N.A.P.A.K - Caring For Hedgehogs

Writing an article on the care of pet hedgehogs in the United States poses an interesting challenge. Any animal kept in captivity will have varying standards of care, depending on the standards that its keeper holds themselves to, and what information is available to them. It will also vary depending on whether the animal is being kept as a wild animal, and effort being put into replicating its natural environment. Or as a pet, and the effort being put into giving it an environment which meets its basic needs, but is more suited to life as part of a household. As the vast majority of African White Bellied hedgehogs in the United States are kept as household pets or breeders, this article will focus on standards for providing a healthy and enriching pet type home for a hedgehog. In the following paragraphs we will share the information we give to the people who buy our hedgehogs, as well as a brief commentary on how we see these needs being met by United States pet owners.

When looking at the best care for any captive animal, the first thing that should be considered is what its life would be like in its natural habitat. Foragers and hunters by nature, wild hedgehogs put an enormous amount of thought and energy into finding food each day, and this predisposition to high activity needs to be respected when planning their captive environment. Another major consideration should be the basic needs of ALL living creatures. These six basic needs are: Space, Air, Shelter, Water, Food, and Stimulus.

Space

Every living thing needs space in which to move and grow. An animal that does not have enough space is more prone to obesity, boredom, and sickness. Hedgehogs need a minimum space of approximately 18 x 24 inches to stay fit and healthy. In their natural habitat, hedgehogs can cover an extensive area when hunting for food, and hedgehogs kept in captivity still need a chance to satisfy this instinct. There are several different ways to provide a captive hedgehog with the needed "space" to exercise, the most obvious one being to simply provide it with a larger cage. Other options include a large "bucket" (solid floor) style wheel, a plastic wading pool used as a playground area, or time to free roam in a carefully hedgehog proofed area of the house. It is important to carefully check any areas a hedgehog lives in, or is allowed to explore for playtime, for possible ways to escape! Hedgehogs are experts at finding an unnoticed hole or crack, or pushing a toy or wheel over to the edge of their enclosure to use as a ladder. If a pet hedgehog is allowed free play time in the house, precautions will need to be taken to protect it from any chemicals, pieces of string or hair, or other items that are common in most households but can be very dangerous to a small pet.

There is a wide range of caging used for pet hedgehogs in the United States. We regularly hear of people taking in or rescuing hedgehogs who have never been in anything other than a ten gallon aquarium. However, we are involved in internet lists of hedgehog owners where the discussion of building giant cages with play areas and space for numerous hide boxes and wheels is quite common. The commercial cages made for guinea pigs are frequently used by pet owners, as well as home made cages involving large storage containers. Some breeders we know or know of keep their animals in smaller cages and with less care than they would a pet, while others go out of their way to provide plenty of space and attention for their breeding animals. Our hedgehogs are pets as much as anything, and we pride ourselves in keeping them, if not exactly how we would if we had only one or two as pets, at least very comfortable and well cared for with plenty of attention. Our females are kept in 24 x 30 inch wire cages, with two or three to a cage, and our males are kept singly in 24 x 24 wire cages.

A special note regarding caging and hedgehogs: Many books on hedgehogs state that they are solitary animals and should not ever be housed together. This is not entirely true. Many hedgehogs, primarily females, do quite well with a friend or two of the same sex, provided they are given ample space and resources. However, you should never buy a second (or third, or fourth) hedgehog based on the assumption that it can live with an existing pet. Hedgehogs who do not do well with a cage mate have done serious injury and even killed one put in with them. Only after numerous supervised meetings between the two hedgehogs, where they have explored and played companionably, should you try putting them in a cage together. Even after doing so they should be supervised closely for several days and separated promptly at the first signs of aggression. (Mild huffing and nudging is normal, but nothing beyond that) Females are much more likely to live together companionably than males, due to natural instincts to fight for the position of dominant male. In the wild, the losing male would have the room necessary to retreat from the battle. In a cage, with no means of escape, this fighting can easily become fatal. Opposite sex hedgehogs should never be housed together unless you are intending for them to reproduce. Making the decision to breed and raise hedgehogs is something that should only be done after considerable study and thought, never because of the convenience of cohabitation.

Air

All animals need fresh air to breathe. Regardless of the type of caging used for a pet hedgehog, there needs to be adequate ventilation to allow fresh air, but without a draft that could chill the hedgehog and cause stress or illness. Hedgehogs also need clean air, which means making sure the bedding used is free from excessive dust, and that they are not kept in an area where there is an excessive amount of dust, smoke, or fumes in the air. It is amazing, but at this time people in the US seem to give very little thought to the air quality that their pets have to live with. Cedar is still sold in almost all pet stores as a good small animal bedding, and many other popular commercial beddings have horrible amounts of dust to them. With bronchial problems being one of the more common health issues we are aware of in older hedgehogs, we believe this to be something that should be carefully watched.

