How do you clean debris from quills? - 2006/12/12 23:34Poe sometimes gets debris in his quills. I'm not exactly sure what it is.. I assume that it might be bits of food or maybe even poo from running on his wheel :/
Anyway, I have a hard time getting these bits off of him. I use a soft tootbrush on his feet when I give him footbaths, and I've tried using this to brush debris from his quills. I've also tried splashing water on him. Neither approach really works, and of course he hates it when anything touches his quills.
Does anyone else have this problem? Have you found a solution?
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TCSKelly
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Re:How do you clean debris from quills? - 2006/12/13 01:12I put mine in the bath and then brush their quills with a toothbrush. Usually works ok with me, but mine all unroll when they hit the water. I've heard of 'hogs balling and such underwater, so that could complicate matters. I guess that doesn't really help you too much.
Kelly B. The Critter Shack BABIES AVAILABLE NOW IN THE CHICAGOLAND AREA! 815-354-1361-Kelly The Critter Shack www.tcshedgehogs.blogspot.com
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CThogs
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Re:How do you clean debris from quills? - 2006/12/13 23:06If a regular size toothbrush does not work they also sell "end-tufted" brushes which have a smaller brush.Ann
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herbiesmom
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Re:How do you clean debris from quills? - 2006/12/14 03:31I put a little aveeno oatmeal baby bath right on the toothbrush and scrub Snow (albino). He really gets dirty because he mostly poops on the wheel. Herbie uses his litter box most of the time so is not as bad as Snow.Cyn and Hedgie Boys
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clutterbuster
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Re:How do you clean debris from quills? - 2007/10/04 22:18Max has a huge clump of benebac STUCK ON HIS HEAD just above his eyebrow. He must have spit it up (something he had been doing with his other medicine). Now he really has a mohawk... it's dried and hard and I've been soaking it with a washcloth trying to get it to loosen so it can be combed... no success... I just put some canola oil on it and will let it sit overnight. If that doesn't soften it, does anyone else have any suggestions (peanut butter works on people's hair for gum, should I try this?). It's just above his eye so I have to be careful what I put there and how hard I scrub.
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smhufflepuff
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Re:How do you clean debris from quills? - 2007/10/05 07:36Agreed that getting something stuck in the visor quills is really tricky. Satin was a bit huffy last time she had sweet potato and her quills have dried-on orange that is just not coming off. I could get it of her sides and back during bathtime with a toothbrush, but there was just no getting to her visor quills
Hmmm... just thought: Maybe a dampened q-tip would both soften and remove Max's benebac & Satin's potato?? Anyone tried this? Or any other ideas?
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clutterbuster
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Re:How do you clean debris from quills? - 2007/10/05 09:38Max is not huffing, and he's been really good through my attempts. I put him in his favorite clam cozy and get a good grip on him and he holds still, tries to duck his head but eventually gives up. I've loosened a few quills from the mass, will keep working the canola oil. I use a toothbrush during bathtime on the overall quills, but I'm using a man's black two-sided fine tooth comb to try and work this mass loose - rakes a little better with solid stuff using the bigger teeth. We're making progress. The cu-tip would only spot apply it, that is why I was holding a washcloth to the head to soak it loose before I rubbed the oil in. I like your phrase 'visor quills', and it is trickier here for we don't want to get anything into their eyes. thanks for your suggestion.
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HamorHollow
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Re:How do you clean debris from quills? - 2007/10/05 12:18Just let Max swim around in some warm water for awhile. Keep dumping water over his quills and eventually the goo will loosen and allow you to get it off. You can use some mild soap or baby shampoo too.
-KKelly 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. | Do you want to buy a baby Hedgehog? Please fill out out questionnaire. | Hedgehog World - A Community for African Pygmy Hedgehog Owners and Breeders
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smhufflepuff
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Re:How do you clean debris from quills? - 2007/10/05 14:27Dumping water works great on the back or sides, but what about the visor quills? I worry about getting water in ears and eyes.
Clearly, we need someone to make hedgie goggles with ear-flaps.
Post edited by: smhufflepuff, at: 2007/10/05 14:27
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HamorHollow
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Re:How do you clean debris from quills? - 2007/10/05 15:09It's ok to get their faces and ears wet. It is not ok to hold them under water until the debris comes off.
But seriously, I've never been particularly careful to not get water in the ears and I have never had a problem. At some point, someone decided that hedgehogs were fragile critters, they are not.
-KKelly 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. | Do you want to buy a baby Hedgehog? Please fill out out questionnaire. | Hedgehog World - A Community for African Pygmy Hedgehog Owners and Breeders
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smhufflepuff
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Re:How do you clean debris from quills? - 2007/10/05 15:14HamorHollow wrote: It's ok to get their faces and ears wet. It is not ok to hold them under water until the debris comes off.
Hahaha!
Okay, I'll get a little more "aggressive" with the cleaning while staying away from the drowning.
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Hedgehog Forums 
So I guess that I'm on the right track!
