#hedgehog tips

[mustluvhedgies]

I accidentally cut her nail too much and she's bleeding is hydrogen peroxide good to put on it or what could be better to use?

Hydrogen peroxide will not stop the bleeding. It will kill any bacteria, but in doing so it will sting like a motherfucker - so this shouldn’t be your first choice.

If you do use an antibiotic ointment in the future, use regular strength Polysporin (NOT extra strength NOR the one with the pain reliever). You do NOT want to use Neosporin - it is toxic for hedgehogs.

There are commercial styptic powders out there that you can buy at the pet store (usually marketed towards dogs or birds). A very common brand is Kwik Stop®. Simply tap the powder onto the wound and it will shorten the clotting time.

If you don’t want to buy some, you can also reach into the pantry and grab some cornstarch. It does an equally great job.

[mustluvhedgies]

I’ve been finding split quills where she sleeps. Only like 1 or 2. But I thought them being frail and split was really odd. I tried googling for answers and didn’t find anything. Do you know if I should be concerned?

mustluvhedgies

Not sure, really.

Seeing as though she’s not losing spines in droves - leads me to think that this is not super serious; but I agree, it is strange.

Most abnormal loss of a hedgehog’s spines is due to mites or a fungal infection. Spines lost this way typically present themselves with a soft flakey tip where it would have been attached to the skin.

I am interested in knowing your hedgehog’s diet - food plays a vital role in healthy skin and quills.

I would wait and see if this phenomenon persists. If so, I would raise this concern to your exotic veterinarian.

[mustluvhedgies]

I have an African Pygmy hedgehog and everytime I hold him I break out in red itchy bumps all over my skin! I need to hold him because he is shy and only trusts me! Any advice would be appreciated

You’ve got the hedgehog hives. Although not common, some people are allergic to hedgehogs. Most people who do break out in rashes usually have sensitive skin anyway (and most are already allergic to cats and dogs). A lot of people adopt a hedgehog thinking they are hypoallergenic and that’s not entirely true.

Some people are just born with an intrinsic reaction to handling hedgehogs. And some develop a sensitivity over time ( I’ll spare everyone the immunology lession here). It’s usually caused when the spines penetrate the skin and push tiny pieces of dirt and other crap into the epidermis/dermis of the skin  - which causes the reaction.

There has been some discussion that giving your hedgehog a bath before handling reduces the bumps. But you can’t give your hedgie a bath every day. He would have the most dry, itchy, uncomfortable skin issues imaginable. So that’s not an option.

My suggestion is to simply wear gloves. Something that is thin enough for you to have some flexibility and not scare the bejesus out of your hedgehog, but still gives you the protection you need. Thinking about it, athletic gloves may work well. They’re usually thin and breathable. You’d have to check those out. I wouldn’t use garden gloves because they’re bulky and may limit your grip while handling.

I hope this helps. Good luck.

[mustluvhedgies]

Ok so I've had my hedgie for a while now (about 6 months), and he has NEVER bitten me. But recently I was busy and I had to socialize him earlier than usual (9 PM rather than our usual 1 am) and he continuously would bite at my fingers and hands. Was it just the giant schedule change that caused this behavior? I didn't have anything on my hands as I wash before every handling.

Hedgehogs generally like to stick to a schedule, but is a 4 hour difference really that much of a change? The answer really depends on the hedgehog. You would know your hedgie best, and that certainly could be the issue. If biting is a one-time thing (or a rare occasion kind of thing) that’s fine. They have feelings and get grumpy or scared for whatever reason. Who knows? One time my hedgehog’s bad mood was because I changed the layout of her cage slightly. I moved it back to the way it was before and she was fine.

I will say one thing. Hedgehogs do have a very strong sense of smell. Far more powerful than we do. You wash your hands before you handle your hedgie - and you may not be able to smell the soap - but I guarantee your hedgehog can smell it. Did you change your soap recently? Is it a different scent than the one you were using before? He may have noticed this and was curious about it. Washing your hands before handling your hedgehog is your personal choice (and that’s perfectly fine), but consider the smell of the soap. Unless you were just handling food or something dirty or greasy, washing your hands before handling is not that big of a deal (as far as I’m concerned). But your definitely want to wash your hands after holding them. Like any other small animal, they do have the potential to carry Salmonella or any other enteric pathogen.

[mustluvhedgies]

Do you have any tips for nail trimming? Our little guy Quillbert gets really stressed when we do it, but his nails grow at an incredible speed even our vet was surprised at how much they grew in 5 days.

I found this video a while ago. This will change the nail trimming game. It’s not just for aggressive hedgehogs. Everyone can use this trick. It doesn’t hurt them at all.

[mustluvhedgies]

Hi, I want give my hedgehog a bath but I don't know with what and how. Could you tell me? It would be really helpful. Thanks. ☺️

This is a great video on how to give a bath by SnowdropHedgie. She uses a lightly scented tear free puppy/kitten shampoo. I use a lightly scented baby shampoo for my hedgie (Johnson’s baby shampoo) Others reccomend Aveno baby shampoo. Either is fine. As long as the shampoo does not contain any tee tree oils (is toxic for hedgehogs).

Hedgehogs naturally have dry skin. Excessive bathing can exasperate this problem. If your hedgie has poopy paws, skip the full workup and just do the feet. Also for quick cleanups, skip the shampoo as well.

Never put them back into the cage wet. Dry them off as best you can first. I always keep two towels for drying off. The first one gets really wet, and then I switch over to the second one for good measure. It may also be a good idea to bump up the cage temperature for a little while as your hedgie dries completely.

[mustluvhedgies]

Is the Kaytee Comfort Wheel good for hedgehogs? There was also the Kaytee Quiet Spinner. My pet smart only carries those two. The quiet spinner seemed tilted and I worried my girl might fall out. Thoughts?

Yes. I have the 12 inch (Giant) Kaytee Comfort Wheel myself. These are the most common ones seen in the store and are pretty cheap as far has hedgehog wheels go. These have the two hedgehog wheel requirements: a solid running surface and the minimum 12 inch diameter. I’ve had mine since day one. It’s worked well and it’s easy to clean. Just make sure to secure it to the cage somehow (I use bread twist ties. it works well).

[mustluvhedgies]

How do you bathe a hedgehog?

This is a great video on how to give a bath by SnowdropHedgie. She uses a lightly scented tear free puppy/kitten shampoo. I use a lightly scented baby shampoo for my hedgie. Either is fine. As long as the shampoo does not contain any tee tree oils (is toxic for hedgehogs).

Hedgehogs naturally have dry skin. Excessive bathing can exasperate this problem. If your hedgie has poopy paws, skip the full workup and just do the feet. Also for quick cleanups, skip the shampoo as well.

Never put them back into the cage wet. Dry them off as best you can first. I always keep two towels for drying off. The first one gets really wet, and then I switch over to the second one for good measure. It may also be a good idea to bump up the cage temperature for a little while as your hedgie dries completely.