Taking Care of Your New Pet
Food. Many a hedgehog has developed fatal liver problems due to a diet of too much fat. For many years, cat food has been the default food for domestic hedgehogs, but many cat foods are too high in fat and low in protein to be healthy food for hedgehogs. Over time, hedgehog-specific food has been developed, but don't blindly accept it simply because of the label. The only way you can guarantee the healthiness of your food is to analyze its fat, protein and carbohydrate content. *Choose food (whether in the form of cat or hedgehog food) that guarantees a composition of at least 30% protein. *Don't feed your hedgehog any food with a fat content of over 12%. *Make sure your hedgehog gets a good amount of fiber (food with 10% fiber analysis will work well), because fiber can partially substitute for some of the substances that a hedgehog would normally consume in its primarily insect diet.
I like the price of Meow Mix Indoor Formula and how readily available it is. It has all nutritional components needed in a hedgies diet and mine love the taste. You can make your own desicion on types of food which are healthy and fit your budget. The fact that hedgehogs eat tons of insects in the wild should explain why we want to feed them so much protein without the fat. You might wonder why you shouldn't feed your hedgehog a domestic diet of mainly insects. The answer is kind of complicated. Feeding your hedgehog feed-insects like crickets and mealworms is excellent as an occasional delicacy, but pet food insects contain much more fat than a hedgehog would normally eat in the wild. That spells liver problems. Why not feed them wild-caught insects? Hedgehogs aren't susceptible to much poison in the wild unless it is ingested in insects who have been contaminated. The wild insects you catch might be carrying insecticides that are seriously harmful to your hedgehog.
As an occasional treat, you can also give your hedgehog a tiny morsel of lean and cooked chicken or other meat. Your hedgehog will enjoy fruit and veggie tidbits as treats too, but stay away from sugary food and dairy. In addition to food, a hedgehog needs clean, fresh water all the time. Water bottles are recommended if you use newspaper shavings for bedding, since the shavings will fill a water bowl. Any food or water bowl should be wide and shallow, so a hedgehog can't knock it over as he scampers!
Plenty of room to roam - that's the first rule - no smaller then 24" x 24" cage (bigger is always better). Hedgehogs who feel like their mobility is impaired will be unhappy and unhealthy. They need room to run and play. They also need an enclosure with no wire floors, the long hedgehog legs can fall through these gaps and they will be seriously injured so stick to only solid floored cages. Consider a large see-through plastic bin, with its large roaming space and smooth walls, it makes a good enclosure for hedgehogs and they are cheap! Wire cages have good ventilation and are a good choice or make your own C&C cage as big as you want. Examples of cages (not mine, taken off Google images)
As for bedding, common wood shavings like cedar contain harmful substances, so steer clear of that. Aspen and pine are okay choices. Hedgehog pet owners often use newspaper for bedding. For a luxurious experience, try giving your hedgehog some Vellux blanket bedding - perfectly safe and soft or Fleece. Of course, your hedgehog will also want a little cubby hole, a shelter where he can get away from it all. It could be anything from an old box to a piece of pipe, an igloo or wooden haven, as long as it's large enough for your hedgehog. The temperature of your hedgehog's environment should hover between 72 and 76 degrees & up to 84 degrees Fahrenheit. Avoid direct sun exposure, but keep your hedgehog in a nicely lit part of your house for at least 12 hours during the day whether it be by natural light or keeping a lamp or light on in the room where her cage is to stimulate the natural course of a day. Don't let your hedgie get too cold as they may go into a state of hibernation and pygmy hedgehogs are not supposed to hibernate and if not caught in time and warmed up quickly, it will be irreversible and fatal to your hedgehog pet.
Potty-training? Yes, these intelligent creatures can be litter-trained! Provide a little litter pan in the cage and they will use it. It need only be an inch deep. Stick to the regular cat litter that doesn't clump or make lots of dust. Also paper towel layers works well and can be cleaned daily and quickly. Use something different then the bedding used in the rest of the cage so the hedgie can destinguish the difference between his potty area and the rest of his living quarters. Exercise. Making sure your hedgehog gets plenty of exercise is very important when learning how to care for hedgehogs. Purchasing a running wheel for your hedgehog is a must. It's important however, that you buy only a wheel with a solid floor (for the same reason you must avoid wire floors in cages) and without crossbars, at least an 8 " or bigger wheel. But you can bring him out of his cage as much as you want, as long as you supervise him. The more you can bring him out for playtime, the happier he'll be! Bring his litter pan out too, so he isn't too disoriented and can use the bathroom if necessary. Toys are also essential and keep the little criters stimulated. Paper towel rolls, cat balls, toy cars, stuffies, pretty much anything they can manipulate, push around, roll and play with that is safe. Discard any broken toys and replace them.
Health. An obvious part of hedgehog care is being sure your pet is healthy. Hedgehogs are susceptible to liver problems because their domestic diet often contains too much fat. Additionally, cancer is a big cause of death. Hedgehogs can develop stress-induced bowel irritability (green or runny feces being a symptom). You may also notice your aging hedgehog develop what's known as wobbly hedgehog syndrome, where the characteristic gait of a hedgehog becomes wobbly and uncertain. A hedgehog's average domestic lifespan hovers around seven years. To ensure that your hedgehog enjoys the fullest, healthiest possible life, it is your responsibility to find a good veterinarian and schedule occasional check-ups for your hedgehog (perhaps once every couple years). If you notice irregular behavior, loss of appetite, difficulty moving or defecating, eye or nose discharge, or other physical changes (temperature, skin health), consult a veterinarian and schedule an appointment right away. Waiting too long can and will be fatal. Spend lots of time with your pet. Hedgehog pets will become your best friend. To connect with your lovable pet, it's crucial for the hedgehog to become familiar to your scent. A hedgehog is in many ways a one-person pet; the human scent that becomes familiar to him early on will leave an indelible impression on him forever. Consider reserving a long-sleeve shirt specifically for when you hold and play with your hedgehog; the familiarity will bring added psychological comfort to the little guy. And be patient with your pet. In the real world, he would see you as a predator, after all.
info. on this page adapted from: www.howtodothings.com
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