Unusual Pets: Hedgehogs

Pet Hedgehogs are usually hybrids caused by the mating between the White-bellied Hedgehog, the Four-toed Hedgehog and the North African Hedgehog. The resultant small Hedgehog is usually referred to as the African Pygmy Hedgehog. These little mammals are friendly and curious and have a lifespan of 4 to 7 years, although individual animals may live for shorter or longer periods.

Pet Hedgehogs are quite small, about 5 to 8 inches (12.5 – 20 cm) in length with an average weight of ½ to 1 ¼ pounds (.227 - .568 Kg). However, some can be as small as 6 to 7 ounces (.170 - .198 Kg) in weight and others could be as heavy as 1 ¾ to 2 pounds (.796 -.908 Kg).

Domestic Hedgehogs are prone to obesity caused by either poor diets or lack of exercise. This frequently leads to fatty liver disease or cardiovascular disease. Pet Hedgehogs also suffer from cancer, particularly squamous cell carcinoma but, by and large, they are usually quite disease resistant.

When buying a pet Hedgehog, pick it up. Does it unroll after a few seconds? If it doesn't, it's too timid and you should consider a different one. Does it click, jump or hiss? Hissing is OK, but if it clicks, it is trying to threaten you and you should pick one with a better temperament.

Its eyes should be nice, round, beady, wide open and bright, with no sign of discharge. Its nose should be clean with no sign of running. Its ears should be short (unless it is a Long-eared Hedgehog), clean and with no sign of discharge or crustiness. Note that some young Hedgehogs may have ears that have teeth marks or chunks bitten out of their ears. This is caused by siblings fighting and is OK as long as the bites are healed.

Make sure that the Hedgehog has all of its quills and that there are no bare spots, mites, fleas or crustiness on the body.

Check the pen in which the Hedgehog is being kept. There should be no sign of green droppings or diarrhoea.

The body of the Hedgehog should be plump, but not fat and its walk should be a cross between a walk and a shuffle. There should be no sign of a wobble or any difficulty staying upright.

Make sure that there is no rattle when it breathes. Do not confuse chirping, cheeping or purring, normal noises for this animal, with the rattle of a Hedgehog with breathing problems.

Ensure that the Hedgehog you are considering is at least six weeks old before you bring it home.

The Cage.

The home for your new pet should be placed in a comfortable, warm, well lit area free from drafts and direct sunlight. It should be a minimum of 16 by 24 inches in size. An enclosed cage or aquarium should never be used as it could result in your Hedgehog becoming overly warm, suffering heat stroke and dying. The temperature for your new pet should be between 65 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. If cooler, your Hedgehog could go into hibernation, and if warmer, as mentioned it will usually suffer a fatal heat stroke.

When you first bring your pet home, leave it undisturbed in its cage for the first day. For the rest of the first week, you can pick it up for a few minutes a couple of times a day. After that you can handle it frequently as it should be familiar enough with you that it will not become frightened. During its first month with you, your new pet will spend quite a bit of time sleeping. However, as it gets older it will become more active and interesting.

You should let your pet Hedgehog out of its cage for a few hours each day so it can get exercise and to prevent boredom. Once your Hedgehog bonds with you, it will follow you around like a dog. It can also be trained to use a litter box like a cat. Non-clumping litter is preferred, and make sure the litter box is cleaned daily.

Bedding.

Your pet's bedding should be dust free. It can consist of aspen or pine wood shavings (not sawdust), but should never be cedar shavings. Immature females and adults can also use dust free crushed corn cobs. NEVER use crushed corn cobs for immature male Hedgehogs. Shaving or corncob bedding should be 2 to 3 inches deep. You can also use several layers of inexpensive fleece material to line the cage and act as bedding. Replace bedding when it begins to smell. If using fleece material, it can be washed, dried and then returned to the cage.

Food.

