My not-so-fun adventure and ?s

[SunsetBeauty]

Well, I had a very scary night last night.
I'm getting ready to go to lay down and I decide to take Calvin out again for a little bit before going to bed. I go to pick him up and he is curled up in the tightest ball I have ever seen - with all his quills up full force. I figure he's just in a bad mood and put him on the bed next to me. Well, Calvin usually unballs almost immediatly after picking him up. After about 3 minutes of him huffing/clicking and still not unballing, I got worried.

I finally got him to unball, but he wasn't moving around at all. Of course I'm freaking out - thinking he's dying, I've done something wrong, he's tramatize after the nail clipping episode last night, etc. After about a minute,it dawns on me to check his belly. I do (which result in many many quill pricks) and it's ice cold. Calvin has never tried to hibernate and Sonic, my first hedgie, never ever went into hibernatation, so this was my first dealing with it.

I grab Calving, wrapped him in a fleece liner, and we snuggled under my electric blanket with my comforter over us.
I was so freaked out. I couldn't stop crying. It was so scary to see him like that. After about an hour, he started moving around again. I was so happy to see his pretty face again! When I finally put him back in his cage, he immediately went in his food bowl, so I guess he's okay!:laugh:

We had a pretty quick temperature drop here the last couple of days - which has got to be what caused it. Plus, it's been getting really dark lately. I'm surprised though - I keep my room at 74 degrees, and he's not by a window or anything, but I wonder if the temp. dropped some in my room. I turned the heater up to 75 just for today (maybe permenatly if it makes him happy!).

I do have a couple of questions - I tried searching, but couldn't really find the answers.

1. Should I take Calvin to a vet? He seem to be okay, I checked on him morning and his belly is nice and toasty. But, I don't know if he should still be checked out? It's pretty cold out today and I don't want him to try again, but if he needs to go, we'll get bundled up.

2. I have two liners, a hedgie bag, and his hat in his cage. He (again) has decided to sleep under the liners, next to the bottom of the cage. Is there anything I should do? To me, that seems like a cold place for him to be. I don't understand why he wont sleep in his bag! :rolleyes: Should a put bedding under the liners, so he at least gets some warmth underneath him?

3. I know that after a hibernation attempt, they're more suspectable to getting sick. Anything I can do to keep his immune system up? Extra protein, etc.?

4. He's still pretty cranky - doesn't want me to touch him or anything. Is this normal? Should he "snap" out of it in a day or two? If he doesn't does it mean he's getting sick?

Poor little guy. I want to check on him every 15 minutes, but I think he'd get pretty upset!

Sorry this is so long!

[hedgieluv]

Don't feel bad that your little one tried to hibernate. You found out and warmed him up so he should be fine. My Sweetie Pie is very prone to try and hibernate and I've had to do a lot of things to try and make sure that she doesn't.

1. You can take him to the vet if it makes you feel better, but if he's fine and happy now it's not really necessary. If Calvin is an older hedgie you might want to take him in just to make sure because hedgies can mask illnesses very well, but I think he should be fine.

2. If he's always sleeping at the bottom of his cage you might want to get a heating pad for him. I use the Snuggle Safe heat disk (you just microwave it and it stays hot all night) and I wrap it up and put it under her cage.

3. They are more prone to things like mites or some other type of sickness after hibernation, just keep a very close eye on him and make sure he doesn't try to do it again. Other than that, a good diet and some play time to make sure he's okay are about all you can do (that I'm aware of).

4. Usually once Sweetie Pie is warm she's back to her old self relatively quickly. Every hedgies different but If he's still acting grumpy and won't unroll or unroll right away like he used to he might be trying to hibernate again. You said his belly was warm, but if he doesn't "snap out of it" soon I might take him into the vet just to make sure he's feeling good and doesn't have any type of bacterial infections or something like that.

I hope this helps you some. He should be fine, he just wants to keep you on your toes! :rolleyes:

[Nancy]

Poor Calvin :(
I hate sudden temperature drops outside because even though the heater is supposed to keep the temperature consistent it doesn't with a sudden drop.

I would suggest a heating pad on low under part of his cage for a few days just so he can stay on the warmth if he needs it. I would also ensure that there is a light on at least 12 hours a day. Sometimes they will attempt hibernation with lack of light also.

Usually within an hour of being warmed up after a hibernation attempt they are back to normal but I have found that once they attempt one they are more likely to try it again within a week or two.

What I usually do to check their temperature is to feel under where they are laying. I get some awful ticked off hedgies if I try feeling bellies while they are trying to sleep. If the bedding under them is warm then they are warm. If it isn't then whomever gets woken up and a tummy feel.

