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Sender: macnamara@pci.on.ca (Brian MacNamara)
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Summary: Answers to Frequently Asked Questions and general information
about pet (African Pigmy) hedgehogs. Should be helpful to both
prospective and current hedgehog owners.
Part V - understanding hedgehogs, and hedgehog health care
Archive-name: hedgehog-faq/part5
Posting-Frequency: monthly
Keywords: faq pet hedgehogs
Last-modified: 19 Jun 1995
Version: 2.2
HEDGEHOG FAQ (part 5 of 5) -- HEDGEHOG HEALTH CARE AND UNDERSTANDING
Compiled and edited by Brian MacNamara (macnamara@pci.on.ca)
Additions, corrections, and suggestions for this file are welcomed
(in fact, desperately begged for, is probably closer to the truth)!
This document is copyright 1995 by Brian MacNamara. See section 0.5
for authorship information and redistribution rights. In short, you
can give it away, but you can't charge for it.
The basic Hedgehog FAQ has five parts, all of which should be available
from wherever you obtained this one. A complete table of contents for
all five parts is given in part 1.
Please note: I am not a hedgehog expert (in fact I am a relative novice),
and I did not write, or verify, all the information in this FAQ. I have
done my best to include only accurate and useful information, but I cannot
guarantee the correctness of what is contained in this FAQ, regardless of
the source, or even that it will not be harmful to you or your hedgehog in
some way. For advice from an expert, I recommend you consult the books
listed in part 2 [2.1], or, especially in the case of a suspected medical
problem, a veterinarian who is familiar with hedgehogs.
------------------------------
Subject: CONTENTS OF THIS FILE
7. *** Things hedgehogs say and do ***
<7.1> Self-anointing. What is it? Why do hedgehogs do it?
<7.2> My hedgehog snuffles and hides a lot. Is that normal?
<7.3> Is he just asleep or hibernating?
<7.4> My hedgehog sneezes. What should I do?
<7.5> My hedgehog's gone ballistic? Is this normal?
<7.6> Basic hedgehog repertoire
8. *** Basic health care ***
<8.1> Do I need to spay/neuter my pet?
<8.2> What health risks should I worry about?
<8.3> Vaccinations, etc.
9. *** Problems to watch for and related information ***
<9.1> What warning signs of disease should I watch for?
<9.2> My hedgehog's had funny-looking stools for a couple of days.
What's wrong?
<9.3> My hedgehog's not eating. What should I do?
<9.4> How did I get fleas in my home? How can I get rid of
them?
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7. *** Things hedgehogs say and do ***
------------------------------
Subject: <7.1> Self-anointing. What is it? Why do hedgehogs do it?
I have mentioned this repeatedly throughout the FAQ, so now it is time
to explore the hedgehog's one truly unique trait. Nathan Tenny provided
a good description of this interesting and perplexing hedgehog habit:
If you smell *really* interesting, your hedgehog will lick
or nibble on you, back off, and suddenly contort itself, start
foaming at the mouth, and lick the foam onto its spines. This
"self-anointing" has to be seen to be believed, but it's perfectly
normal. It's not known for sure why they do it, but it probably
has something to do with self-defence; hedgehogs are *highly*
resistant to most toxins, and when they encounter something that
might be toxic, they get it in their mouths, foam, and cover
themselves with the toxic mixture. The result is a toxic hedgehog,
which is really something to reckon with. (Incidentally, the toxin
resistance of hedgehogs is truly prodigious and has been the subject
of some research; they are one of the few animals that can safely eat
giant toads (_Bufo marinus_), for instance.)
One more last note: We don't know why this happens, but even without
the benefit of self-anointing, their spines seem to have a mild
toxic/irritant effect; when you prick yourself on one, even slightly,
it hurts more than it should, and for a little bit longer. No big deal,
just sort of strange.
One of the most effective ways to provoke a session of self-anointing is
to pick up your hedgehog when you have sweaty hands, or after having used
hand lotion, or a different type of soap.
