Fleas in Hedgehogs

What are fleas and how can my hedgehog get them?

Fleas are small, insect parasites that may take up residence on your pet hedgehog’s skin. Fleas infest hedgehogs if there is a heavy infestation in the home, but they generally do not like the African pygmy hedgehog, presumably because of its low body temperature and the presence of quills that cover most of its body. Hedgehogs get fleas from other infested animals or environments (e.g., a home with flea infestation or fleas brought in by the outdoor dog or cat).

How can I tell if my hedgehog has fleas?

Your hedgehog may or may not be itchy, depending on the sensitivity of the individual animal to flea bites. You may see that your hedgehog is losing quills and biting, licking, chewing, or scratching itself. Small, red bite marks or sores may be found on the skin and will occasionally develop into a secondary bacterial skin infection. Each flea takes a small blood meal, so young hedgehogs with heavy infestations may develop anemia as the fleas feed frequently over time.

Fleas leave their feces (often called flea dirt) on a hedgehog’s skin, in its hair, and between its quills. Flea dirt looks like small, comma-shaped black debris the size of ground pepper. When the debris is placed on a wet paper towel, the paper towel will turn red if fleas are the source (flea fecal matter is digested blood from the pet).

A flea infestation may cause quill loss, which looks like quill loss caused by quill mites (see handout “Mites in Hedgehogs" for more information). Regular check-ups with your veterinarian can help to identify and treat these problems early on.

How are hedgehogs with fleas treated?

There is no hedgehog-specific drug for controlling fleas. Flea-control drugs are made for dogs and cats, and their use in hedgehogs is described as “off-label”, so they should only be used under the guidance of a veterinarian familiar with hedgehogs. If fleas are present on other pets in the house, all pets in the household should be treated. Fleas spend a minimal amount of time on the animal, so you often will find them hiding in bedding, carpeting or rugs. Treating the household for fleas is the most effective way to keep fleas off your pets.

Topical flea powders, premise sprays, or even professional pest exterminators may be effective, but consult your veterinarian first. Since flea eggs may hatch in carpet or on furniture, away from your hedgehog, it is important to treat the environment thoroughly. Electrostatically charged boric acid has been used safely and successfully for decades to kill fleas, cockroaches, and ants on carpets, rugs, and furniture. Depending on environmental humidity and temperature, flea eggs may hatch in as few as 14–28 days, producing the next crop of adult fleas looking for a blood meal. Treatment must be long enough to get the last egg.

DO NOT use flea collars on hedgehogs. DO NOT use insecticides such as organophosphates, straight permethrin sprays, or permethrin spot-on treatments on your pet hedgehog.

Can I get fleas from my hedgehog?

In heavy infestations, fleas may bite humans and may cause problems in people especially sensitive to insect bites. Bite marks may be noticed around the ankles. Generally, this problem resolves itself once the parasite is eliminated from the home.