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#1 (permalink) |
Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 1
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Hi, this is my first post here, and I just wanted some advice about lifespan and old age. I believe my hedgie is over 4 years old now, (havnt got exact age) and i cant help but worry and trick myself into thinking something is wrong. Am i right in thinking 4 is quite old for a hedgie? He is still eating the dried cat food and nightly mealworms and he still runs on his wheel every night. Are there any signs i should look for? I cant help but be nervous and expect the worse. I'm also going to give him an aveeno oil bath tomorrow as he has gotten a bit dirty
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#3 (permalink) |
Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Texas
Posts: 764
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4- 7 years is the average
__________________
![]() Primrose became a part of my family on September 5th, 2012. ![]() ![]() Ivy became a part of my family on May 1st, 2013. ![]() Check out mine Prim's, and Ivy's Instagram ![]() |
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#4 (permalink) |
Hooked on Hogs
![]() Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Kingston, Ontario
Posts: 8,950
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3-5 is the average lifespan. There are some very rare ones that live to be 9 or 10 but they are rare. Most of the ones that have passed on here have been 4, some at 5 and a couple 6. I have a 6 year old boy right now and he is doing okay. Had a scare with him last week when he quit eating but he'es back to eating now.
What him eat and keep track of his food intake. As they age their jaws can become weaker and tooth issues can happen. If you notice he is not eating as much, you can dampen his kibble, break it into smaller pieces or give him canned food. When jaw or tooth issues start often they will chew on the mealies but then spit them out. As they age, they often require warmer temperatures so if you notice him not being as active, try increasing the cage temperature a couple of degrees. Some people start giving them a pinch of glucosamine on their food after age 3 to help with any arthritis they may be developing. Keeping track of his weight is also a good idea as weight loss is often the first sign of something going on. Cataracts are also common as they age. ![]()
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* * * Nancy * * * Retired from breeding Rescue contact for both the Hedgehog Welfare Society and the IHA Rescued over 70 (and counting) hedgehogs needing a new home http://freewebs.com/thehedgieden/ |
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