Recently, people have increasingly begun to have hedgehogs at home, even special clubs have appeared where they are bred. However, keeping such a pet is not easy. These are not well-known cats or dogs, advice about which can be obtained from every veterinarian or on any forum. The hedgehog is an exotic animal, with which most people are practically not familiar today.
Activity
Hedgehogs are mostly nocturnal animals. They run at night, and during the day they sleep, buried in a burrow. However, the hedgehog, like any other pet, can be easily switched to day mode. It is enough just to feed him exclusively during the daytime.
Care
Although it is a small animal, it needs a large cage or aviary. You should not let him go for a walk unattended, since these animals have an unpleasant property to gnaw furniture and wires. The water must be changed daily; it is better to attach the drinker to the cage wall. It is imperative to remember that hedgehogs, like other animals, need their own corner. Therefore, it is necessary to equip him with a mink so that he can sleep and hide there. The cage should be removed no more than 2 times a week.
Feeding
Hedgehogs are omnivorous, but still, live food plays a huge role for them. Of course, they eat apples and pears with joy, but fruits and vegetables cannot give an animal all the nutrients it needs for health. Therefore, it is recommended that you bring them mealworms and crickets. Fruit is best served in small amounts as a puree.
Hibernation
In nature, hedgehogs hibernate for the winter. For this, the air temperature must drop to -12 degrees. At home, this happens less often, since the apartment is always warm. Please note that when the hedgehog falls asleep, its weight must be at least 800 grams. Otherwise, hibernation will result in exhaustion. To prevent this from happening, wake up the animal. To do this, take a bottle of warm water (make sure that the water is not hot), put it in a towel and wrap the hedgehog.
Perhaps this is the most standard advice that should be taken into account. As for the treatment, only a specialist can select it. Unfortunately, it is impossible to stock up a standard first-aid kit for a hedgehog at home, since human medicines will not work for the animal. Therefore, with such questions it is worth contacting your veterinarian.
