Hedgehogs - Petstant

Water is an essential requirement in a hedgehog's life and ensuring that they stay constantly hydrated is one of the keys to good health. Not only does clean drinking water promote digestion but it also regulates body temperate and promotes the proper functioning of key internal processes and organs. This article answers the question "How Do Hedgehogs Get Water?" by revealing what variety of water these cute creatures enjoy as well as which types to eliminate from their cages. We also look into how much the average hedgie drinks daily from childhood to adulthood. How Do Hedgehogs Get Water? Caged hedgehogs can drink plain water poured into dishes or dispensers. Normal tap water in most cities is safe but avoid offering flavored water due to additives and component chemicals that may upset their stomach and pose other health problems. Your hedgehog needs constant access to drinking water to flourish and your job as an owner entails making sure the water bowl is never empty. Water dispensers may also be a good option for providing constant access to hydration. Wild hedgehogs can drink from streams, puddles, and rivers which may not be as clear as tap water. But, they typically get used to getting hydrated from potentially dirty sources and build the required immunity levels to cope. Domesticated hedgehogs have limited immunity against anything less than clean drinking water and become susceptible to diseases and infections when exposed to contaminants. Always pay attention to their water source to ensure good health at all times. Can Hedgehogs Drink Tap Water? Hedgehogs can drink tap water as long as it is clean and well-filtered. But avoid offering tap water if you live in a city where no one drinks it because of poor quality unless filtered. Bottled water may be the best option in that instance as long as it does not contain too many minerals. Hedgies are not the fuzziest pets when it comes to water so most clean sources should be fine for them. But avoid providing water you may not be willing to drink yourself to minimize exposure to infections and diseases. Also, never give them cold or salty water because the effects can be detrimental to their well-being in various ways. How Often Should A Hedgehog's Water Be Changed? Hedgehogs' drinking water should be changed daily to guarantee maximum taste and health. Cleaning the bowl and refilling every 24 hours eliminates funny tastes and bad odors while getting rid of contaminants that may have invaded the water bowl. Bowls and dishes provide unrestricted access to drinking water for hedgehogs but they can easily get soiled with dirt, food particles, and other foreign materials. Dispensers may be a great alternative since they do not get soiled easily. However, even if you decide to hydrate them via dispensers, make sure to continue changing the water every 24 hours. This preserves the taste while minimizing the risk of developing biofilm, a yucky slimy layer that pops up on the walls of containers developed from bacterial secretions. Biofilm occurs when water is kept for too long. It often results from higher populations of free-swimming bacteria and should serve as a warning to clean the water bowl or dispenser immediately before refilling with fresh water. How to Ensure Clean Tapwater For Hedgehogs If you're unsure of the suitability of your city's tap water for pet hedgehogs, there are a few methods to guarantee access to drinking water with zero impurities. Reverse Osmosis Reverse Osmosis is probably the most effective water filtration method available. It eliminates potential toxins that can harm hedgehogs once ingested. This method ensures minimal water wastage which can save you from paying unnecessarily high utility bills. Standard Filtration Standard filtration is an effective method for eliminating inorganic pollutants like metals from drinking water. Aluminum and Uranium are a few of the metals that can be removed via this filtration system. Fortunately, most metals feature molecules that are quite sizable compared with water, making it easy for standard filtration methods to trap them. How Much Water Do Hedgehogs Drink? Young hedgehogs drink an average of 60ml of water while adults thrive on 25-40ml of clean drinking water every 24 hours. Dehydration and diabetes in your hedgie may result in constant thirst that forces them to drink more water. If you've noticed a much higher hydration rate compared to the figures stipulated above, speak to a vet as soon as possible. Several tests may need to be run to figure out the underlying causes for the right treatment formulation. Water Bottles vs Water Bowls For Hedgehogs Hedgehogs may enjoy drinking water from shallow water bowls or standard pet water bottles. Each comes with advantages and disadvantages so let's dive in deeper to help you make the right choice. Water Bowls These are shallow bowls or dishes filled with