Everything Else

Here are some of the things that just didn’t fit into the other sections. I will add more as I think of them, or as I get e-mails stating that I forgot something.

Should I use a water bottle or a water bowl?
Does your hedgehog have dry skin?
How do I litter box train my hedgehog?
What should be in a hedgehog’s cage?
What bedding should I use for my hedgehog?












Bowl or bottle:
Should I give my hedgehog a water bowl or a water bottle? Believe it or not, but this is a pretty big discussion topic in the hedgehog world. Many people go with bowls, many with bottles. There are pros and cons to each, so let’s begin.
Bowl: Pros – Allow hedgehog to drink as if it was in the wild.
       Cons – Can get tipped over. Hedgehogs can dirty the water easily, causing it to need to be cleaned every day. Takes up more room.
Bottle: Pros – Needs to be cleaned much less frequently. Doesn’t take up any space.
       Cons – Might break and you have to buy a new one. Some hedgehogs have trouble using a bottle. Hedgehogs (although this is very, very rare) can chip their tooth on a bottle.
I personally prefer the bottle. I don’t have time to clean out a bowl one or more times a day, and all that wasted water can get expensive. A bought my hog from a breeder who uses bottles, and I didn’t see the need to change. Using one over the other is a matter of personal choice. Some hedgehogs do need a bowl due to various diseases and such, but many can go either way.

Dry Skin:
First of all, just because you saw your hedgehog scratch doesn’t mean that it has dry skin. It is okay and very common for a hedgehog to scratch everyone in a while. If the scratching persists, however, your hog may have dry skin.
Dry skin can occur for a number of reasons. Quilling, mites, too many baths, etc… can cause dry skin to occur. If you are sure that you hedgehog does not have mites and simply has dry skin, then here is a way to soothe them.
Bath: Giving a hedgehog an oatmeal bath (a regular bath with some oatmeal in it) will help soothe dry skin.
Vitamin E: If your hedgehog has severely dry skin, you can use vitamin E. Apply it to your hedgehog’s back by dropping a few drops (preferably from a capsule) onto the hog. It will soak into your hog’s skin by itself, but you can help it along by gently massaging you hog’s back. Apply once a day until the dryness starts to go away, and then only as needed until it is gone.
Flaxseed oil: Apparently flax oil works wonders on hedgehogs. It makes them eat more, clears up dry skin, is good for their heart, and even makes their quills shiny. You simply dribble a little bit over their food, and your hog will take care of the rest. Just add half a teaspoon every other day while dry skin is occurring and it should start to work in a week or so.

Litter Training:
First off, I think I should say that not all hedgehogs can be litter trained. If you are planning on getting a hedgehog, you can’t expect it to be litter trained. Chances are, when you get you hedgehog, it will not be litter trained.
If you want to litter train your hedgehog, then the first step is to get a litter box. I would highly suggest either the Super Pet High-Corner Litter Pan or the Super Pet High-Back Litter Pan. They can be bought at Petco, Petsmart, or online. If you get the High-Back Litter Pan you can put a wheel in it. (I do this. That way your hedgehog still has access to the litter box, but when it runs on the wheel and goes to the bathroom, it slides into the box.) When your hedgehog goes, take some of the soiled bedding and poop, and put it into the box. When you clean the cage, leave some in the litter box. Hopefully, your hog will begin to use the box. Also, please remember that you can't use any kind of litter. Cat litter, and other types of litter that are small pieces of material can get stuck in a hedgehog's genitals. This applies to male and female hedgehogs. I would suggest a litter such as Yesterdays News. Make sure that you get the right kind of litter! Many hogs can be partially litter trained, that is, will usually go in the box but not always. If you can’t deal with your hog not being litter trained, then I wouldn’t suggest getting one.

