Assessment of owner investment in African pygmy hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris) welfare by feeding, housing, enrichment, hygiene, and health practice

This article presents findings from an assessment of owners' investments in the welfare of African pygmy hedgehogs (Atelerix albiventris), focusing on feeding, housing, enrichment, hygiene, and health practices. Participants were divided into three groups based on how they acquired information about hedgehog care: G1 consulted veterinarians, G2 consulted other owners and breeders, and G3 consulted the internet. Group G3 comprised the largest portion of participants (45%), while G1 had the fewest (22%). The majority of owners fed their hedgehogs commercial food (55%), supplemented with live worms, dry insects, or plants (79%). Most hedgehogs were housed in units smaller than 0.5 square meters (68%), and 84% lacked a hiding "house". Some owners did not provide a hedgehog wheel (17%). Owners consulting veterinarians (G1) were more likely to use commercial food (P < 0.05), spend time interacting with their pets (P < 0.01), wash the wheel daily (P < 0.01), seek veterinary check-ups upon acquisition (P < 0.01), schedule preventive examinations (P < 0.01), and consult veterinarians for health changes (P < 0.01) compared to internet consulters (G3). All G1 owners had hedgehog wheels, significantly more than G2 owners (P < 0.01), where 27% lacked them. Significant differences existed between G1 and G2 in wheel washing frequency, post-acquisition veterinary visits (P < 0.001), preventive check-ups (P < 0.001), and contacting veterinarians for health changes (P < 0.01). Overall, owners across all groups exhibited differences in care practices, including some errors such as inadequate housing.