Hedgie is being mean.

[porkdisco]

Cuppy is quilling right now, and Ive read that its normal for them to be a bit grouchy, but how grouchy is normal? He is biting A LOT. He even bit me to the point he drew blood the other day.

I dont know what to do with him! He's being so mean. He'll sit with me in my lap, but if I touch him at all, he'll huff and bite. Even if I move, he'll try to bite my legs or my stomach and often hold my shirt or pants in his mouth and growl.

I dont know what to do! Is there something wrong with him? Do I need to get him checked out?

Any suggestions?

[porkdisco]

He's also ripping everything to shreds. My towels, my clothes, my bathmat, everything. He bites it and pulls the strings like he's trying to kill them!

What is his problem!?

[hularious]

i'm not expert, but it might be best to leave him alone during the process, including handling, etc. if he can sit calmly in your lap, do so, but don't touch his quills since it probably hurts a lot since the new quills are popping up from the surface. Have you tried giving him a bath w/ the extra mosturizers? (oatmeal, oliveoil, etc.) that will help soften the skin so the quills can break through the surface a little easier.

from what i've read, some hedgehogs return to their normal selves once they're done quilling.

then there's always plan b, call a hedgexorcist :dunno:

[hemi_mygirl]

Whatever you do, don't stop handling him, but be careful of his back, because quilling hurts. If you hold him on his back normally, don't do that while he's quilling. Give him some nice warm baths to soften his skin, and make the quilling process easier. I'm sure he's probably itchy as well, so put some uncooked oatmeal in a pantyhose, and squeeze the liquid over his back, or use a body wash with oatmeal in it (aveeno works great).

Until quilling is over, he may be a brat (as you're finding). Let him sit quietly in your lap, and over him some treats. Try not to pet or touch his back, unless very very gently. It's like an infant cutting teeth - he's miserable.

But he will return to his normal self after quilling. In some cases, he may end up even sweeter after the nasty quilling business is over.

[porkdisco]

Thanks so much...ive been trying the warm baths (even though he hates them), but I'll try the Aveeno. I will also continue to handle him daily, even though he's acting like he hates me.