[NicoleM]

My male hedgehog is a little over a year old now (he turned a year in October). I've noticed 2-3 quills in his cage over the past two days. I've also noticed this past week he has been extremely cranky. Hissing at me, puffing out his quills, etc which is not normal for him, but he did act just like this while quilling when he was younger. I thought I had read somewhere that hedgehogs may go through another quilling when they are a year old. Could he be doing one last quilling, or might this be something more serious? I haven't changed routine or anything (no strange smells on me, no chance in environment or anything else I can think of). Thanks for any advice you can give.

 

[iZim]

I am no expert, but it is possible he has mites...
Edit:
I found this under the ailments list.

Mites
Mites are very commons, Symptoms include quill loss, scratching, dry flaky skin, and tattered ears. Mite infestations can lead to red inflamed skin, open sores, blindness, ear infections and death. See your vet for mite treatments. Wash and disinfect cages, wheels, etc. Remove any wood products (hidey logs, etc) from the hedgehogs cage, these products are nearly impossible to disinfect, and can harbor mites and their eggs. One method to help determine if there are mites present, place your hedgehog on a black cloth and gently rub its quills. Next place the cloth under a bright light and look for white dots that are moving about. If you see movement then your hedgehog has mites.

 

[sunshinequill]

Some hedgehogs do quill at a year. If he's indeed quilling, you should notice some smaller quills growing in. If his behavior doesn't change in a week to ten days, it could be mites. If you have other hedgehogs, you'll have to treat the whole herd for mites. If it's quilling, then the others will be ok.

 

[cutietexan]

he is most likely quilling. that would explain the grumpiness and the loss of quills.

 

[nikki]

cutietexan, just because there is a ball at the end of the quill it doesn't mean they don't have mites. A hedgie can have mites and every lost quill could still have the ball at the end.

 

[NicoleM]

Thanks for the help...

I did the mite test...little flakes came off, but nothing moved. Aside from having the vet check him, any other way to check him for mites? His skin is definately dry, and he's still a little cranky, but not like he was. I'll give him an oatmeal bath tonight - that should help whether it's quilling or dry skin, and start giving him flaxseed oil again.

By chance, does anyone know how long that stuff keeps in the frige? I have a bottle of it from about a year ago. Surely that can't still be good?

 

[Immortalia]

Even having the vet check him won't give you a 100% absolute diagnosis on whether it's mites or not. (A skin scraping could be done at a spot where there is no mites, giving a false negative).

Do you mean the flax oil? If it's in a bottle, then it's gone bad months ago(gets oxidized once it's had contact with air). Get the capsules, they last longer.

Once you see that he is getting bald spots, or his quill coat is thinning with no new growth(or minimal growth), immediately take him to the vets.