Hedgehog

Hedgehog is a general term for a kind of small mammal belonging to the subfamily Erinaceinae, which is a mammal of the order Erinaceiformes. It is a small mammal with a body length of no more than 25 centimeters and an adult hedgehog can weigh up to 2.5 kilograms. The back and sides of the body are covered with spines, while the head, tail, and belly are covered with fur. The hedgehog has a pointed and long snout, small ears, short limbs, and a short tail. Both the front and hind feet have 5 toes, walking on the soles, with a few species having only 4 toes on the front feet. When curled up, the head and limbs are not visible. Hedgehogs are omnivorous animals. In the wild, they mainly feed on various invertebrates and small vertebrates, as well as plants such as grass roots, fruits, and melons. They can be fed with self-made feed when kept as pets, including meat, grains, by-products, and vegetables. In addition, small animals such as caterpillars, beetles, snails, earthworms, and fruits can also be used as food. Hedgehogs have very long noses, and their sense of touch and smell is well developed. Their favorite food is ants and termites. When they smell food underground, they dig a hole with their claws and then extend their long and sticky tongue into the hole to have a hearty meal. Hedgehogs live in shrubs, can swim, and are afraid of heat. They begin hibernation in late autumn and only wake up in the spring of the second year when the temperature warms up to a certain degree. The skin, meat, bile, fat, heart, liver, and brain of hedgehogs all have medicinal value, and they are beneficial animals because they prey on a large number of harmful insects.

Hedgehogs are widely distributed in Europe and northern Asia, and are also widely distributed in northern China and the Yangtze River Basin. The most common hedgehogs in China include the Heilongjiang hedgehog. In the folk culture of southern Jiangsu, hedgehogs are also called "melon thieves". They have a stout body, sharp claws, small eyes, short hair, and short and dense spines all over their bodies. Hedgehogs are active at night and mainly feed on insects and worms. They can eat 200 grams of insects in one night. When facing enemies, they can curl their bodies into a ball shape with their spines facing outward to protect themselves. When they are first born, their spines are soft and their eyes are blind.

Hedgehogs are suitable for everyone to feed. Hedgehogs have a gentle temperament, adorable actions, and are easy to raise, deeply loved by children, and gradually become loved family pets.

Hedgehog common diseases are mainly gastrointestinal inflammation, dermatosis, parasites, etc., which can generally be treated with corresponding human medications. Hedgehogs infected with roundworms may have poor appetite, lethargy, and can be fed with roundworm cleansing tablets, twice a day, one tablet each time, for two consecutive days. Hedgehogs that are not infected with roundworms should also be dewormed twice a year to ensure their healthy growth and improve their reproductive ability.

When raising a hedgehog, you need to prepare a large cage and put in a food bowl, water bowl, and a hedgehog nest. You should also put bedding in the cage, preferably using pee pads instead of wood shavings to avoid bacteria growth. The hedgehog's toilet and cat litter should also be prepared in advance. You can feed the hedgehog cat food, but avoid choosing ones with seafood as it will make the hedgehog have a bad smell.

Hedgehogs in general do not need to take baths. If they have an odor or frequently go outside, they can be bathed once a month. When giving a hedgehog a bath, pay attention to the water temperature and use a soft toothbrush and shower gel to brush it. Then use olive oil mixed with water to soak it to prevent the hedgehog's skin from cracking. After bathing, dry off the water in a timely manner to avoid catching a cold.