Unsocialized Hedgie needs some Help!

[Riddick]

Hello Hedgie lovers!

I mostly stick to the chinnie side of this site, but now I have a hedgie question.

I started work at a local pet store and they have a hedgie up for sale right now, since I am in charge of animal care and matience (cleaning cages) it is my responsibility to gain a little knowledge on each of the critters the store has right now.

I have effectionately named the little bugger Ed, who I was told is the salt and pepper snowflake color. Well, Ed isn't the happiest little guy on the planet when it comes to being handled, so I try and just leave him be as much as I can to keep him happy, I also talk to him softly and nicely to try and sooth him.

Well, Ed really hasn't come around at all, everytime I reach in to clean his cage, he rolls up in a ball and makes these terrible hissing noises at me. Now common sense is that he saying he wants me to go away, I leave him alone for the most part, but there comes a time where he has to be moved and handled.

I put and towel over him to pick him up, and very gentley I set him down on the counter and waited for him to unroll, which he did after several minutes. He poked his head out for a couple minutes to investigate what was going on, but everytime I tried to talk to him, he would roll up and start hissing again.

I want to know if there is anything I can do to make poor little Ed more comfortable, or give him something that might make him feel better.

Currently, in his cage there is:
a large towel for him to hide under
a igloo house
a tunnel box
and a puppy teething ring

the pet store is feeding him:

some kind of white mush that is grounded up, it looks like it has worms and bugs in it.

and Iams moist food kitten forumla

Anything that could help Ed be more comfortable, happy, and healthy I will try to do.

Any advice will be greatly appreciated, and please donot bash me, I am doing the best I can to make Ed happier. (Also remember that he is not mine)

Thanks!!

[hemi_mygirl]

First off, the food is terrible. Iams is horrible food for a hedgehog, mostly filler. Is there a chance the store would be willing to switch to something better (30+% protein and less than 10% fat)? Even Purina is better than nothing. Make sure it's kibble form. Dry food is better for the teeth than moist.

As for socializing this animal, it takes time and effort. Since he's not yours, leaving a tshirt of yours in the cage probably wouldn't help, because he'd bond to you and then be bought by another person. Hold him for about half an hour or so everyday (or as much as your schedule allows), even if he is hissing. He's just scared.

By nature, some hedgies are spooky. He may never become a cuddly, friendly ball of quills. But he will get better if you take the time to help.

[Riddick]

What about Eukanuba kitten dry food? The store has many brands of cat food, give some some good suggestions and I'll see what I can do!

I will try to socialize him as much as my scedule allows, since there are many other animals in the store that need my care. I just want to make Ed feel a little bit better.

[hemi_mygirl]

Eukanuba is fine, but is it possible to find Eukanuba - Adult Weight Control (Cat)?

Or, go here: http://pogstarhedgehogs.com/nutrition/
They have lots of food reviews, as well as why they are good/bad.

I'm glad you want to help this little guy. A lot of pet stores just don't care about these guys. They don't care to learn about them. With a little time and lots of patience, I'm sure this guy will come around. Who knows...you may even fall in love with him and bring him home. :)

[hemi_mygirl]

Also, you didn't mention the little guy having a wheel. I know a lot of pet stores don't give small animals these luxuries, but a wheel is vital to a hedgehog's happiness. If your store will allow it, place a 12-inch comfort wheel or bucket wheel in there - or any wheel of similar size (no smaller than 11 inches) with a solid plastic floor. You'll find that the hedgehog may be happier every day, since he won't have so much pent up energy (I know this is what happened with my little girl. She was without a wheel for a week and as soon as I got a suitable one, she was the happiest thing).

[Riddick]

Eukanuba dry kitten food is what we feed our kittens at the store, so I have immediate access to it. I will try that and see how it goes. I will also suggest putting a wheel in his cage. The store carries 12" plastic ones that you described.

[hemi_mygirl]

Perfect. Anything is better than Iams. I hope that little guy loosens up and finds a good forever home.

Good luck on suggesting a wheel. I hope you get to put on in his cage.

[Nancy]

Royal Canin Slim 38 or Chicken Soup for the Cat Lovers Soul Lite are better foods than Eukanuba and it should be the adult lite formula of whatever food you use. Kitten food is too high in fat for hedgehogs.

If you can, get Ed out often during the day and evening for short amounts of time. If you carry mealworms try treating him to a few each day.

Very often hedgies will go into a quilly ball as you take them from their cage but as soon as they are out of the cage they are fine.

Ed is lucky to have you trying to do your best for him. :)

[Riddick]

We do carry meal worms, I will try a couple of those as well. I will see what we have at the store.

I know we carry Innova cat food, how is that? I will deff. put him on a adult lite forumla.

[Nancy]

Innova is a great food. I'd go for it since you have it. :)