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Welcome to Over the Edge Hedgehogs!
Hedgehog Care
Cages & Housing
There are lots of options when it comes to housing your new hedgehog. I personally recommend using a clear plastic storage bin cage, at least 110q or larger. If you choose a larger cage keep in mind that hedgehogs are prey animals and lots of open space can be intimidating, so you will need to keep the larger area filled with toys and "clutter" to keep your hedgehog happy. Wire cages are an okay option, but they will need modified with coroplast at least 10 inches up the side of the cage so that your hedgehog can not climb the wire. A hedgehog climbing the wire can result in serious injury from a fall, or even death if your pet gets its head stuck in the bars.
Bedding
Our hedgehogs are kept on kiln dried pine shavings. As long as the pine product has been kiln dried, it is safe for your pet. CEDAR oil is toxic to all small pets and you should NEVER use cedar bedding or products with your hedgehog. Other options include paper bedding, fleece, or pine pellets. If you do choose to use a wood or paper-based bedding keep in mind that it is recommended you freeze the bedding for 24-48 hours in order to kill any possible mites or pests that are in the wood.
Diet & Treats
Heating & Hibernation
Hedgehogs are very sensitive to temperature changes and need to be kept at consistent temperatures that are between 72-78 degrees F. If your hedgehog gets to cold, he/she will attempt to hibernate, and this is almost always fatal if not caught in time. We have found that a heat lamp with a ceramic heat emitter (CHE) bulb does a great job at heating the cage, and therefore this is what we recommend to our owners. For this heat setup you will need a 10.5 in dome heating lamp, a CHE bulb, a cage thermometer, and a cage thermostat. The thermometer will allow you to monitor the temperature of the interior cage closer than if you were basing it off room temperature; from experience the two can be vastly different. The thermostat will control the amount of heat your bulb is putting off by turning off an on to stay within your set limitations, and ultimately keeps your heat set up safer.
If your hedgehog is found in a hibernation attempt the first thing to do is place them skin to skin, or under a sweatshirt you are wearing. Do NOT PUT A HIBERNATING HEDGEHOG IN A BATH. When your hedgehog is attempting hibernation putting them in water to warm them can result in drowning or even shock. The goal is to slowly warm them back up because warming them up to quickly can cause deadly shock. Do NOT put your hibernating hedgehog directly under a heat lamp in a hibernation attempt either, this can result in the same deadly shock. Cuddle with them under blankets, or even a freshly warmed towel and observe them closely for the next hour. If you do not notice more movement and active behavior as a response from your hedgehog within the next hour you will want to seek emergency medical care for your pet.
Your new pet hedgehog has very distinct diet needs that were previously misunderstood. Hedgehogs in the wild are opportunistic feeders, meaning that they eat pretty much anything on the ground they find appetizing. Until previously there was not much focus on the diet of the hedgehogs and therefore, we were falling short on their nutritional needs. Studies on the fecal matter of European hedgehogs determined that the wild hedgehog’s diet mainly consist of insects, small animals, and eggs (Graffam,1998). These studies also discovered that plant matter is passed into the feces of hedgehogs undigested (Graffam, 1998); indicating that they do not need plant matter in their diet for fiber. Instead of having a cecum to digest cellulose from plants, hedgehogs have an enzyme called chitinase that allows them to utilize the chitinous exoskeleton of insects for fiber. This research indicated that insects and whole prey are a very important part of your hedgehog’s diet and should be offered more than the occasional treat. We have begun offering insects or whole prey items 5 out of 7 days of the week, with a smaller portion of kibble to fill any nutritional gaps we may be missing. The side of kibble also serves as a crunchy treat to help keep your pet’s teeth clean.
When choosing a kibble look for one that has whole meats in the first few ingredients, and not fillers such as corn or peas. As mentioned previously hedgehogs do not digest cellulose you so want to check the ingredients and choose a food with a limited amount of plant mater. Secondly you want to look at the nutritional analysis of your food. You are looking for a food with protein between 30-35% and a fat content between 15-20% depending on the size of your hedgehog and their specific diet needs. We are currently feeding Sportmix Wholesomes Cat Food, along with a variety of insects and whole prey.
