Grooming

Hedgehogs are extremely clean animals. However, that does not mean they will not benefit from occasional grooming. If your hedgehog self-anoints frequently or gets dirty while playing, groom its quills gently with a toothbrush dipped in warm water. For a dirty hedgehog, you can try a bath. Place a piece of old towel in your kitchen sink, set the hedgehog on top, then use a vegetable sprayer to give it a gentle, lukewarm shower. Keep the spray away from the face and do not let more than 1Ž2 inch of water accumulate. Towel dry as much as possible and keep your hedgehog in a warm spot until it is thoroughly dry.

Occasionally, your hedgehog may need to have its nails clipped. This is a two-person task. One person should support the hedgehog, while the second person holds one foot and clips the nails. Nail clippers designed for dogs and cats also work for hedgehogs. As an alternative, a rough brick or piece of aquarium rock may be added to the hedgehog's cage or play area. Climbing on the rock will help keep the nails worn down.

Health Care

The most common health problems with hedgehogs are skin parasites, such as hedgehog mites. It is a good idea to take your new pet to a veterinarian for an initial checkup. The vet will weigh your pet, listen to its heart and do a general check for other obvious problems. If the skin is flaky, a scraping will be examined under a microscope to determine if it is dry skin or the result of mites. Mites can be treated with a series of three doses of Ivomec spaced two weeks apart.

Observe your pet on a daily basis. A change in appetite, behavior or the quality of the stool may indicate a health problem. In particular, if the hedgehog gets "green poop"--forest green-colored stool--that does not clear up in 24 hours, it is time to visit your veterinarian. This is a sign that the hedgehog has a cold, infection or other health problem.

Author(s): Dawn Wrobel

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