[xtiana]

I brought Hayden to the vet today and some tests were run since he's been losing quite a few quills lately. The vet tested for mites (no mites were found) but he said he thinks its ringworm, since in the past he's seen hedgehogs with ringworm and it looked just like this. They collected the quills that fell off while I was at the vet and sent them to a lab for analysis - but it will take a month to get results back. Has anyone else had experience with ringworm and hedgehogs before? What did you do to treat it? How long till it cleared up?? My vet gave me some stuff to cover Hayden in and it smells like farts and rotten eggs. I think its a very harsh chemical and I would rather NOT use that on Hayden.

I assume I should get treated since it can be spread to humans. :|

 

[xtiana]

Hayden was born June 18th, 2008. I've had him since August 3rd.

He has fleece bedding. He has never been exposed to any other animals and I've never had him outside the house (except to visit the vet).

I've done all the tests recommended on here for mites - rubbing him on black fabric, checking for balls at the end of the quills, scratching, etc. I didn't see anything moving on the fabric, the quills all have little balls on them but also like a crusty thing around them. He's still losing baby quills.

His skin is dry and flaky, big white chunks usually fall off. I've been bathing him with a little bit of olive oil and using flax seed capsules over his food, as was recommended to me on this forum. The flaking seems to be slowly but surely clearing up.

He seems to be developing a bald spot on his back. There ARE new quills growing, several are in the said bald spot.

Where can I get Revolution? My vet doesn't carry it. Should I buy it online?

Thank you VERY much Nancy for your help, I don't know what I'd do without your help.

 

[xtiana]

Is it normal for him to lose adult quills when he is quilling? I've found about 15-20 adult quills (today alone there were about 5) since I've gotten him that he's lost. I will try to take a picture and post it, I'm having a hard time getting my camera to focus.

The crusty stuff at the base of the quills that fell out were clear or white. My boyfriend insists it was clear.

There are quite a few new quills coming through the skin.

I've only seen or heard him scratching two or three times. His cage is right next to my bed and I always hear every sound he makes. I've never seen him scratching or looking uncomfortable when I am holding him every day.

thanks again for your help, I had no idea that rotten egg stuff would make him blind. It makes me mad the vet would even give me something like that. you would never give medication for someones child that could make them go blind, so why my hedgehog

 

[xtiana]

The adult quills are much longer, thicker, and darker than the other quills that fall out.

Here is a picture, sorry if its a little blurry.

 

[xtiana]

Is the amount of quills he's been losing normal? He just seems so bare on his back. I can see so much skin when his quills are raised.

The dry skin seems to be getting better from the flax seed oil in his food and there doesnt seem to be as many quills lost each day.