Bathing and Feeding Hedgehog

earsha · 10th November 2006, 10:25 AM

hi,

I bought a Hedgehog recently, I believe he is approximately 4 years old. I wanted to know about bathing him. How important is it and how do I introduce him to it without giving him a heart attack? I was also wondering about the amount of food I should feed him. I leave a small amount of dry food in his cage at all times but I also give him canned cat food once a day when he first wakes up. How much of the canned food should I feed him? He loves it but I'm afraid to give him too much.

Earsha

johalber · 10th November 2006, 10:38 AM

Everyone has there own way of taking care of hedgehogs. After 4 yrs some changes caould be a shock for you new friend. Here is some easy adive i can give now. For his first bath i would do a "foot bath" just a shallow as his feet so he can't feel threatend by his first bath time. see how he takes it. Then gradually make it deeper. Some of my hedgehog like bath time and yet others i don't think will ever like it. Each hedgehog does have a differetn personality! as for you food question. i have never gave mine can cat food. I think as a treat it maybe okay. however daily not so much. However if has been his normal diet for 4 yrs. His body will go into a shock i would think if it was taken away all at once. the dry cat food is best i am told it keep there teeth and jaws strong. over time canned soft food wekaen jaws and rots teeth.

Johalber

diljera · 10th November 2006, 10:43 AM

I agree that a shallow bath the first time is probably best to keep him from freaking out. Also you may want to give him a bath in the tub so that the water is sightly deeper on one end then the other.

Diljera

oopsie-daisy · 25th January 2007, 03:46 PM

I think there are available hedgehog food in the market. According to Exotic Pet Care, adult hedgehogs should be fed at least a tablespoon of hedgehog food along with five meal worms and at least one cricket. They also need to be given a mixture of fruits and vegetables like spinach, lettuce, carrot, banana and many others. They should also be given regular vitamins.

cessy · 6th February 2007, 12:28 PM

Is it really possible to give a hedgehog a decent bath? How will you able to do it without pricking your fingers to one of its body covering? Do they use a certain shampoo as well?

10th November 2006, 10:25 AM	#1 (permalink)
earsha Ant Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 7	Bathing and Feeding Hedgehog hi, I bought a Hedgehog recently, I believe he is approximately 4 years old. I wanted to know about bathing him. How important is it and how do I introduce him to it without giving him a heart attack? I was also wondering about the amount of food I should feed him. I leave a small amount of dry food in his cage at all times but I also give him canned cat food once a day when he first wakes up. How much of the canned food should I feed him? He loves it but I'm afraid to give him too much. Earsha

10th November 2006, 10:38 AM	#2 (permalink)
johalber Ant Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 7	Re: Bathing and Feeding Hedgehog Everyone has there own way of taking care of hedgehogs. After 4 yrs some changes caould be a shock for you new friend. Here is some easy adive i can give now. For his first bath i would do a "foot bath" just a shallow as his feet so he can't feel threatend by his first bath time. see how he takes it. Then gradually make it deeper. Some of my hedgehog like bath time and yet others i don't think will ever like it. Each hedgehog does have a differetn personality! as for you food question. i have never gave mine can cat food. I think as a treat it maybe okay. however daily not so much. However if has been his normal diet for 4 yrs. His body will go into a shock i would think if it was taken away all at once. the dry cat food is best i am told it keep there teeth and jaws strong. over time canned soft food wekaen jaws and rots teeth. Johalber

10th November 2006, 10:43 AM	#3 (permalink)
diljera Ant Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 9	Re: Bathing and Feeding Hedgehog I agree that a shallow bath the first time is probably best to keep him from freaking out. Also you may want to give him a bath in the tub so that the water is sightly deeper on one end then the other. Diljera

25th January 2007, 03:46 PM	#4 (permalink)
oopsie-daisy Ant Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 92	Re: Bathing and Feeding Hedgehog I think there are available hedgehog food in the market. According to Exotic Pet Care, adult hedgehogs should be fed at least a tablespoon of hedgehog food along with five meal worms and at least one cricket. They also need to be given a mixture of fruits and vegetables like spinach, lettuce, carrot, banana and many others. They should also be given regular vitamins.

6th February 2007, 12:28 PM	#5 (permalink)
cessy Frog Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 186	Re: Bathing and Feeding Hedgehog Is it really possible to give a hedgehog a decent bath? How will you able to do it without pricking your fingers to one of its body covering? Do they use a certain shampoo as well?

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