[JackJack]

I think my hedgie might have dry skin, hes very itchy but only when hes running around and active. He has no redness, no quill loss, no flaking, if anything, mildly pink after he itches but it just goes away.
However he will NOT let me give him a bath and ive only had him for about 2 1/2 weeks so should I just give him the oil? I can just get it at the store correct?
Also, any other basic health concerns, I can't ever hold him or get near him so anything that deals with touching his skin or getting a good look at him never works, so Im super paranoid hes gonna get sick and I won't know. So far so good though, his poops are normal, he sleeps normal, eats normal, just the itchyness bothers me.

 

[Lilysmommy]

As long as he's eating/drinking/pooping normal, it should be a good indication that everything is fine. And adding a few drops of flaxseed oil to his food will help with the dry skin. You can buy the capsules from a store and just poke a hole in them and squeeze them out over the food. You can also use Vitamin E capsules.

 

[dorasdaddy]

1. how old is he...he could be quilling.
2. what do you mean by you cant ever hold him? if it is because he balls, puffs, pops, etc. you have to learn to get over that or he will never socialize. if you stop trying because he is doing those things then he will never stop. hedgies by nature do not want to be held so he thinks this behaviour will scare you off, and so far it may be working.
3. most hedgies will unball in water and run around, if so you can try an oatmeal bath.

 

[JackJack]

Thanks! That shouldn't be too hard.
The other concern I had that I forgot to mention is, his poop smells a lot! But maybe thats just how it is?
and how often should I give him the oil? couple times a week?

I do hold him in my lap and such, but he hops around a lot so its making me bleed.
He does like to chew on my fingers and arms and feet a lot. He LOVES to pull off my socks, its the cutest thing!
The last time I tried to give him a bath, he freaked out and snorted a bunch of water and was so miserable.

He was born in November 2008 so he could very well be quilling. I figured as much since he's growing a ton of new white long quills. Hes even got a white patch on his left flank, its super cute.

I have tried to pet him and he just gets mad.

 

[dorasdaddy]

uh oh...you have a biter on your hands...i have no idea how to help you change that, but i do know the sock thing isnt cute, it is a sign of agression on his part. he has somehow learned it is ok to bite and that is not a good thing...he definitely sounds like he is quilling btw. and unfortunately the only way to get him to stop the popping and such is to socialize him more. i honestly dont know what else to tell you, definitely sounds like you have a very anti social little one on your hands

 

[Aleshea]

As for bonding meal worms work great just give him a few each day when you get him out and soon he will get that you come with goodys and be happy to see you! as long as you keep playing with him everyday he might be more frendly when he stops quillin. Think of it like teething for hedgies! Also bath time can help with bonding.

 

[JackJack]

Yea hes not to fond of anything really, but Ive only had him for a few weeks.
I figured he was less than friendly, since most people Ive talked to on her and who have them, said theirs were not half as tempermental as he is. Oh well.
He even jumps when i talk really softly to him. The people at the pet store said they held him everyday.
At least he'll unroll if i have him on his back. He wouldn't even move the first day we had him.
(my boyfriend bought him for me, and wasn't completely educated on how to care for them, like temperature and all that) so I got him properly accomodated.
oh well. I spose I can just do my best and love him as much as humanly possible!


If I move at all he puffs up. I can barely breathe around him without him getting upset.

The other problem is we'll be leaving for a couple weeks in the end of May for our anniversary/my birthday and obviously we planned this before we had him, and my boyfriend didn't consider we would have to be so hands on with him and how much care he needs. (He was a valentines gift!) So I might even need to be rescued if he doesn't improve because Im afraid whoever will take care of him while we're gone might get frustrated with him or not play with him at all.
(one of my roommates volunteered to take care of him, and she worked at an exotic pet store for 4 years that had hedgies so I know shes careful and ive been educating her) but still...

Obviously this wasn't thought through well enough and I don't want Jackson to suffer for it.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Luck]

When do you let him out? Mine gets pretty cranky if i wake him up during the day. And how long do you have him out? Mebbe he isn't out long enough to be properly socialized.

 

[JackJack]

i usually wait to bother him around 1030 pm when he gets up for a snack and try to get him to eat out of my hand first, and i'll have him out anywhere from 45 minutes to 2 hours. depends how we're both feeling. hes quite the explorer.
I just don't think hes a cuddler. which is perfectly fine. Im totally patient and hes still the cutest thing ever!

 

[stephanie]

I got mike 10 days ago and he was never in a ball, but would huff and pop whenever i tried to take him out. He wouldnt let me pet him either, but I could hold him. He slowly got better everyday and now **** let me get him without huffing, **** play and run around, and he sleeps on me when hes out- **** actively seek me out, then lay down and fall asleep- and he likes when i pet him while hes sleeping. If I am not petting him,he will nudge me. It takes a while, but they come around... just be patient and more persistent and shell bond with you

 

[JackJack]

I know I have to be patient. And I am. Ive had stray animals my whole life. I know patience.
Ive had him about 3 1/2 weeks. I don't really care if I can't hold him, but I think its harder to tell if something is ever wrong because I can never get that close to him. so I wont be able to cut his nails or give him a full bath or check his skin for mites or anything like that.
Thats what worries me. That it just going to bed 100x harder to make sure everything is alright.

 

[Spiff The Hedge]

Thanks! That shouldn't be too hard.
The other concern I had that I forgot to mention is, his poop smells a lot! But maybe thats just how it is?
and how often should I give him the oil? couple times a week?

I do hold him in my lap and such, but he hops around a lot so its making me bleed.
He does like to chew on my fingers and arms and feet a lot. He LOVES to pull off my socks, its the cutest thing!
The last time I tried to give him a bath, he freaked out and snorted a bunch of water and was so miserable.

He was born in November 2008 so he could very well be quilling. I figured as much since he's growing a ton of new white long quills. Hes even got a white patch on his left flank, its super cute.

I have tried to pet him and he just gets mad.

Thats so cool! My hedgehog has the same markings on both flanks.

 

[JackJack]

So hes not as itchy anymore, but his skin is really pink. It shows through the white fur he has under his belly.
I was wondering if thats just normal or if he might have a skin condition.

Hes still super aggressive and tries to bite me every chance he gets.
And chews on all my clothes and my boyfriends clothes.
But I can't resist his little face. Its just too cute.
And he loves my teddy bear. He always snuggles with it.

If I knew how to post pictures, I would, but Im a little computer retarded.