Our Free Hedgie Grooming Services

We are happy to help you with your hedgehog's nail trims, Revolution mite preventative drops, baths, or dry skin treatments whenever you need it for your hedgehog's entire life. We know tackling these things can be hard, especially for first timers, so we do this to ensure that no hedgie's grooming needs are going neglected. This service is always free of charge, and available to all hedgehog owners regardless of where you got your hedgie. 
You can watch us do every step of this process so you can learn to do it yourself properly at home. (But if you never want to try, we don't mind always doing it for you. We have several customers who come by every single month for their regular hedgie spa day and we are always happy to see them!)
All you have to do is reach out to us and we can schedule a time for you to come by with your hedgie. 
​Most hedgie spa appointments are quick and easy - taking less than 10 minutes. Occasionally with more nervous hedgies, it can be more difficult or time-consuming. In those cases, you aren't obligated to sit here waiting and are welcome to go grab a bite to eat nearby or even run home until we're done if you live locally. We also don't mind drop-offs - sometimes people from farther away will be in the Philly area for a concert, sporting event, etc and will drop their hedgie off for a spa day on the way there then pick them back up on the way home. Totally fine with us, and still no charge. 
Most hedgehogs require nail clips around once a month - but some may need it more or less frequently. If you're unsure of whether it's time for a trim, send us a pic of your hog's feet and we'll let you know! 
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Guide to Grooming Your Hedgie Yourself

Nail Trims

Nail clips are typically needed once a month or so. We recommend using baby-sized human nail clippers as most other options are too large to be precise with their tiny nails. Some people like to use reading glasses or clippers with attached magnifiers to help them get a better view.
The key to nail clips is to only trim the white tips of the nails, without going too far and hitting the pink colored base (called the "quick") which is the sensitive part of the nail that contains nerves and blood vessels - meaning it will cause bleeding and pain if cut into. ​It helps a lot to buy a tub of Stypic Powder (or "KwikStop") and keep it on hand for nail clips, as it will stop the bleeding if you ever were to hit a quick. (It happens to even the most experienced owners sometimes, so don't beat yourself up too much!)
Many hedgies are resistant to nail trims and will ball up and refuse to cooperate. If yours is trying to hide their feet, it helps to put them in a few inches of warm water. They have to unroll when in water, so you can access their feet through that. Take it one foot at a time. If your hedgie is overly stressed or it's taking forever, you can stretch this process out over a couple days.
Many hedgehogs have nails that curl as they grow, which can make it difficult to get just the nail and not hit skin. In those cases, we press the pad of the foot to flatten it a bit and then use the edge of the nail clippers on their side to just clip the tip of the nail. 
Remember that if you don't keep up with them, they can curl into the pads of the feet which will be very painful, restrict their movement, and could result in a nasty infection. Their quicks also grow as the nail grows so when nails go neglected for too long, it can be very difficult to get them back to an appropriate length due to much of the nail being the part you cannot clip without causing blood and pain. If you are struggling with nails, please reach out to us before it gets to that point so we can help you. 

Baths

Hedgies may occasionally need a full bath. When attempting one, use warm water (not hot to the touch and not too cold). It's not necessary to fill the water above their head. While they have some swimming capabilities, they can also easily drown. We try to bathe with just water as much as possible since soap can dry out their skin. But if soap is needed, use something gentle like Aveeno, Johnson & Johnson baby wash, or Hogwash (which is actually made specifically for hedgies). A little goes a long way so don't overdo it with the soap. A toothbrush (or something similar) can help scrub off any dirt on their quills or skin. Remember to dry them off fully after so they don't catch a chill. 
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​While the full baths are rarely needed, their feet do require more frequent attention. Hedgies poop as they run on their wheel so they need footbaths fairly often, which you can easily do with baby wipes or by having them walk around in an inch or two of warm water in your sink or a basin. 

Dry Skin

Hedgehogs are very prone to dry skin! Some dryness is normal but flaky or irritated skin could signal deeper issues. If you're unsure whether your hedgie's skin is overly dry, send us a close up pic or bring them by for a visit. 
Dry skin can be treated with oatmeal baths, topical oil applications on the back (Vitamin E Oil, Flaxeed Oil, etc), drops of oil in the food to moisturize them from the inside out, decreasing soap usage, or changing the humidity levels of their space.
​Tattered or frayed ears are also a common by-product of dry skin and can be treated by applying oil to the ears with a q-tip.