Basic diet of high quality dry cat food is recommended. This can be supplemented 2 or 3 times a week with raw or cooked vegetables, meal worms, crickets, pinkies (newborn baby mice), cooked meat and fresh fruit. Only leave the supplemental food in the cage for 15 minutes and then remove it. The dry cat food can be left in the cage 24/7. Note that commercial Hedgehog food is now becoming available. This may be used, but most Hedgehog owners that I contacted felt that high quality cat food was a better alternative.

Food Bowl.

The food bowl should be 3 to 6 inches in diameter and a maximum of 3 inches tall. Heavy ceramic is recommended as it will prevent your pet from tipping it over and using it as a toy.

Water Bottle.

Use a water bottle for your pet Hedgehog (one designed for rodents or rabbits would be excellent). Never use an open dish for water for your Hedgehog. If you do, your pet will fill it with bedding material and then there won't be any water left for it to drink. It will then suffer dehydration which is usually fatal.

Hiding Place.

Your pet will enjoy having a hiding place. You can use an old plastic pitcher, a 4 inch by 12 inch piece of PVC pipe (make sure your pet can get in and out easily), or a small cardboard box like a shoe box, with a 4 inch diameter hole cut in one end. If you use a cardboard box, it should be replaced with a clean one every 2 to 3 weeks.

Toys.

Toys can be added to your pet's cage. Some people use empty toilet paper rolls, which are favoured by pet Hedgehogs, however, if you choose to use one, make sure that you slice it open from end to end on one side so that your pet cannot get its head stuck inside the roll. A Hedgehog wheel is highly recommended. This wheel will assist in keeping your pet fit and healthy.


Sexing Hedgehogs.

Female – genitals close to the anus.
Males – penis sheath ½ inch or more toward the nose from the anus.

Both males and females make great pets. However, you should never put a male and a female in the same cage unless you intend breeding them. Breeding should only take place after the female is more than 5 months of age as pregnancy earlier could result in problems and even death of the female.

After the female becomes pregnant, the male should be removed from the cage as the male will very likely kill the newborn babies. The gestation period is between 35 and 58 days, depending on the breed of your pet Hedgehog. The litter will consist of 5 or 6 babies on average.

Pet Hedgehogs are diurnal animals. This means that they are awake part of the day and part of the night. They are friendly, curious animals that require no immunization. They are usually odour free if regular cleaning of the cage is done. They are peaceful, humorous, solitary animals. They are also very intelligent and have good memories.

Hedgehogs have excellent sight and smell abilities. Their pointed little noses are constantly twitching as they sample the scents in the air around them.

When frightened, they roll into a ball protecting their soft white tummy. Their back is covered in short quills for protection. Unlike the quills of porcupines, these quills do not have barbs and they usually remain attached to the hedgehog.

As noted above, obesity is a problem, so if your pet develops “ham-hocks” for legs or has double chins, eliminate the supplemental food, and if your pet does not have a Hedgehog wheel, get one. If there is no sign of weight loss after one month, change to a dry cat food with at least 20 percent fat content. The extra fat content should cause your pet to eat less and thus lose weight. If it still doesn't lose weight, consult a veterinarian.

So, if you want a smart, friendly, cute, little pet that is fun, quiet, gentle, fairly odour free, that doesn't climb your curtains, chew your furniture, require vaccinations or daily walks, then you may want to consider a Hedgehog as your next pet.

However, be aware that some states in the USA and some Canadian municipalities have laws banning the keeping of Hedgehogs as pets, so before purchasing one, please check with local authorities.

Until next time,

Teia
PS. Hedgehogs enjoy baths. We put our pet hedgehog in about two (2) to (3) three inches of barely warm water in our bathtub every Monday, Wednesday and Friday for ten (10) minutes. Make sure the tub is clean before putting the hedgehog in and make sure that NO chemical cleaners have been used. If you are not sure, rinse the tub out thoroughly before putting the hedgehog in the tub. NOTE! the hedgehog may have a bowel movement in the tub. After the bath take your hedgehog back to its cage and thoroughly clean the tub with hot water.