Shelter

Shelter for hedgehogs is not only a means to keep warm, but also a way to feel safe, and to be protected from outside dangers. African hedgehogs, having originated as desert animals, have very little tolerance for cold. If they are allowed to become seriously chilled (temperatures lower than 70 degrees Fahrenheit) they may try to go into hibernation. Unlike European hedgehogs, they are not meant to hibernate, and this can result in serious illness, a coma, or death. Symptoms of attempted hibernation include sluggishness, coldness to the touch, slowed breathing, and unresponsiveness. While many homes do not fall into a temperature range where hibernation is a danger, it is something that hedgehog owners need to be aware of and prepared for.

Heating pads are a common form of heat, as well as under tank heaters, and the microwavable Snuggle Safe disks. Regardless of the type of heating used it will need to be checked occasionally to be sure it is not getting hot enough to burn the hedgehog, and it should be used in only one side of the cage so the animal can self regulate its temperature. Another important part of shelter for hedgehogs is a place to hide. While hedgehogs can survive without a hide box, having one available does seem to provide them with a sense of security and comfort. A hiding place for a hedgehog can be as simple as a small cardboard box or a towel to burrow under, or as fancy as a custom nesting box or a hedgehog sized sleeping bag.

Some words of warning: It is important to make sure that whatever you give your hedgehog to hide in or under, it is easy to either clean or replace. Fabric needs to be washed on a regular basis and checked for any loose strings which could be ingested or wrap around a foot or leg. Cardboard boxes should be replaced regularly, and wood not used for shelter unless it can be adequately cleaned. An additional part of shelter that needs to be considered is the bedding that will be used in the cage. Some types of bedding that should NOT be used are corn cob or clay cat litter (which can both cause a blockage in the intestine if ingested) and cedar or any wood shavings that are not specifically treated as bedding for small pets (such as shavings for horse stables). These can cause severe breathing problems or burns from a natural oil in the undried wood. While these concerns need to be kept in mind, there are numerous safe and healthy options to choose from. Most wood shavings (NOT cedar) specifically prepared as small pet bedding work well, and just a few of the many other options are recycled newspaper, pelleted prarie hay, pelleted alfalfa, and pelleted aspen.

On the email lists we belong to, we frequently see heating discussed, and the most popular ways seem to be heating pads or mats, or the microwavable Snuggle Safe disks. Heat lights are occasionally used, but many owners do not feel they are the best option for hedgehogs. Here at the PogStar we simply have allowed the hedgehogs to have their own room, and have a small, electric, thermostat controlled area heater running to make sure that the room does not fall below 72 degrees Fahrenheit. For our hiding boxes we use the Super Pet igloos that are made out of plastic, simply because of the ease of cleaning/sterilising. Quite a few people we know use "hedge bags" which are small, fabric, sleeping bag styled hiding bags for their hedgehogs. Others use things as simple as large ice cream buckets with holes cut in the side. The most important thing is the hedgehogs' being able to feel safe. In the last year we have switched to using a pelleted alfalfa for bedding, as we do not like the mess of aspen or pine shavings (or the occasional infestation of mites that seems to come with their use). Also the pelleted aspen we were using made enormous amounts of dust during cleaning. The particular brand of alfalfa we are using (rabbit food pellets) has worked wonderfully for us to control odors as well as producing minimal dust. It's largest draw back is that if you prefer the use of water bowls over bottles it CAN mold if water is spilled. Another popular form of "bedding" that is used in the US is vellux blanketing cut to size, or layers of other kinds of fabric, carefully sewn to make sure there are no loose threads that can be ingested or wrap around a limb and cause injury.

Making fabric products for hedgehogs is actually a small home business for a wonderful lady we are aquatinted with, and she makes carrying bags, round "hat" like hiding blankets, the aforementioned "hedge bags", covers for the snuggle safe heating disks, and washable fabric cage liners. We have been fortunate enough to be gifted with a few of her hedgebags and find that while the extra laundry would be more than we could manage using liners and hedgebags exclusively for all our animals. Our groups of girls especially enjoy having a bag or blanket in their cages, in addition to their igloos.

