Health of a Hedgehog:
Obesity:
This is probably the number one health problem seen in hedgehogs. Hedgehogs are easy to overfeed because we may be feeding too much thinking it’s too little or giving too many treats. Hedgehogs should not be round but more of a teardrop shape. They should be twice as long as they are round. If your hedgehog has a hard time rolling into a ball or cant physically roll into a ball then its probably overweight. Some other signs include, a double chin, fat around the armpits, fat pockets hanging down their legs, fat deposits around their eyes and if their stomach drags on the ground as they walk. Its very important to keep your hedgehog around their ideal weight in order to prevent fatty liver disease, which can be fatal. Determining a hedgehogs ideal weight is not easy as every hedgehog is different and their weights will all vary. The best way to make sure your hedgehog doesn’t get overweight is to look for those signs, track their weight and see a veterinarian if you suspect your hedgehog is getting overweight.
In order to help your hedgehog lose some weight if he/she is obese is to make sure they are getting the correct amount of fat and protein in their diet. Refer to the food page for information on how much fat and protein to feed. Remember hedgehog should only be getting 1-2 tablespoons of food a day. Limit the number of treats you are feeding as well as mealworms and crickets, which will be high in fat. Feed more fruits and vegetables instead. Along with diet comes exercise. Make sure you hedgehog has access to a large cage and a wheel. They roam many miles in the wild and need room to run around and explore. Most hedgehogs will spend almost all night running on their wheel. Monitor weight loss by weighing your hedgehog every other day.
Mites:
Hedgehogs like many other animals can carry mites. There are many different species of mites that a hedgehog can carry. Some species can spread to humans and other animals in the house as well as the other way around. Some of the signs include quill and or hair loss, dry or flaky, skin, excessive scratching which can lead to sores, tethered ears, and crust around the ears, eyes or base of the quills. Some people can see the mites while others cant. A test you can do at home is called the black towel test. Take a dark towel preferably black or navy blue and rub your hedgehog with it. Remove your hedgehog and look closely for tiny moving objects (probably white in color). If you see moving objects then your hedgehog has mites and a trip to your veterinarian is in order. If nothing is moving then your hedgehog may be clear but there is only one way to tell for sure. The test is called a skin scraping and has to be done at the vets office. If your hedgehog has mites there are many treatments out there but the most popular ones are Revolution and Ivermectin. Over time people have seen better results from Revolution, as some people have seen negative side effects from Ivermectin. Multiple doses of Ivermectin are require 2 weeks apart where as Revolution only requires one dose a month. Typically the dosing for them are one drop for under a pound and 2 drops for over a pound. There are also other treatments that have been tried some with success and some without. Make sure to consult your veterinarian though if mites are suspected.
Dry Skin:
Dry skin is another common issue seen by many owners. There are many causes of dry skin. Some include, mites, quilling, fungal infection, allergens, low humidity, naturally dry, diet deficiency, bathing and bedding, Mites and fungal infections should be taken care of by a veterinarian if suspected. Once those issues are resolved the dry skin should resolve. Quilling can cause dry skin. Giving your hedgehog an oatmeal bath or placing a couple drops of oil on their back can help with the dry skin and soothe the pain associated with quilling. Oil and oatmeal baths are also good options for low humidity and naturally dry skin. You may especially see dry skin in the winter as there is not much moisture in the air. Some allergens that could be the cause include, detergent, fabric, grass, shampoo, etc. Bathing a hedgehog too frequently can cause dry skin as well as not fully rinsing shampoo off, hot water, and certain shampoos. Some bedding if very dusty or fine can cause dry skin as well. If your hedgehog has dry skin try looking at factors that may be causing the dry skin and then changing them to see which one may be the culprit.
As already mentioned two good methods to clear dry skin are oatmeal baths and oil. Oatmeal baths will help clean the skin by removing dead skin cells as well as soothe their skin. Olive oil can be used as well. Use an eye dropper or syringe and place 4-5 drops of oil on your hedgehogs back. This can be repeated in 2-3 days in order to soothe the skin. Flax Seed Oil can be applied to your hedgehogs back or on top of their food. A couple drops to either your hedgehogs back or food will help. Keep flax seed oil refrigerated or it may go bad. Adding it to their food will also aid in digestion and overall good health. It can be added to their food daily but too much can cause diarrhea. Vitamin E can also be placed on your hedgehogs back. Place one drop behind each ear. Make sure not to use too much Vitamin E as it is a fat soluble vitamin so excess is not excreted but absorbed into the body.
