Sunday, April 20, 2008

Hedgehogs In the News: PygmyPets

Our news today comes from AudioGirl's BF, who thoughtfully forwarded this link.

Pygmy hedgehogs are now a popular new pet in the UK. If it weren't that I'm planning a lot of travel, I'd be awfully tempted to see in investing in one here. One thing the Incredibly-Patient-Mother found out though when inquiring about possibility of my own live hedgehog was that they recommend you be near an unusual animal veterinarian (wrong title--but you get the idea). The closest one is three hours away and that might not be good for a sick hoglette.

Something to keep an eye on, I can only imagine they'd cause less allergic reactions than a cat.

4 comments:

Elysbeth said...

We had one for several years. He was interesting and friendly, but very nocturnal- up all night rooting around and running on his "wheel"

Every so often I miss the little fellow.

You have to be careful because they get mites very easily, and they have to have special toys (Not run of the mill hamster toys) or their longer back leg joint can become caught; snapping the bone.

Dumpling said...

And you gotta watch out for the normal sized ones becoming, well...fat.
http://arbroath.blogspot.com/2008/04/obese-hedgehog-put-on-atkins-diet.html

Abigail said...

Mites would not be fun. Was yours an indoor/outdoor hedgepig? (Optimistically hoping that if it's an indoor only pet mites are less likely)

Good to know about the hamster wheels--hadn't really thought about the different anatomy in that respect.

Abigail said...

Jennie--

The greatest headline I saw on that guy named him "Mr. PIGGYwinkle"
:)

Poor little guy--hope he's exercised it off now.