While dogs are much larger than hedgehogs, hedgehogs have a great defense mechanism in their quills. To ensure that your pets get along, it is important to watch all initial interactions and separate the animals should the need arise. If you do it properly, dogs can live with hedgehogs without incident.
With their keen sense of smell, dogs often detect hedgehogs before we humans spot them. Sadly some dogs can harm or even kill hedgehogs, when instinct tells them to hunt prey. Try to keep dogs away from any hedgehogs in your garden as an encounter could lead to both animals being hurt.
So if your pup has had a go at a hedgehog, even if the hog looks fine, its best to always get it checked over by your local rescue centre or the vet. An encounter between an aggressive pet and a hedgehog is likely to leave the dog with some wounds too.
If your dog is injured by a hedgehog, bathe its mouth in water that has been boiled and left to cool and add some sea salt, which has antiseptic properties. If you are still concerned afterwards, visit the vet.
Even though the hedgehog will naturally 'ball up' at any hint of danger, many dogs will still pick them up or paw them causing injury and untold stress.
While dogs are much larger than hedgehogs, hedgehogs have a great defense mechanism in their quills. To ensure that your pets get along, it is important to watch all initial interactions and separate the animals should the need arise. If you do it properly, dogs can live with hedgehogs without incident.
Canine hedgehog detectives
Dogs are not only able to pick up the scent of animals but also their scats (faeces). Their sense of smell is at least 100,000 times more sensitive than ours.
Hedgehogs are nocturnal and only come out at night. They are covered with a coat of very sharp spines, which are hollow and made of keratin (like your fingernails). Hedgehogs can roll into a ball and the spines will protect them from predators, except badgers and the occasional dog.
Essential Oils: I have been advised that oils that are considered "hot" are toxic to hedgehogs. Oils that are considered hot: Cassia, Cinnamon Bark, Clove, Hyssop, Lemongrass, Ocotea, Oregano, Peppermint, Thieves, and Thyme. These are often contained in blends.
However, you should try to use gloves when handling a hedgehog for your own health and safety. Hedgehogs can bite you, but very rarely will that happen. This usually happens when they are young and think your fingers are going to feed them (if they have been fed via a syringe as they had no mother).
Hedgehogs are usually active at night, so getting your dogs inside before sunset will usually keep the two animals separate and prevent an incident. However, you may still need to take your dog out to go to the toilet.
Keller says, “With appropriate care and keeping, your hedgehog will live about five years, and some even live longer than eight years.” If you have any questions about hedgehogs, contact your local veterinarian.
Generally, Hedgehogs are scared of humans so as long as you observe them from a distance, they pose no threat. If a poorly Hedgehog needs to be handled, always wear thick gardening gloves as their spikes can be painful, they can bite when scared and they can transmit zoonotic diseases such as ringworm.
It depends on the personality of the individual hedgehog and how much handling the hedgehog has had in the past. Some hedgehogs do seem to like to snuggle up to their human companions, while others might be shyer or simply prefer exploring and moving about over sitting still and cuddling.
Every hedgehog has a unique personality, but most aren't interested in human affection. Caretakers note that it takes a lot of time and effort to get a hedgehog to tolerate being held. Like porcupines, hedgehogs have sharp, prickly quills that they use to fend off predators.
It takes patience and a gentle hand to form a trusting bond with a pet hedgehog. Once a bond is established hedgehogs can be quite playful and occasionally cuddly.
Making your garden hedgehog-friendly by providing hedgehogs with food certainly could attract rats. And many of the things you could do to deter rats will also make life more difficult for hedgehogs, or even harm them. But putting out food for hedgehogs won't automatically attract rats.
A badger and a hedgehog feeding together on a lawn. Badgers are hedgehogs' main predators in the UK. They are the only animals strong enough to tackle a hedgehog's spiny defences. Hedgehogs and badgers share what's known as an asymmetric intraguild predation relationship.
Talking to your hedgehog while holding, snuggling, bathing, and other enjoyable activities will help your hedgehog associate the sound of your voice with comfort and enjoyment. Over the years we have found the radio and music very soothing for a variety of different animals.
A relaxed hedgehog will lay down their spines. Once the spines are laying flat (not poking up in various directions like they are when your hedgehog is rolled into a ball) you can try petting them in the direction the spines lay. Avoid trying to pet your hedgehog's face initially as they don't typically like it.
For the best outcome for you and your hedgehog, it is best if free roaming is limited to one room in your home that you can devote to your hedgehog. Free roaming provides highly ample space for your hedgehog to explore and run for exercise. This may be especially beneficial for larger hedgehogs prone to obesity.
For short periods of time, you can put your hedgehog in an exercise ball and let him run around the house. The exercise balls are not substitutes for the wheel, but they are a great way to allow your hedgehog to get some good exercise for an hour or so at a time.
As stated above, bonding does take effort and persistence, and may require a great deal of time. Some hedgehogs will bond rather quickly, but other hedgehogs may take up to a YEAR to fully bond. Over time your hedgehog will become accustomed to your smell, feel, and will appreciate the warmth of your body.
A Huff And A Puff …
This sniffing is a normal vocalization he makes while going about his business of exploring. An unhappy hedgehog, on the other hand, will show his disdain with a hiss or a clicking sound. Throw in a quick lunging motion, and you are witnessing one really upset hedgehog.
Hedgehogs are naturally not smelly animals and give off less of a scent than a hamster or guinea pig, for example. Any odors will be primarily caused by: – Feces in the cage.