Urinary/Genital:
The two most common health issues you may encounter with the urinary system are a urinary tract infection and irritation/infection of the genitals. Females are more prone to urinary tract infections. Some things to look for would be; blood in urine, change in elimination habits/location, straining to urinate or frequently voiding and in small amounts. Irritation/infection of the genitals can occur from bedding or cat litter that gets stuck to their genital area. Males are more prone to this as bedding can easily get stuck in their penile sheath after they pee. This is the one of the main reasons not to use clumping cat litter. If irritation is suspected caused by bedding allow your hedgehog to walk in warm water which will hopefully loosen the object from the genitals so it will either fall off or be easily removed.
Cancer:
There are many types of cancer that a hedgehog can develop. Many breeders will choose healthy bloodlines in order to try and prevent cancer from occurring. However keep in mind that just because breeders choose healthy lines doesn’t mean we can prevent cancer from occurring. Just as in humans, cancer will show up even in the healthiest of animals. We try to breed for the healthiest hedgehogs we can, but cancer may still show up. Unfortunately it’s a nasty disease that has affected almost every animal species on this planet.
Wobbly Hedgehog Syndrome:
Wobbly Hedgehog Syndrome or WHS is a degenerative disease that attacks the gray matter of the brain and causes the muscle tissue to overtime deteriorate in the hedgehog.
Signs include:
Inability to coordinate movements
Instability, falling to one side, not being able to stand up straight
Gradual onset
On average symptoms occur 18-24 months
Progressive paralysis starting with the hind legs
Seizures or muscle tremors
Limbs that become stiff or rigid
Decrease muscle strength
Dragging hind legs
There is no guaranteed way to prevent WHS as well as no tests that can be done on a live hedgehog to determine whether or not they have the disease. At this time there is also no cure. The only way to confirm whether or not your hedgehog had WHS is to have licensed vet perform a necropsy. To date there is actually little known about the disease and is not as common as one might think. Most people will self diagnose their hedgehog with WHS when it is actually something else. There are many other health issues that have the same signs and symptoms as WHS. Many of them leading to death as well if untreated. No one really knows for sure exactly what causes the disease. Some believe its viral while other believe its genetic. There has also been talk that things such as diet and pollution can cause it.
Hedgehog breeders can not make a 100% guarantee that a hedgehog does not have WHS due to an unknown cause. Its not likely a person can tell form their pedigree whether or not it exists in that familial line. The only guarantee that most breeders can make is that if your hedgehog dies and has a necropsy that show WHS they will replace it for you. If you suspect WHS make sure to talk to your veterinarian first as your hedgehog could have many other illnesses. They may also be able to tell you ways to help your hedgehog live as long as possible if it is WHS such as adding Vitamin E to their diet. This is not a cure but has been shown to improve symptoms for a while. Other things that will help are temperature and humidity control and muscle massage.
Keep in mind that the disease will progress at different rates for each animal. Just keep in mind that there is so much about this disease that we are still unsure about. Disease is a part of life and some like WHS may be beyond our control once the disease progresses. If after all attempts have been made to keep your hedgehog comfortable aren’t working any longer then it may be time to talk to your veterinarian about euthanasia.
If anyone purchases or has purchased a hedgehog from us finds that his or her hedgehog has passed from WHS and a licensed veterinarian has diagnosed it via a necropsy, we will replace your hedgehog for free. Since the start of Marissa’s Hedgies we have never had a confirmed case of WHS. However, do to the nature of disease processes we can never make a 100% guarantee that one of our hedgehogs won't one day be diagnosed with it. If we ever even suspect WHS in one of our breeding lines we will not breed from that line again.
Those are just some of the most common illnesses or ones you should be made aware of. There are many others out there, so make sure you seek veterinarian assistance for a sick hedgehog.
