Tis The Season

As a wise hedgehog owner on HHC wrote, tis the season for...hibernation. Hibernation is dangerous for pet hedgehogs as their bodies are not equipped for it. THEY WILL DIE IF NOT GIVEN HELP. It is important to be aware of the hibernation issue and take preventative measures. But first of all, what causes hibernation attempts? Cool temperatures (most people agree that anything below 75 degrees Fahrenheit is too cold) and lack of light. Less daylight signifies the shorter days of winter, as do low temperatures. If you come home one day and your hedgehog isn't moving and feels cold, pick her up. Feel her belly. If it's cold then that is a sure indicator of hibernation. The best thing to do is to steadily warm her up. DO NOT place your hedgehog in hot water as this shocks their system and could cause drowning. Nancy on HHC has a great post (which in turn inspired this post) about how to deal with a hibernation attempt. Here is the link.

A good, reliable heat set up is important. This fall I have invested in one of my own, and while it was a chunk of money, it is required equipment for hedgie ownership. I have a CHE (ceramic heat emitter) in a porcelain lamp fixture clamped to Phin's cage. This is connected with a thermostat (graciously purchased for me by Matt) which controls the temperature. It is set to 79 degrees, and shuts off when the temperature gets too hot. On the cage itself is a thermometer. There is also a lamp with a daylight spectrum bulb plugged into a timer to make sure Phinneus (and Pherb) have twelves hours of daylight and twelve hours of night. Here is an informative how-to of heating your hedgehog's cage. I read this over carefully several times before investing in my setup, and it's working great!

So remember, houses are drafty, and your hedgehog is more sensitive to temperature flux than you would think. Better to take precautions than end up with a hibernation situation on your hands.