HamorHollow
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Re:Dumb question galore! - 2008/04/20 14:21
The simple answer is that yes, hedgehogs can transmit things like ringworm, parasites, bacteria, and salmonella. But then so can you pet cat, dog, bunny, etc. The likelihood of you getting anything from a hedgehog is extremely low to completely non-existent.
The first hedgehogs that were imported to the US were mostly taken from garbage dumps, and some of them did carry salmonella and other nasties. As of the early 90's, hedgehogs can no longer be imported so all the hedgehogs you see now are born and raised in captivity. Anything that was sick has died out long ago.
That being said, a hedgehog can catch diseases from other animals or from being raised in crappy conditions. So the hedgehogs that are born in mills and shipped to pet stores could, in theory, have caught something (This is the same for any pet store animal. I got ringworm from a pet store chin once).
So your best chance of getting a safe and healthy hedgehog is to find a USDA licensed hedgehog breeder. The USDA licence means that we have to keep things to a certain level of cleanliness and keep health and buyer records. It also means we are subject to surprise inspections and inspected at least once per year.
-K
Kelly Sosik-Hamor
Hamor Hollow Hedgehogs - a New Hampshire breeder, serving Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey and any where else hedgehogs are legal. |
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) prior to even notifying my parents about my love of hedgehogs. A while ago I asked and we're still in CONSIDERING LAND *dramatic music* I have done EVEN MORE research as of a month ago...sad really! lol