Note: *Always wash your hands before and after holding your hedgehog to help prevent illnesses such as mites, ring worm, salmonella, staph infections, and Pseudomonas from spreading to you or vice versa*
Obesity:
This is probably the number one health problem seen in hedgehogs. Hedgehogs are easy to overfeed because we may be feeding too much thinking it’s too little or giving too many treats. Hedgehogs should not be round but more of a teardrop shape. They should be twice as long as they are round. If your hedgehog has a hard time rolling into a ball or cant physically roll into a ball then its probably overweight. Some other signs include, a double chin, fat around the armpits, fat pockets hanging down their legs, fat deposits around their eyes and if their stomach drags on the ground as they walk. Its very important to keep your hedgehog around their ideal weight in order to prevent fatty liver disease, which can be fatal. Determining a hedgehogs ideal weight is not easy as every hedgehog is different and their weights will all vary. The best way to make sure your hedgehog doesn’t get overweight is to look for those signs, track their weight and see a veterinarian if you suspect your hedgehog is getting overweight.
In order to help your hedgehog lose some weight if he/she is obese is to make sure they are getting the correct amount of fat and protein in their diet. Refer to the food page for information on how much fat and protein to feed. Remember hedgehog should only be getting 1-2 tablespoons of food a day. Limit the number of treats you are feeding as well as mealworms and crickets, which will be high in fat. Feed more fruits and vegetables instead. Along with diet comes exercise. Make sure you hedgehog has access to a large cage and a wheel. They roam many miles in the wild and need room to run around and explore. Most hedgehogs will spend almost all night running on their wheel. Monitor weight loss by weighing your hedgehog every other day.
Mites:
Hedgehogs like many other animals can carry mites. There are many different species of mites that a hedgehog can carry. Some species can spread to humans and other animals in the house as well as the other way around. Some of the signs include quill and or hair loss, dry or flaky, skin, excessive scratching which can lead to sores, tethered ears, and crust around the ears, eyes or base of the quills. Some people can see the mites while others cant. A test you can do at home is called the black towel test. Take a dark towel preferably black or navy blue and rub your hedgehog with it. Remove your hedgehog and look closely for tiny moving objects (probably white in color). If you see moving objects then your hedgehog has mites and a trip to your veterinarian is in order. If nothing is moving then your hedgehog may be clear but there is only one way to tell for sure. The test is called a skin scraping and has to be done at the vets office. If your hedgehog has mites there are many treatments out there but the most popular ones are Revolution and Ivermectin. Over time people have seen better results from Revolution, as some people have seen negative side effects from Ivermectin. Multiple doses of Ivermectin are require 2 weeks apart where as Revolution only requires one dose a month. Typically the dosing for them are one drop for under a pound and 2 drops for over a pound. There are also other treatments that have been tried some with success and some without. Make sure to consult your veterinarian though if mites are suspected.
Dry Skin:
Dry skin is another common issue seen by many owners. There are many causes of dry skin. Some include, mites, quilling, fungal infection, allergens, low humidity, naturally dry, diet deficiency, bathing and bedding, Mites and fungal infections should be taken care of by a veterinarian if suspected. Once those issues are resolved the dry skin should resolve. Quilling can cause dry skin. Giving your hedgehog an oatmeal bath or placing a couple drops of oil on their back can help with the dry skin and soothe the pain associated with quilling. Oil and oatmeal baths are also good options for low humidity and naturally dry skin. You may especially see dry skin in the winter as there is not much moisture in the air. Some allergens that could be the cause include, detergent, fabric, grass, shampoo, etc. Bathing a hedgehog too frequently can cause dry skin as well as not fully rinsing shampoo off, hot water, and certain shampoos. Some bedding if very dusty or fine can cause dry skin as well. If your hedgehog has dry skin try looking at factors that may be causing the dry skin and then changing them to see which one may be the culprit.
As already mentioned two good methods to clear dry skin are oatmeal baths and oil. Oatmeal baths will help clean the skin by removing dead skin cells as well as soothe their skin. Olive oil can be used as well. Use an eye dropper or syringe and place 4-5 drops of oil on your hedgehogs back. This can be repeated in 2-3 days in order to soothe the skin. Flax Seed Oil can be applied to your hedgehogs back or on top of their food. A couple drops to either your hedgehogs back or food will help. Keep flax seed oil refrigerated or it may go bad. Adding it to their food will also aid in digestion and overall good health. It can be added to their food daily but too much can cause diarrhea. Vitamin E can also be placed on your hedgehogs back. Place one drop behind each ear. Make sure not to use too much Vitamin E as it is a fat soluble vitamin so excess is not excreted but absorbed into the body.
