Hedgehogs are the most recent craze among animal lovers. They amazingly gentle creatures and cuddly, despite the fact that they have quills. Hedgehogs are relatively easy to keep but they do have a few special needs that need to be met. One of these needs is a high protein diet. In the wild, hedgehogs typically consume various insects like crickets, all kinds of worms including inset larvae, grasshoppers, beetles, and other bugs. They may also eat fruit if it’s available but the bulk of their diet is mainly composed of insects. This high-protein diet is a bit difficult to replicate for your pet hedgehog. High protein dog or cat food will do, but the problem with most commercial pet food is that it incorporates a lot of artificial coloring, additives, and extenders (like corn) that may be harmful to your hedgehog. You can supplement their diet with fresh fruit, crunchy vegetables like lettuce and carrots, as well as live insects like mealworms or crickets. The latter can easily be bought from your local fish store. They’re used to feed bigger carnivorous fish like arowanas and cichlids.

A poor diet consisting of commercially bought food alone will result in an underweight hedgehog. This may also cause all sorts of health issues, not the least of which is malnutrition but also including dental caries and mouth sores. A hedgehog in the wild usually has a steady access to teeth strengthening minerals like calcium, phosphorus, fluoride, and Vitamin D. They get it from the insects themselves and from bits of the inevitable dirt they eat along with the insects they consume. Fruit gives them a steady source of Vitamin C which will limit the chances of forming mouth sores.

It’s a common misconception among pet owners that just because animals don’t brush their teeth in the wild, we can do away with any type of dental hygiene for our pets altogether. While it is true that animals in the wild do not have access to dental facilities, that doesn’t mean they’re healthier. As a matter of fact, animals in the wild suffer from teeth and gum disease a lot. Their domesticated versions are not much better off unless proper attention is being given by their owners to their dental health.

Sign that your pet hedgehog is suffering from dental problems are the following: tenderness or swelling around the jaws, decreased appetite (probably due to difficulty chewing), teeth and gum swelling or discoloration, an unusually foul breath, and drooling. An immediate visit to the vet is warranted when you observe any of these signs in your hedgehog. The vet might have to take a few X-rays of your pet’s jaw just to make sure what’s causing the illness. Antibiotics are usually prescribed for infections while tooth extraction is done for impacted teeth.

To avoid having your pet hedgehog undergo treatment for dental problems, you can have its teeth regularly brushed by your vet. You can even do the brushing yourself, with or without toothpaste. You can use the brush they sell for babies which has very soft bristles and is inserted into a finger. If you happen to be wary of inserting a finger into your hedgehog’s mouth, you can use a regular toothbrush.