Hedgehog cage accessories:
Hedgehogs should have a variety of things in their cage. These include a wheel, food dish, water bottle/bowl, and a place to hide. It is also important, though not imperative, to have something like a hedgie bag for you hog to sleep in. It is also good to include toys, and a litter box.
Wheel: Hedgehogs need a wheel for one main reason. Hedgehogs are very prone to diseases such as fatty liver disease. Hedgehogs are asleep during the day, and therefore try to exercise at night. Wheels give them the ability to exercise so they can stay healthy. Many hedgehogs run an average of 10-13 miles a night! Imagine having that much energy to burn and not having a way to use it! Also, without a wheel, destructive behavior might occur. Without a wheel as an outlet, hedgehogs will run around their cage tipping things over, trying to escape, and making a mess and a lot of noise.
Food dish and water bowl/bottle: This is a given. Hedgehogs need a bowl for their food to be placed in, and need to have access to water 24/7. I would suggest getting a ceramic bowl. They are study, and very difficult to tip over. Some of them are very high, however, so make sure your hedgehog can reach it. For more info on choosing a water bowl or a water bottle, read the next session.
Place to hide: Hedgehogs need a place to hide during the day while they are sleeping. Most people buy a plastic igloo from Petco/Petsmart. Just having a hedgie bag would work temporarily, but hedgehogs do need some kind of shelter.
Hedgie Bag: Hedgie bags are very good for a hedgehog to have. You can buy them online, or make them yourself if you know how to sow well. They give hedgehogs added protection and warmth, and are perfect for carrying your hog around the house or something of the sort.
Toys: Toys are great amusement for a hedgehog and its owner. It gives the hedgehog something to do during the day and night. Also, you can rotate toys to give your hedgehog a variety. One night these two toys, the next night two different ones. This will ensure that you have a happy hedgie.
Litter Box: Some hedgehogs can be litter trained, others can’t. It is up to you weather or not you even want to try. To learn how to litter train your hog, read the section on this page titled “Litter Training”

Bedding:
There are many different options available of what to keep in your cage as bedding. Vellux, carefresh, yesterday's news; the list goes on and on.
There are only a few big "No's" when it come to hedgehog bedding. Never, never! use cedar bedding for a hedgehog. While it may look good and smell good, it is very deadly to hedgehogs, and other small animals for that matter. The fumes are poisonous because a hedgehog can't get away from them, and the "phenols" in cedar (which can not be baked out) are toxic. Also, certain materials that will easily come apart or that have un-stitched edges/loose strings should not be used. (Strings can get wrapped around hedgehog feet, cutting off circulation)
Vellux: Vellux is a man-made material that is somewhat like fleece. Vellux blankets can be very cheaply bought at places such as Walmart or online, and then cut up to fit your cage. Vellux is very inexpensive, because after the initial purchase price it costs nothing. When it gets dirty (for whatever reason) just throw it in the washing machine and re-use it. It is available in many colors, and is very good to use when you own many hedgehogs. Although it is uncommon, some hedgehogs will eat the vellux. If you have any reason to believe that your hedgehog is eating the vellux, or is even just burrowing into it, it should be substituted with a different bedding.
Yesterday's news: Yesterday's News is a litter which can be purchased in a wide variety of textures, sizes, and smells. If you want one for your hog, I would suggest regular, unscented cat, ferret, or rabbit Yesterday's News. You should be able to buy it at Petco or Petsmart. It is relatively inexpensive, and very clean. It absorbs liquid very well, and doesn't get all over. The only problem with using Yesterday's News is if you decide to litter train your hog you will have to use a different kind of litter. Also, impaction can be a problem. That, and a hedgehog eating it. It would expand in the hedgehog's throat, causing it to choke. If using this litter as bedding, be very careful that your hedgehog does not ingest any! If you are worried about this or it does become a problem, you can use rabbit food pellets as bedding also.
Carefresh: Carefresh is a common bedding for small animals. It is very inexpensive, absorbs very well, and dosn't get everywhere. Unfortunately, it may not be the best choice if you have asthma, as it is sometimes very dusty. As with Yesterday's News, make sure you hedgehog does not eat any!
Kiln Dried Pine:Pine is a very common bedding. It is cheap, looks good, and absorbs well. The only problem is that it gets everywhere! It is a wonderful bedding, but I don't use it because I wouldn't want to have to clean up the floor every time I let my hedgehog out.
Corn Cob: Usually not a good bedding idea. It works well and is inexpensive, but can be harmful, especially with male hedgehogs. The little pieces can get stuck in their "man parts" and the same is possible with female hedgehogs. This also goes for non-clumping/clumping cat litter.
There are more acceptable (and unacceptable) beddings, but if you are going to pick one, I would suggest one of the above. If you have any questions on the acceptability of other beddings, don't hesitate to send me an e-mail.

If you have any questions or comments about the information on this page, please send me an e-mail.