Do hedgehog smell? [Hedgehog Bath and Grooming Guide]

No. Hedgehog does not stink at all. They do not produce any sort of smell on their own. If find that your hedgehog stink, it is often from their feet or parts of them that came into contact with their own fecal matter. Many owners refer to this as having “poopy feet”.

How does this happen?

Hedgehog tends to poop when they run on wheels. So as a result, they stepped on their own poop often when they are running.

This is very common among trait among hedgehogs and it is unavoidable. Hedgehogs in the wild do this to throw their scent off predators so it is something hereditary.

However, there are owners who claim that with litter training, hedgehogs can be conditioned not poop on the wheel while running.

That said, it is not an easy task to litter train hedgehogs. So far I have had no luck in training them on my own.

Which is why in this guide, I will further elaborate on finding out where the smell comes from, ways to deal with the smell along with bathing and grooming your hedgehog to keep them happy and squeaky clean.

Why does hedgehog stink?

Having “poppy feet” is only 1 of the common reasons why they smell bad. There are actually other reasons too.

Type of diet

One of such is their diet. Having fish in their diet can also result in really stinky poop which in turn stink up the whole cage pretty badly.

Apart from fish diet, soft foods are another contributing factor to smelly hedgehog stools as well. Soft food generally produces softer stools because of moisture hence also carry a more prominent lasting smell.

Type of housing and bedding used

The choice of cages also can also be a contributing factor of lingering smell. For example, if you are using an aquarium type housing, ventilation won’t be as great compared to a cage housing. Hence, it might be difficult to get rid of the smell within.

To make matters worse. If you are using a fabric bedding, softer stools or pee also seeps into fleece resulting in a pungent smell that doesn’t go away.

The smell can be bad to a point that even changing the fleece won’t help at all.

Do you have that experience too?

I bet you do. Which is why in the next few sections, I will cover how to identify the smell and clean up your cages.

Finding reasons for the smell

For those who own hedgehogs for a while and notice the smell is worse than usual, there could be something wrong with their health.

So here are some ways you can do to identify the sources and reasons for the smell.

Check their stools

When a hedgehog produces more smelly stools than usual, it can be a sign of illness or disease. This is something that you should not neglect.

• Make sure you look out for the following:
• Does bad smell comes with green stools? Green stools can mean many things: from stress to illnesses. But not to worry, more monitoring is required to determine the cause.
• Is the stool watery? Watery stools can mean diarrhea.
• Does the stool contain mucus?

If you experience any of the above, do not panic. Illness-induced diarrhea usually comes with other symptoms.

Check their diet

Very often, if the smell gets really bad, it is due to a change in diet.

So you should ask yourself these questions:

• Does your hedgehog poop always smell that bad?
• Did you happen to change your pet diet recently?
• Was there any fish or fish related ingredients added to their new diet?
• Did you do a gradual change or a sudden change in diet?
• Are you hedgehogs also showing any signs of allergies?

If the answers to any of the above are yes, it is very likely due to a change in diet that causes the sudden intensity of stink.

Finding the source of the smell

For first time owners, understand that all poop from animals smells bad. Hedgehogs are no exception. But sometimes even after cleaning smell seems to linger in their cage.

And the worse part is you can’t seem to find where is it coming from.

If that is you, you will have to start checking the following areas:

Check their play areas

Running wheel

Very often, poop and urine can be found on the wheel. If you don’t see any doesn’t mean it is not there. So it is recommended to wash their wheels daily to keep the smell away.

Toys: Stuffed animals, fleece cubes, toilet paper roll etc

Another thing to look out for is their toys. If they spend a lot of time with their toys, there is a high chance their toys are stained with their urine and poop.

Sleeping area

Pooping in the sleeping area is common for younger baby hedgehogs. This should occur lesser as they grow up.

Sometimes if it is colder outside, they may also hide in their beds, hence pooping, urinating in their beds.

So this is one area you might also want to check frequently too.

Other common areas

Other common areas where the smell may come from is the litter area or your bedding if you are completely using fabric bedding as substrate.

Hence, it is advisable to use another bedding for your litter area. One that is more absorbent and same time don’t leave behind much odor.

You can check out our housing guide on the substrate to find out which substrate is better for your litter area.

Tips on cleaning your cage

After finding the source of smelly stools, you might want to take the necessary steps to clean up the cage. And sometimes, using soap is just not enough.

Here are some tips on how to make sure your cage is wiped down completely.

Tip #1: Cleaning and washing frequently

This may seem to be the most obvious tip, but you might be surprised how many owners neglect hedgehog cages.

Here is the recommended amount of cleaning and washing if your hedgehog has smelly poop:

• Washing of liners and fleeces: Once every 3 days. I prefer to do it once a day but it is really up to you whether you can take the smell.
• Cleaning of cages: 1 time per week should be adequate to get rid of the ammonia smell.

Tip #2: Washing and cleaning with vinegar

Use white vinegar or apple cider vinegar to get rid of the lasting smell.

Mix vinegar with water then soaks your cloth within to wipe down your cages. You can also wash your fabrics with a little vinegar to get rid of lingering smell.

Tip #3: Baking soda

To get rid of smell almost immediately, you can open a box of baking soda and place it right beside the cage.

You can try to mix a little baking soda into your wash to get rid of the lingering smell

Tip #4: Using kiln-dried pine pellets

Although pine is a controversial material up for debate, it is absolutely no doubt that they are effective odor killers.

Some feel that pine is acceptable for hedgehogs, some do not share the same sentiment. So use it at your own risk.

