Losing quills, not mites

[Hedgiegirljenna]

I've done a lot of research and can't find any answers to what I need. So for the past few months, my little girl has been losing quills. I know it isn't mites because I've dealt with that before. Her skin is very dry, and a lot of the quills she loses seem to have a chunk of dry skin on the end. I also don't see any quills growing back. Her behaviour isn't any different, she is eating and drinking normal, running on her wheel, etc., where before when she was quilling she was extremely grumpy and acting odd. I'd say she's close to a year old, I got her at the end of last summer and I think she was just old enough to leave her mother when I got her. The only things I have done different in the past few months is switched her from a cage to a tote, and I also started using fleece instead of carefresh (although I'm not sure if the quill loss started before this or not, as I wasn't able to see any quills in her bedding). I've searched high and low and haven't been able to find any answers to my exact problem, please please help!

[twobytwopets]

Generally quill loss is caused by quilling, mites, bacterial infection, fungal infection or stress/ recovery from stress.

With stress, we would expect to see some other signs. Change in behavior, digestive issues things like that.

With bacterial and fungal infections sometimes the only sign is the quill loss.

And with mites, usually there is the crazy itchiness.

What can you treat at home within reason? Stress, if you can identify a source you can deal with it. Mites, bacterial or fungal infections need to be evaluated and treated by a vet.