A Morbid Question

[Vincent]

After telling my mom about how vinegar will help keep the hedgehog cages smelling great, she promptly responded, "But aren't they like porcupines?"

I guess that vinegar dissolves porcupine quills when they're stuck in a dog's muzzle. I don't know if they're made out of different stuff, but will vinegar melt off hedgehog quills? :lol: She asked me to post here and see if anyone knows.

Also, does anyone else have trouble giving their hedgies a sponge bath? It's ridiculously hard... :rofl:

[Jeanette]

I just fill up the tub with about an inch of water (up to his knees) and let him walk around for about 5-6 mins. That usually does the trick.

As for vinegar, i have no idea.
My guess would be, if it is dilouted with water and doesn't actually touch the hh when it's wet (the cage), then I don't see it doing any harm.
That's what I would do... but that doesn't mean that I'm right.

[Vincent]

I know that traces of vinegar on his cage wouldn't hurt him. :p Just... what about vinegar applies directly to his quills?
This is a strictly hypothetical question, by the way. I'm not going to go dunking my hedgehogs in vinegar or anything.

I've tried giving him baths in the tub, and Edmund doesn't mind it. Vincent panics, though, and usually trips himself and dunks his head underwater. I don't want him to snort up water, so I tried giving him a spongebath instead... what a stupid idea. :laugh:

[hemi_mygirl]

I've never even heard of vinegar dissolving quills. Although, if I understand correctly, hedgehog quills are just modified hairs. I'm assuming porcupine quills are composed of something different. If you're curious, save a few quills that your boys shed, and drop them in vinegar. Then post the results. lol.

[Vincent]

Hmm... I might just do that! Anything in the name of science... and curiousity. Lol!

I'd never heard of vinegar dissolving quills, either, but my mom grew up on a farm and insists it's true. She says she had to use vinegar on several bad porcupine quills that got stuck in her dogs' face.

[HedgeMom]

Vinegar is a mild acid and will soften the cells of the quills, allowing the quills to be removed without pain, but it isn't a strong enough acid to dissolve the quills.

Interestingly enough, some old wive's tales say to combine vinegar with baking soda because they claim that quills are made of lime and calcium. Vinegar is an acid, baking soda is a base and when mixed they cancel each other out.

Quills are modified hairs, keratin based. We all know that stomach acid is hydrochloric acid. We all know that hydrochloric acid is stronger than vinegar. We all know that hair does not dissolve in stomach acid (ergo furballs in intestines) therefore, if stomach acid doesn't dissolve keratin, why would vinegar?

Ask anyone with a bathroom drain and long hair how hard hair is to dissolve. Even the lye in strong drain cleaners has difficulty dissolving hair enough to clean the drain.

[FiaSpice]

HedgeMom you're a living encyclopedia!

[Jeanette]

Well, Spiny used to get really REALLY upset when he was in the tub. But, I would just keep on talking to him and keep my hand or arm inside the tub with him.
Now, (after 3 months) he just stands in the water and looks at me as if to say "what do you expect me to do in here?" hee hee...
So, let him have sort of an island (like a wash cloth) in the tub so that he can climb on top of it, (but still be getting his feet wet!).

As for the vinegar... have you ever drank vinegar by mistake? I wouldn't recommend it. But hhs have a very good sense of smell and it might be overwhelming to them if you put it right on them.

I would just say... well... (spiny), you're just going to have to get used to the water. And he did!!

[Vincent]

Holy cow, HM... that was like a clip from a science notebook. Lol! You need to stop being so darn smart! :p

I've tried everything with Vincent, but it's just not worth getting his ears and face wet. Next time I'll try holding him in my hands and having someone else spray warm water on his body...

"But hhs have a very good sense of smell and it might be overwhelming to them if you put it right on them."

You have my solemn promise that I won't bathe my hedgies in vinegar. :laugh:

[LoriL]

What a topic!

I do clean my wheel with a vinegar/water solution. 1 part vinegar to 3 parts hot water. I do it each morning (when it needs to be done and she's not on a wheeling strike, but that's a different topic :banghead: ). I wipe it down with a paper towel and put back in her cage. So it's not wet when she uses it. The smell doesn't seem to bother her at night.

I also wipe down the plastic bottom of her cage, under her liner, once a week with the same solution. I do rinse that with plain hot water then though and dry it with a paper towel. I'm not sure if the smell of the vinegar all over the bottom of the cage under the liner would be too overwhelming for her while she's trying to sleep.

Neither one of the cleanings seem to affect her. :dunno:

And her cage smells fresh.