[angel47]

Apologies if this is a silly question but can hedgies have allergic reactions to laundry detergent?

My Hoggle has some redness irritation on her belly and sides, been to the vet several times about it and due to go back to vet end of this week.

She's had antibiotics and an anti-inflamitory but it's made no difference, her skin still very red so wondering if it's maybe something as simple as needing to switch my laundry detergent.

Any advice is appreciated

 

[MaterialGworl]

Apologies if this is a silly question but can hedgies have allergic reactions to laundry detergent?

My Hoggle has some redness irritation on her belly and sides, been to the vet several times about it and due to go back to vet end of this week.

She's had antibiotics and an anti-inflamitory but it's made no difference, her skin still very red so wondering if it's maybe something as simple as needing to switch my laundry detergent.

Any advice is appreciated

I don't see why they couldn't be allergic to things. I initially thought my hedgie's mites were an allergic reaction because she started scratching her face til it turned red and eventually crusty 😭. The vet gave me Terramycin ointment and it cleared up the redness, itchiness, and and crustiness within a couple of days. It's meant for eye infections, but it worked on my hedgie's skin. You could try it. It's available to buy on Amazon without prescription for like $23. Non scented detergent could help too. 😁

 

[angel47]

I don't see why they couldn't be allergic to things. I initially thought my hedgie's mites were an allergic reaction because she started scratching her face til it turned red and eventually crusty 😭. The vet gave me Terramycin ointment and it cleared up the redness, itchiness, and and crustiness within a couple of days. It's meant for eye infections, but it worked on my hedgie's skin. You could try it. It's available to buy on Amazon without prescription for like $23. Non scented detergent could help too. 😁

She's been treated for mites, just in case that's what caused the redness but the redness is still there and as she's still eating well and still seeking lots of cuddles from me (she absolutely loves her cuddles), I'm now wondering if it's allergy
I've ordered the Terramycin from Amazon, how much should I use on her?

How is your hedgie doing?

 

[MaterialGworl]

She's been treated for mites, just in case that's what caused the redness but the redness is still there and as she's still eating well and still seeking lots of cuddles from me (she absolutely loves her cuddles), I'm now wondering if it's allergy
I've ordered the Terramycin from Amazon, how much should I use on her?

How is your hedgie doing?

Put enough to coat the end of a q-tip and put a thin layer on her skin twice a day.

She's actually awake right now running on her wheel 😂. She's improving more and more everyday. Doing great! How is your hedgie doing? Has she been more active?

 

[angel47]

Put enough to coat the end of a q-tip and put a thin layer on her skin twice a day.

She's actually awake right now running on her wheel 😂. She's improving more and more everyday. Doing great! How is your hedgie doing? Has she been more active?

There's no change with my hedgie, she's still waking up to eat then go back to bed and shes still not running in her wheel. She's also not been doing the toilet in her toilet area, she's been going toilet on me instead.

We have another vet visit due this weekend.

 

[MaterialGworl]

There's no change with my hedgie, she's still waking up to eat then go back to bed and shes still not running in her wheel. She's also not been doing the toilet in her toilet area, she's been going toilet on me instead.

We have another vet visit due this weekend.

I'm sorry to hear that. I wonder if your vet will want to further investigate. Like get a blood sample or an xray or something like that.

 

[angel47]

I'm sorry to hear that. I wonder if your vet will want to further investigate. Like get a blood sample or an xray or something like that.

I don't know but it's certainly something I'll push for, anything to get Hoggle well.

Just washed all her bedding (except the bedding she's asleep in right now) with fairy non bio to see if that will make a difference

 

[MaterialGworl]

I don't know but it's certainly something I'll push for, anything to get Hoggle well.

Just washed all her bedding (except the bedding she's asleep in right now) with fairy non bio to see if that will make a difference

Did the vet do a skin scrape or a stool/urine sample?

 

[angel47]

Did the vet do a skin scrape or a stool/urine sample?

No, she just gave her anaesthetic and looked her over (then of course, charged me almost £200 just for that, while scaring the **** out of me with talks of cancer smh)

 

[MaterialGworl]

No, she just gave her anaesthetic and looked her over (then of course, charged me almost £200 just for that, while scaring the **** out of me with talks of cancer smh)

Oh wow. For that price, the least she could have done was a skin scrape if she had suspicions of a skin issue. Bare minimum, she could have gotten some kind of sample to narrow down a real diagnosis.

 

[angel47]

Oh wow. For that price, the least she could have done was a skin scrape if she had suspicions of a skin issue. Bare minimum, she could have gotten some kind of sample to narrow down a real diagnosis.

