15 Facts to Consider Before Owning A Hedgehog

Hedgehogs are cute animals that possess very interesting night behaviors and are nocturnal. Because of this trait, these little animals sleep during the day and at night they become more active, curious, and grumpy.

If one is thinking of having a hedgehog as a pet, it is understanding and respecting their nature. This will be key in devising the right environment and giving the best care possible, which includes, quiet and stimulating environments, proper nutrition, and being conscious about sleep patterns.

They have a coat of spiky quills, which is their main defense mechanism against predators in the wild and thus very important to their protection. A grateful awareness of the spiky nature of a pet ensures a smooth and loving relationship between the owner and the pet.

Their quills can also be razor sharp, and they might curl into a ball when threatened. If you plan on bringing them home, it's quite relevant to know that it is very important to be aware of the nature of their quills and provide a relaxed, safe environment.

Hedgehogs get stressed easily, and this may have a destructive impact on their general health, such as any fluctuation in surroundings, loud noises, or frequent handling can make them nervous. Owners should provide them with a quiet, steady, and tranquil ambiance to keep these animals secure and reduce the possibility of stress-related problems.

These little spiky animals have this quirky and cute behavior; self-anointed is a behavior in which they create a foamy, saliva-filled foam and anoint it onto their quills. While the real cause of such behavior is not fully comprehended, it is assumed to be some form of scent camouflage or response to new odors.

This strange practice the little creatures have is common for them, so the future owners of hedgehogs need to be aware of such a phenomenon. Carefully treating these small animals requires tolerance from owners for such characteristics and does not disturb the process of self-anointing, allowing hedgehogs to behave as their instincts tell them comfortably.

With all these endearing qualities, hedgehogs have relatively short life spans compared to some other pets and live about three to five years in the wild. With proper care, they may live up to six or seven years at home.

This is important so that any future owners may know well in advance, before deciding on having a hedgehog as a pet, in preparation for emotional acceptance regarding the issue of having a comparatively short life span.

Being able to appreciate how short their lives are, encourages owners to give the hedgehogs the highest level of care possible, ensuring it's an active and enriched lifestyle.

These tiny spiky beings are known for their low-maintenance grooming needs which makes them suitable for individuals seeking a pet with minimal grooming requirements. Furthermore, they are adept at self-grooming and generally do not require regular baths.

For hedgehog grooming, you should be aware that occasional nail trimming and checking for skin issues are still necessary for these little creatures. With a hedgehog as your companion, you are free from the demands of extensive grooming efforts and ready to embrace a hassle-free pet ownership experience.

This is because, due to lack of adequate exercise, their bodies tend to accumulate fat in their bodies easily and develop health complications. Much as it is recommended to have them outside of their cage for a certain period under proper supervision, an exercise wheel is greatly recommended to be provided for them in their dwelling. The diet and activity level of hedgehogs should be provided with great concern for their health.

Hedgehogs are great swimmers and paddlers and are capable of swimming well in all the bodies of water occurring naturally. In the wild, they can cover up to two kilometers during the night through swimming, especially when they get hungry and need food.

However, hedgehogs do need an accessible ledge to be able to get in and out of the water, and thus, creeks and rivers have been great places for them to cool off.

If you are thinking of taking your spiky friends to the swimming pool, then you need to keep an eye out because man-made ledges may be too hard for the little ones to climb.

The diet of hedgehogs comprises a great number of insects in the wild. As much as hedgehog foods for these little critters are available on the market, owners do need to add live insects or high-value insect-based treats to their diet.

Knowing that they are insectivorous could be quite helpful to anyone who has a pet hedgehog, the feeding would indeed be guided by it and replicate a diet close to what they would consume in their natural habitat, promoting happiness.

Being indiscriminate eaters, hedgehogs are lactose intolerant, and that is a very important factor to be known well in advance before selecting them as pets.

Their digestive systems are incapable of producing the enzymes needed for breaking down lactose, and hence giving them such foods can give rise to digestion-related problems such as bloating.

Feeding hedgehogs with hedgehog food formulated for them and supplementing diets with insects and the occasional treat will keep them nutritionally balanced, healthy, and happy.

Some hedgehogs are very introverted and extremely shy, and then some are simply curious and outgoing. They may just need some time to warm up to be social, whereas others will come out immediately. Understanding the specific temperament of your pet will be a way to make or break a healthy, good relationship with your hedgehog.

These little spiky fellows enjoy playing hide and seek, as their nature is to seek shelter in the wild. They often enjoy retreating into some sort of hiding place, such as cozy huts or tunnels, in which they will feel secure.

Potential owners should also be prepared to provide ample opportunities for hiding places within their hedgehog's enclosure, as this instinct is deeply embedded. You should respect their need for privacy and create a proper environment to simulate this behavior.

This you need to do with these charming little companions so that they live in a contented and comfortable environment.

These spiky little fellows, in the wild, normally go into torpor or hibernation due to the colder temperatures and scarcity of food. This may not, however, be replicated if the pet is kept in the comfort of its home and under controlled indoor conditions.

Hibernation of hedgehogs is quite natural, and the owners of this pet need to be informed about it and provide a consistent and warm atmosphere so that the hedgehog does not go into unwanted hibernation, which is hazardous for their health.

Such types of knowledge would present the hedgehogs with a continuing and warm living space which would help to ensure their pets' lives in an advanced manner. 

Not all veterinarians have experience in the care and well-being of hedgehogs, and one would have to find a professional who has dealt with exotic pets.

While hedgehogs do have specific health problems that may arise, such as dental issues or skin conditions, knowledgeable care will be required.

If anything like this should ever be needed, one can rest assured their hedgehog will get the best attention on hand with a trusted vet.

Hedgehogs take some time getting intimate with their owners to be able to trust them to let their human companion touch them. Regular handling in a gentle manner helps them get used to your scent and presence, they can also be quite affectionate and even appear to enjoy being held.

Last but not least, creating a comfortable, separated shelter is very important if you have already opted to bring a spiky friend home. That means a safe and well-ventilated cage with soft bedding lined with fleece or paper-based material intended to keep them warm and dry.

Hedgehogs also require small, enclosed shelters-like igloos or PVC pipes-someplace they can retreat and hide. With a solid-surface exercise wheel and toys, like tunnels or puzzle feeders, it will be adequately challenged mentally and physically.

Other than that, your hedgehogs need to be kept in a temperature-controlled room at 72-80°F with low lighting since they are sensitive to temperature and happen to be nocturnal animals. Your hedgehog will feel comfortable and remain healthy this way.