Discouraging hedgehogs?

katiep_2

Hi There,

We keep on getting a hedgehog in our garden, about every other night. Now I LOVE it, it's lovely to see, especially as I saw a news item recently that said they're endangered, but my dog thinks otherwise! He goes mental at the poor thing, and I hate to think what the neighbours think of his barking at it late at night! Also, I hear they're flea ridden, so don't really want it anywhere near the dog! Is there any (nice) way I can try to discourage it coming into the garden at all?

Thanks

susieb

Hedgehog fleas dont live on dogs, so I was told.

russ_c

susieb wrote: »

Hedgehog fleas dont live on dogs, so I was told.

Yes, they can only live on hedgehogs and they wont live in carpets either!

Don'tskipit

Hiya,
I love hedgehogs too.
You've reminded me of a lovely dog I had. He did on several occasions bring a hog out from the garden into the kitchen. The first time it happened I shrieked! But he was so gentle with it, put it on the floor, wagged his tail as if to say ' look what I found for you'. I checked him over - no damage from spines or fleas. And the hogs he brought in were all taken back to the bottom of the garden and scurried off, possibly shocked, but not harmed.
I wouldn't want to discourage hogs from my garden.
Can't you just bring your dog in when he encounters a hog?
Jen

musemad

Hedgehogs fleas cannot live on dogs at all or humans so it is very safe to handle them , you will not get bitten at all
Unlike dog fleas which seem to love certain humans (Namely me)

miss_corerupted

and they eat slugs and stuff so if you use slug pellets u should probably stop as i think they can get secondary poisioning from eating poisioned slugs

might be wrong and confused, correct me if i am

arkonite_babe

miss_corerupted wrote: »

and they eat slugs and stuff so if you use slug pellets u should probably stop as i think they can get secondary poisioning from eating poisioned slugs

might be wrong and confused, correct me if i am

nope, you are correct on that one

computerwoman

I hate to be the burden of bad news but as I have just had an RSPCA officer round today to remove some hedgehogs living in my garden because I am sick of going to the vet's with the dog's and cat's to get them de-fleaed...so you are wrong folk's it has cost me a fortune this year in vet bills with the fleas and hedgehogs...so gone are HH's to a new home...and de-fleaed my house which I was instructed to do by my vet and the RSPCA officer...so either take the dog to the vet's costly or go to your local pet shop and get something for the dog and something for the carpets...beds...sofa's...dog bedding...etc etc...and also I have been biten all around my neck...which was confirmed today by my GP as insect/flea bites...so this info is wrong about hedge hogs fleas don't live on other's...

ktflosspot

YEP !!! we encourage hedgehogs in o ur garden to eat all the nasty slugs that love to eat my plants xxxxxxxxx

LollopyBear

computerwoman wrote: »

I hate to be the burden of bad news but as I have just had an RSPCA officer round today to remove some hedgehogs living in my garden because I am sick of going to the vet's with the dog's and cat's to get them de-fleaed...so you are wrong folk's it has cost me a fortune this year in vet bills with the fleas and hedgehogs...so gone are HH's to a new home...and de-fleaed my house which I was instructed to do by my vet and the RSPCA officer...so either take the dog to the vet's costly or go to your local pet shop and get something for the dog and something for the carpets...beds...sofa's...dog bedding...etc etc...and also I have been biten all around my neck...which was confirmed today by my GP as insect/flea bites...so this info is wrong about hedge hogs fleas don't live on other's...

The following is from the St Tiggywinkles website (shelter that rescues mainly hedgehogs)

"Fleas:
Hedgehog fleas are host specific: they can only live on hedgehogs, they are harmless to humans and domestic pets, and cannot live in your carpet or furniture like other fleas."

http://www.sttiggywinkles.org.uk/Emergencies/Hedgehogs/body_hedgehogs.htm

Also from the British Hedgehog Preservation Society:

"Will my dog/cat get fleas from the hedgehog?
Hedgehog fleas are host specific, which means they will not usually live on any animal other than a hedgehog. Not all hedgehogs have fleas."

http://www.britishhedgehogs.org.uk/FAQS/faq.htm

I love hedgehogs as well. We have one that lives in our garden and does chase my cat around it! She still isn't sure what to make of the hog and the hog is not afraid of her at all. He feels like an extra pet now, and my slug population has decreased enormously. Do you think your dog may get used to the hog in time?

Debt_Free_Chick

computerwoman wrote: »

I hate to be the burden of bad news but as I have just had an RSPCA officer round today to remove some hedgehogs living in my garden because I am sick of going to the vet's with the dog's and cat's to get them de-fleaed

YIKES :eek:

does Frontline not work then?