In any case, once you have witnessed this entertaining act, and you have
calmed down enough to understand your little friend doesn't have rabies
after all, you will likely be convinced that hedgehogs do not have backbones.
It's really hard to believe something as round as a hedgehog can twist itself
into that contorted a position. It's also a bit disconcerting to learn just
how long that tongue is!
------------------------------
Subject: <7.2> My hedgehog snuffles and hides a lot. Is that normal?
Yep. If he doesn't, are you sure you have a hedgehog? The snuffling or
snorting (or snurfling, as my wife calls it), while having the head tucked
down is part of the defense mechanism that has kept hedgehogs around for a
very long time. It basically leaves them with their quills protecting every
bit of visible surface, but still allows the hedgehog to move. The snuffling
and snorting is usually accompanied by sudden lurches in the direction the
hedgehog believes its potential enemy is in, to try and give it a good
warning prickle.
The more your hedgehog comes to know you, the less you will get the
sharp shoulder treatment. One exception to this is if your hedgehog is
sleepy. A sleepy hedgehog can be very insistent about not being disturbed
[3.1].
------------------------------
Subject: <7.3> Is he just asleep or hibernating?
A common concern is whether or not pet hedgehogs hibernate. The answer
is generally no. However, if the temperature where they are kept drops
too low (below about 20 degrees C or 68 degrees F), they can start preparing
for hibernation and will certainly go into hibernation for brief periods, if
the temperature drops much below this -- at least until the temperature
returns to a comfortable level. If your hedgehog seems to be sleeping too
soundly, and you are worried, any kind of movement to his or her bed will
usually earn you at least a brief spate of unhappy snuffling. If this
happens, then you can probably assume you've just disturbed a sleepy
hedgehog. If this and nudging at him don't have any effect, and he's been
in quite a cool (for a hedgehog) temperature, he may have slipped into the
beginnings of hibernation, and should be warmed up.
In general, the likelihood of hibernation happening is quite low, so if
your hedgehog isn't making its home in the refrigerator, and you don't
like living in subarctic conditions indoors, you probably don't need to
worry.
You should not let a pet hedgehog hibernate. As pets, hedgehogs do not
stock up on food, nor put on the necessary extra body fat needed to get
through hibernation. A pet that is allowed to hibernate extensively will
likely wake up very sick and very weak -- if at all.
------------------------------
Subject: <7.4> My hedgehog sneezes. What should I do?
Occasional sneezes are normal. When you consider the amount of exploring
that hedgehogs like to do, in combination with just how busy that little
nose is, it's pretty easy to understand that the result will be an
occasional sneeze.
Extended sneezing fits, or nasal discharge, however, indicates a problem,
and a trip to the vet is in order.
------------------------------
Subject: <7.5> My hedgehog's gone ballistic? Is this normal?
You've just introduced your hedgehog to a nice new big pen and all of a
sudden it's like he's going crazy, running madly around the cage, trying
to get out of every little nook and cranny, and generally driving you up
the wall. Yes, this is quite normal (for the hedgehog -- you being up the
wall, I can't comment on).
Hedgehogs appear to do this when they get into a new environment, and will
usually settle down in a while, once they decide that (a) they can't
actually get out (which given the slightest chance, they will), and (b) they
have decided this is now home.
Some things you can do to reduce the chaos and chances of reoccurence are
to provide a familiar nest or burrow for your little beast, and to install
a wheel for exercise [5.6] (all that energy is pretty normal in hedgehogs
-- scary, huh?).
------------------------------
Subject: <7.6> Basic hedgehog repertoire
As far as sounds go, officially, the only sounds that hedgehogs are
supposed to make is their snuffling and snorting when they are feeling
threatened, and some squeaking as babies. That said, I have it on good
advice that there are a number of other hedgehog vocalizations that occur
in both babies and adults.
At least two of my younger ones have kept this ability [nursing
type squeaks] and can shriek quite loudly when startled or angry.
