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Misscob · 03-05-2017, 02:25 AM

I got my boy when he was 6 weeks old. The following started at 4 months of age. My baby is almost 5 Months old. I had him on a cedar bed which is what the breeder used and recommended. I now know how bad that is. He is now on a fleece liner. My problem is that he is losing so many quills. He is getting bald on his back side. I have researched and do not believe it is mites. No signs of moving white things and he does not scratch at all.
He had dry flaky skin all over with some yellow dry crust and the quills that he was loosing had the "balls" on them. After speaking to other breeders, we decided it was due to the fact that he was on cedar and had severe dry skin. I got a humidifier and some flaxseed oil. Well, the dry skin has cleared up and his skin is beautiful....but....the quill loss continues and I fear soon I will have a bald hedggie. I know he should be quilling but I don't see a lot of new growth.
He is a "chill" hedgie and just wants to cuddle when I spend time with him. He is eating fine, pooping/peeing fine, and loves his wheel. Also loves to stay toasty warm.
Any ideas on what this could be?

**Lilysmommy** · 03-05-2017, 03:04 AM

Yikes, that is really concerning that the breeder uses & recommends cedar...Have you contacted them to let them know how bad that is?

Time to head to the vet for the quill loss. It'd be worth treating for mites despite the lack of scratching, just to rule that out. You'll also want to have the vet get a skin scraping to check for fungal & bacterial infections in the skin.

Artemis-Ichiro · 03-05-2017, 01:23 PM

Adding to what Lily said, revolution is the right treatment for mites, ivermectin is toxic to hedgies.

Poppy_the_hedgie · 03-05-2017, 01:47 PM

Adding on to what Lily and Artemis said

, stop using the flaxseed oil for now. If it is a fungal or bacterial infection the oil will make it worse.
Also, can you post a picture please?

Misscob · 03-05-2017, 02:37 PM

How do you post a picture on this thread? I didn't see anywhere that it was available

Poppy_the_hedgie · 03-05-2017, 02:43 PM

In the top right corner, while you are writing a new post, you will see a paper clip. Click on that and add a picture.

Misscob · 03-05-2017, 10:40 PM

The pics

Poppy_the_hedgie · 03-05-2017, 11:15 PM

It doesn't look like the quill loss is that bad but the skin is very dry. Have her treated with Revolution just in case.

Misscob · 03-06-2017, 03:38 PM

These are the befor pics. When all of this first started. Huge difference from prior to now. Skin is much better.

Misscob · 03-07-2017, 02:57 PM

I just got back from the vet with my baby. Based on the quill loss, we are suspecting mites. He was given an injection of IV, which I know I have seen on this page many people have said not to do. This vet was a hedgehog veterinarian. He said he has never seen a death caused by this injection and that this injection works better than the topical medication of Revolution. So I went ahead and let him give her the injection. I have to go back two more times in the next month for two more injections.

I was also told the cat food does not meet the nutritional requirements for a hedgehog. They are insectivores and they need an insectivore diet. The cat food makes them overweight and causes them to have heart attacks. It was recommended to use Mazuri insectivore diet.

03-05-2017, 02:25 AM	#1 (permalink)
Misscob Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Posts: 6	What is wrong? I got my boy when he was 6 weeks old. The following started at 4 months of age. My baby is almost 5 Months old. I had him on a cedar bed which is what the breeder used and recommended. I now know how bad that is. He is now on a fleece liner. My problem is that he is losing so many quills. He is getting bald on his back side. I have researched and do not believe it is mites. No signs of moving white things and he does not scratch at all. He had dry flaky skin all over with some yellow dry crust and the quills that he was loosing had the "balls" on them. After speaking to other breeders, we decided it was due to the fact that he was on cedar and had severe dry skin. I got a humidifier and some flaxseed oil. Well, the dry skin has cleared up and his skin is beautiful....but....the quill loss continues and I fear soon I will have a bald hedggie. I know he should be quilling but I don't see a lot of new growth. He is a "chill" hedgie and just wants to cuddle when I spend time with him. He is eating fine, pooping/peeing fine, and loves his wheel. Also loves to stay toasty warm. Any ideas on what this could be?

03-05-2017, 03:04 AM	#2 (permalink)
Lilysmommy Super Moderator Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Kansas City Posts: 11,963	Yikes, that is really concerning that the breeder uses & recommends cedar...Have you contacted them to let them know how bad that is? Time to head to the vet for the quill loss. It'd be worth treating for mites despite the lack of scratching, just to rule that out. You'll also want to have the vet get a skin scraping to check for fungal & bacterial infections in the skin. nikki likes this. __________________ *~~~ Kelsey ~~~* RIP my sweet Lily ~ 6/12/08 - 1/20/12

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03-05-2017, 01:23 PM	#3 (permalink)
Artemis-Ichiro Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Posts: 1,338	Adding to what Lily said, revolution is the right treatment for mites, ivermectin is toxic to hedgies.

03-05-2017, 01:47 PM	#4 (permalink)
Poppy_the_hedgie Member Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Sparks, Nevada. Posts: 402	Adding on to what Lily and Artemis said , stop using the flaxseed oil for now. If it is a fungal or bacterial infection the oil will make it worse. Also, can you post a picture please?

03-05-2017, 02:37 PM	#5 (permalink)
Misscob Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Posts: 6	How do you post a picture on this thread? I didn't see anywhere that it was available

03-05-2017, 02:43 PM	#6 (permalink)
Poppy_the_hedgie Member Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Sparks, Nevada. Posts: 402	In the top right corner, while you are writing a new post, you will see a paper clip. Click on that and add a picture.

03-05-2017, 11:15 PM	#8 (permalink)
Poppy_the_hedgie Member Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Sparks, Nevada. Posts: 402	It doesn't look like the quill loss is that bad but the skin is very dry. Have her treated with Revolution just in case.

03-07-2017, 02:57 PM	#10 (permalink)
Misscob Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Posts: 6	I just got back from the vet with my baby. Based on the quill loss, we are suspecting mites. He was given an injection of IV, which I know I have seen on this page many people have said not to do. This vet was a hedgehog veterinarian. He said he has never seen a death caused by this injection and that this injection works better than the topical medication of Revolution. So I went ahead and let him give her the injection. I have to go back two more times in the next month for two more injections. I was also told the cat food does not meet the nutritional requirements for a hedgehog. They are insectivores and they need an insectivore diet. The cat food makes them overweight and causes them to have heart attacks. It was recommended to use Mazuri insectivore diet.

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