Dog Obesity and Overfeeding

Medical Update – The vet phoned dad and said that there was no indication of deep infection and to start the steroid prescription. Since then my groin has healed and the lumps on my chin and beside my nose have started to shrink in size. Unfortunately I'm still losing weight. Dad will be taking me back to see the vet tomorrow, so hopefully he can come up with a solution to the weight loss. (This is the exact opposite of today's blog topic, which as the title says is obesity.)

An alarmingly high proportion of dogs, these days, suffer from obesity. The primary cause of this is due to over eating and lack of exercise.

Most dog owners, now-a-days, have very busy lives with many work related and social responsibilities. As a result, their dogs don't get taken for as many walks as the should. Many days their food is either left down all day, like mine, or care is not taken in measuring out the proportions recommended for the size or breed of their dog.

Some breeds are more prone to becoming obese than others. Cocker Spaniels and Labrador Retrievers are two breeds which are very susceptible to obesity. On the other hand, Terrier breeds are the least susceptible breeds to becoming obese.

If your dog shows a tendency to having a weight problem, ensure that she only eats what you give her. Do not allow other family members or well meaning neighbours to give her treats or special tidbits. Please have your dog examined by a veterinarian (vet) before considering putting her on a diet as there may be an underlying medical problem that is responsible for your pet's weight gain. As mentioned last time, in multiple dog families, you have to be vigilant that food guarding or food gorging is not taking place. This is a jealousy or psychological type problem that needs to be discussed with your vet so that you can find a safe and satisfactory solution.

The one downside to having your female dog spayed, or your male dog castrated, is that hormonal changes take place which alter their weight regulating mechanism. This means that the same amount of food after the operation may result in weight gain. If this occurs, discuss it with your vet to arrive at a sensible solution. It may be necessary to reduce the number of calories in the food provided. This may involve switching to calorie reduced food, or adding more bulk to your dog's current food to make it seem more substantial.

One method that has proved fairly successful with a number of dogs is providing them with uncooked carrots as treats instead of dog biscuits. Uncooked carrots can also be chopped up and added to your dog's regular food to provide extra bulk when the amount of food is reduced to lessen the calories consumed. As well as reducing calorie intake, these vegetables are good for aiding the teeth cleaning process. Some dogs are satisfied with the carrots just being washed and the tops and tips being removed, while others prefer to have their carrots with the tops, tips and skin removed.

Since cold winter weather increases a dog's appetite, adding bulk without increasing calories is necessary at this time of year. Where I live in northern Canada, winter is long and cold – temperatures in the minus 30 to minus 50 degree Centigrade* range, often accompanied by a wind, makes outdoor exercise impractical much of the time. As a result, reduction of calories is essential or weight gain at this time of year is inevitable.

Until next time,

Teia

* Centigrade or Celsius temperatures are scales where water freezes at 0 degrees and boils at 100 degrees – in the Fahrenheit scale, water freezes at 32 degrees and boils at 212 degrees. At minus 40 degrees, all three scales are in synchronization.

Keeping Your Dog Healthy

Like people, dogs need to be healthy to enjoy life. Dogs are your friends, companions and often your guardians, but since they are also totally dependent on you for their well-being, it is your responsibility to look after them properly.

One of the most prevalent 'diseases' in dogs these days is one that also affects humans. Obesity. A fat dog is an unhealthy dog and is likely to suffer from arthritis and heart failure. Remember, in the wild, dogs eat fresh meat that they have killed themselves. They also eat certain types of grass and may eat wild fruits like berries if these grow in their natural habitat.

Milk, custard and cake are the worst things you can give your grown dog and, though a puppy may benefit from the calcium in milk, there are commercial milk products available that are especially formulated for a puppy's needs.