I'm gonna look for a new vet as seems they only care for getting as much money from you as possible when it should be about the animal

 

[MaterialGworl]

I'm gonna look for a new vet as seems they only care for getting as much money from you as possible when it should be about the animal

Let me know if the terramycin helps when you get it! It's Day 4 and like 90% of my hedgie's skin irritation is already gone.

 

[angel47]

Let me know if the terramycin helps when you get it! It's Day 4 and like 90% of my hedgie's skin irritation is already gone.

Ok will do, it should arrive today.

I emailed and called several vets yesterday but a lot of them said they don't do exotics and to try the vet I'm already with! 😕 (though one said that although they don't do exotics, one of their vets has an interest in treating exotics 🤔 so I should register with him! I said no thanks, I need someone knowledgeable and qualified in exotics in case she got ill)

 

[MaterialGworl]

Ok will do, it should arrive today.

I emailed and called several vets yesterday but a lot of them said they don't do exotics and to try the vet I'm already with! 😕 (though one said that although they don't do exotics, one of their vets has an interest in treating exotics 🤔 so I should register with him! I said no thanks, I need someone knowledgeable and qualified in exotics in case she got ill)

Make sure when you apply the 2nd dose of terramycin ointment that you wipe the area with a clean warm towel or paper towel before hand, to clean the old ointment off. I forgot to mention that earlier 😅

It's shocking to me that with the UK having such a rich history with European hedgehogs, more vets there don't treat African Pygmy hedgehogs 😨. Last resort, you can see if there are any universities near you that have zoology departments that also treat exotic pets.

 

[angel47]

Make sure when you apply the 2nd dose of terramycin ointment that you wipe the area with a clean warm towel or paper towel before hand, to clean the old ointment off. I forgot to mention that earlier 😅

It's shocking to me that with the UK having such a rich history with European hedgehogs, more vets there don't treat African Pygmy hedgehogs 😨. Last resort, you can see if there are any universities near you that have zoology departments that also treat exotic pets.

I managed to get her registered with another vet but I don't know whether or not to cancel the appointment for this Saturday with the money grabbing vet or not?

 

[MaterialGworl]

I managed to get her registered with another vet but I don't know whether or not to cancel the appointment for this Saturday with the money grabbing vet or not?

What is the vet planning on doing Saturday?

 

[angel47]

What is the vet planning on doing Saturday?

As far as I know, nothing, just the same if not less...... if I have to guess I assume she will just turn Hoggle over and look at her tummy without touching the tummy 🤷‍♀️

 

[Kalandra]

With the vet who doesn't have experience but is willing to learn, well you may want to reconsider him at some point. I have used specialists who had no experience but they were willing to learn. They were actually the best veterinarians because they were willing to research, were open to information I was gathering from other owners, etc.

One item you may ask about is having a skin scrape done. If they suspect it is still an infection of some type ask about having a culture and sensitivity test performed. A culture will determine if something is there and what it is. The sensitivity part tells them what will treat it best. It is still possible you are dealing with an infection and that it is resistant to the medications you have used so far. I once had one with a horrible skin condition, he lost all quills (permanently) on his rump before my vet tried a C&S and found out it was a resistent form of staph. Once we tried the right med, he healed (but never grew back his quills). That was one of my first experiences with a hedgehog vet and now I know to request a C&S should something not be working.

 

[angel47]

With the vet who doesn't have experience but is willing to learn, well you may want to reconsider him at some point. I have used specialists who had no experience but they were willing to learn. They were actually the best veterinarians because they were willing to research, were open to information I was gathering from other owners, etc.

One item you may ask about is having a skin scrape done. If they suspect it is still an infection of some type ask about having a culture and sensitivity test performed. A culture will determine if something is there and what it is. The sensitivity part tells them what will treat it best. It is still possible you are dealing with an infection and that it is resistant to the medications you have used so far. I once had one with a horrible skin condition, he lost all quills (permanently) on his rump before my vet tried a C&S and found out it was a resistent form of staph. Once we tried the right med, he healed (but never grew back his quills). That was one of my first experiences with a hedgehog vet and now I know to request a C&S should something not be working.

I hold her everyday and check her quills and she hasn't lost any of her quills, that's why I wondered if it was allergy to my soap powder

 

[Kalandra]

Its very possible. You said you tried a different detergent already. One other thing you could try is to try double rinsing them or run them through a wash with no soap to remove additional residue.

One other item of thought, does she liner dive? Does she ever go under and sleep on the bottom of her enclosure?