Massive quill loss, what's the worst you've seen?

[NoDivision]

So I went to check on Watson the other morning and was startled to find his cage absolutely littered with quills. I didn't count them, but it was more than I've ever seen him lose in a night, even when he was quilling. He's had dry skin for a little while (it has just been extremely dry here for months) but no sign of mites, so I'd been trying some flax seed oil and oatmeal baths. He was ocasionally loosing a quill here or there, but the massive quill loss was very sudden. I imediately stripped his cage, cleaned everything, put him on new fleece, and gave him a dose of revolution. He doesn't seem to have any bald or thin patches, and since the revolution dose his quill loss has slowed dramatically (and I have more revolution on the way for follow up).

So I feel like the situation is under control, but it just freaked me the heck out - I'd never seen anything like it! I guess I just want to know what other instances people have experienced with sudden, large scale quill loss. Is this... well not exactly 'normal' but is this something that happens occasionally? What's the highest number of lost quills you've found from a single hedgehog?

[Annabelle]

Anna's had skin issues on and off for a while...it seems to be seasonal? Dunno, tried everything (food, oil, SF, humidifier) and gone to see the vet. They don't even know. It was particularly bad this spring where at the worst point she probably had >50% of her quills . Then one day I noticed a bazillion little white things and realized they were ALL growing back in at once. A few weeks later she was basically normal again. As long as it doesn't look like a bug infestation and/or infection I think you're alright IMO

[crystalice]

After giving Oreo an oatmeal bath last week I counted 45 quills scattered around his cage the next morning. He was pretty ticked about the bath, but it seemed to help his temperament by the next day. Hope this helps.

[crystalice]

This last bath he lost 84 quills.

[wheeluh_boy]

in one lap session Leo lost somewhere between 50-60 because of mites. He's still losing some quills after Revolution, but nowhere near that amount. So it's progress! Hopefully in a few weeks he'll be back to his quilly self.

[wewerebound]

Eclair had a bad case of mites, that took us a good 6 months to resolve. She at one point was probably 75% bald. There are spots now, that have never had quills grown back since she was so damaged.

[Littlehogs]

Spike is about 2 years old now. His brother passed away in August from an autoimmune issue. Spike is losing quills now. The vet has him getting REV 1X every 10 days, but quill lose is still happeing (about 6-10 per day). He is growing a few new ones, but not alot. Any ideas? Mite do not seem the issue here. His skin is not dry and flaky, he is eating, playing, pooping well. Anyone had this issue before? Could it be emotional with the passing of Bandit?

[jdlover90]

On Quilly's vet visit today he lost 50 Quills. I think they were mainly caused from the stress with the vet and he was huffing and popping up alot for the whole time. His skin is really dry too and he will be getting an olive + flax seed oil bath in a little bit.

Besides that he loses probably about 10-12 quills a day just being handled and walking around. Wherever he sleeps usually 2-3 fall off in the morning from him rotating around.

[msredhead]

I had a major freak out tonight - Auri's (about 4 months old) cage was littered with quills. Took her out, changed and cleaned everything! I have never seen her lose more than 2-4 at a time. This time it had to have been around 60-70. She had a bath on Monday, but I don't know if that could be it. She had super dry skin from when she had her litter, so I wonder if it's residual? Ugh so scary!

[smhufflepuff]

Worst I've seen in person is documented here: viewtopic.php?f=5&t=1588#wrap