continuing on the losing quills...advice

[spikeymom]

I posted a few days ago about my hedgehog losing some quills. I've got him for about 2 weeks or so. He is a loaner in that one of the students at my school said my class could keep him for as long as we wanted. I think the mom is trying to get rid of him. Anyway, Wednesday night after I took him out of his ball I noticed a pile of about 20 quills on the floor. That is when I posted about losing the quills. He has been acting fine and normal (as much as I know of his normality). Today he lost another 6 quills. I emailed the mom and told her Spikey needed to probably go to the vet. She is going to take him, but probably will not be able to until Monday. I am worried something will happen to him over the weekend. Is there anything I can do? Anything I should watch for? There is a spot on his back where you can tell the quills have been coming out and the quills that come out have the little ball attached. There is only one place in town that will see hedgehogs and it is rather hard to get in there.

How long do hedgehogs live in captivity?

Thanks so much,
Cheryl

[Tampaquillowner]

I believe they tried to answer your question in your other thread. If he is quilling he will lose a lot of quills and you should be able to see new quills growing in.
Also a little bit of advice. When you say you took him out of his ball do you mean a hamster ball? Just FYI hamster balls are not great for hedgies (or any animal really) because there is such poor ventilation in the ball itself. Also you cannot tell if he is really enjoying himself or if he is terrified and trying to get out of the ball. At least on a wheel they can voluntarily get off the wheel when they are tired or scared. In a ball they are confined and are at the mercy of the owner to decide when they are done.
I suggest you go through the new owner section and get as much info as possible on your hedgehog. There are many many helpful threads on this board. Hedgehogs live up to seven or eight years if they are in good health and are fed the right foods and given plenty of excersice.

[Ododad]

I agree with Tampa. I don't care much for those balls either and for the same reason that she listed.
At three years old, he should not be losing quills like that. He may lose a few due to the stress of moving into a new home but not like your describing. Also if you have noticed him scraching a lot and dry flaky skin, these are prime symptoms of mites. He really needs to see a vet asap. If you have to wait until Monday, then I guess that's what you will have to do. You can try to soak him in an oatmeal bath to try to give him a little relief until then.

[spikeymom]

I know this sounds dumb, but what do I do for the oatmeal bath? Do I put it in the water and hold him in there? I wear the gloves because he isn't used to me yet, but I think he is starting to recognize my voice. How bad will it hurt if he balls up in my hand? He always hisses when I stick my hand in the cage. I wait for him to walk up onto the glove and then take him out. Less balling that way.

[jules_77]

take an old panty hose and cut one of the feet of and then put some oatmeal in it, then you can squeeze it in the water to make the oats stuff come out but you won't get oatmeal in his quills, Most hedgies don't ball up in water they are usually to busy trying to climb out of the evil water to notice that you are doing, good luck!

[jules_77]

just put about 2 inches of warm water in the tub or sink and put him in and let him walk around

[paris26]

I run the bath water so that it's tepid. It may seem cooler to you, but hogs are more sensitive to temps. I add a tsp of Aveeno's Oatmeal bath powder to the water and stir. Then I plop hog in the tub and watch him try to get out :) I also have a small cup on hand so I can slowly pour water over their backs. Try not to get anything in their face. I use a soft bristled toothbrush to clean the quills. Make sure the hog is dry before you put them back in their cages
I don't think that having a hedgie ball in your hand really hurts. It's more uncomfortable than anything.