Andrea
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Tomorrow (Tuesday) is the big day! - 2008/04/07 15:26
I have scheduled Spikey's first appointment with the vet tomorrow at 2:30pm. This is a big vet practice that has a whole sub speciality in "exotics" and they specifically list hedgehog in their list of animals they treat. The receptionist was very nice and I explained that this was a first well-pet visit but that I also had some questions/concerns about one particular issue.
Later that morning I spoke to Stasi about some things I have observed in Spikey of late. For the past 2 weeks he has been really tearing up his cage by morning time. My husband reports every morning "another tornado went through last night". Meaning, the hedgie bag is on the other side of the cage, toilet paper rolls are all over, ball is in food dish (but food has been eaten so that is ok), spikey is curled up under carefresh mountain. I know this is not a crises and heck, I am glad he is active and vigorous, but his pooping seems off, too (i.e. he is no longer going in one spot and he seems to be pooping a bit less than early on). I also found a little poop on one tp tube and also on one ball--so his rump seems to be all over the place. But I have not seen him straining to poop when I have had him out, he seems very happy and relaxed (even stretching out in a long 'hedgie splat' (something new I learned from Stasi today) posture, he is curious and active when I play with him in the mornings, and he is eating. So I will have the vet check him to make sure there is no constipation problems.
On Saturday my sister and her husband and two small children came over and her husband held Spikey with no problems and Spikey looked so cute in his hands. To me, he has an expressive face. Her husband wanted to be a vet and grew up on a farm so he loves and is comfortable with animals. So I am hoping tomorrow at the vet things go smoothly. I am bringing a few items from home (i.e. the two small blankets I put over the carpet when Spikey explores on the floor) to hopefully make things a bit more comfortable and familiar. The receptionist did say that sometimes they have to use a little gas if the hedgie does not coorporate--well, I hope that is not the case with Spikey. Stasi gave me some excellent coaching today on the phone on staying relaxed and being confident in Spikey. I am really going to push "lets try this without the gas" and I am not going to let the vet rush to the gas without an honest effort on our part to examine him sans gas.
Wish us luck!!!
Andrea
PS--I bought Spikey a silent spinner wheel this morning. Stasi said that will help with channeling the energy. Spikey and I are now doing great in terms of my ability to handle him so if he does get poopy feet (I may do the mini pads at some point), I think I will be able to handle it.
This forum has been a tremendous help and I love the support and encouragement from everybody. And Stasi has been a TOTAL ANGEL.
Hedgies ROCK.
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