A Many dogs find themselves conflicted by hedgehogs: they seem like small prey that ought to run away, like rabbits or rats, but instead, they stay still. Worse again, if a dog sniffs or tries to bite a hedgehog, its prickles inflict annoying and painful jabs to the face.

Dogs can and sometimes do attack hedgehogs. Often adult hedgehogs will be sufficiently protected by their spines but sick or young hedgehogs may be killed. Try to keep dogs away from any hedgehogs in your garden as an encounter could lead to both animals being hurt.

The RSPCA says the animals need to stay in an enclosure of between 24C and 30C. While the charity says hedgehogs are not suitable pets, it advises would-be owners to research the animal’s needs – and only consider keeping one if they can ensure they are fully able to provide for them.

Rabies has not been reported in wild or captive African hedgehogs, but the salivation that occurs during anting is occasionally mistaken as a sign of rabies. A single report of rabies in a wild European hedgehog exists.

Your hedgehog can definitely transmit both fleas and mites to your pup, which can be both uncomfortable and unhealthy for your dog. If you think your dog might have ringworm, look for signs like hair loss, broken hair and poor hair coat, red skin, crusty skin, and lots of itchiness.

Hedgehogs, like most wild mammals, are known to carry various parasites including a range of fleas, ticks, mites, myiasis (where flies lay eggs around wounds), fungal infections, parasitic worms, protozoa (esp. Cocidia and Toxoplasma), bacterial and viral infections.

Common conditions of pet hedgehogs include external and internal parasites, ringworm, cancer, gastrointestinal diseases and pneumonia.