How Often Should I Bathe My Hedgehog? (Full Bathing Guide)

Keeping our pets clean and healthy is our topmost priority. People often think that bathing their pets is essential to keep them clean, but how true is it for our Hedgehogs? Do Hedgehogs need baths? How often do they need a bath? Or they can do well without it. Let’s find out!

A good rule of thumb is that you should bathe your Hedgehog once a month. This is unless your Hedgehog needs an anti-parasite bath or if the vet has told you to clean them more frequently. Bathing more than once a month might put your Hedgehog at risk of skin infections and getting too cold.

During a bath, you must take extreme care to ensure your Hedgehog doesn’t become chilled or stressed. Therefore, good bath products are vital as well.

In most cases, your Hedgehog can go without a bath for a month. However, it also depends on how well you maintain the cage & what type of bedding materials you use. Let us learn more about it in detail.

How Often Do You Need To Bathe A Hedgehog?

Like most other pets, Hedgehogs do not require frequent baths. However, they need to bathe when they are filthy or if the vet has advised doing so for medical reasons.

In general, a bath once a month or two is perfect for our Hedgehogs. However, if your Hedgehog gets filthy often, then you must bathe them every month without fail.

I usually bathe my Hedgehog every 45 days or so. These baths help me to make sure that my little one stays healthy and smell-free.

You must not bathe your hedgehogs just because you think that they are smelly. The smell might be due to some other reasons as well.

When To Bathe Your Hedgehog?

If your Hedgehog is suffering from skin disease, the vet might advise you to bathe them more often. Sometimes, the vet also recommends using a medicated shampoo.

Do not make a strict bathing routine for your Hedgehogs. You will see that your pet will get stressed and fall sick if you bathe them frequently.

Besides bathing them once every month or so, please do not wash them. Also, do not make the mistake of soaking an ill Hedgehog. Excessive soaking might further result in serious health problems such as cold or, even worse, a respiratory infection.

Therefore, make sure you do as needed, and even if you need to bathe them, be prepared with everything required and learn how to give them one before going ahead.

Do Hedgehogs Like Bathing?

Most Hedgehogs love to be in the water. They love a nice, warm bath every so often. The liking also depends on the personality of your Hedgehog. There is a good chance that your little one tries to escape when you bathe him for the first time.

However, with time, your little one will start to love the experience. Besides this, giving your Hedgehogs consistent baths once a month or so is essential for proper hygiene.

What Can I Use To Bathe My Hedgehog?

It is relatively simple to bathe a Hedgehog in comparison to other pets. We don’t need to do much to clean our little one.

However, it is essential to do some crucial preparations before getting started. Listed below are a few supplies that you will need to bath your Hedgehog:

  • Lukewarm water
  • A plastic container/sink/tub
  • Hedgehog safe shampoo &
  • A set of towel

Now that you have everything you need, you are all set to bathe your Hedgehog. I use a sink to bath my Hedgehogs. Also, if you have more than one Hedgehog, never clean them together. The process might end up in a disaster.

It would help if you also got a Hedgehog-safe shampoo for your little pet. Many owners try to get away with whatever they have, which later proves dangerous for the Hedgehogs. It is recommended to get a specific shampoo for them as it is soft on their skin and doesn’t rip off all the natural oil.

You will also need a set of towels to dry your hedgehog. Also, I never left them wet after a bath. Dry your Hedgehog immediately.

Once you have everything in place, you can go ahead and bathe your Hedgehogs.

How To Bathe A Hedgehog?

Once you are ready with all the supplies, you are all set to bathe your Hedgehog. Bathing your Hedgehog is relatively simple; you have first to keep a few things in mind while cleaning your little one. But, first, let us see how to do it the right way.

  • Start by filling the sink with lukewarm water. After filling the sink, check the temperature of water once again. Once you are done, you are good to go.
  • Now, gently put your pet in the water. Hedgehogs being excellent swimmers, you can bath them deep enough to swim. However, you must never leave them unattended.
  • Soak your Hedgehog’s body and apply some shampoo. You don’t need to scrub them harshly. Be soft with your movements. Lather up their body with the soap.
  • After you are done, wash your Hedgehog with clear water. If required reapply some shampoo in their bum area or wherever needed and wash again.
  • Make sure you wash off all the soap from your little one’s body. Also, you must be extremely careful with the shampoo. Keep it away from their eyes and nose.
  • After you are done bathing your Hedgehog, dry them up using a clean towel. Gently wraping them up in a towel will make sure that all the excess water is soaken up.
  • Once you have dried them properly, you can move them back to their cage and offer them a treat to cheer up their mood.

How Do You Dry A Hedgehog After A Bath?

After you are finished bathing your Hedgehog, you can wrap your pet in a soft towel. Then, pat them gently. As Hedgehogs have quills, it might be a little difficult for you to dry them completely.

However, never take your Hedgehog outside, just after the bath, even on a warm day. Hedgehogs are temperature sensitive and fall sick within no time.

Can Hedgehogs Bathe In Cold Water?

It would help if you never bathed your Hedgehog in cold water. Coldwater can result in an immediate drop in body temperature. On the other hand, Hedgehogs do not enjoy a hot steam bath as well. Hot water can dry and irritate their skin.

Lukewarm water is perfect for Hedgehogs. The use of lukewarm water ensures that your pet does not get too cold or their skin is not rough and dried.

Owners often think that a cold bath will be nice for your Hedgehog just because it is hot outside. However, this is not the truth. Hedgehogs cannot regulate their body temperature as efficiently as some other animals do.

Therefore, a cool summer bath might prove to be extremely bad for your Hedgehog. Consequently, it would be best if you always made sure that the temperature of the water is comfortable for your Hedgehog.

My Hedgehog Is Sneezing After His Bath!

Many times, Hedgehogs start to sneeze after their bath. Sneezing in Hedgehogs can be due to various reasons. Sometimes, the introduction of a new kind of shampoo or soap results in sneezing.

It would be best if you were extremely careful while bathing your Hedgehog. If the water goes up to your pet’s nose, they will start to sneeze.

It is essential to dry your pet immediately after the bath. You also need to make sure that they are around a comfortable temperature. The average temperature for you may still be too chilly for your Hedgehog.

It would be best if you never dried your Hedgehog in direct sunlight. It might prove to be bad for their health. You can learn more about sneezing in Hedgehogs from our in-depth article.

Related Queries:

Do Hedgehogs Stink?

Hedgehogs are naturally clean animals. However, it is usually the living environment and the cleanliness of their enclosure that determines the smell in your room.

The cage of your little one will start to smell bad if you do not clean it regularly. Also, you must spot clean the enclosure daily. Using good quality bedding and proper cleaning of the section will help you keep the smell minimal.

Although having a pet can bring a little different smell to the house, most owners are not uncomfortable with it.

Why Does My Hedgehog Poop In The Bath?

It is pretty standard for Hedgehogs to poop or pee when they are scared. However, the fright and the nervousness can lead to them losing control over their bowel moments and eliminate right where they are.

Hedgehogs get scared pretty easily. Therefore, it is essential to handle them with care and give them all the love they deserve.

Can I Use Dawn Dish Soap On My Hedgehog?

We can use dawn soap on our Hedgehogs. Other options such as baby shampoo or a mild unscented liquid hand soap also work best. However, you need to be careful while using any soap on your little pet.

Mohini

Hello, I am Mohini, the founder of this blog. I am a qualified Animal Nutrition. I am here to help everyone understand their pets better.

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