Companion Animals

Hedgehog as Pet Welfare

African pygmy hedgehogs need warmth exercise and enrichment that many owners fail to provide.

Key Facts

Evidence-based approaches to hedgehog as pet welfare inform welfare improvements globally
Animal welfare science provides tools to assess and improve conditions for all species
Individual consumer choices combined with advocacy create lasting systemic change
Every action to reduce animal suffering contributes to a more compassionate world

Welfare Considerations

Pet hedgehogs require temperatures above 22 degrees Celsius to prevent dangerous torpor attempts. They need wheel exercise and cannot be housed in tiny cages. Hedgehogs are nocturnal and should not be disturbed during the day. Wobbly hedgehog syndrome is a heritable neurological condition common in the pet population causing progressive paralysis.

What You Can Do

Research hedgehog temperature and housing requirements before acquiring
Provide a large wheel and adequate space for nightly exercise
Never allow hedgehog temperatures to drop below 22 degrees Celsius
Support responsible breeding that health-tests for wobbly hedgehog syndrome