Watch him closely and if he attempts it again or is acting not quite right then I suggest a vet visit just incase the hibernation attempt was illness related rather than temp.
Hugs :)

[kaiteedyd]

I agree with Nancy. If he is warm enough he'll be producing alot of body heat and the bottom of his cage should be warm we he is sleeping. If it's not then thats a good indicator things need to be warmed up :)

[HedgePigLove]

1. Should I take Calvin to a vet? He seem to be okay, I checked on him morning and his belly is nice and toasty. But, I don't know if he should still be checked out? It's pretty cold out today and I don't want him to try again, but if he needs to go, we'll get bundled up.

I'd say hold-off on the vet for now, unless you're seeing other signs that something is "off" with Calvin. How old is he? How's his appetite? Is he showing a stable activity level? How's his urine looking? His feces? Weight? Changes in the latter six things can signal a problem, though not always. But, if you're worried and want a more professional opinion, then get Calvin into the vet; I usually figure that I'm worried over something trivial but then take my quilled kids to the vet anyway, just to be sure (it's nice to have someone actually "see" and check-out the hedgie and then roll their eyes at me and tell me to quit fretting!).

2. I have two liners, a hedgie bag, and his hat in his cage. He (again) has decided to sleep under the liners, next to the bottom of the cage. Is there anything I should do? To me, that seems like a cold place for him to be. I don't understand why he wont sleep in his bag! Should a put bedding under the liners, so he at least gets some warmth underneath him?

You could place a blanket/towel/insulating material OUTSIDE the bottom of Calvin's habitat. You could also place a heating pad (set on LOW) underneath part of the habitat (under only part, so that he can move on/off the warm area as he desires). I've had good luck with the snuggle safe heat disks (you can order covers from them at http://www.pinsneedles.com - the covers are wonderful investments!) with the critters here. Again, I make sure that the hedgie has a place to sleep that's away from the disk and on the disk, so they can sleep where they're the most comfortable. You might also want to purchase a thermometer to place in Calvin's habitat to make sure that his living area is warm enough - it's a good way to make sure that he's not getting some odd drafts, etc.

As far as not sleeping in his bag, well, that's a hedgehog for you! They have a mind and will of their own and will do exactly what pleases them, no matter how much you beg for them to do otherwise. My little menace, Margie, likes to flip her hats upside down and then sleep nestled into the "bowl" - and Artie sleeps under his snuggle bag - and Penelope sometimes sleeps on her back in her litter pan - and Miss Pepper likes to sleep on top of the rock that's in her cage as a stepping stone. I can't figure out what they're thinking!

3. I know that after a hibernation attempt, they're more suspectable to getting sick. Anything I can do to keep his immune system up? Extra protein, etc.?

Keep him warm and unstressed. You can give him additional protein, especially if he's on the slender side, but it's probably not necessary (depending on his current diet). You can up the number of mealworms (or, preferable, silkworms - they're lower in fat) he gets. Or offer baby food (I'd recommend the Gerber second stage chicken [or a comparable product] which contains chicken and water and pretty much nothing else). Also, plain scrambley eggs are a big hit with some hedgehogs. (Mine just anoint with them.)

4. He's still pretty cranky - doesn't want me to touch him or anything. Is this normal? Should he "snap" out of it in a day or two? If he doesn't does it mean he's getting sick?

I am assuming that he's not normally cranky - if this is true, and he doesn't come 'round within 48-hours, I'd get him in for a check-up. Sudden temperment changes can signal a health problem. They can also signal that the hedgehog is working on driving you up the wall with their devious little minds *grin*.

Seriously, if you're still worried, then by all means get Calvin into a knowledgeable vet, for your own peace of mind.

It's my opinion, though, based on what you've said here, that you've cause for concern but not for worry/panic at this point. Keep an eye on the little guy and see if he goes back to being the hedgie you're used to being around.

On a slightly different, though related, note - do you keep a health/weight ledger for Calvin? You can download the ledger here for printing: http://zoey.ginaanderson.com/weightchart/ . I weigh my hedgehogs daily, at the same time each day, because it can be visually difficult to see a weight change. I also note their behavior, baths and bodily-upkeep stuff, what they're eating, etc. I can then whip it out at the vet's office and the vet can see exactly what I've been witnessing and recording. (The weighing at the same time each day is important, because their weight can go up/down by 30+ grams after eating a lot or after a bathroom trip.)

