HELP! I think she's sicky... - 2008/04/06 13:08 Bea seems to be quilling at an unusual rate. I can't even move her without her shedding five or so quills. She scratches like a dog and shakes like a dog does just after it has a bath, and her quills fall out. I examined her for bald spots this morning and found two bald red spots (one that appeared to be kind of swollen). Her poops this morning were very runny and smelled funky. Her whole cage was just a mess because of the quills and the runny poops. So I took her out and put her in her runabout ball so I could clean the cage top to bottom. I had to wash her liner, bed and sleeping bag and scrub her wheel and dishes. She usually loves her runabout ball...but when I looked over at her she hadn't moved and was looking terrified. When I got a closer look I saw she had just released a HUGE blob of hedgie-runs that smelled awful. I was scared to give her a bath because I didn't want to scare her anymore than she already seemed to be. I put her back in her cage with just her bed and litter box and a tiny bit of food. Is it something I fed her? She seems to like the food I give her and the mealie treats...I should take her to the vet right?Mommy loves... Beatrix the pog, Lizard the Water Dragon, Graci the Shih Tzu, And Uncle Buster the West Highland White...
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voodewlady
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Re:HELP! I think she's sicky... - 2008/04/06 14:29I would suggest contacting Laura about this. She is very knowledgable and says she will provide hedgie advice after sale. That's what I would do. Sorry about the troubles you are having with your baby. Good luck.~Erin~ ~Lives in the land of OZ~ Ms. Pickles the hedgehog Mischa the ferret Sydney the dapple dachshund
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HamorHollow
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Re:HELP! I think she's sicky... - 2008/04/06 16:11How long has your hedgehog been home with you? Smelly runny poop can be a sign of stress from traveling to and living in a new place. It can also be a result of a diet change, and sometimes even a sign of the hedgehog eating new treats.
How old is your hedgehog? Different hedgehogs quill at different rates, and seeing a lot of quills on the blanket may just be a sign of hard quilling.
Tell us more about the red spots, they could be a sign of an allergy. What detergent are you using with your liners?
If you go the hedgehog from Laura or another breeder within the last 5 days, you should contact them immediately. If you got the hedgehog at the pet store or you've had him for more then a week, I would recommend a vet visit.
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CThogs
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Re:HELP! I think she's sicky... - 2008/04/06 16:16Normal quilling does not usually include bald spots so it should be checked out by a vet. The same with the stomach upset. If you fed her new treats in the past few days, that could cause stomach upset, but not the quill loss too.Ann Connecticut Hedgehogs
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BabyBeatrix0208
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Re:HELP! I think she's sicky... - 2008/04/07 11:42I've had her for almost 3 weeks. So I'm pretty sure it isn't the environment change. I did introduce her to mealworms. She loves them, but maybe her tummy doesn't. I also feed her some of what Laura sent home with her mixed with a different flavor of Purina than what she uses and some Organix cat food mix. However, she's been eating that since she came home with me and didn't show any mal-signs. She was born in February and I know she's supposed to quill...but she's quilling at an excessive rate. And I use Tide with Downy fabric softener...Would that be a problem?Mommy loves... Beatrix the pog, Lizard the Water Dragon, Graci the Shih Tzu, And Uncle Buster the West Highland White...
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CThogs
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Re:HELP! I think she's sicky... - 2008/04/07 16:21We have issues in the humans here with dryer sheets/ fabric softener because it does leave a coating of "stuff" on the fabric. So that would be my first suspect if it is an allergic thing.Ann Connecticut Hedgehogs
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voodewlady
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Re:HELP! I think she's sicky... - 2008/04/07 19:04How is she today?~Erin~ ~Lives in the land of OZ~ Ms. Pickles the hedgehog Mischa the ferret Sydney the dapple dachshund
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BabyBeatrix0208
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Re:HELP! I think she's sicky... - 2008/04/07 19:24She saw Dr. McGee today. He used to raise pogs! So I know I selected an excellent vet for her to see. She's at a good weight he said and her skin is PERFECT. He did have to put her under to examine her...and that was the nicest she's ever been to me...just sleeping in my hands like a baby...he said the runs were probably from stress or a diet change and not from mites or any other infestation like he was afraid it might be. He's having me put her on a new food mix and give her a few drops of kaopectate for 2 more days. She seems to be doing much better and is happy to be back in her cage away from all the people at the vets office going "AwWwW! Does she bite? Oh wow! She's prickly! How cute! I've never seen one of those before!"...anyway. She's much better! Thanks for asking!Mommy loves... Beatrix the pog, Lizard the Water Dragon, Graci the Shih Tzu, And Uncle Buster the West Highland White...
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voodewlady
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Re:HELP! I think she's sicky... - 2008/04/07 19:40Great news! ~Erin~ ~Lives in the land of OZ~ Ms. Pickles the hedgehog Mischa the ferret Sydney the dapple dachshund
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BabyBeatrix0208
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Re:HELP! I think she's sicky... - 2008/04/09 08:33He told me, "Feed her IAMS Kitten food." "For how long?" "Till she's dead." So, I've been introducing it to her food dish. She seems to like it just as well as her other food. It has more meat to it, he said. I'm still going to feed her the other things I bought her until its gone (because it isn't bad for her) but in smaller proportions compared to the IAMS. She still loves her mealies...but won't eat live crickets because she's scared of them. She doesn't like it when her food moves. So, I'm waiting till the crickets die before I feed them to her...Or maybe I'll just give them to my boyfriend to feed to our Water Dragon...Mommy loves... Beatrix the pog, Lizard the Water Dragon, Graci the Shih Tzu, And Uncle Buster the West Highland White...
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BabyBeatrix0208
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Re:HELP! I think she's sicky... - 2008/04/09 12:24Yes that's the one...I don't know...The man used to raise hedgehogs...So, I don't know who's right and who's wrong...Anyone?Mommy loves... Beatrix the pog, Lizard the Water Dragon, Graci the Shih Tzu, And Uncle Buster the West Highland White...
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CThogs
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Re:HELP! I think she's sicky... - 2008/04/09 15:19Persnally I wouldn't use it alone because of it's high fat content. It may be ok in a mix "if" she eats everything in the mix. If you went through a breeder, I would talk to them and see if you can work up a good mixAnn Connecticut Hedgehogs
Hedgehog Forums 
Bea seems to be quilling at an unusual rate. I can't even move her without her shedding five or so quills. She scratches like a dog and shakes like a dog does just after it has a bath, and her quills fall out. I examined her for bald spots this morning and found two bald red spots (one that appeared to be kind of swollen). Her poops this morning were very runny and smelled funky. Her whole cage was just a mess because of the quills and the runny poops. So I took her out and put her in her runabout ball so I could clean the cage top to bottom. I had to wash her liner, bed and sleeping bag and scrub her wheel and dishes. She usually loves her runabout ball...but when I looked over at her she hadn't moved and was looking terrified. When I got a closer look I saw she had just released a HUGE blob of hedgie-runs that smelled awful. I was scared to give her a bath because I didn't want to scare her anymore than she already seemed to be. I put her back in her cage with just her bed and litter box and a tiny bit of food. Is it something I fed her? She seems to like the food I give her and the mealie treats...I should take her to the vet right?
