Old Hedge Hog.

[Lycoris]

So I know hedge hogs grow old and pass away, some before their prime.
And everyone goes on about how you cant tell how old your hedge hog is. But those are usually new owners wanting to know. I'm wondering if you can tell by any kind of old age signs, all creatures have them so what are hedge hogs?

do they get lighter colored quills or lose them/fur like we do when we age, getting gray hairs and balding?

slugishness, sore joints, etc.? theres gota be a list of something some where, right?

[pooka dotted]

Some will get sore joints, some will get tattered ears. Young ones go through quilling. Maybe teeth? since they don't get another set after their adult ones.. I've heard stories of young hedgies like 3 getting sore joints, and ones as old as 6 not looking a day past 6 months. So i'm not sure, since EVERY hedgehog can get any joint problem at any age, and some never ever have problems.

[Lycoris]

Well I'm starting to wonder if my hedgy is reaching close to his fourth year, cause he has almost total balding on his behind with only a few new quills and hes been treated for mites countless times. so im starting to wonder if its age. cause im pretty sure his butt was pretty bare when i got him. and it hasnt really seemed to have changed over the last 8 months

[CoxMD]

Hedgies naturally have a pink bum right around their tail which we only see when we're lucky. Could this be what you're seeing?

[Quilled1]

Originally Posted by CoxMD

Hedgies naturally have a pink bum right around their tail which we only see when we're lucky. Could this be what you're seeing?

Sorry to interject, but I get to see my hedgie's cute lil tail all the time. Is that a bad thing or am I just that lucky? Could it be...overweightness??? She seems to be normal in every way (including weight) but...

[CoxMD]

(I think it depends on their personality.)