Regarding hedgehogs and litter box training: Many pet hedgehogs have become litter box trained, and it is a very popular thing for pet owners in the US to attempt to teach their hedgehogs, but it simply is not as natural for hedgehogs as for some other animals kept as pets. Many hedgehogs will, however, habitually use the same area of their cage as their restroom, and these animals are easier to "train", as that area can simply be scooped out, or a small pan placed there to collect waste. Other hedgehogs will always use the bathroom while running on their wheel. While this means a little more cleaning, a shallow pan can be placed under the wheel to collect waste, and the pan and wheel both cleaned regularly as a litter box would be.

Water

All living things need fresh, clean water to live, and hedgehogs are no exception. Either a water bottle or dish may be used, as long as it is kept full and clean. Some hedgehogs will push bedding under a bottle and drain it, while others will end up filling a bowl with bedding or knocking it over, so it is important to find a solution that works best for each individual owner and their hedgehog. If living in an area with highly treated tap water or poor water quality, it may be best to provide any small pets (not just hedgehogs) with bottled drinking water. As their smaller bodies do not adjust as well to the chemicals that are found in some water supplies, and this can affect their health.

There have been some discussions on the internet lists we belong to about the pros and cons of water bottles vs. water bowls. We personally use bottles, simply because too many of our hedgehogs enjoy pushing bowls around and tipping them over. The concerns we have heard about water bottle use involve long term damage to teeth from the hedgehogs chewing at the bottle spouts. We have not, at this time, seen any evidence of this, but we can understand why it could be a concern. Some of the biggest concerns we have heard about water bowls are as follows. That of getting bedding and such in them which affects water quality. Tipping them over, which leaves bedding wet; and that of the quality of glaze used on some pottery dishes, no one knows exactly the standards that are adhered to. We have no issue with the use of water bowls, they simply have not worked well for us.

Food

No argument is more frequently visited amongst the keepers of pet hedgehogs in the United States than that of what is best to feed them. There are several commercial hedgehog foods on the market but they are often hard to find, and not all of them are the best choice of nutrition.

A pet hedgehog's basic dietary needs are simple to provide for as long as its owner is willing to do some research and label reading. A large number of pet and breeder hedgehogs in the US are kept on a dry food or mix of dried foods, with additions of cooked meats, and occasional bits of vegetables and fruits. Many of them also are given either freeze-dried or fresh insects. The suggestions we share with our customers for finding good quality dry food as a base diet for pet hedgehogs are:

Look for a food that has 30% or more protein, and 15% or less fat. This is very important for keeping a pet hedgehog healthy and making sure it doesn't become overweight, due to them being less active in captivity and therefore needing less fat for energy. We usually recommend that overweight or senior cat foods as well as commercially marketed hedgehog foods are a good place to start looking. Don't forget and make sure the size of pellet is small enough to make it easy for the hedgehog to eat.

The food or foods chosen as a base diet should have high quality ingredients at the top of the ingredients list. A whole meat or meat meal chicken, beef, lamb) should be one of the top few ingredients. Watch out for general by products or digests (meat by product, poultry by product, poultry digest) as these tend to be what is left over from the processing of the better parts of the meat and may, but don't always, include such things as hooves, beaks, feathers, and skin. It is also important to watch the corn content of the food. All pet foods contain fillers, and while a small amount of well-processed corn, rice or other filler is tolerable (and almost impossible to avoid) it is important to avoid foods which have extremely large quantities of corn especially, or any filler. As this does nothing to help your hedgehog and can cause digestive problems when fed long term. We have been amazed at what a sensitive subject food is among hedgehog owners. While there will always be people who see no reason to put any time or effort into choosing their pet's food, many hedgehog owners do more label reading and food preparation for their hedgehogs than they do for themselves or their families. Some pet owners fix their animals food completely from fresh materials on a daily basis. Others order in wide varieties of specialised foods from various suppliers trying to find the best mix for their animal. Here at PogStar, we've found several top quality cat foods that have better ingredients in a better mix than most of the commercial insectivore foods readily available and find that our hedgehogs thrive on this dry food mix with occasional treats.

Stimulus

All animals need something to do. When an animal is kept in captivity, it no longer has the demands of providing for its own needs to keep it busy. Therefore, it needs to be provided with other activities in its life. An animal left to sit with no affection and nothing to do or explore will quickly become bored and unhappy or even depressed. A variety of foodstuffs is an important part of stimulus. Other important stimuli include places to explore and the opportunity to explore outside of its usual caging, toys to play with, and opportunities for exercise. For many pet hedgehogs the most valuable kind of stimulus is time spent interacting with their owner. I am always amazed at some of what hedgehog owners in the US think of to do with their pet hedgehogs. We frequently read stories of animals accompanying their owners to work or school, or on family vacations.