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Toys & Exercise
In the wild you hedgehog is a very active animal; running up to 12 miles a night in search of food or shelter. Your hedgehog will ABSOLUTELY need a wheel in captivity. Getting a 12-inch wheel allows enough space for your hedgehog to run comfortably. We personally recommend a bucket wheel for your hedgehog; they are practically silent, and the smooth surface makes them easier to clean than other wheels. Other toys that your hedgehog may enjoy are; cuddle sacks, cat mint toys, small Kong toys filled with treats, crinkle cat balls, toilet paper tubes, or pompom balls. Hedgehogs also enjoy dig boxes for added play and enrichment. These can be filled with fleece strips, pom pom craft balls, rocks, and all different textures for extra fun. You can also try adding meal worms or other live insects to your dig box for your hedgehog to have some hunting fun. Because hedgehogs are prey animals they will also enjoy and benefit from having an igloo hide to sleep under.
Bonding & Quilling
Bonding with your hedgehog is a process and one that takes time and consistency. Unlike cats and dogs who are fully domesticated, hedgehogs are what we consider partially domesticated. They still have their instinctive prey nature that makes them a more timid species to own. This does not mean that hedgehogs do not make great pets, it just means that you will have to work on the relationship, which for many can be very rewarding. It is important that from the first day home you begin boding with your hedgehog. For the first week or so we suggest giving your hedgehog an old shirt or piece of fabric you have been carrying; this helps them get used to your smell and recognize that it is a safe smell. Hedgehogs have very poor eyesight so the world around them is all about the smell. Another great way to bond is with the use of a bonding scarf or even just sitting together while you are watching TV. The more interaction your hedgehog gets, the more social they will become.
This brings up quilling. Quilling is a phase all growing hedgehogs go through where they drop quills and begin replacing them with stronger adult quills. This is a natural process like teething in human children. During this time, you will notice lots of quills around, inspect them and as long as there is a “bulb” on the end of them, your hedgehog is quilling. You can also expect your hedgehog to naturally be grumpy during this time, stay patient with him/her, this can be uncomfortable for your little one. We recommend still holding you baby during this time and doing things as usual, just be understanding if they have more grumpy days during this time, it is expected.
Bathing & Nail Trimming
Hedgehogs get dirty, most often they need baths for what we refer to as “poop boots.” After a long night of running on a wheel, you might notice you hedgehog has some very dirty feet, those are poop boots, and the main reason for bathing your hedgehog. To give your hedgehog a bath simply put a little bit of warm water in a sink, just enough to cover your hedgehog’s feet, and let your hedgehog walk in the water clean their feet. If you notice that you hedgehog has dirty quills, then you will need to give him/her a full bath. This can be done in the same fashion as a foot bath, just adding a bit more water, some gentle baby soap, and a toothbrush. NEVER use DOG or CAT shampoo on your hedgehog, these products contain chemicals too harsh for the sensitive skin of a hedgehog. Gently clean the quills and make sure to rinse the soapy water thoroughly. Hedgehogs have very sensitive skin that can become dry very easily and for this reason it is not recommended to excessively bathe your hedgehog. If you do notice that your hedgehog seems to have dry skin, you can add oatmeal to their bath water to relieve the itch of dry skin and you can add a little Vitamin E oil to their food or water. If this does not seem to relieve the dry skin, I recommend seeing an experienced veterinarian to rule out other causes of dry skin like allergies, mites, or fungal infections.
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Trimming your hedgehog’s nails is an important part of their health care. Overgrown nails can lead to sores, infections, and pain as they curl under into the paw. You can expect to trim your hedgehog’s nails at least once a month. We have found it is easiest to trim the nails right after a bath when the nails are soft and easy to cut. Just like dogs, hedgehogs have a pink quick in their nail that is visible; you will want to avoid clipping this vascular area or the nail will bleed. If you do accidently hit the quick you can put a little cornstarch or flour on the toe to help stop the bleeding. Trimming your hedgehog’s nails will take time and patience for both you and your hedgehog. It is okay if you can only clip a few nails at a time or if your hedgehog never lets you clip all four feet at the same time, this is common.
Annointing
Hedgehogs do this very unusual act called anointing. In literal translation, anointing means to take the scent from another object and smear it over one’s body. So, if you see your new hedgehog licking or biting things and then smearing themselves in a frothy spit, sit back and have a little laugh. This is a totally normal and instinctual thing for hedgehogs to do when they encounter new smells; it is how they learn their world.
$h!t Happens
Okay, but really hedgehogs poop a lot. This is something we are often contacted about once babies go to their new homes, because you will get pooped on, and probably more than once. Here is why; When you wake up in the morning one of the first things you do is use the bathroom, when you wake your hedgehog up to play he/she will need to use the restroom too. To avoid getting pooped on you can give your hedgehog a small foot bath when you get them up, this will help stimulate him/her to got he the bathroom before play time. This is one way to help from getting pooed on, but as with any pet it is bound to happen form time to time. If you do come in contact with animal feces make sure to wash your hands and effected area with soap and water.