Could it be Mites?

[placebo]

Hi everyone, I'm not new to the thread, but I haven't been on it in a long while now. Probably not since I got my hedgie a couple of years ago. Her name's Berkely, and she's probably pushing three years old.

I'm sorry if this question has been answered a billion times, and please don't hesitate to redirect me to another thread just in case, but I seem to be a little worried about my girl.
For a few months, she's had terribly dry skin, so I've been bathing her once a month and adding vitamin E oil to her really dry areas on her back (it won't hurt her, will it?) Anyway, just this month I've noticed that in the areas I've put the oil (it could just be a coincidence) she's actually losing her quills. Especially on her bum area. It's almost bald :(
She's still eating, and running on her wheel, but not very often. Maybe for a few hours in the evening. She's sleeping ALOT, so I'm wondering if she's hurting in any way? I've also noticed her one ear looks a little ragged--mites, I'm guessing? Would mites be making her feel all sluggish and such? I've never dealt with mites before. And she's not around other hedgehogs. Maybe the cats brought them in the house? I'm really at a loss about what to think at the moment.
As for diet, she's on Science Diet Light, (for cats). Maybe that could be apart of this whole thing? If anyone has any insight, let me know. I'm calling the vet for a checkup for next week--but around here, they are pretty pricey.
Thank you all for your time. Kate.

[paris26]

If she's got bald patches, then mites is probably a good diagnosis. A skin scraping at a vet will diagnose it and I like to use Revolution to treat it. Once she's been diagnosed, make sure you wash EVERYTHING in her cage thoroughly! Mites are pesky little buggers that will hang around in her bedding, etc. Sometimes hedgies will have mites on them that are in a dormant stage. I get a skin scraping done on every new hedgie I bring home to check for mites. They may test negative and then mites can appear 3 months later like they did with my Harriet.
Mite infestations can make hedgies cranky and sluggish. How warm is Berkely being kept?

I would suggest changing her diet from Science Diet to something else that is higher in quality.

[HedgieMate]

Hi, welcome back to CnQ. I agree, it sounds like Berkely has a mite problem... In addition to paris26's advice, below are several threads you can refer to. (The last one is a sticky from HHC warning people of the danger of Ivermectin.)

http://www.chins-n-quills.com/forums/showthread.php?t=82809&highlight=mites
http://www.chins-n-quills.com/forums/showthread.php?t=80371&highlight=mite
http://www.chins-n-quills.com/forums/showthread.php?t=90804&highlight=mites
http://www.chins-n-quills.com/forums/showthread.php?t=87220&highlight=mites
http://hedgehogcentral.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=1050

[placebo]

I would suggest changing her diet from Science Diet to something else that is higher in quality.

Thanks for your advice. What kind of food would you recommend? I'm open to buying anything as long as the petstores stock it. Thanks.

[placebo]

Thank you for your advice. I just found out that a vet visit would be close to $150! I was pretty shocked.
I'm wondering if it will cause Berkley any harm if I use the Revolution even if she doesn't have mites? Just as a precaution?
And any advice on what food to switch to? I'm willing to buy anything as long as the pet store supplies it.

[hedgehog69]

I have heard that it does not hurt to treat hedgies as a preventive with revoulution so I would say it would be ok to use it, it is a pretty safe treatment to use.but would ask someone that knows for sure.

[paris26]

PM PrettyHate and she can give you her rundown on how to read labels, what foods to feed etc. Plus she's also in Canada, so that helps :)

I prefer holistic foods for my hedge kids with no hedgie specific foods in my mix. They also get a rotation every night of veggies, fruits, meats, insects, etc.

You can use Revolution as a preventative even if your hedgie doesn't have mites, but you can only purchase the product through a licensed veterinarian and unless you have a good relationship with your vet, I doubt that they will prescribe it unless they see your hedgehog first. When Harriet had her outbreak, all of my hedgies were treated because they all share the same play area and I didn't have any negative repercussions