Am I doing alright? Questions, Comments, and PICS!

[hijo]

Okay, I just wanted to say a few things and ask a few questions. um......

The Few Things I Have to say:

~Okay, I saw Poke annoint today. She was outside and she was licking the dirt, then some slugs, then she tried to eat some moss. You should have seen after she annointed! She had this gross brown goop coating her quills that was quite slimy because of the slugs that she licked...lol... (I caught the act on tape. I would show you guys but I don’t know where I should upload my movie (help?). I also took some pictures of her after when she had a REALLY dirty face and feet. They should be attached….)

~I think this is the cutest thing. First, look at the picture of my cage. After I take Poke out for her outdoor exploration, I put her down in her cage, right on top of her bed. Then she runs past her food and water, through the tunnel, squeezes under her wheel, and goes into her bed (under the fleece cloth). She never goes into her bed any other way, so I think she thinks it’s a tunnel leading to her bed. It’s soooooo cute to see it.


My questions:

~I know this is kind of a minor issue, but what can I do to make Poke look better? I’ve heard that a couple drops of flaxseed oil on their food can make their quills more glossy but what else can I do to keep Poke in tip-top looking condition?

~There is a picture attached of my cage set up. Does it look okay? I think she’s kinda bored at night but during the day I keep her pretty occupied with outdoor exploration! Lol…

~Okay, this issue kinda makes me concerned but I don’t think I should be. Poke hasn’t been eating all too well but I think it’s the kitten food she’s eating. I really don’t think she likes it all that much. ANYWAYS, we took her to the vet pretty much right after we got her and she weighed in at 400 grams. Now, after she hasn’t eaten very good, she still weighs 400 grams! EXACTLY! She looks a little skinnier too, but I personally think that is from all of her exercise (turning fat tissue into muscle tissue), but I’m still not quite sure.

~I’ve given Poke lots of footbaths and even some deeper water for her to wade in but I haven’t given her a real bath. Now, after all of her rooting around outside and pooping and peeing, she’s a BIG stinkypoo! She REEEEEEEEEEKS! Lol…Do you guys recommend any..um…. sweet smelling shampoo? Lol….She has also had some dry skin issues so I think I should use something that will help that too…..

Anyways, Thanks A LOT for listening to my rant. I hope you have some suggestions for me or something that might help me out! I’ll just edit if I forgot to mention something!

HIJO :)

[illinidairychic]

okay the flaxseed oil seems to work well... the weight thing seems strange, I would try to find a food she likes better so she doesn't drop too much if she's getting super active. For the bath use a baby shampoo or kitten shampoo. dilute it in the water. Watch out for her eyes and ears when you bath her. Also use a toothbrush to clean off her quills.

[illinidairychic]

Also great pics!! :)

[lil22]

Super cute pics! The cage looks pretty good to me! Sometimes I put a little olive oil or mineral oil in the bath water for my hedgies if they seem a little dry. That's in addition to the shampooing with a mild shampoo (puppy, baby, or kitten). I wouldn't be feeding her kitten food. Usually hedgies eat lite cat food. And if you find one she likes, her weight should be ok. I think most people (well, I do) use a mix of diffetent cat foods - csftcls, wellness, blue buffalo, evolve, etc...and maybe a hedgehog food thrown in, though that's probably not necessary. But anyways, with a mix of different kibbles, she's bound to find at least a couple she loves! Then you can widdle down your mix to those few if you like.

[CoquiMom]

I would stop letting your hedgehog eat or lick things outside since you do not know what types of pesticides are sprayed in your neighborhood.

I personally use a non-shampoo for the most part when bathing my hedgies so their skin does not dry out. Mine is aloe and oatmeal from the vet's office with no soap.

I feed five main cat foods, Blue Buffalo Lite, Royal Canin Slim 38, Chicken Soup for the Cat Lover's Soul Adult and Lite, and Special Kitty. I toss in Wellness, Wysong, Felidae, and Innova if I am where it is sold.

To keep weight on my runners (hedgies that wheel to the point of losing weight constantly) I give extra mealies, silk worms, and wax worms.

These are the things I do and may not be right for you.

Great "house" you have there and an adorable hedgie.

[hijo]

as for the licking issue....the little pen I made her to explore in is free of chemicals. It is in my section of the garden and I made sure of that first....

Thanks for all thee great replies!

HIJO

[Ododad]

Robin is correct about the outside bugs. Even if you don't use pesticides wild bugs can carry them from yard to yard. Plus wild bugs may contain diseases. I know it's a hedgies nature to forage and hunt for bugs but for safetys sake they should not be allowed to do so with wild bugs.
Don't have any suggestions about posting the video. Sorry.
The cage looks good to me. Maybe a small kitten play ball that has a bell inside for a new toy?
You said that she gets bored at night but you take her out for plenty of daytime outdoor exploration. Remember that hedgies are crepsular and sleep during the day. I take mine out for playtime and such after dark. They need their day sleep to remain healthy.
Hedgehogs normally eat about 1 to 2 table spoons a night of dry food. They may eat more or less than this at different times. Kitten food is high in fat so adult lite formulas are recommend. Some use kitten foods as treats and not the staple diet.
A really good shampoo, one that I have used for almost 2 years and recommend highly, is Tropiclean Puppy and Kitten Shampoo.
http://www.tropiclean.net/tropiclean_page.html#puppy%20&%20kitten
It's all natural containing only Coconut, Oatmeal, Aloe Vera and Vitamin E. It's tearless and Hypo-Allergenic.
For extra help with dry skin, I suggest placing a few drops of Vitamin
E (use a human sized capsule and poke a hole in one end and squeeze) placing two drops on the shoulders and maybe one or two along the back. When I do this I do it right after bathtime and place the drops on the quills after the hog is dried off. Then I let them run around. Their body heat softens the oil and it slides down to their skin. Don't use too much or you will have a very slippery hog! lol
Hope this helps and please feel free to ask more questions!
Forgot to say thanks for the awesome photo's! You have a very beautiful hog there!

[kaiteedyd]

She's probably running on the sides to get to her sleeping bag because she feels safer. By staying on the edges and underneath things she's 'hiding from predators'.

[hedgewood]

Is that a Zoozone one or two, just wondering because I use the same for my hedgies (each there own....of course). Hedgewood has the exact same wheel, she loves it. Cage looks good to me. Pics are very cute. One other thing I like to do is bath the hedgehogs immediately after coming in from outside, to remove any debris/bug/whatever may have gotten on them while exercising outdoors. Just a suggestion, I don't know if it is necessary or if i am just over protective.

[hijo]

A really good shampoo, one that I have used for almost 2 years and recommend highly, is Tropiclean Puppy and Kitten Shampoo.

Okay, I clicked on the link and on the site it has pet cologne. Do you think it's safe for hedgies? Poke is a little stinkbum and I'd like to be able to breathe when I'm playing with her and while I'm sleeping (she stays in my room). Does this seem okay?

thanks,

HIJO :banana: