And a Salt & Pepper one too!Happy Chinese New Year everyone!
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Hedgehog Biscuits!
It was baking day prior to Chinese New Year, and with a bit of creativity, this year we have something called the 'Hedgehog Biscuits'!
And a Salt & Pepper one too!
And a Salt & Pepper one too!
Friday, January 16, 2009
Illnesses & Ailments
Wobbly Hedgehog Syndrome
This illness is one of the most common you’ll find in hedgehogs. The hedgehog will lack mobility, and usually the legs will look ‘wobbly’ when moving, if it moves at all. This is due to the degradation of muscle control and up until now, there is no known cure to this illness. During later stages of the illness, the hedgehog will be unable to move, and will require regular observations and hand-feeding. According to reports, high diet of Vitamin E can hide the effects of this syndrome, but in actual it will do no better to heal. There have been mentions that the illness may be genetically inherited, but there is no evidence to prove this statement.
Cancer or Tumors
One of the fastest-spreading disease in hedgehogs, and very commonly found. The only solution is to bring your hedgehog to the vet regularly for check-ups and seek medical advices to cure this illness.
Obesity
Although not really an ‘illness’, it may lead to liver diseases if the hedgehog is having too much fat in the body. Poor diet and lack of exercise often points to obese hedgehogs, and it’s best to monitor your hedgehog’s food intake and prepare a proper diet. Wheels are also a good gadget to make sure your hedgehog have decent exercise to burn all the extra calories and fat in the body.
Green Poops
Some hedgehog owners may find their pet producing green and watery-texture stools instead of normal poops. Have your hedgehog traveled a lot recently? Did it fall from a high place? Had it been transferred to another home with drastic changes in environment? The usual cause of green poops is stress. When the hedgehog is having more than it can take, they’ll temporarily suffer from digestive disorders, although they will recover in days. Cheap cat-food and dairy products may also result in soft stools. Despite in countries like New Zealand where people are encouraged to place a tray of milk to attract wild hedgehogs to come to their garden and consume pests (insects), dairy is actually doing harm to a hedgehog’s body.
Mites
Constant scratching, flaky dry skin and loss of quills in concentrated areas are few symptoms that your hedgehog is having mites underneath its quills. Regular bathing (at least once or twice a month) will lower the chances of infection. Also, clean and disinfect the cage and supplies regularly will help. Change beddings. Locally, you’ll be able to find Frontline spray which can be used if your hedgehog is already infected with mites.
Although I haven’t come across anything from the list above (fortunately), I thought it would be useful to write something about hedgehogs’ common illnesses just in case anyone notices these symptoms in their pet hedgehogs. These will be useful information for all hedgehog owners, or those who intend to have one as pet.
This illness is one of the most common you’ll find in hedgehogs. The hedgehog will lack mobility, and usually the legs will look ‘wobbly’ when moving, if it moves at all. This is due to the degradation of muscle control and up until now, there is no known cure to this illness. During later stages of the illness, the hedgehog will be unable to move, and will require regular observations and hand-feeding. According to reports, high diet of Vitamin E can hide the effects of this syndrome, but in actual it will do no better to heal. There have been mentions that the illness may be genetically inherited, but there is no evidence to prove this statement.
Cancer or Tumors
One of the fastest-spreading disease in hedgehogs, and very commonly found. The only solution is to bring your hedgehog to the vet regularly for check-ups and seek medical advices to cure this illness.
Obesity
Although not really an ‘illness’, it may lead to liver diseases if the hedgehog is having too much fat in the body. Poor diet and lack of exercise often points to obese hedgehogs, and it’s best to monitor your hedgehog’s food intake and prepare a proper diet. Wheels are also a good gadget to make sure your hedgehog have decent exercise to burn all the extra calories and fat in the body.
Green Poops
Some hedgehog owners may find their pet producing green and watery-texture stools instead of normal poops. Have your hedgehog traveled a lot recently? Did it fall from a high place? Had it been transferred to another home with drastic changes in environment? The usual cause of green poops is stress. When the hedgehog is having more than it can take, they’ll temporarily suffer from digestive disorders, although they will recover in days. Cheap cat-food and dairy products may also result in soft stools. Despite in countries like New Zealand where people are encouraged to place a tray of milk to attract wild hedgehogs to come to their garden and consume pests (insects), dairy is actually doing harm to a hedgehog’s body.
Mites
Constant scratching, flaky dry skin and loss of quills in concentrated areas are few symptoms that your hedgehog is having mites underneath its quills. Regular bathing (at least once or twice a month) will lower the chances of infection. Also, clean and disinfect the cage and supplies regularly will help. Change beddings. Locally, you’ll be able to find Frontline spray which can be used if your hedgehog is already infected with mites.
Although I haven’t come across anything from the list above (fortunately), I thought it would be useful to write something about hedgehogs’ common illnesses just in case anyone notices these symptoms in their pet hedgehogs. These will be useful information for all hedgehog owners, or those who intend to have one as pet.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Wheels
Wheel (RM80.00-RM120.00) is an option to be included in the cage settings. While not necessary, most owners and breeders will agree that by providing a wheel for your hedgehog it will keep your hedgehog healthy and prevent obesity.
12 inch wheels are commonly available in stores, but there are also breeders and owners creative enough to invent home-made wheels. Smaller wheels will only be suitable for young hoglets, adult hedgehogs may find it hard to run in.
Whatever the type of wheel provided, it must be ensured that the wheel has solid running platform, and no wires. As mentioned before, hedgehogs are pretty clumsy, and not as agile as hamsters or mice, and can easily get its legs stuck.
12 inch wheels are commonly available in stores, but there are also breeders and owners creative enough to invent home-made wheels. Smaller wheels will only be suitable for young hoglets, adult hedgehogs may find it hard to run in.
Whatever the type of wheel provided, it must be ensured that the wheel has solid running platform, and no wires. As mentioned before, hedgehogs are pretty clumsy, and not as agile as hamsters or mice, and can easily get its legs stuck.
Beddings
There are generally three types of beddings:-
- Wood shavings – The softest shavings available is mostly recommended. Needs to be changed once every week or fortnightly, as shavings tend to harvest mites.
- Newspaper – A more economical option but will not help in reducing odor. Newspapers are also dirtier (ink stains) when wet compared to other options, and thus will need regular changing.
- Liner fabric – Considered the cleanest bedding, although if the hedgehog isn’t litter-trained it will mean daily washing.
Housing
It is best to keep hedgehogs in non-wired cages with at least 2 feet in height, to prevent them from escaping. In Malaysia, Zoozones (~RM150.00) are a good option but for budget owners, usually 4sqft storage containers (~RM40.00) are adequate. Just make sure that the containers have enough space for the hedgehog to move around and exercise, and preferably, able to fit a wheel.
Rabbit and dog cages are not recommended. The wired-flooring can do much damage to the hedgehogs if they get their legs stuck.
Although water bottles are usually recommended, it is important to note that the tip of the bottle’s opening should be lowered to a level where the hedgehog does not require climbing on wall to drink. Hedgehogs are not like hamsters or white mice, where they can stand on two hind legs, and hedgehogs being lowsy climbers, there’s every opportunity that the hedgehog may chip their tooth drinking from the metal tip of the bottle. Waterbowl (heavy bottom) is another good choice, with the only problem is spilling caused by the hedgehog pushing the bowl around.
It is advised to provide your hedgehog with a hiding box; it often turns out to be the place where your hedgehog tends to spend most of its time in. This is the ‘safe’ place for your hedgehog when it wants to sleep, or hide when it feels stress or threatened. There are hedgebags readily available in stores, although these will usually need more attention on cleaning. Normal hideboxes will be ice-cream boxes, with an opening cut open and some little holes for air ventilation. For females with hoglets, a bigger hidebox is recommended to allow more space for the mother and youngs, for example a shoebox. However, these should not be used as permanent hideboxes as it is impossible to be kept clean.
Rabbit and dog cages are not recommended. The wired-flooring can do much damage to the hedgehogs if they get their legs stuck.
Although water bottles are usually recommended, it is important to note that the tip of the bottle’s opening should be lowered to a level where the hedgehog does not require climbing on wall to drink. Hedgehogs are not like hamsters or white mice, where they can stand on two hind legs, and hedgehogs being lowsy climbers, there’s every opportunity that the hedgehog may chip their tooth drinking from the metal tip of the bottle. Waterbowl (heavy bottom) is another good choice, with the only problem is spilling caused by the hedgehog pushing the bowl around.
It is advised to provide your hedgehog with a hiding box; it often turns out to be the place where your hedgehog tends to spend most of its time in. This is the ‘safe’ place for your hedgehog when it wants to sleep, or hide when it feels stress or threatened. There are hedgebags readily available in stores, although these will usually need more attention on cleaning. Normal hideboxes will be ice-cream boxes, with an opening cut open and some little holes for air ventilation. For females with hoglets, a bigger hidebox is recommended to allow more space for the mother and youngs, for example a shoebox. However, these should not be used as permanent hideboxes as it is impossible to be kept clean.