Urinary/Genital:
The two most common health issues you may encounter with the urinary system are a urinary tract infection and irritation/infection of the genitals. Females are more prone to urinary tract infections. Some things to look for would be; blood in urine, change in elimination habits/location, straining to urinate or frequently voiding and in small amounts. Irritation/infection of the genitals can occur from bedding or cat litter that gets stuck to their genital area. Males are more prone to this as bedding can easily get stuck in their penile sheath after they pee. This is the one of the main reasons not to use clumping cat litter. If irritation is suspected caused by bedding allow your hedgehog to walk in warm water which will hopefully loosen the object from the genitals so it will either fall off or be easily removed.
Cancer:
There are many types of cancer that a hedgehog can develop. Many breeders will choose healthy bloodlines in order to try and prevent cancer from occurring. However keep in mind that just because breeders choose healthy lines doesn’t mean we can prevent cancer from occurring. Just as in humans, cancer will show up even in the healthiest of animals. We try to breed for the healthiest hedgehogs we can, but cancer may still show up. Unfortunately it’s a nasty disease that has affected almost every animal species on this planet.
Wobbly Hedgehog Syndrome:
Wobbly Hedgehog Syndrome or WHS is a degenerative disease that attacks the gray matter of the brain and causes the muscle tissue to overtime deteriorate in the hedgehog.
Signs include:
Inability to coordinate movements
Instability, falling to one side, not being able to stand up straight
Gradual onset
On average symptoms occur 18-24 months
Progressive paralysis starting with the hind legs
Seizures or muscle tremors
Limbs that become stiff or rigid
Decrease muscle strength
Dragging hind legs
There is no guaranteed way to prevent WHS as well as no tests that can be done on a live hedgehog to determine whether or not they have the disease. At this time there is also no cure. The only way to confirm whether or not your hedgehog had WHS is to have licensed vet perform a necropsy. To date there is actually little known about the disease and is not as common as one might think. Most people will self diagnose their hedgehog with WHS when it is actually something else. There are many other health issues that have the same signs and symptoms as WHS. Many of them leading to death as well if untreated. No one really knows for sure exactly what causes the disease. Some believe its viral while other believe its genetic. There has also been talk that things such as diet and pollution can cause it.
Hedgehog breeders can not make a 100% guarantee that a hedgehog does not have WHS due to an unknown cause. Its not likely a person can tell form their pedigree whether or not it exists in that familial line. The only guarantee that most breeders can make is that if your hedgehog dies and has a necropsy that show WHS they will replace it for you. If you suspect WHS make sure to talk to your veterinarian first as your hedgehog could have many other illnesses. They may also be able to tell you ways to help your hedgehog live as long as possible if it is WHS such as adding Vitamin E to their diet. This is not a cure but has been shown to improve symptoms for a while. Other things that will help are temperature and humidity control and muscle massage.
Keep in mind that the disease will progress at different rates for each animal. Just keep in mind that there is so much about this disease that we are still unsure about. Disease is a part of life and some like WHS may be beyond our control once the disease progresses. If after all attempts have been made to keep your hedgehog comfortable aren’t working any longer then it may be time to talk to your veterinarian about euthanasia.
If anyone purchases or has purchased a hedgehog from us finds that his or her hedgehog has passed from WHS and a licensed veterinarian has diagnosed it via a necropsy, we will replace your hedgehog for free. Since the start of Marissa’s Hedgies we have never had a confirmed case of WHS. However, do to the nature of disease processes we can never make a 100% guarantee that one of our hedgehogs won't one day be diagnosed with it. If we ever even suspect WHS in one of our breeding lines we will not breed from that line again.
Those are just some of the most common illnesses or ones you should be made aware of. There are many others out there, so make sure you seek veterinarian assistance for a sick hedgehog.
Note: *Always wash your hands before and after holding your hedgehog to help prevent illnesses such as mites, ring worm, salmonella, staph infections, and Pseudomonas from spreading to you or vice versa*
