Hedgehogs 101

The most common type of pet hedgehog is the African Pygmy variety, which are not legal in every state, so before you adopt, make sure you're allowed to. Assuming you can keep hedgehogs legally in your area, make sure you adopt yours from an animal rescue or breeder. Do not try to domesticate one from the wild. Playful, inquisitive and relatively low-maintenance, hedgehogs can make a great exotic pet.

Hedgehog Grooming
For the most part, hedgehogs will keep themselves clean. In fact, they regularly "anoint" themselves by spreading saliva all over their spiny backs, according to Hedgehog Central.. However, you might have to bathe your hedgehog once or twice a year if he gets particularly dirty or smelly. Nails will likely need trimming on a monthly basis, but as long as you feed your pet a hard commercial food, its teeth and gums should be fine without intervention.

Common Health Issues
Hedgehogs, which can live anywhere from three to eight years, are generally healthy. However, a small problem can prove dangerous (and potentially fatal) over a short period of time, so it's very important that you monitor your hedgehog's health closely according to FAQ.org. Watch their noses for bubbling or excess dripping, their mouths for food lodged in the roof and for abscesses, and eyes for any signs of distress. Additionally, hedgies are prone to bowel obstructions, so if you notice any change in their droppings, you should visit a vet.

Hedgehog Training
Litter training is the most common type of training for hedgehogs, and also the easiest according to AllPetsCo. Hedgehogs are known for keeping their homes tidy, so if you offer a litter box, they'll likely be more than happy to use it. If you see your hedgehog do his business somewhere outside the litter box, scoop up the feces and place both that and the hedgehog in the litter box. Don't yell at him for not doing what you want, as you'll only succeed in scaring him. The process generally takes a few days, but can last one or two weeks.





Hedgehogs and Children
Hedgehogs are good for families that might not have the time or space to keep a cat or dog. However, caution (and supervision) should be exercised when bringing a hedgie into a home with small children, for both the child's and the animal's sake, according to SmallAnimalChannel.com. Hedgehogs' quills, while not barbed or dangerous, can provide a painful poke. And, although they're adept at protecting themselves, hedgehogs can be easily frightened. And they're very small animals, so even if they're able to curl into a ball, they can still be hurt.

What Hedgehog Owners Say
"I owned a hedgehog while I was in college and graduate school. He was a wonderful pet -- funny, interactive, sweet -- and he had many characteristics that made him ideal for me at the time," says Lora Quinn. "They're great for apartments -- no smells, no noises. They're nocturnal, which was perfect for my schedule (no worries about a dog or bird getting lonely during the day), and they're lower maintenance than a dog or cat, but still provided all the 'warm and fuzzy' pet benefits."

Jolena Woehr also loves hedgehogs -- she's owned at least one for the past 11 years. However, she offers a few words of wisdom. "Sure, [they're great pets] for a responsible adult willing to take care of them for life, and who doesn't mind getting poked a lot until the hedgie knows them. It takes a lot of research and up-front money to get a hedgehog and the proper things to care for them." Regarding the aspects of ownership she doesn't like, she says, "The wheel cleaning is the worst! They're also not as intelligent and interactive as some other small pets, like rats. And, many of them get cancer as they age, giving the owner a lot of difficult choices to make."

Tags: exotic pets, ExoticPets, hedgehog, hedgehogs, hedgies, small pets, SmallPets