.

When getting a young hedgehog (6 to 8 weeks of age), you want to make sure that the hedgehog is already getting used to being handled. When you pick up the hedgehog, you want to gauge its reaction. You want a hedgehog that will allow itself to be picked up and possibly rolled onto its back without rolling into a ball.

You want to look for a hedgehog that had bright and clear eyes, clear nostrils, and healthy looking skin, quills, and fur. Look for missing quills, flaky skin, discharge around the eyes or nose, or evidence of diarrhea around the bum; if the hedgehog has any of these signs, you want to keep looking for a healthy hedgehog.

The hedgehog should be of good weight- not too thin or too heavy. You can check around the legs; if there are rolls, then there is an obesity concern, which is a common problem with hedgehogs.

As for which gender to get, both males and females are typically good pets. You just want to plan on keeping just one hedgehog per cage, as they are perfectly happy to be kept solo and alone. Otherwise, if you pair them, you can potentially run into fighting and bullying.