Change in Weather?

[groovychic]

I just had Herbie out and let him play. We have noticed that he's been loosing a large amount of quills again. I just counted 50 quills that I picked off his blanket that he was playing on! I noticed this happened in the Spring too when the weather started to get warmer. Could this large amount of quill loss be because it is getting colder now?

He doesn't have mites, I have been using flax seed oil on his food and his skin isn't dry anymore. I am just wondering if anyone else has hedgies that loose large amounts of quills when the seasons change? :confused:

[HedgeMom]

50 quills? How you KNOW he doesn't have mites? Mites require a skin scraping and microscopic exam.

I've never had a hedgehog lose that many quills at one time unless they were ill. And no, I've never seen a seasonal shed.

[groovychic]

50 quills? How you KNOW he doesn't have mites? Mites require a skin scraping and microscopic exam.

I've never had a hedgehog lose that many quills at one time unless they were ill. And no, I've never seen a seasonal shed.


I have treated Herbie for mites before, I have had him treated and know what to look for.....I have checked him over white paper and black paper. He has no symptoms of having mites. He doesn't scratch or itch. He has no bald spots. The same thing happened this spring for about a month and then it stopped.

[Nancy]

How old is Herby? Some of them go through a quilling at around a year old. Can you see new quills growing in.

A stressful event can cause quill loss. Both Cinder and Kei lost huge amounts of quills after they were spayed but Peaches lost nothing after her mammary tumour was removed. :)

[groovychic]

How old is Herby? Some of them go through a quilling at around a year old. Can you see new quills growing in.

A stressful event can cause quill loss. Both Cinder and Kei lost huge amounts of quills after they were spayed but Peaches lost nothing after her mammary tumour was removed. :)


Herbie is a little over a year old. I can see a few new quills comming in. His quills are very dense and grow in fairly thick. He isn't grumpy or anything like he was when he was young and went through quilling. He hasn't gone through any situations that would cause him stress. This is the most he has lost at a single time though. Yesterday he lost maybe 5 quills when he was out....so it's not like he is dropping massive amounts everyday. But I did get concerned when I counted 50 tonight.

[PrettyHate]

Two of my hogs continually lose a decent amount of quills (more than I would consider "normal")- neither have mites (they have been tested). Im not worried about it because they have no bald spots, new quills are always growing in, and they continue to eat well and be active :)

[groovychic]

Two of my hogs continually lose a decent amount of quills (more than I would consider "normal")- neither have mites (they have been tested). Im not worried about it because they have no bald spots, new quills are always growing in, and they continue to eat well and be active :)

Oh Good! That makes me feel a lot better :) Must be the cooler air up here that makes them lose quills more than "normal" LOL :lol:

[PrettyHate]

Oh Good! That makes me feel a lot better :) Must be the cooler air up here that makes them lose quills more than "normal" LOL :lol:

:) The good ol North :)

[Nancy]

Some of mine go through spells where they loose more than other times. I notice the ones that loose the most also have the thickest quill coats.

[groovychic]

Some of mine go through spells where they loose more than other times. I notice the ones that loose the most also have the thickest quill coats.


Herbie does have a thick quill coat too. Thank you for the replies. Makes me not worry as much now. :)