This will wake the deepest sleeper. -- Mike McGary
All the hedgehogs I've known have made a quiet twittering noise when
they were relaxed and exploring. -- Nathan Tenny
I'd like to thank Mike McGary, with some commentary from Nathan Tenny and
Znofyl, for sharing thoughts on the virtuoso singing of hedgehogs here to
give people an idea of some of the extremes that can be reached. I would
also like to note that the loudest thing that has ever come out of Velcro,
other than his nervous snufflings, is a contented slurp when he's buried
his nose in a container of cream.
The books all say that hedgehogs don't make much noise. They do squeak
for their mother when they are still nursing and make snorting and
snuffling noises as adults....one account says that they can snore quite
loudly.
My young male (Adam) has been known to scream when frightened. This
isn't a small squeak, but a full-fledged rabbit-caught-in-a-trap
scream. But the real oddity has started recently. We have one of
those beep-beep-beep-beep alarm clocks. We normally set it for
6:00 am, but keep pushing the snooze button everytime it goes off
(sometimes for a long time). After the alarm goes off, Adam starts
to make this eeeeh-eeeeeh-eeeeeeh sound like he is imitating the
alarm clock. He does it every morning and you can get up and
watch him....he doesn't move....he just sings. -- Mike McGary
The following from Znofyl and Nathan are about as good an answer to this
mystery as we're likely to get without growing quills ourselves:
I wonder whether the hedgie isn't responding to this alarm noise
thinking it is another male. My males are VERY noisy when breeding.
-- Znofyl
This sounds really likely to me. My male's mating noise is a sort of
breathy "squeeEEEEEk-squeeEEEEEk"---is that the general tenor of Adam's
morning ditty? -- Nathan Tenny
The gist of this whole section is really to let readers know that hedgehogs
are capable of making a wide range of sounds -- if and when they want.
At this rate, a hedgehog dictionary may be the next big addition to the
FAQ!
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8. *** Basic health care ***
------------------------------
Subject: <8.1> Do I need to spay/neuter my pet?
Given that hedgehogs do not get along well together except during mating,
it is unlikely that spaying/neutering is anything you need to worry about.
In addition to this, I suspect you would be hard pressed to find a
veterinary who could (let alone would) do the operation.
In short, this is not a worry.
------------------------------
Subject: <8.2> What health risks should I worry about?
Hedgehogs have an amazing immunity to most things that are toxic.
Quantities of many toxins that would kill a human hundreds or even
thousands of times over will often have no noticeable effect on a
hedgehog at all. This trait has inspired both legends and scientific
research, with no conclusive results other than acknowledgment that
it is true.
This means that should your hedgehog accidentally encounter any of the
numerous poisons that exist within every modern home, chances are your
little friend will wander off none the worse for wear, while if it had
been another pet, it may have been in dire need of a visit to the vet.
However, just because hedgehogs are considered to be all but poison proof
is no reason for you to take chances. They are immune to many toxins,
but there could always be an exception. You should supervise your
hedgehog's wanderings and keep dangerous substances tucked safely away.
As I pointed out in [2.1], Pat Storer's book discusses blood chemistry and
what kinds and doses of various medicines have been used successfully to
treat hedgehogs. I strongly suggest you get a copy of the book, if for no
other reason than to bring with you to the veterinarian, in the case of an
emergency, so he or she knows what to expect and what to do about problems.
They can get worms---it's probably a good idea to have them wormed
regularly, once or twice a year. Oral Ivermectin works; I don't know
what the dosage is, but the vet has indicated that it's a little higher
(per unit of body weight) than for most animals. -- Nathan Tenny
Hedgehogs are also susceptible to fleas, which you might want to be
concerned about if you have other pets, especially if they are
indoor/outdoor pets. Treatment of fleas is well described in the Flea and
Tick FAQ [2.4], [9.3], and most safe commercial flea treatments should work,
with the one caveat that bathing hedgehogs is something to be avoided if at
all possible. Fortunately, since most hedgehogs are likely to be indoor
only pets, this often greatly reduces the chances of them ever getting fleas.
