Hedgehog
"I poke, but I make a great pet :)"
...Mr. Hedgehog
The Right Bedding for Your Hedgehog
Before purchasing a hedgehog, few people consider what type of bedding will be used for the hedgehog's cage. The type of bedding that you use must be chosen carefully, for numerous reasons, and there are a wide variety of choices on the market today. The first thing to note, when it comes to bedding for your hedgehog is that just because it is on the market, this is not an indication that it is the right bedding for your hedgehog, or even that it is safe bedding material for hedgehogs in general.You should absolutely avoid any cedar or pine chips or shavings as bedding material for your hedgehog. Cedar emits a toxin called Plicatic Acid, which can be deadly for hedgehogs, as well as many other pets. This causes upper respiratory problems. Pine, on the other hand, contains Abietic Acids, which are also associated with respiratory problems. However, pine that has been properly cured can be used. The problem is being sure that the pine has, in fact, been properly cured.
If you will be using wood chips or shavings, Aspen is the preferred choice among hedgehog experts. The chips are neater than the shavings. Some hedgehogs, however, are actually allergic to Aspen, and may experience skin problems from its use. For this reason, some people opt for corn cob bedding. This is not considered to be as comfortable as wood bedding, but it is safe. The only problem associated with corn cob bedding is that it can easily rot and mildew, which can not only cause odors, but could cause health problems for your hedgehog.
Paper bedding is also a good choice. This can be anything from shredded newspaper to commercial paper based bedding, such as Care Fresh. If you are using newspaper, you should note that newspaper with colors printed on the pages are not healthy, and can prove to be fatal to your hedgehog. Stick with black and white print only newspapers.
Regardless of the type of bedding that you choose, it is important to understand how your hedgehog uses the bedding. He will use it to create nests, and he will also ingest some of the bedding - whether it is accidental ingestion or not. He will walk and play on the bedding, or play with the bedding, and of course he will sleep on the bedding materials as well.
Therefore, what didn't seem like such an issue before you got your hedgehog will actually become a very big issue once you have him. You want your hedgehog to be happy, healthy, safe, and of course comfortable, and the bedding that you choose will play a huge role in all of these matters.
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