BATHS
Hedgehogs require occasional baths. Annointing, kitty litter, and playtime can make your hedgie dirty and itchy. Most will begin to stop and scratch more often as they play, which is usually a sign that a bath is due. Hedgehogs scratch by using their back leg (like a dog). You can also feel irritation when handling your hedgehog which can mean bath time is due.
Keep the water level at 1”-2” or less for babies. Hedgehogs are not usually fond of baths and will try to escape. Most will poop in the water as well. Be prepared to change the water. Use baby tear free shampoo. TEA TREE OIL SHAMPOO IS TOXIC!!! DO NOT USE IT ON YOUR HEDGEHOG.
To clean your hedgehog just lather the shampoo with your hands and brush it along your hedgehog's quills. Once he is clean rinse him well. You can add a few drops of olive oil to help prevent dry skin. Avoid shampoo in the eyes and nose. I usually rinse them using a water bottle or under the tap while the water is gently flowing.
Feet will get dirty more often so fill the sink with shallow water and just let them run through. A soft toothbrush works as well but most will come off just by soaking the feet.
Once in a while, owners come across hedgies who love to swim. Please supervise your hedgehog when he is in water that is deep enough to drown.
Hedgehogs require occasional baths. Annointing, kitty litter, and playtime can make your hedgie dirty and itchy. Most will begin to stop and scratch more often as they play, which is usually a sign that a bath is due. Hedgehogs scratch by using their back leg (like a dog). You can also feel irritation when handling your hedgehog which can mean bath time is due.
Keep the water level at 1”-2” or less for babies. Hedgehogs are not usually fond of baths and will try to escape. Most will poop in the water as well. Be prepared to change the water. Use baby tear free shampoo. TEA TREE OIL SHAMPOO IS TOXIC!!! DO NOT USE IT ON YOUR HEDGEHOG.
To clean your hedgehog just lather the shampoo with your hands and brush it along your hedgehog's quills. Once he is clean rinse him well. You can add a few drops of olive oil to help prevent dry skin. Avoid shampoo in the eyes and nose. I usually rinse them using a water bottle or under the tap while the water is gently flowing.
Feet will get dirty more often so fill the sink with shallow water and just let them run through. A soft toothbrush works as well but most will come off just by soaking the feet.
Once in a while, owners come across hedgies who love to swim. Please supervise your hedgehog when he is in water that is deep enough to drown.
NAIL CLIPPING
Your hedgehog will need to have it's nails clipped occasionally this is usually best done after it has had a bath as the warm water will soften the nail a bit. You can use regular or baby nail clippers to do this however be very careful not to cut the quick. Some hedgehogs require nail clipping every few weeks while others file them down during playtime.
Look at their nails. You will see the pink skin goes about halfway into the nail underneath. Try to cut above that or it will bleed and your hedgie won’t like it. It will take some patience and determination the first few times as grabbing little legs while they are resisting is not very fun. You will get the hang of it and it will become fairly easy.
If you hedgie gives you a really hard time during nail cutting, you can place sandpaper sheet around the wheel and the hedgie will trim them down as it runs. Use fine sandpaper as the coarse type is fairly rough.
In cases of very long nails which have started to curl, cut the nail around the half mark and then cut again to shorten. If you try to cut the nail as it is curled too close to the end, it can crack. By cutting it half way through, you remove the loop from the nail and have the ability to see the nail properly in order to trim the rest.
Your hedgehog will need to have it's nails clipped occasionally this is usually best done after it has had a bath as the warm water will soften the nail a bit. You can use regular or baby nail clippers to do this however be very careful not to cut the quick. Some hedgehogs require nail clipping every few weeks while others file them down during playtime.
Look at their nails. You will see the pink skin goes about halfway into the nail underneath. Try to cut above that or it will bleed and your hedgie won’t like it. It will take some patience and determination the first few times as grabbing little legs while they are resisting is not very fun. You will get the hang of it and it will become fairly easy.
If you hedgie gives you a really hard time during nail cutting, you can place sandpaper sheet around the wheel and the hedgie will trim them down as it runs. Use fine sandpaper as the coarse type is fairly rough.
In cases of very long nails which have started to curl, cut the nail around the half mark and then cut again to shorten. If you try to cut the nail as it is curled too close to the end, it can crack. By cutting it half way through, you remove the loop from the nail and have the ability to see the nail properly in order to trim the rest.