[cutietexan]

well this morning i woke theo up just to do his routine fixing cage, checking to see if hes still alive, etc. and i noticed a blood (or something of the sort?) stain on the bottom of his hedgie tent. i know its just from today, because it wasnt there before. i just need to know what this could be, if i need to take him to the vet, or i dunno :| i checked him for scratches or cuts and didnt find anything. also, i have noticed he has been a little grumpier lately. he actually bit me for the first time today. yes, he is quilling, but he has been going through that for quite a while now so i dont think the grumpiness would just be coming in. it was just a nibble, it didnt even leave a mark, but its not like him to do that. he didnt lick first either. by the way, he is a male, im positive.

http://www.photoshop.com/accounts/ad410 ... 11f5020aa9
http://www.photoshop.com/accounts/ad410 ... 1be363ce61

the links above are pictures of his tent (if you couldnt tell already)

 

[ILOVElily]

thats strange i have never seen that... was the blood fresh at all or could u tell it was from hours and hours ago? if i were u i would try to bring him to the vet asap just in case its something from the inside that looks fine on the out ? has he bled more since?

good luck hope theos ok

 

[Kalandra]

Is there any evidence of blood in his urine or feces? Check his genitals. Look to see if you can see any blood. Put white paper towels down and see if you can get him to go to the bathroom. That should help tell if blood is coming from from his intestinal tract or his urinary.

Male hedgehogs don't often get bladder infections, but they can. General Patton had one once and he would have blood spots that were not near his urine as well as in his urine. Patton also got more grumpy as he was feeling discomfort from the bladder infection.

Also look at his feet closely. Hedgehogs can bleed quite a lot from a very small cut. Plus they also seem to heal up pretty quickly as well. There may be a wound on his foot that you are missing.

 

[krbshappy71]

Wow, quite a bit there. I'd do a vet check. What kind of litter/bedding do you use?

I thought it looked like urine stain or markings to the right and also a few drops to the top left of the picture of faded blood/urine. My brain says urinary infection but that's based on the picture as I interpret it and my experiences with dogs, not hedgie.

 

[Nancy]

If this was in his bed, it is very possible he got a little exuberant with his boy time and bit himself. I've had a couple boys that this has happened to.

If it's urinary, you will see more of it where he'es pee'd.

Just to mention, the threads on that cloth are not hedgie safe and should be concealed so he can't get at them. You can do a french seam that will encase them.

Edited to add. I just took another look at the photos and I wonder if he'es been chewing the fabric? The center area is lighter almost looking like he could have been chewing. Emma used to chew her liners and make her gums bleed and it looked very similar.

 

[cutietexan]

yes actually he has been chewing on his tent... hes ripped a hole straight through the bottom. thats why i switched back to his old shoebox. i will put paper towels down and see if i can notice anything. so do yall (excuse the word) think i need to take him to the vet? if its necessary, i will be on my way ASAP.

 

[Nancy]

I would wait a few days and see if there is more blood. If it's urinary you will know soon enough and it will show up where he pees.