Closely supervised adventures in the yard or park are common, as are stories of purse looking hedgehog carriers or hedgehogs in oversized coat pockets smuggled into stores, movies, and even restaurants. While it may seem silly to some, American society is known for pampering its pets, and the owners of hedgehogs are no exception. While there will always be those keeping any animal who neglect or abuse it. Those who breed for profit alone, and those who simply lose interest and no longer care. Hedgehogs seem to have found a home across the US and into Canada with a growing number of people who truly love them, want what is best for them, and delight in welcoming them into their lives.

In numerous places in this article I have referred to the internet lists where I have come to know a wonderful community of people, and have learned so much of what I know and use to care for my hedgehogs. If anyone is interested in joining us and learning more about our animals and how we care for them, feel free to look for us at www.yahoogroups.com. Hedgehog_Help is a list reserved for serious health and care issues. Hedgehog World is a list where almost any topic is discussed, as long as it usually involves hedgehogs. Anyone wanting to learn and share is welcome. And as I close, thank you all for letting me share some of what I have learned with your group.

Who Are PogStar Hedgehogs?

PogStar Hedgehogs is a small, family owned and operated business located in Wichita, Kansas, USA. My husband, William, works full time at a local aircraft plant, and I am fortunate enough to be a stay at home mother to our two children, Connor (almost 5) and Morgan (14 months). My name is Laura. Our hedgehogs are raised in our home, and are very much a part of our family and our lives.

My husband and I began our obsession with hedgehogs while still dating, when in the fall of 1996 we purchased our first hedgehog, Annabella Marie, at a local pet store. At the time we had very little understanding of hedgehogs or their needs, but we knew we were completely enchanted by the adorable, inquisitive ball of quills we had brought home. William and I married that winter, and enjoyed sharing our new home with Bella, as she was usually called. It's a wonder she did as well as she did, with all the information we DIDN'T have. Neither of us was terribly internet savvy at the time, and neither of us had EVER heard of email groups, but we did the best we could based on the one small book we had been able to find, and common sense.

During the winter of 1998, our son Connor, then just shy of one year, became fascinated with watching and babbling at Annabella, and our less than friendly hedgehog truly seemed to enjoy listening to him. We were all rewarded by this unusual friendship when Bella became much more outgoing and easier to handle, and one of Connor's first words was "BA", asking to see her.

We had battled chronic dry skin with Bella for quite some time, despite treating for mites more than once at the suggestion of our vet. It was while I was searching the internet for an answer to this problem that I first stumbled across the email list Hedgehog_Help. There I found numerous people willing to answer my questions and help me with information on caring for Bella.

The more I studied how to care for Annabella, the more interested I became in hedgehogs in general. After quite a bit of research and thought I purchased three more hedgehogs locally in the late winter of 1999, and became licensed with the United States Department of Agriculture as a breeder in April of 2000. That spring was my first hedgehog show, with my sister, myself, and Connor making the eight hour drive to Little Rock, Arkansas to attend. After meeting so many of the friends I had only been able to "talk" with through the computer: not to mention having my darling Alanna take best in show, I was completely hooked.

It was when I was pregnant with our daughter, Morgan, in the spring and summer of 2001 that my husband, William, finally became truly involved in the business. While always supportive of my interest in breeding and showing, and fond of the animals themselves, he had never become all that deeply interested himself. Thanks to his involvement in the design and building of our internet site, as well as his stepping in to do the majority of physically caring for our animals while I was having problems with my pregnancy, he has become very involved in all aspects of the business.

And now our daughter Morgan is learning the joy of these charming little animals. She loves to carefully pat them, then squeal "ow!" and laugh....then do it again with mischief dancing in her eyes. When we go to a local pet store to educate people about hedgehogs as pets, she and several of her favourites often hang out in her play yard together, and their favourite game is king of the mountain, with Morgan as the mountain. When they tire of that she will sometimes crawl after them growling at them, or sit and play with her toys with one or two of them resting in her lap.

This last year we have been to two nearby shows as a family, and I was fortunate enough to get to fly to Alaska to judge a show there. Our children have friends (as well as honorary aunts and uncles) scattered across the country who are also involved in the hedgehog world. It is a joy to see them playing together at shows or get togethers and to know that there are easily half a dozen other people watching our children as though they were their own. It's not the money that keeps us doing this, it couldn't be, as I doubt we'll ever see a profit. It's the friendship and the community, as well as the enchanting little animals our lives would be so empty without.

www.pogstarhedgehogs.com