The Newest "Rescue"

[Missmegz]

So being Thanksgiving Sunday (and possibly the worst day of the whole year) of course I happened along the saddest hedgehog I've ever seen. He was at a pet store in my home town and in desperate need of an intervention. He was marked as 149.99 but I talked the manager into just 100 plus tax. The poor guy was severely over-weight, stuck in a cage that is possibly too small for HAMSTERS and in the busiest, loudest part of the store.

I can't say that he'll have the longest life ahead of him, he's pretty bad shape-wise. After my father paid for him (it's my parents who are adopting him) I asked the cashier to weigh him and he is a whopping 780 grams! That's 1.7 lbs!

I've advised my parents on the best foods and whatnot to get him trimmer and gotten him a 12 inch wheel so he can get some exercise. My biggest worry is what the effect of losing weight might be on him. Has any one dealt with anything like this or has anything to offer?

I'll try to get a picture of him up so you can see how much he CAN'T roll up. By the way, his name is Rupert.

[Vincent]

Pricklemouse has a hedgehog named Buddha, and he is MASSIVE. She said that they rescued him from a pet store, too, and that he'd been severely overweight. When I met him, though, they'd given him a big wheel to run on, lots of space to run around in, and proper food. He was still big, but it was all muscle. :) So don't expect Rupert to magically shrink.. lol!
I'm really glad to hear that you guys bought such an unfortunate hedgie, and that he's in a better environment now. I can't give you much more advice, as I've never had this problem, but 780 grams doesn't sound life-threatening (to me). I hope someone else can give you better tips on how to shape Rupert up. :)

[hemi_mygirl]

When feeding, scatter most of his kibble around his cage so he has to look for it. Don't feed any high fat treats, and severely limit mealies and insects until he drops some weight. The wheel will really help him, as will a larger cage. 780 grams isn't that bad, but when a hedgehog can't roll up -- that's not good.

Best of luck!

[LunaMidnight]

Good thing you got him out of there! :) Hopefully everything works out and he'll be a healthy hog.

[Nancy]

Give him a wheel and a large cage but other than that don't start any weight loss proceedures with food until he is comfortable in your home and eating and drinking well and of course his poops are normal. The wheel alone is good enough to start with. You don't want him loosing weight too quickly.

780 is not really that big as far as some hedgehogs go. My Truffles is around 990. She is overweight but she is also a very large hedgehog to begin with. At 990 she can't ball up but she still could in the mid 800's. Her brother is close to 800 and is a big boy but can still ball up.... when he wants to.

Once he has adjusted to your home, start offering him veggetables and fruit when he is first up in the evening. Let him fill up a bit on veggies and give him his kibble overnight.

Get him active. Let him out to run around each night and if he doesn't want to walk, tempt him with a low fat treat that he likes.

Obesity is more often inactivity related rather than quantity of food. Truffles eats less than many of the others. Pebbles eats 3 times what Truffy does yet we have to give Pebbs part kitten food to keep the weight on her. She is a wheel maniac.

[hodgie]

t they rescued him from a pet store, too

I've always thought of rescues coming from homes when they are no longer wanted or from shelters. It's sad that animals are being rescued from pet stores as well. Rupert is a lucky boy. I am sure he will enjoy his new home and wish you the best with him.

[Nancy]

I've always thought of rescues coming from homes when they are no longer wanted or from shelters.
I agree with you. I think of rescues as ones from neglectful homes or in situations where if left there any longer they will die. I don't really consider those bought at petstores as rescues in the true sense of the word.

I have 2 that came to me last weekend from a good home but a change in family situation left them unable to continue to keep the hedgehogs. These are rehomes. To call them rescues would be an insult to the people who owned them as these hedgehogs were well cared for and loved.

Last Thursday I got a little guy that was found wandering in the woods. Now he is a rescue. :)

[illinidairychic]

Last Thursday I got a little guy that was found wandering in the woods. Now he is a rescue. :)

It truly sickens me when people think their critters can surivive out side like that!!! I mean come on if you didn't want it any more offer it to others.....

[herbiesmom]

He must have been so scared wandering around outside. My Herbie would have curled up in a ball and probably died. Glad you have him.

[Nancy]

It truly sickens me when people think their critters can surivive out side like that!!! I mean come on if you didn't want it any more offer it to others.....
I agree. Even the days here now are too cold for a hedgehog. I'm amazed he was found. He is doing well, eating, drinking and normal poops which totally amazes me for all he'es been through. I think he'ell be going to the vet in the next couple of days (Thanksgiving here today). He is albino and the skin on his face, head quill line and what I can see of his stomach is very red. His back is fine. He won't unball for me, not even in a clear container so I have no clue what most of his underneath is like. He has obviously never had a wheel as he has no clue what to do with it.

To make things worse. He was taken to a Humane Society and the workers there dropped him. When the person who transported him to me went to pick him up he was all bloody. Apparently the vet checked him and said he was fine but unless they gassed him they could not have checked him over. He has a scab on the bridge of his nose and the area around his one nostril looks to be bruised.

He HATES baths. Maybe he'es never had one before. Poor little guy.