sick hedge

[cinders]

i got my first hedgehog a week ago right now i am very upset he is wobbly and seems out of it and i have no idea what i have done wrong can anyone help any ideas on what could be wrong when he trys to walk it is wobbly and he seems to just give up and lay down nose is not running he opens his eyes like a half way slant.help!!!!!

[Super Chin]

I can't be sure, but it is possible he is trying to hibernate. Feel his stomach. If it is cool or cold, then this is probably the case. Warm him up immediatly. Hold him near you, and he should begin to warm up and act better. Keep a close eye on him. If a hedgehog tries to hibernate once, chances are they will do it again soon. Is it possible there was a temperature change and it got to cold for him?

[Nancy]

I agree. He is probably too cool and is trying to hibernate. Spring and fall are very difficult times of the year to keep our quilly friends warm enough. In the spring with the warm weather coming we don't realize that what feels warm to us is not warm to our quilly friends.

Warm him up and make sure the temperature in his environment is about 73F. Super Chin is right that he will probably attempt it again unless he is kept nice and warm.

Also watch him closely for the next month as attempted hibernation weakens their immune system and they are suseptible to anything. The most common is a URI so if he starts to sneeze or gets a runny nose he will need to see a vet immediately. :)

[cinders]

thanks i will do that while the room he is in he ok for the chins i did not know hedgies like it warmer thanks guys

[Nancy]

If it is good for chins it is not good for hedgies. They are at opposite ends of temperature requirements. He needs minimum 73F and some require more. I find 75-76 a good temperature that seems to agree with them all. :)