red inflamed forehead *please help*

[FaunaQT]

So when my fiance was cleaning out Lunita's cage, he noticed that she had vomited on her wheel while she was running. It was a medium shade of green. Then, when he went to go pick her up, her forehead was bright red and swollen. She has been acting normal, eating, drinking, normal hedgie stuff. I think she threw up because of an allergic reaction.

I haven't changed anything except i cleaned her sleeping bag with arm&hammer allergy free, scent free etc. detergent. I think she is having an allergic reaction. Please help!!!! It looks so painful!

If it is an allergic reaction, i just gave her a full body rinse with oatmeal.

[AngelaH]

Poor girl Sounds like an oatmeal rinse is the right thing to try. I use that same detergent without problems, but I guess they are all so different. Someone else on here was having problems and suspected what they used to clean off the wheel. I know people can develope allergies to things that never were problems before, could be the same in hedgies. Keep an eye on it and if it doesn't improve, looks worse, or is really bothering her, I'd take her to a vet.

[Nancy]

By chance does she have a quill bent over and sticking into her head or an ear? My Peaches had that happen one time and it looked just like her forehead was swollen. If not, check for any redder spots around a quill that might indicate an ingrown quill.

An allergic reaction would be unlikely to only appear on her forehead. Usually if it's to bedding, it appears on their side, legs or belly. Arm & Hammer laundry detergent used to trigger my asthma.

[FaunaQT]

I will have to give her a quick look over to see if I see an ingrown quill.If not, is there anything I can giver her topically? Seeing it so swollen made me so sad, and I would do anything to alleviate that. (I have never seen anyone suggesting hydrocortisone or anything like that)