Possible tooth problem

[Rhiannon]

I think Sophie has a sore tooth. I'm hoping that's all it is.

Last Friday I checked her wheel and food bowl. She hadn't eaten or run. I checked on her, and her belly was cool to the touch, although she wasn't lethargic or having trouble moving. I held her while I hooked up the heating pad, and she squirmed in my hands like usual. I figured it had been chilly enough that she hadn't wanted to venture out from under her fleece, but not cold enough for hibernation to start (I'd been comfortable all night with just a sheet, and was surprised she was cold. I guess her tolerance has gone down since last winter. I will monitor the temperature very closely this winter). Once her belly and the heating pad were warm, I put her back, and she ran to her favorite corner (where I can't reach her) and then burrowed under her liners, like she always does when I put her back. That night she ate all her food and ran a lot. The next few nights, though, she ate little and didn't run much. She'd eat crickets and mealworms, but ignored most of her kibble. She wasn't sleeping near the heating pad and still moving okay. No physical sign of problems. Two nights ago, it finally occurred to me that maybe she was having trouble eating and it had nothing to do with the temperature. I soaked her kibble and gave her some wet cat food. She ate it all. Every other time I've offered her wet cat food (or anything that isn't kibble or insects), she's shunned it. She didn't eat the dry kibble. I soaked more food the next night, and she ate it all, ran, and pooped--the most poop she's had in a week.

My dad and I looked at her mouth. There's some discoloration on her lower lip, but I don't know how new that is. No visible lumps or swelling.

I feel really bad about having not figuring it out sooner. She has a vet appointment Tuesday morning. I'm hoping that it's just one bad tooth that can be pulled, and it'll all be taken care of with a single vet trip, or two trips at the most.

What can I expect from the vet? I figure Sophie will have to be knocked out. I doubt she'll cooperate, uncurl, and say "ah" for the vet. I'll be impressed if she even uncurls. Will the vet take x-rays or do bloodwork? If it is just a bad tooth, can it be pulled right away? Other than assorted tooth problems, what could cause this?

How much should I spoil Sophie for the next few nights? I want her to eat and gain back some weight, but I don't want to make her sick by giving her too many treats.

[Nancy]

I'd continue to give her dampened kibble and ensure she stays warm enough.

To best look at her mouth the vet will have to gas her. From experience I can tell you that even with the most co-operative and social hedgehog, it is very difficult to tell exactly what is happening in their mouth. Our little ones are very prone to oral tumours and we have had ones that totally co-operated to look in their mouth and the tumour was not visible until they were gassed.

How old is she? Often difficulty eating comes with age. As they get older their jaws become weaker and crunching the kibble becomes difficult. I have numerous 3 and older that are on soft food. Our Nemo was on a soft diet from about a year and a half old.

I will say that I have never had one that needed softened food that also had hibernation attempts unless there was something else wrong. Often though, as they age, just like they need softened food, they also require more heat. Nothing to do with illness, just age related.

I'd up her cage temperature a few degrees as well as the soft food. Often not eating as much is temperature related. Offer her both hard kibble and the soft and see what she prefers.

Hugs :)

[Rhiannon]

Sophie's about two and a half. I figured the hibernation attempt was connected to her being older. I'll be sure to tell the vet about it, although I'm still holding out hope for a simple cavity and quick fix. I don't mind keeping her on soft food, but the less stress, time, and money involved in the cure, the better.