Losing Quills

[Shieldmaiden777]

Hi. My hedgehog Winston has been losing quills. There are now large bald patches. 3 weeks ago he had a major infection and was on oral antibiotics for a week. This caused significant stress, and I attributed the quill loss to the infection. However, the infection has cleared up the quill loss has continued.

What are your thoughts? Also, I am 300 miles or more from an exotic vet.

[Pixel101]

You should buy revolution it sounds like mites you should go to a vet to get it but some pet stores might sell it. But if you do it yourself he careful, if you do go to a vet which is the most recommended don't let the vet give you hedgehog intervectim which is poison to hedgehogs no matter what the vet says get revolution.

[Helenkathehedgehog]

If you hedgehog is young it is normal for him or her to loose quills how old is he/she?

[nikki]

Helenkathehedgehog, please be careful about giving advice as such a new owner, especially with possible health issues.


Bald patches are never normal and you need to go back to the vet. It doesn't have to be an exotic vet the vet you got the antibiotics from would be fine to see. Sometimes antibiotics can upset the natural bacteria balance on the skin and this can allow yeast or fungal infections to bloom. This needs to be treated by a vet.

[Shieldmaiden777]

Thanks, all. I just moved 10000 miles away from my old vet, but there is one in town that treats small animals. I'll go and check with them. Winston is 7 months, so he should be done quilling I think. He didn't get bald patches like this when he quilled. I'll try to get him in early this next week.