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kirstenroche
09-18-2004, 09:04 PM
I bought the sweetest friendliest little 8-week-old hedgehog on August 30tt, from what seemed to be a pet store with healthy, relatively happy animals. 3 days ago, Petey (the hedgie) died! I cried for hours, I had bonded really quickly with the little guy.
I came home after school that day and went to take him out. His back legs seemed to be hurting or paralyzed, he wouldn't walk on them, just drag himself around. Of course I immediately called the vet. He said to bring Petey in the next night, as it was closing right away and he should be fine. From the internet, I could tell that he must have had Wobbly Hedgehog Syndrome (a neurologicAL disorder that could over a few weeks, kill him). So I kept him warm and comfy, until I went out to a movie with some of my friends. 2 hours later, I got home and took a shower. I was about to go to bed and checked on him. He was laying on his side, legs staright out. At first I thought he fell over, so I touched him. He was friggin cold and hard! I screamed, dove across the room, and burst into tears. I still have trouble dealing with/accepting it (it's only been a few days yet, I'm not good with dealing with this kind of thing).

Anywho, mommy called the pet store and talked to them. I had him two weeks and he was so tiny and that stupid disease didn't even give him a chance! They apologized and extending the refundable date (usually 5 days, but they said it was so horrible they'de give me a refund or a free, HEALTHY hedgehog). They're also gonna talk tot the breeder about the fact that she sold them unhealthy animals.
I also found out yesterday that he might have had internal problems...When I bought him he pooped on me in the store: It was all green and sort of liquid-ish, but the guy just laughed and acted like it was normal. WELL IT'S NOT! They're supposed to be brown and pellets. I'm so friggin pissed off.
So now I'll either go back to Edmonton where I bought him and check out the newer ones, or probably take the refund. I want to find one where they WON'T sell me something that's sick. I feel like crap now, for not doing enough research on hedgies before hand:(

AH! And today, I went into the freezer for some Veggie Ground Round to put in my spaghetti sauce, unaware that my dad put the body of my deceased baby in a ziploc and in the basement freezer (to store before the funeral), and GRABBED IT! Again, I screamed, ran to my room, and cried more. I thought he was a bag of my "meat", and grabbed the lifeless, frozen body. I want to die.

Anyway, thanks for listening to(well, reading) my long story of crapiness.

HedgieSpirit
09-18-2004, 10:18 PM
I'm sorry to hear about your loss :( I'm sure Petey had a wonderful, although short, time with you.

Love4Hedgies
09-18-2004, 10:36 PM
Aw that story broke my heart!!! How sad. I feel for you! That must have been so difficult. Hang in there and let us know what happens at the pet store.

Kerrie
09-18-2004, 10:39 PM
I am so sorry to hear about Petey. I know what it is like to loose one of these little guys.:(
Wobbly Hedgehog Syndrom usually effects hedgies when they are older. It is a progressive, horrible disease. I have never heard of a hedgie showing symptons and passing all before they are 9 weeks old. But I could very well be wrong.
Again...I am so sorry for your loss.
Rest in Peace Petey! :heart: :angel: :heart:

Nancy
09-18-2004, 10:43 PM
I am so sorry about Petey. He sounded like a wonderful little guy. :(

I agree with Kerrie. WHS usually does not affect hedgies that young and rarely kills that quickly. I am betting it was something else.

kirstenroche
09-18-2004, 11:00 PM
Thank you, guys.

Yeah, he was sick when I bought him (thought I didn't know it til one day before I decided to take him to the vet). I think he had mites, his feet were a bit flaky-looking, and his quills I noticed that day, some were shrively and some were broken in half, it was horrifying. I also think he may have had something inside, like internal parasites or a bowel problem because I learned after his passing, that no, his poop should NOT have been green and runny. The guy at the pet store acted like it was normal so I didn't think anything of it...:(I feel so bad that I didn't know all of this before hand, I should have done more research on health with hedgies before I got him...

Nancy
09-18-2004, 11:18 PM
Green soft poop is quite normal for a newly bought hedgie. The stress of his environment and/or diet change can cause the green poop. This can last from a day or two to over a week depending on the hedgie. Normal hedgie poop is dark brown and the consistency and size of toothpaste.

Broken quills can be mites or they can simply have gotten broken somehow. Our Freckles is famous for breaking off his quills at times and we have no clue how or what he does it on but we suspect his igloo.

It is so hard to tell with these little guys that they are sick or something is wrong with them. Especially for a new owner. Our first little guy died of pnemonia 9 days after we got him. Now we would recognize that he was ill but back then as inexperienced hedgie owners it took a few days to realize and by then the antibiotic didn't have a chance to work.

RIP Petey.

bgbutterfly
09-19-2004, 12:41 AM
I am so sorry. One thing you might want to consider is maybe accepting the refund from the pet store. Then take the money and see if you can find a reputable breeder to buy your next hedgie from. You can search on here to see if you can find a breeder near you. Even if you can't find one immediately available, that would give you some time to do more research to prepair for his/her arrival. It sounds like you were doing a good job though, good luck if you decide to give it another try!

PrettyHate
09-19-2004, 01:55 AM
KirstenRoche-

I know how horrible it feels to lose a new pet. It is hard to believe how quickly we can become attached to our little ones.
I havent lost a hedgie, but I did lose my budgie Kaitie about 5 days after I got her. She seemed healthy when I bought her, and I didnt think too much of her runny poop (I thought it might be stress from the move etc). A few days after I had had her, and the morning of my chemistry exam I had her out with me, and all seemed fine. She was lively, and alert. I gave her a kiss, and put her back in her house and went to write the exam. When I came home a couple hours later, eager to begin the summer with her, I learnt from my mom that she had passed away while I was gone.

I felt SO badly, and couldnt help but blame myself. I now realize that it isnt my fault, and that sometimes when a pet passes away, it is of no fault of our own. You did all that you could, and I know that your baby knew he was loved. Be happy to know that he got the spend the last few days of his time here with someone that cared for him as much as you did.

So sorry for your loss. Best of luck with the pet store and finding a new hedgie.

-Laura

ladydolphin
09-22-2004, 09:20 PM
I send my condolences. My BoBo was there to meet him across the rainbow bridge. It's hard to lose a pet that we have had for such a short time. I pray that healing will take place for you in time. Jeanne