Ringing in the New Year with Exotic Hedgehogs: Get advice from our Vet Darren
December 7, 2023
Are you wanting to start the new year with a new pet to join your family? Why not add a touch of excitement and explore the world of exotics and the more unusual pets to own here in Surrey? Introducing the hedgehog – a new pet that will provide entertaining and heart-warming companionship for many years!
We would love to see photos of you and your pet hedgehogs – why not share them on our Facebook page?
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Why Molesey Vets loves hedgehogs!
Behind the quills, hedgehogs are loving and gentle creatures who can charm any owner. The team at Molesey Veterinary Centre have helped care for both quiet and conservative hedgehogs, right through to those with a BIG personality. We find that owners love to bond with their hedgehog and can end up playing with them for hours – the cutest timewasters in Surrey! It does take time for hedgehogs to learn to trust, so be sure to give them plenty of their own space and do not overhandle them. If they roll up and use the defensive position it is best to leave them alone for a short while.
Did you know… the European hedgehog is a native species to the UK and it is illegal to keep this species as a pet in the UK?
Caring for a hedgehog
According to our exotics enthusiast and Vet Darren Partridge, as with any exotic pet, hedgehogs require certain types of care. It is essential that you do thorough research and be confident you can provide the care they need before thinking about getting an exotic pet.
Also, under the Animal Welfare Act, owners must be able to meet the animal’s full welfare needs including a suitable environment, to be housed with or apart from other animals (‘apart’ in your hedgehog’s case), be protected from pain, suffering, injury and disease, to be given a suitable diet and every opportunity to exhibit normal behaviour patterns – which includes foraging for live insects.
Darren has shared advice on some of the essentials below:
- Housing: Hedgehogs will use any opportunity to escape so ensuring they have secure housing and an escape-proof enclosure is essential. They are active creatures but are also nocturnal, meaning they sleep in the day and potter around at night. So, plenty of room and a dark little hiding house for them to sleep in are both essential requirements for their living space.
- Diet: Hedgehogs tend to eat once or twice a day and like a diet of insects and worms. Try making them a foraging tray or even a box with soil in for digging up live insects, so they can use their natural wild behaviours. You can also give them finely minced rice and meat, or low-fat wet cat or dog food to support their diets if live insects are not always readily available. You can use fresh fruit as a treat and hedgehogs particularly enjoy apples, bananas, melons and berries.
- Parasite prevention: Hedgehogs are susceptible to fleas so always talk to your vet about how to treat them. Darren warns that cat and dog flea products can be dangerous for hedgehogs, so only give flea treatments that a vet has advised. They can also suffer from various different worms, diarrhoea and pneumonia, so if your hedgehog seems under the weather, contact Molesey Vets to book an appointment with vets who are experienced with exotics.
Darren loves treating pet hedgehogs so contact our team for advice on veterinary care for your new prickly companion.
Did you know… hedgehogs can live for up to 10 years?
With a hedgehog by your side, the journey into the new year is bound to be filled with delightful surprises and unforgettable moments. Don’t hesitate to contact our team on 0208 979 1384 if you have any more questions about hedgehog ownership – Darren and the rest of our team at Molesey Vets look forward to meeting your new spiny friend soon!