Anointing
When you come across a hedgehog biting and licking something, then produce some white froth on its tongue before contorting its body to spit the froth onto its quills, then you’ve just witnessed a hedgehog self-anointing.
It is still unknown why hedgehogs anoint, but reasonable explanations would be that it is attempting to camouflage itself using the scent from the source from predators, or trying to create a toxic layer to protect itself from enemies (hedgehogs are, after all, immune to snake venoms).
It is still unknown why hedgehogs anoint, but reasonable explanations would be that it is attempting to camouflage itself using the scent from the source from predators, or trying to create a toxic layer to protect itself from enemies (hedgehogs are, after all, immune to snake venoms).
What’s an African Pygmy Hedgehog?
African Pygmy Hedgehogs belong to the subfamily Erinaceinae, and is one of the very few domesticated species of hedgehogs in the world. Some call these the White-Bellied Hedgehogs (with reference to the white fur underneath), and has began to grow popular as pets in countries like US, Canada and many other European countries in the early 2000s.
African Pygmy Hedgehog is the most commonly found hedgehog species in Malaysia, although they still remain an uncommon pet in households in this country.
The thorny outlook of hedgehogs often prevents people from understanding the gentle behavior of this little mammal. Despite being solitary animals, hedgehogs are generally very calm and good-tempered in nature, and will rarely threaten to attack unless being provoked forcefully. Hedgehogs will erect its quills to act as a defense mechanism from intimidations, and once it realizes that the subject meant no harm, it will then lower its quills.
Hedgehogs generally are nocturnal animals, and you’ll likely find them tucked nicely in their hideboxes or under shades sleeping during daytime. Some hedgehogs are friendlier than others and will bond well with pet-owners, and are able to recognize their owners’ smells. But there are also hedgehogs which are grumpy and dislike handlings or noises.
It should come as amusing to read that hedgehog temperaments are inherited, but in truth that’s what the fact is. Parents with good tempers usually have good-tempered hoglets, and vice versa. However, it does not mean that the hedgehog will forever have bad temperament. Some just require more time and handling to bond with its owner, and as bad as its temper could be, slowly the hedgehog will have a certain level of attachment to its owner.
African Pygmy Hedgehog is the most commonly found hedgehog species in Malaysia, although they still remain an uncommon pet in households in this country.
The thorny outlook of hedgehogs often prevents people from understanding the gentle behavior of this little mammal. Despite being solitary animals, hedgehogs are generally very calm and good-tempered in nature, and will rarely threaten to attack unless being provoked forcefully. Hedgehogs will erect its quills to act as a defense mechanism from intimidations, and once it realizes that the subject meant no harm, it will then lower its quills.
Hedgehogs generally are nocturnal animals, and you’ll likely find them tucked nicely in their hideboxes or under shades sleeping during daytime. Some hedgehogs are friendlier than others and will bond well with pet-owners, and are able to recognize their owners’ smells. But there are also hedgehogs which are grumpy and dislike handlings or noises.
It should come as amusing to read that hedgehog temperaments are inherited, but in truth that’s what the fact is. Parents with good tempers usually have good-tempered hoglets, and vice versa. However, it does not mean that the hedgehog will forever have bad temperament. Some just require more time and handling to bond with its owner, and as bad as its temper could be, slowly the hedgehog will have a certain level of attachment to its owner.
Welcome to I Love Hedgehogs!
Dear readers,
Welcome to my hedgehog blog.
I've always thought of starting a blog dedicated to my hedgehogs, Cactus and Quills, and perhaps spreading the love to other people.
Hedgehogs are considered exotic pets in Malaysia, and there are many who still have difficulty differentiating a hedgehog and a porcupine (?!). With few breeders in the country, and even less stores nationwide selling hedgehogs, I thought it will be a great way to reach out to animal-lovers that the hedgehogs are one of the greatest pet you can own!
Hopefully this blog will go on for years to come, and have everything needed for someone who wish to own a hedgehog.
Welcome to my hedgehog blog.
I've always thought of starting a blog dedicated to my hedgehogs, Cactus and Quills, and perhaps spreading the love to other people.
Hedgehogs are considered exotic pets in Malaysia, and there are many who still have difficulty differentiating a hedgehog and a porcupine (?!). With few breeders in the country, and even less stores nationwide selling hedgehogs, I thought it will be a great way to reach out to animal-lovers that the hedgehogs are one of the greatest pet you can own!
Hopefully this blog will go on for years to come, and have everything needed for someone who wish to own a hedgehog.
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