drinking water for hydrating thirsty hedgehogs. They're easily accessible and encourage more drinking compared to water bottles. However, there are a few downsides including a higher possibility of spillage in the cage. Water bowls or dishes may easily get soiled with foreign materials including dirt and poop. The probability of your hedgehog drinking contaminated water is often much higher compared to water bottles. Water Bottles Water Bottles can be a solid option for keeping hedgies hydrated. They come in different shapes and sizes and may be fixed inside their cages. Your little buddy typically walks to the water bottle location whenever thirst kicks in. Water bottles could be cleaner than bowls since the risks of spillage is much lower. Soiling is also typically non-existent compared to shallow water bowls. The downside is that drinking from water bottles may need some getting used to. Also, hedgehogs usually prefer bowls to bottles because of the weird drinking angles associated with sipping water from the latter which often results in strain necks. Why is My Hedgehog Drinking So Much Water? Diabetes is the leading cause of excessive water drinking in hedgehogs. Liver cancer and other liver infections may also increase the need for significantly higher amounts of drinking water to stay hydrated. As stated earlier, the average young hedgehog drinks 60ml of water every 24 hours while adults need up to 45 ml. If you notice an abnormally high hydration level, there could be an underlying health problem and you need to speak to a vet immediately before things go downhill. Can Hedgehogs Smell Water? Hedgehogs have an amazing sense of smell and can literally smell water from a mile away. This makes it easier for them to sense water bodies in proximity when thirsty. Thirst is inevitable after eating in the wild and they typically set off to find water immediately after. In domesticated breeds, hedgehogs rely on their powerful smelling senses to locate water bowls since their eyesight is poor. This ensures constant hydration for quick digestion and overall health improvements. Why is My Hedgehog Not Drinking Water? Hedgehogs may stop drinking water due to illnesses such as tummy upsets. You can rely on this sign to know when your cute buddy is unwell and requires proper medical care. Dying hedgies in their final moments may also lose interest in staying hydrated and shun drinking from dispensers or water dishes. You may have to force-feed water into their mouths with a syringe to maintain healthy hydration levels. Do Wild Hedgehogs Find Their Own Water? Hedgehogs in the wild are responsible for finding their own drinking water, unlike domesticated breeds that receive regular supplies from their owners. Wild hedgehogs do not hesitate to drink from puddles, dews, ponds, and lakes in the wild. Any water source they come across is fair game as long as they're thirsty. Fortunately, their stronger immune systems stave off most infections and diseases from potentially harmful microorganisms prevalent in water from those sources. How Do I Get My hedgehog To Drink Water? Hedgies often stop drinking water due to stomach upsets from their diet. Switching to another diet that is more suitable for their stomachs enables them to start drinking water again. A sudden loss of interest in staying hydrated may be due to recent dietary changes and another quick change could remedy the situation. Dying hedgehogs may also be forced to drink water by syringe feeding. You'll have to be careful not to get poked by their quills during the process because they could react apprehensively. How Long Can Hedgehogs Go Without Water? Hedgehogs can survive up to 3 days without drinking water but it could leave them severely dehydrated. Dehydration may cause significant health problems including fatty liver disease and kidney failure in the long run. After 3 days, the thirsty hedgie could die from the lack of hydration as key organs begin to shut down from the limited blood and oxygen supply. How Can You Tell if A Hedgehog is Dehydrated? Watching out for signs of dehydration can help you know when your hedgehog needs water and other hydrating fluids as quickly as possible. A few common clues include: Lethargy Foul-smelling urine Weight loss Sunken eyes Wobbling or walking struggles Loss of appetite Conclusion: How Do Hedgehogs Get Water? Hedgehogs may drink plain water from water bottles or water bowls in their cages as long as it is clean and devoid of impurities. Tap water in most cities can be perfect but existing impurities could be eliminated via standard filtration or reverse osmosis. Your hedgehog's drinking water should be changed daily to eliminate foul tastes and soiling from foreign materials, especially in the case of water bowl usage. Be sure to clean the bowl or bottle before pouring fresh clean water at room temperature to minimize the risks of biofilm formation.