I would also like to add a quick reminder here about using solid wheels,
and to pad the spokes to prevent injuries [5.6].
One other area of concern is obesity. Hedgehogs can easily become overweight,
partially due to their potential to hibernate, they can, and will pack on
weight in preparation for a lengthy hibernation than never comes. Letting
them hibernate is NOT the answer -- a diet and exercise are. If your
hedgehog is getting too plump, just cut back on his food a bit, and try to
encourage activity by letting him run around, or giving him a wheel.
------------------------------
Subject: <8.3> Vaccinations, etc.
Although this could fit into the previous section, I felt it deserved its
own. After taking my herd of cats in for their annual shots, I found myself
wondering about what shots, if any, a hedgehog should have. Primarily, the
biggest worry in North America is likely rabies, but there are other potential
bacterial/viral infections as well.
After talking with my (non-hedgehog oriented) vet, I took my questions to the
appropriate source (thanks Cathy Johnson-Delaney, DVM). It turns out the
answer is quite simple, yet complicated (don't you just love it when answers
are like that?).
As a general rule, for indoor hedgehogs that are not exposed to the dangers
of outdoors, there is no need to worry. What complicates this is that local
authorities may not see it that way, and especially in areas where diseases
such as rabies exist, and they might be VERY insistent on vaccination -- even
though no vaccine has been approved for hedgehogs yet. So, you don't need to
vaccinate your hedgehog, unless otherwise required -- clear as mud, right?
Here are some words of wisdom from Cathy to help clear things up a bit, and
to try and cover the problem areas of what to do when you DO need to vaccinate
a hedgehog, or get treatment otherwise. Remember, this is primarily her
opinion, and not a set of absolute truths.
At present, there are no vaccinations for pet hedgehogs. They are
not susceptible to dog/cat diseases, or as far as I know, really any
of the major agricultural/livestock disease problems (well in North
America anyway - we don't vax our livestock for Foot & Mouth, which
hedgies can get, but North America is FM free). Theoretically, they
can get sick with many of the bacterial diseases of livestock, but the
chances of them being exposed as indoor housepets is just about nil,
unless you take them outside and let them mingle with pigs, chickens,
cows, horses in breeding/dirty environments and let them feed on dung
(I think they would risk getting stepped on first).
The only exception to this might be if you were housing your hedgies
outdoors in caging part of the year and rabies was a threat in your
area - then I might recommend vaccinating with a killed rabies vax
(Imrab) as a precaution, like we do for pet bunnies housed outdoors
in rabies endemic areas. Realize that:
1. the vaxx is not approved for that species, no efficacy trials
have been done
2. since it is not a recognized vax and is a non-domestic species,
the FDA or Public Health Service/Dept/CDC (or Canada's
equivalent) will not recognize the animal as being vaccinated
so if the hedgie bites anyone, the animal will just be
euthanized and tested. NO if. ands, or buts....
So the best all round precaution is not to let others handle your
hedgie lest he bite someone, and that someone gets his/her physician,
public health dept, etc. involved.
The actual risk from rabies in an indoor pet hedgie is, in my
opinion, non-existent, but public health people have regulations and
hedgies fall into the blanket category of non-domestics so all rules
apply.
Another set of suggestions Cathy had was for sources for your veterinarian:
Your veterinarian needs to have the most current published vet lit
on hedgehogs:
Journal of Small Exotic Animal Medicine: Vol 2, No 1: Husbandry and
medicine of African Hedgehogs by Anthony J. Smith DVM reprints -
contact JSEAM, back issues PO Box 618686 issue out of print, but
article itself avail for $5.00
J of Small Exotic Animal Med: Vol 3 No. 1 pgs 12-15 Neonatology of
the hedgehog (Atlerix albiventrix) by Anthony J. Smith, DVM (issue
just arrived today!!!!!!!!!) order above through JSEAM
Isenbugel, E. Baumgartner, RA 1993: Diseases of the Hedgehog. In:
Zoo and Wild Animal Med, Current Therapy III, WB Saunders, Phila PA
Chapter starting page 294
Hoefer, HL 1994. Hedgehogs. In: Quesenberry KE, HIllyer EV (eds).
