Gidget Lover
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Please help! - 2007/12/20 13:16
I've had my hedgehog for about six weeks now. She is now about 8 months old. I bought her from a home where she was teased and poked a lot by a three year old. Never hurt, but taunted. Anyhow, I have worked with her every day and she still will not come out of her ball for me. Every now and then she will poke her nose out to sniff but then she lunges her spikes at me to poke me. She is also biting. Even when she just hears my voice she starts huffing. My family and I have been very patient with her but now I am the only one willing to spend time with her. Am I doing something wrong? Will she ever be a friendly pet?
Also, when I got her, her waste didn't smell much. Now that I changed her diet to cat food the cage smells terrible within two days of total cleaning. It seemed to start when I changed her diet and added a wheel. So I took out the wheel for a while and that actually helped a lot. However, now she is gaining a lot of weight. My local stores don't carry Chicken Soup for the Cat Lover's Soul or the other popular favorites so I bought Blue Spa Select Lite and Purina One Natural Blends Adult Cat. Both are chicken flavored and both have the right ingredients according to my research. What can I do about the smell? And how much should I be feeding her?
Gidget is a cute little hedgehog but my family said if the smell and behavior keeps up she may have to go. Please help me.
Thanks,
Liz
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zorra578
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Re:Please help! - 2007/12/20 13:49
Since she is a rehome it will probably take a lot more than 6 weeks to get her used to you. Try giving her a mealworm every once in a while when you take her out to let her associate you with something good.
As for the smell, DO NOT TAKE AWAY THE WHEEL, I'm sorry, it may smell because they poop all over it, but a wheel is essential to a hedgehogs life. It comes second in importance to food, lol. Your shavings might not be absorbent enough. Try Carefresh or a smaller chunk size of whatever wood shavings you are using. I used to use Aspen shavings that were very large pieces and didn't absorb very well, my mom complained about the stink a lot. Now I use small chunk and it doesn't stink much at all, I can even hide the cage in my dorm room without the cleaning ladies suspecting anything.  Also make sure to change the shavings once a week to cut down on smells. Since hedgehog poop is large you can probably spot clean every day or so because it is easy to find. The good thing about a wheel is that usually most of the poop and pee ends up in the wheel and under it, making spot cleaning easy. Also, clean that wheel every day. I can almost guarantee smells will go down.
Also if your whole family is concerned about her behavior, then it sounds like you aren't the only one interacting with her. You may be doing all the right things to socialize her, but the rest of your family may be poking and prodding her like her first home. I know how this is, I've told my mom so many times not to touch Quentin's visor quills because it makes him puff, but she still insists on touching them cuz thats where she pets our dog. Try putting some pieces of fabric that have all your smells on it like a t-shirt or piece of blanket in her igloo or hidey place.
Post edited by: zorra578, at: 2007/12/20 13:51
Jessica
Des Plaines, IL
My critter list: Dilbert (welsh terrier), Bowser R.I.P. (betta fish), Quentin (hedgehog). |
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Julie Pierce
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Re:Please help! - 2007/12/20 19:11
Everything with a rescue hedgehog has to be gradual from changing the food to socialization. An abrupt change in food can cause intestinal problems resulting in runny poops and other problems. A gradual introduction of new food with the old food (75% old, 25% new, 50% 50%, 25% 75%) is the way to go. I would definitely give her time to settle with the diet and I would be surprised if the smell didnt improve once her body is used to the change.
The wheel is a good thing for her. It does get yucky and smelly and DOES require DAILY cleaning. An easy fix for quick clean ups is either to spray the wheel with cooking spray so you can easily wipe out the waste or line the wheel with maxi thins (yes maxi thins). You can replace them daily and wont need to scrub the wheel itself.
As for the behavior, over time you will probably see an improvement but it will be gradual and she may never be overly friendly. Its the whole nature vs nurture debate but in reality they all do have varying levels of tolerance for interaction and some never become overly friendly.
You will need to decide if she is a pet you are willing to accept/keep the way she is or if she needs to be rehomed. If you do seek to rehome her, please find someone who has owned hedgehogs in the past and is experienced with difficult cases. I am sure you will be able to find a wonderful home for her with someone on HEDGEHOGWORLD.
Julie Pierce
Pierce's Pogs
http://www.piercespogs.com |
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mschwindt
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Re:Please help! - 2007/12/20 22:54
I've only had Kiki for a week and a half so please remember that when reading this. I decided to skip shavings all together and invested in vellux blankets. After a week on the vellux there was virtually no smell. I changed her liner because it was a week, and it should be changed once a week. Before i place a liner in her cage I sleep on it for a few days. Virtually everything in Kiki's cage has been in my bed for a night or two. The result is my hedgie will jump at being picked up, but when blaced on the couch she will run strait for me and go burrowing into my clothes, curl up, and fall asleep on me. She's a lot younger and doesn't have a negative history but I still think it helps.
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harpgrrl
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Re:Please help! Rescued Experience - 2007/12/30 14:00
Don't get discouraged!
My hog is a rescue as well...I have have stinky Mr. Snout for about 6 months. Here is the process. Having the things that smell like you in the cage is a wonderful suggestion too!
1. I would stick my hand very near him and wait for him to stop huffing and sniff me. I would do this about 4-7 times a day.
2. pick him up using a blanket or sock 2-3 times a day and then put him back.
3. once a day I would pick him up and place him in the bathroom (easy clean up! My guy poos all over the place). I sit in the middle and make the happy hedgy noise to him. Hogs are curious and eventually he would come out and look around.
I know it sounds like a job-I work 60-80 hours a week giging and with a small part time and I know how busy people get. The reward is amazing! Now when I pick him up he still objects with the sound of the huff huff, but his head is out and he is squirming to out out and play. A couple of times I have even received the hog cuddle.
Hang it there!!! 
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HamorHollow
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Re:Please help! Rescued Experience - 2007/12/30 21:10
There are some great articles over in our 'articles' section that have lots of tips and tricks to help you work with a tough hedgie. In the men time, here are a few additional tips:
Move his cage to a quiet, low traffic area and make sure he has something to hide in/ under.
Dim the lights and turn down the noise when you play with him.
Your mix is kind of rich and is probably part of the reason for the weight gain (the other is the wheel, he needs it and having it available will help keep him happier). Add some Purina Kitten chow.
His poop is smelly because of the change in diet. If he was eating 'hedgehog food' before, he probably wasn't getting enough nutrition. Now his body has to adjust to the additional nutrients. If you think he's smelly, never ever get a dog!
Keep at it. Working with a rescue hedgehog can be very time consuming and is not easy work.
Kelly
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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Gidget Lover
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Re:Please help! Rescued Experience - 2008/01/03 20:48
Thank you so much everyone! I am going to try some of the ideas you have given me and see what happens. I'll update and let you know the results. Thanks again!
Liz
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