Please Help! Odo is not acting normal

[Ododad]

Please help me. I got Odo about five months ago, and she was six months old when I got her. She has always been very friendly and active since day one. She has always loved her meal worms, has always eaten her reguler foor (chichen soup for the cat lover's soul) with relish and has always been a good water drinker. The problem: I noticed two days ago,(a) she does not eat her meal worms with the same gusto and does not even finish them. (b) she has not ran in her wheel for three nights when she has always been a big time fan of her wheel. (c) she sleeps all night and all day when she used to be up all night. (d) she seems to want to burrow more than usual (e) she dosen't drink as much water as usual (f) she usually loves "out of cage" time and loves to explore around the room but now only wants to curl up under a table when allowed out.
Her poops are normal, no discharge from eyes or nose and her quills seem to be normal. She still unrolls at the same pace as usual (right after I pick her up) I noticed today that she seems to be a little bit wobbly when she walks. I am very worried about her. I don't have a vet nearby that knows anything about Hedgie's and I am new to them myself. Could it be that she is trying to hibernate? This would be her first cold season. The temp in the house is kept at 76F night and day for her and that hasn't changed. I have become very attached to my little Odo and am scared to death that something is wrong with her. She has always been healthy before this. Can someone please help me?

[Q-Bert's Mom]

Put a heating pad under her cage to help keep her warm. It's very possible that she is just a little too cold and needs some extra warmth. Double check the temp in her cage. It may be lower than you think. Make sure she has fresh food and water available to her at all times and that she is still eating and drinking. She may snap out of it once she becomes warmer. Give it a try and keep us posted. Plus, check other posts on the forum about hedgies trying to hibernate. You'll find lots of good info and advice from other hedgie lovers. Good luck!

[Love4Hedgies]

It sounds that she is trying to hibernate which is a common problem around this time of year. Put a human heating pad on one side of her cage. She may just perfer hotter weather...Zoe likes like 77 or higher. Just warm her up by putting her under your shirt and add a heating pad and keep a close eye on her. Attempting hibernation can leave their immunne systems low and she could be more suseptible (sp??) to illness. Good luck!!

[Nancy]

Yes, it certainly sounds like hibernation. Is there a thermometer in her cage? Some thermometers are not very accurate. I have one that consistently reads about 3 degrees cooler than the others.

As the others have mentioned a heating pad under one end of her cage is needed.

Watch her closely and make sure she stays warm. Keep us posted. :)

[Ododad]

Thanks for the replys! I put a heating pad under one side of her "condo", (she has a three room condo, and yes, she is spoiled rotten!) but she avoids that side now. She is very sensitive to light and sound, maybe the heating pad is making some kinda humming noise that she can hear and I can't. I don't have a thermometer in her condo, I will put one there though. What temp is best? Everytime I try to add heat, as in a heat lamp(didn't like the light), heating pad(avoids this) and even bought a small cermanic heater(she dosen't seem to like the breeze) she seems to avoid the heat sources. I make sure that she has fresh food and water everyday but she is not partaking in either like she usually does. I haven't bothered her today, letting her sleep the day away but will try to arouse her after dark to check for improvment.
Thank you all so much for your help. I have read a lot of other posts here about hibernation and have learned a lot. I am going to try to keep Odo on her regular schedule of night and day as much as I can.
I am very glad I found this MB. Can one upload photo's here? Odo is an albino, with pink eyes and a cold, wet pink nose!

[Nancy]

Feel her tummy and her feet. If they are warm this is probably not a hibernation issue. If her tummy is cool she is attempting hibernation and needs to be warmed up immediately.

A human heating pad will be fine on low under one end of her cage.

If she is getting a breeze from the heater then her cage is too close. Make sure the heater is well below cage level.

I just love albinos. :)

[Hollys Mom]

You have gotten a lot of good advice. You might also want to get or make a hedgie bag to give a nice, dark, warm hiding place. I made mine by sewing 12"X18X a denim bag and then lining it with fleece. This time of year the hedgies can be found in or out of the bags, but once the weather is cool and the house is below 75, they dig in deep to stay nice and cozy. There are many sites on line to get hedgie bags - check them out! Just make sure they are washable.

Keep us posted!

[Ododad]

You guys are all great here!
Odo woke up and seems to be a little better. She has eaten her regular food and drank some water. I took her out of her house for some "freedom time" and she seems to be showing a little more of the old intrest that she used to have. She even licked a little bit of salt off of a potato chip! I felt her belly and feet, got nipped for my troubles, and they both seem to be warm. I did away with the heating pad and the heater, and am keeping the house at 76F. A little warm for me but I can adjust. I just want her to be comfortable. The idea about a bag is an awesome idea! My wife is pretty good at sewing and said she would make Odo one, with fleece lining. I have been reading a lot of the post here and have found quite a lot of information. Much more than some of the sites that I have been to. If Odo keeps doing better, then I will attempt her first bath tomorrow. Wish me luck!! LOL

[Ododad]

Feel her tummy and her feet. If they are warm this is probably not a hibernation issue. If her tummy is cool she is attempting hibernation and needs to be warmed up immediately.

A human heating pad will be fine on low under one end of her cage.

If she is getting a breeze from the heater then her cage is too close. Make sure the heater is well below cage level.

I just love albinos. :)Wow! you have 13 hedgies? :applause: I bet they keep you hopping! LOL
I came across Odo in a pet store, and she broke my heart because she looked so lonely. She was about 6 months old, tiny little thing and was in a cage with another, bigger hedgie who I could tell was beating up on her. She looked all alone in the world, with her little pink nose and her pink eyes. When I first picked her up, she balled up for just a second then unballed and shoved her nose between my fingers and gave a huge sigh and I could feel her relaxing. She has owned me ever since. LOL :itslove:

[Nancy]

Wow! you have 13 hedgies? :applause: I bet they keep you hopping! LOL
I came across Odo in a pet store, and she broke my heart because she looked so lonely. She was about 6 months old, tiny little thing and was in a cage with another, bigger hedgie who I could tell was beating up on her. She looked all alone in the world, with her little pink nose and her pink eyes. When I first picked her up, she balled up for just a second then unballed and shoved her nose between my fingers and gave a huge sigh and I could feel her relaxing. She has owned me ever since. LOL :itslove:

Actually we have 14 and are adopting another one possibly this week.
Aww, poor Odo. She sounds like such a sweet girl.

I would suggest holding off on a bath for a while. You don't want to risk chilling her just incase she is attempting hibernation.

Pm me your email address and I will send you directions for a hedgie bag... or... I do sell them ;)