The Vet Clin of No Amer, Sm Anim Pract, Exotic Pet Med II, Vol 24,
No 1, WB Saunders, Phila PA, Pp113-120.
I am working on a clinicians handbook for Wingers Publications that
we hope to have completed by fall. It will contain info on hedgies,
diets, formulary, etc. (even things like blood draws, radiographic
views, fluid therapy......)
Please pass the list of references to your veterinarian as sooner
or later he/she will need them. (Murphy's law says that if you do,
[your hedgehog] won't).
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9. *** Problems to watch for and related information ***
------------------------------
Subject: <9.1> What warning signs of disease should I watch for?
NOTE: I am not a veterinarian. I haven't even owned (been owned by?)
a hedgehog very long. Hedgehogs tend to be very resistant to disease
once they reach adulthood, this makes for relatively easy care. As with
all pets, any change in normal behaviour, or eating, drinking, sleeping,
or litter habits may indicate a health problem that bears looking into.
At the moment there is little I can offer beyond this as far as warning
signs. Fortunately, Velcro has never exhibited any health problems.
Hedgehogs are small. While they generally enjoy very good health, any
kind of disease or disorder can be fatal in only a couple of days, so
if you suspect a problem, see your vet immediately.
------------------------------
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Subject: <9.2> My hedgehog's had funny-looking stools for a couple of days.
What's wrong?
Normal hedgehog droppings can range from almost pellet-like to quite soft
and sticky. Colour is usually very dark brown, almost black. Depending
on diet, especially treats, they can vary quite a bit. If your hedgehog
is leaving unusual droppings after having had a treat or change in diet
a day or so before, then it is probably related to what he ate. If the
problem continues (assuming the hedgehogs is back on his normal diet),
or if your hedgehog is suffering from severe diarrhea, see your vet,
immediately.
As mentioned in section 6.2, some hedgehog food can affect the colour of
the droppings for a week or so. If you have just started feeding your
hedgehog food, the red coloured droppings are normal, and are not a sign
of problems.
------------------------------
Subject: <9.3> My hedgehog's not eating. What should I do?
This is often the sign of either a sick or depressed hedgehog. You should
probably have a vet check for sickness, but clearly the thing that's needed
is to get your pet back on its dinner. About the only suggestion I can
offer is to attempt out and out bribery; offer you hedgehog his favorite
treats, and try some cooked chicken or turkey. If possible, make sure he
is drinking, and if necessary resort to using some thinned chicken broth,
or even something as exotic as Gatorade (to help restore electrolytes).
Other suggestions for bribery snacks are chopped hardboiled egg, and
cottage cheese.
Remember, given a hedgehog's small size, not eating can become deadly
in very short order. If the situation persists for more than a couple of
days, take your little friend to a vet.
------------------------------
Subject: <9.4> How did I get fleas in my home? How can I get rid of
them?
Even if your hedgehog is never outdoors, you can bring in fleas or
flea eggs on your shoes or clothing.
There's a whole FAQ dedicated to ridding your pet and your home of
fleas and ticks. It's distributed in the Usenet newsgroup rec.pets.
You can also get it by FTP:
ftp://rtfm.mit.edu/pub/usenet/news.answers/fleas-ticks
(that is, ftp to rtfm.mit.edu and get the indicated file) or by sending
email to mail-server@rtfm.mit.edu with the line
send usenet/news.answers/fleas-ticks
in the body of the message (with an empty subject line).
In general, most products which are safe for use on kittens are likely
safe for hedgehogs. Keeping in mind that bathing baby or young hedgehogs
can be dangerous and should be avoided if possible [3.4]. It is better
to spray on such products.
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This text is located at Filip Sebek's homepage.