Good luck and please keep us updated! Laura

[Pringlesmom]

I'm sorry about your scary experience with Calvin!!! You did all the right things and you should feel proud. He is lucky to have you to snuggle with!!

[SunsetBeauty]

Thanks so much everybody!

I'm going to keep an eye on him and see how he is before taking him to the vet. He seems to be doing much better today. I never thought I'd be excited to have him annoit with hair! lol lol.
I'm going to the pet store in about an hour - to get a snuggle disk for him. Thanks for that suggestion!

Nancy - thanks for the hugs! :) I've got the lights down pat! lol I've got full-spectum lighting for the birds and it's on between 12 and 14 hours a day. (the things we do for our animals huh?? lol)
I never thought about checking where he's sleeping to indicate body temp. Makes more sense that trying to checking a cranky/sleeping hedgie tummy!! lol.

Laura- thank for all your advice. I'm not seeing anything else "off" with Calvin. He's about 6 months old. Appetite is fine- he's a little piggie! lol. Activity level was normal before the hibernation and actually right now -he's running around, playing with his tp tube. "Bathroom" habits have been normal. Weight's been fine too.
I'm going to wait and see how he's doing for the next day or two - if anything changes -he's into the vet!
His cage is ontop of a laudry basket, which is covered with a fleece blanket. But I'm going to get a snuggle disc for him for the next couple of days. And I'm going to check out those covers you suggested.
What kind of themoter would be best? He's got a cage with a plastic bottom and a wire top.

Yeah, I know hedgies have a mind of there own...I just figure out why he wouldn't want to sleep in his new warm hedgiebag! lol.

I think he's a little on the slender side, so I think I'll give him some extra baby food for the next couple of days. He's on a mix of cat food- wellness, csftcls, authority, and royal canin slim. Ohh, scrambled eggs, maybe I'll try tonight! lol

Calvin is normally a very friendly hedgie. A little huffing but not much! lol. He seems to be doing better. He's still jumpy and more huffy than usual, but he's getting better.

[quote/]They can also signal that the hedgehog is working on driving you up the wall with their devious little minds *grin*. [quote]

Yeah, he is! :) He's determing to drive me crazy! Thank goodness I love him so much!

Thanks for the link. I'll check it out. I keep a notebook for Calvin and all the birds. I like the idea of keeping track of behavior, bathroom, etc. That's a great idea. I know when something seems off with my pets- I tend to freak and forgot stuff when I'm at the vets. Thanks so much.

Thanks again to everyone, I'll keep you updated as to how Calvin's doing. Right now, he's sprawled across my leg sleeping! All his playing wore him off! lol lol.

Thanks again.

[SunsetBeauty]

I'm sorry about your scary experience with Calvin!!! You did all the right things and you should feel proud. He is lucky to have you to snuggle with!!

Thanks so much! I appriecate it. I just have to say, I'm glad I did all the research I did, before I got Calvin. Otherwise, I never would have know what to do!

Thanks again! :)

[badrubberhedgie]

2. I have two liners, a hedgie bag, and his hat in his cage. He (again) has decided to sleep under the liners, next to the bottom of the cage. Is there anything I should do? To me, that seems like a cold place for him to be. I don't understand why he wont sleep in his bag! :rolleyes: Should a put bedding under the liners, so he at least gets some warmth underneath him?


Poor little guy. I want to check on him every 15 minutes, but I think he'd get pretty upset!

Sorry this is so long!

I'm glad Calvin is alright! I don't know nearly as much about hedgies as most here, but I wanted to add that my Pooka sleeps like this as well. Instead of sleeping in the fleece or on top of the bedding (carefresh), she burrows under the bedding and throws the fleece on top of herself. Every time I wake her up from underneath there, she is always quite warm - I think it's because she has layers on top of her rather than underneath, so it keeps the warmer air trapped in with her. Also, there's not a lot of air circulation under the cage, so it doesn't get cold underneath. She's been doing that ever since I gave her fleece (she came with a pigloo, which she hardly sleeps in now).

[barton]

I am glad to hear that your baby is better. i had a similar scare with my baby and its so horrible. My boy has a tendency to go under the liners to i wonder if it is because they feel more sheltered so more safe? my baby would not sleep in his hedgie bad until i put it in a box with blankies now he likes it cause he is safely hidden. maybe you could try putting his baggie in a box in the cage ? it worked for me...thank goodness while he is not my piggie that tried to hibernate (that was my girl) he was still completely trashing his cage every night by sleeping like that. he might just want something to dig around in so you could add strips of material for him to route through!
good luck