aislinsadia
User
| Posts: 509 |   |
|
Not drinking or eating... - 2007/05/11 09:17
I am a new hedgehog owner, so please excuse me if this is nothing to worry about...
Two days ago, we picked up our little girl Cotton from the breeder. However, since then she hasn't done much else but sleep. I know they are supposed to sleep a lot, and she plays on her wheel at night for at least an hour so far. But I am worried that she isn't eating or drinking. She was used to a water bottle, so I have both a bowl of water and a water bottle in her cage. Also, I am feeding her what the breeder had her on.
Is this normal? Should I be worried about her, or is she just still settling in? Could it be possible she doesn't know where the water bottle nozzle is? Is there anyway that I can encourage her to drink/eat?
Thanks for any help!
*~*Steph*~*
Cotton, Noodles & Cocoa (hedgehogs), Kuruku & Kimiko (kittehs), Sushi & Lily (Ryukin Goldfish), Rosy & Ruby (beagle sisters), and Archie & Rocky (African Dwarf Frogs). |
|
|
| | The administrator has disabled public write access. |
starnightstarsky2000
User
| Posts: 287 | |
|
Re:Not drinking or eating... - 2007/05/11 10:09
When I brought Addie home I thought she wasn't drinking either so I marked a line of where the water level was and saw the next morning that while she hadn't drunk a lot of water she had drunk some so you might want to try that. Also I always push up the ball in the water bottle a couple of times that way they can hear and smell the water and know where it is.
Dani Marshall Kansas
Lots Of Love Exotic Small Animal Kennel
"From Our Heart To Yours"
http://www.exotic-mammals.4t.com |
|
|
| | The administrator has disabled public write access. |
HamorHollow
Admin
| Posts: 2180 | |
|
Re:Not drinking or eating... - 2007/05/11 10:31
They tend to eat and drink very small amounts in the beginng. If your hedgie is a baby, also remember that it has a very small stomach.
If you see poop in the cage, then the hedgehog is eating. Output = input.
-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. |
Do you want to buy a baby Hedgehog? Please fill out out questionnaire. |
Hedgehog World - A Community for African Pygmy Hedgehog Owners and Breeders
Join us for Hedgehog Fest 2008
|
|
|
| | The administrator has disabled public write access. |
aislinsadia
User
| Posts: 509 | |
|
Re:Not drinking or eating... - 2007/05/12 06:22
Very small amounts meaning like a piece or two of kibble and a few licks of water?
I am glad she is finally taking to this! Too bad I bought a water bottle... She seems to like the water bowl instead :-P
*~*Steph*~*
Cotton, Noodles & Cocoa (hedgehogs), Kuruku & Kimiko (kittehs), Sushi & Lily (Ryukin Goldfish), Rosy & Ruby (beagle sisters), and Archie & Rocky (African Dwarf Frogs). |
|
|
| | The administrator has disabled public write access. |
CThogs
Admin
| Posts: 1574 | |
|
Re:Not drinking or eating... - 2007/05/12 06:47
How old is your hedgie? Their stomachs are very small. Think the size of a grape. If you hear her crunching food, see her drinking, see poop in the cage or on the wheel, then I would not worry too much. She may be doing most of her eating and drinking at night when you are asleep.
I would keep both the dish and the bottle in the cage. They can knock over water dishes so if you have a bottle in there you know she always will have water. At least until you have had her a while longer and are sure she is not going to knock the water over. If they are not getting enough water, they will eat less.
If you feel she is not eating you could break up her kibble into smaller pieces with a food chopper or coffee grinder. Just a little-you still want some bigger pieces in there.
Ann
Connecticut Hedgehogs
We had a great time at Hedgehog Fest 2008!!! |
|
|
| | The administrator has disabled public write access. |
aislinsadia
User
| Posts: 509 | |
|
Re:Not drinking or eating... - 2007/05/14 13:59
Hey guys, thank you for the advice! She is finally taking to her food and water again, and she was born on 4/6/07. I don't expect her to eat a lot, but she finished her kibble last night, I was so proud of her! It seemed maybe the initial shock of moving and being in a new place put her on edge for awhile and she wasn't eating or drinking. I have a low, sturdy ceramic water bowl in there for her, and she isn't knocking it over so I don't think there's anything to worry about? However, I want her to take to the water bottle, but as long as the bowl is in there I don't think she'll notice it :-P
*~*Steph*~*
Cotton, Noodles & Cocoa (hedgehogs), Kuruku & Kimiko (kittehs), Sushi & Lily (Ryukin Goldfish), Rosy & Ruby (beagle sisters), and Archie & Rocky (African Dwarf Frogs). |
|
|
| | The administrator has disabled public write access. |
dzmeadows
Admin
| Posts: 1000 | |
|
Re:Not drinking or eating... - 2007/05/14 17:52
If my math is correct, that means your baby is barely 5 weeks old. If so, no WONDER she isn't eating super well. At that age, babies are normally still nursing from their mothers to some extent. The mom is probably starting to wean them off, but they usually are still with the mom for comfort and some nursing for another few days.
She will probably be ok, but her eating and drinking will be very small quantities very frequently for a while probably. I would suggest going with Ann's advice of grinding the kibble with a coffee grinder, I bet she will enjoy it much more.
Becca
|
|
|
| | The administrator has disabled public write access. |
aislinsadia
User
| Posts: 509 | |
|
Re:Not drinking or eating... - 2007/05/15 08:41
Oops, I am so sorry! I wrote 4/6/07 instead of 3/6/07 
Post edited by: aislinsadia, at: 2007/05/15 08:44
*~*Steph*~*
Cotton, Noodles & Cocoa (hedgehogs), Kuruku & Kimiko (kittehs), Sushi & Lily (Ryukin Goldfish), Rosy & Ruby (beagle sisters), and Archie & Rocky (African Dwarf Frogs). |
|
|
| | The administrator has disabled public write access. |
Stasi
Admin
| Posts: 650 | |
|
Re:Not drinking or eating... - 2007/05/15 09:00
Whew! Glad to hear it was just a typo! -- and of course that your baby is eating again!
Stasi
Terrapin Hedgehogs
Joppa, MD
www.terrapinhedgehogs.com
|
|
|
| | The administrator has disabled public write access. |
|
Hedgehog Forums 