Are Hedgehogs Good Pets For Kids

In my opinion i do think hedgehogs make wonderful pets.

Are hedgehogs good pets for kids. Any animal that is in pain is more likely to bite a child. Most north american pet hedgehogs typically called african pygmy hedgehogs were bredfrom african species and are considered domesticated. But hedgehogs are not meant for everyone. However generally speaking i would not recommend hedgehogs as pets for children.

Unfortunately there s a dark side to hedgehogs. These little animals can make terrific companions when housed and fed appropriately and their popularity appears to be increasing. Naturally curious hedgehogs often become tame and seem to enjoy being handled by their owners. Allergies are extremely common in children and buying an animal for your child only to find out he or she is allergic to the animal is a heartbreaking ordeal.

They might be okay for some older kids or teenagers but i would still recommend going with another type of pet. They are extremely active in the wild they can climb swim and often run several miles each night regular hedgehog business hours. Hedgehogs are not hamsters or guinea pigs. Younger children should probably not handle hedgehogs at all.

Pets with sharp quills like hedgehogs will also pose a threat. It s too easy for a child to overreact at the unexpected stick of a quill and both the child and your pet could suffer harm. My 3 children would agree that they are something different fun and entertaining. Just like having a hamster as a pet for kids most of the cost will be upfront in purchasing the hedgehog and living arrangement.

Large birds like parrots are too much work and pose a potential hazard to kids as they use strong sharp beaks to explore. Since hedgehogs need to have time to dash around contact with your other pets might be unavoidable but it should be kept to a minimum. It will all depend on the children in question and how their parents educate them. However hedgehogs do make great pets and children take delight in them.

Although hedgehogs are solitary it s not a good idea to stick your pet hedgehog in a cage and ignore it. For younger kids they can make excellent pets with some guidance and understanding the importance of proper handwashing to prevent salmonella. African pygmy hedgehogs are small creatures and can easily be injured by rough handling. However the spines aren t barbed like the quills of a porcupine and the hedgehog ball appears cute or humorous to human eyes.

Hedgehogs typically cost 150 300 and the ongoing costs include bedding and food. Some pets learn to respect the hedgehog but some dogs and ferrets treat them as prey. Hedgehogs are hypoallergenic the fact that hedgehogs are hypoallergenic makes them an even more appealing pet for children.