Dry dog food, or kibble as it is sometimes called, is said to have all the nutrients that your dog will need for good health, but the more expensive brands are often better. Dogs fed on cheaper brands may constantly chew grass to attempt to settle their upset stomachs because they may be missing something from their diet, or the “fillers” used to bulk up the food contain something your dog is allergic to. Tinned food can be given as a treat. A healthy dog should have a smooth, shining coat, clear eyes and a moist nose. Its breath should not smell foul. It should be slender, though not thin enough to see its ribs sticking out. If your dog's breath is disgusting, it could be due to the tartar on its teeth. Chewing on a big raw bone will help to clean your dog's teeth. Or as an alternative a good quality rawhide bone will also work quite well.

Annual vaccinations for distemper, heartworm, and parvo virus are a must. Kennel cough is not likely to be a problem unless the dog is kept on cement or spends time at boarding kennels. If this is the case, then your dog should also be given a vaccination to prevent kennel cough.

If you notice small white flecks in your dog’s stool, it is a sign of worms, so you should consider administering worm tablets to your dog. Your vet will need to administer the vaccinations, but you can worm the dog yourself. The tablets should be pushed down the side of the dog's mouth until he swallows. If this is too difficult, you can wrap the tablet in a slice of processed cheese or you can crush the tablet into some tinned dog food and offer it when the dog is hungry. Watch to make sure he eats it all.

Parvo virus breaks down the digestive system and eventually affects the heart. It tends to come in outbreaks when people forget to have their animals inoculated. Symptoms include bloody stool and the animal is quickly unable to move and in obvious pain. It almost always fatal. Luckily, it is not transmitted to humans.

Symptoms of distemper include runny eyes and a dry nose. It is rather like flu in humans. Your veterinarian can aid you in getting your dog through this disease.

A dog with worms may have a poor appetite, and will often - though not always - appear to be in poor health with a dry coat that is harsh to the touch. If your dog drags itself along the ground in a sitting position, suspect worms immediately. Worms can sometimes be seen hanging from the anal passage. The problem needs to be addressed as soon as possible, because worms are easily transmitted to humans.

Fleas, which will happily jump from dogs to humans, can be another problem. These bloodsuckers can actually kill a tiny puppy, simply through blood loss. Puppies too young to wear a flea collar may be washed in a suitable preparation from the vet. Towel dry the puppy afterward and keep it in a warm place so it doesn't get cold. Always be sure to keep kennels and yard clean to reduce the flea problem. If they get out of hand, you may need to spray all bedding and surrounding areas to kill the fleas and their eggs.

If you live in a tick prone area, be sure to keep a tick collar on your dog at all times. Mark the renewal date on the calendar so you don't forget to renew it. Your pet's life may depend on it! Check your dog frequently for ticks. They will show up as a dark lump on the dog. Frequently the back end of the tick will stick out of the skin. When you see a tick sticking out of your dog, apply Vaseline over the part of the tick that is sticking out. This cuts off the air supply and the tick will back out of the skin. When it gets completely out, lift it off and kill it so that it cannot reinfect your dog, or you. If you cannot get the tick to come out of the dog, take the dog to a veterinarian, as soon as possible, to have the tick removed before it lays eggs in your dog. If not removed quickly, the paralysis tick can cause death in three to five days. Wood ticks and grass ticks can also have fatal results if not treated. A number of years ago, a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police was conducting a search for a missing person in a heavily wooded area that contained many wood ticks. The search lasted about two weeks. Unknown to the member, a wood tick burrowed into the back of his neck. A week after the search ended, the member died. The coroner blamed the death on the wood tick.

If your dog seems to suddenly have weak back legs and falls over often, inspect it immediately for a tick and get it to the veterinarian as soon as possible. Luckily, the tick vaccine works well and quickly and can save a dog that looks like it is gasping its last breath.

With attention to these few details, your pet should live a long and happy life, rewarding you with years of fun and companionship.

Until next time

Teia