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I just witnessed my male hedgehog pee and I'm equal parts confused and worried. He hid himself behind the running disk and next to a litter box. I moved the disk away to make more walking space, unaware what he was doing. He then began rocking/thrusting back and forth vigorously and soon after I heard a wet sound, like smacking lips. I realized that moment he must be doing his business and waited for him to finish, then when I've noticed no poo I touched the wood and it was wet. I didn't measure the time but it must have lasted at least a minute.

Is it normal for hedgehogs to pee this way? He used to use sanitary pads and I've seen him pee before on them, he would just freeze for few seconds second and walk away. None of this rocking back and forth or loud splashing.

Reverent Lapwing
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  • Just in case if anyone was wandering why did I touch it - few months ago I was fighting a foul smell that I couldn't get rid of in any way and was suspecting that pee might be the reason. Eventually I had to install an active ventilation system to keep the terarrium from smelling. I had to make sure he did what I thought he did to validate my suspicions. I wasn't sure it was it, because like I said, I usually see him using a pad. – Reverent Lapwing Jan 22 '23 at 21:35
  • I don't know much about hedgehogs, so this isn't a full answer. It sounds like UTIs are very common in hedgehogs though, so that's the first thing I would check for. His movements could indicate distress and pain. Maybe you can try to contain him to a pee pad and check his urination habits and how the urine looks. If it continues, I would recommend taking him to the vet. This article seems fairly comprehensive: https://africanpygmyhedgehogs.com/2021/05/18/hedgehog-pee-guide-peeing-on-you-color-issues-and-advice/ – Gwendolyn Jan 23 '23 at 20:16

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He might be doing something different... male pygmy hedgehogs are known to pleasure themselves regularly. The rocking / thrusting you saw could be exactly that. This excellent book by Kimberly Halzen even has a short chapter about it on page 42.

Nevertheless, you should pay attention to his peeing habits. Hedgehogs don't mark their territory, so peeing in inappropriate places can be a sign of some medical problem. If you notice him peeing much more often or much less often than usual, you should get him checked by a vet.

If a cat suddenly starts peeing outside the litter box, it's often a sign for an UTI or urinary stones that make peeing very painful. The cat mentally connects the pain to the litter box and tries to avoid it. A pet hedgehog could react the same way to an UTI.

Journeyman Geek
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Elmy
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