With all these cleaning tips, you should be able to remove the smell fully. But, sometimes, you might still find that even after cleaning your cages, there is still some smell.

Well, then it will probably be because you haven’t clean your hedgehog!

So in the next section, I will provide a step by step guide on how to clean, bathe and groom your hedgehogs to remove their “poppy feet”.

How to bathe a hedgehog?

Whether this is your first time bathing hedgehog or you need a recap on how to clean them than this guide will be great for you.

Know this, hedgehogs love baths. Just give them a nice sink and warm water, they will float and swim around enjoying their bath time.

So let’s get starting on washing them squeaky clean:

List of things required:

• A soft toothbrush or mini scrubbing brush
• Shampoo (see the list of suitable shampoo below)
  • Tear-free baby shampoo
  • Pet shampoo: Kaytee tearless pH balanced shampoo
  • Natural oatmeal shampoo
• Warm water
• Bathtub or sink
• Anti-slip bath mat
• Hairdryer

Step 1: Set up the tub

Place anti-slip bath mat at the bottom of the bathtub or sink to prevent them from slipping.

If you are using your kitchen sink make sure to wipe clean the sink for any residues before bathing your hedgehog in it.

Step 2: Prepare the water

Fill up the sink or tub between 2 to 5 inches of warm water. Do not fill it up too high that can drown your hedgehogs.

Also, make sure water is not too hot. Reach out to feel the water with your hands. As long as it is warm to the touch and not scalding it will be fine.

Step 3: Place hedgehog in water

Place them slowly into the warm water. On the first contact, they may start fidgeting or curl up as they feel a little nervous. But that is totally normal.

Give them some time to get used to water and relax their spines. Do not be surprised if they poop or pee while in the water when they first contact with water.

Step 4: Apply the shampoo on them

Press a small dime worth of soap on your palms, rub them together to form some foams and bubbles before applying to your hedgehog’s belly, legs and back.

It is recommended not to apply soap directly on them but rather on your hands first.

Step 5: Rubbing off the dirt

Rub down your hedgehog with the soft toothbrush you prepared.

There are 2 main areas you want to make sure you scrub through: First is their feet, followed by their quills.

When brushing their quills, brush in the direction of them instead of against.

Make sure you rub them gently with the toothbrush and keep any foam or soap that are formed during the scrub away from their eyes and face.

Step 6: Rinsing off

Drain down the water in the sink. Place hedgehog on slipping mat and pour warm water over your hedgehog till soap is washed off.

Always pour water on them gently and slowly not to startle them. Avoid pouring water over their face.

Step 7: Dry them up

Take them out of the tub or sink and wrap them up in a dry towel. Gently pat and rub them along their quills with the towel till their fur and quills are dry.

You can also use the hair dryer to speed up the process. But remember to use it in the lowest setting and do not blow at them directly.

You want to ensure your hedgehog is fully dry from the bath to prevent him from catching a cold.

Bathing frequency?

How many times should you bathe your hedgehog?

Most may suggest to give them a bath whenever they are dirty.

But here’s the deal

Too much bathing can cause hedgehog skin to dry out. Many hedgehog veterans will suggest not to bathe your hedgehog to often. A good number will be about just once a month.

However, it is ok to bathe them once or twice a week. Or instead of bathing, you can just do a scrub with the toothbrush of their feet to get rid of “poopy feet”.

So this should sum up everything thing you need to know about bathing your hedgehog. But this is not the end of the cleaning process. What comes after is a nice grooming session for your hedgehog.

Hedgehog nail trimming and grooming

Hedgehog nails are very similar to our own nails. Depending on hedgehogs, some of their nails wear down when they are playing. While others require a trimming session once a week.

You can trim them every time you give them a foot scrub or more commonly after their bath. Cutting their nails after a bath is the best time as they are firstly their nails are softer and secondly they are feeling relaxed.

Before you trim their nails here are some points to take note of:

• You will need a pet nail clipper or baby nail clippers.
• When clipping their nails, some hedgehog will fidget and struggle.
• Be steady and only trim a short portion of their nails to avoid cutting the quick. (Just like a human nail, the quick is the darker part of the nail.)
• If you have a hedgehog that struggles a lot, get someone else to hold the hedgehog while you clip their nails

Here is how to cut hedgehog nails

Step 1: Hold out their paw 1 by 1 using your index finger and thumb while resting the hedgehog on your palms.
Step 2: Cut the edge of the nail slowly just by a little at a time. Cutting too quickly may cut into their quick.
Step 3: Rinse and repeat for their other paws

Alternative method:

Another method is to rest your hedgehog on the edge of a plastic sheet or screen. Your hedgehog will cling onto the edge with their front 2 paws exposing their nails. Get someone to boost them up slightly to make sure they don’t drop. You can then go ahead to trim their nails slowly.

Cutting into their quick by accident

If it happens that you cut too far into their nails, they will probably bleed a little. DO NOT PANIC at this point. Quickly get some styptic powder for pets and apply it to them. This may cause some discomfort to them but it is necessary to prevent bacteria and infections.

Here is a list of nail clippers that can help you safely cut hedgehog nails:

• Nick-free nail clippers with spy hole for safe nail trimming.
• Nail clipper with magnifier

Conclusion

This sums up everything you need to know on grooming and bathing hedgehog. By now you should have a better understanding of finding the root of their smell as well.

Let us know if you have any other questions and share with us your thoughts on hedgehog bathing and grooming.

Do you have other better methods to bath and groom them? Let us know in the comments section below.