Ges, VA
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Loss of appitite - 2008/01/20 19:14
Hey guys.
In the last 2ish weeks, Schoendorn has become more and more difficult to feed. Stacy gave me a bag of food when I got him from her, it is the same mix, added in with Sunseed Hedgie food.
He started by rejecting... no... more like "only snacking on" his food mix. Thinking he might want something else, I tried mealies. Which... he does not want. He has one... and then stops. (Mind you, he would WOLF them down, 2, 3, more if I'd let him and didn't watch it.  ) Okay, I think, serious stuff, let's offer him soft food, maybe something hurts. I tried fruit, I tried fruit mush for babies... he helps himself to a little bit. And that is all then.
Now he isn't underweight, and neither is a a butterball. But he used to eat more. He poops, he runs, he huffs angrily at me, because while he liks sleeping on me, we're not buddies. 
His drinking is fine.
I start to wonder if he got sick of the same old food or if he might have something else i should look out for.
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dzmeadows
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Re:Loss of appitite - 2008/01/20 20:30
Babies go through growth spurts where their food intake changes. SOmetimes it increases, sometimes it decreases.
A few questions... how old is he now? How much food is he eating in a 24 hour period? Are his poops normal?
Becca
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Ges, VA
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Re:Loss of appitite - 2008/01/20 21:00
Well, he was born last year in June. So I guess he is a big boy by now.
All the food offered is stuff he always ate; he loved banana wheb he was just 2 months old.
he used to ear about 3-4 tablespoons of food in the last months.
now its less then one spoons some days.
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HamorHollow
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Re:Loss of appitite - 2008/01/21 00:35
watch your temperature closely. This time of year, it is easy for a hedgehog to catch a chill. The symptoms you are describing (not eating so much, moody) sound like they could be signifying early 'hibernation'.
-K
Kelly Sosik-Hamor
Hamor Hollow Hedgehogs - a New Hampshire breeder, serving Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey and any where else hedgehogs are legal. |
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dzmeadows
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Re:Loss of appitite - 2008/01/21 05:38
One tablespoon of food a day is still in what I consider the acceptable range. I agree with Kelly, keep an eye on the temps just in case, and if you notice other symptoms such as wrong poos, weight loss, etc, it wouldn't be a bad idea to take him to the vet.
Hedgehogs don't eat the same amount every day, and hedgehogs that are done growing don't necessarily eat as much as growing babies. (Hoping this holds true with humans too, my 10 year old daughter eats like a HORSE!) I am glad that you are being observant and keeping an eye on him closely. Keep up the good work, and let us know if you notice anything else
Becca
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Ges, VA
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Re:Loss of appitite - 2008/01/21 17:41
Ah, but Becca, he is my little Knopfauge (button-eye), I wouldn't let him be ill!
Hibernation, he damned well better not! He holds out in the warmest room in the house. I guess I'll head out tomorrow and look for a warmer for him.
He still is active, I just took him off his wheel for a hot bath *ignores upset huffing from the towel in her lap* and everything else checks out.
Should I try to offer him other food?
Also, the food I offer him still is the food package Stasi gave me when I fetched him in August. Does dey cat food go stale maybe? I know I don't like stale pretzel sticks after all...
And Kelly: Knowing with him what is moody and what is normal is a tad difficult. While he LOVES to sleep on my chest (protesting loudly when I shift weight because it makes him roll off the boobies....  ) he really does not like being picked up. Once he is up and about he cools off.
Also not the most playful of hedgies. He likes his wheel.... and building nest in odd places; like UNDER the wheel 
Anyhow. Couch, snuggle time and maybe I can convince him to remember he used to bite my fingers in greed when offering mealies.
Thanks for helping me keep taps on him.
It is great to have you here. 
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Ges, VA
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Re:Loss of appitite - 2008/01/24 07:48
Well, watched him VERY closely the last few days. His weight seems okay, it goes up and down a few grams.
He uses his wheel, he snoozes; he snuggles. (Personal success: For the first time since I got him last august; he let me stroke his head!)
He seems fine. He just eats about a third of what he used to. 
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smhufflepuff
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Re:Loss of appitite - 2008/01/24 08:11
I noticed when Satin was about his age, she started eating less too. Not quite as dramatically as your little guy. I think she was just done growing longer and transitioned from a teenage "eat everything in the house" to a more moderated adult intake. Perhaps your little guy is doing the same?
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Ges, VA
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Re:Loss of appitite - 2008/01/25 09:15
smhufflepuff wrote:
I noticed when Satin was about his age, she started eating less too. Not quite as dramatically as your little guy. I think she was just done growing longer and transitioned from a teenage "eat everything in the house" to a more moderated adult intake. Perhaps your little guy is doing the same?
I hope that is indeed it.
I didn't notice this as strongly with Rats... then again, rats eat what the find usually. You never know where the next meal is, eh?
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