Dry skin

[Gus'sMom]

My little guy seems to have fairly mild dry skin. I myself have dry skin so it may be due to dryness in my apartment. He is a little flakey but he does not have any reddness. He scratches now and then but not a lot. He also has not been losing any quills. What are some things to do to help make sure his skin isnt getting too dry. I want to make sure my darling is always comfortable Thanks :hyper:

[razzle]

Many people use flaxseed oil on their hedgie's dry food. A little goes a long way. You don't want to use too much because it can do more harm than good. I usually put 3-4 DROPS on his food a couple times a week. (If his skin is really flakey, I'll do it every night for a week, then back off, only using it 2-3 times a week). A lot of people like the Flaxseed Oil capsules because they last longer than the actual Flaxseed Oil which must remain refridgerated.

Check out this thread:

http://www.chins-n-quills.com/forums/showthread.php?t=90304&highlight=flax

[hedgehog69]

some people use vitamin e capsuals on their hedgies back, or give them a oatmeal bath

[keeja820]

i have the same problem with Lily, she scratches, but not so much to be worried. I am going to try the oatmeal bath, i also heard of using olive oil?????????
anyone else hear about this one??? im not too sure...lol

[HamorHollow]

I have used a little bit of olive oil in the water. Don't use too much or it will leave your hedgie feeling slimy. Also, keep it away from the eyes and nose.

The dry New England winters are a bad time for dry hedgehog skin. It is also important for everyone to note that mites are very common in the cooler months and they will actually reproduce more readily then they do during the warmer months.

If your hedgehog gets to the point where it has a lot of dandruff, please go to the vet for a skin scraping. You may be able to catch the mites before they are able to damage the quill follicle and quills begin falling out. Stress and illnesses can cause mite break-outs, so always keep your eyes open.

*This hedgehog health message brought to you by the letter H and the number 2* :winkgrin:

[groovychic]

I use flaxseed oil caplets on my hedgie's food and have noticed a big difference in their skin. They don't have as much dry skin and they have a nice shin to their quills.

[HedgieMomma]

Also use a humidifier in the room to help prevent the air from drying out which leads to dry skin. Rub a little baby oil or vitamin E capsules (broken up) into the skin gently. This should help resolved in a few days.
Best wishes,
Michelle

[Gus'sMom]

Thanks everyone for your input. I will try some of the suggestions. I live in upstate NY so the winter months are always tough on the skin. I cant wait for spring :banana: , anyone else???

[Lc51290]

I did the whole oatmeal bath and vitamin E treatment today on two of my girls. They seem pretty good so far!
This winter has been tough! Spring is only a few months away... :rolleyes:
Anyway you are the second hedgie person I have found today that lives in upstate NY. I don't know of any other local breeders, where did you get you little hedgehog from?

[Pesk]

What about sunflower seed oil? Is it ok for hedgehogs?