Pet hedgehogs have complex welfare needs including temperature-sensitive hibernation requirements, and improper care causes serious health problems including dangerous hypothermic states.
Pet hedgehog welfare is frequently compromised by uninformed care that fails to meet their specialized environmental and behavioral needs. The requirement for consistent warm temperatures, a large exercise wheel for nightly runs, appropriate protein-rich diet, and regular veterinary care represents a higher care burden than many owners anticipate. The neurological deterioration from wobbly hedgehog syndrome causes a progressively declining quality of life requiring proactive monitoring and timely euthanasia assessment. Dental disease causing chronic pain often goes unrecognized because hedgehogs are nocturnal and stoic. The exotic pet status of hedgehogs means welfare problems are less recognized by general-practice veterinarians.