Posted by kalandra on April 12, 2003 at 22:22:45:
In Reply to: Emergency!! Help! posted by Nutmaeg on April 10, 2003 at 22:47:20:
If you decide to get another hedgehog, try to find a vet in your area that will treat them. Hedgehog vets can be hard to find, and finding one that actually is good can be a real pain. There is a listing on http://www.hedgehogcentral.org/ that lists out vets which see hedgehogs in the US & Canada. Taking a newly acquired hedgehog to the vet for a wellness check is always recommended anyway. With an initial check being done your vet will have some history of your pet and will allow you to get to know your vet.
It is also recommended that your hedgehog regularly. Often the first sign that a hedgehog is ill is a sudden significant weight loss or gain. These little guys mask illness so well that often they will not show any other symptoms until they are hours from leaving this world.
Just some food for thought for any future owner who is reading these posts.
Kal
:My hedgie's been acting really sluggish the past couple days.. he's slept a full day and a full night, waking up only when we pick him up.
:Today it seems worse - he's not moving around at all, he looks like he's breathing a bit hard.. he's sleeping alot, and whenever he tries walking, he wobbles. I've kept him warm - warm blankets, under a heatlamp for a bit.
:I'm really worried because he's really emaciated - I can feel each individual rib, and he won't eat at all. Today he ate a little bit of cheese, but didn't seem interested at all. Now I can hold him on his back and he just stares up at me without even trying to turn over. I don't know what to do!!
:I've called vets here and they haven't even heard of hedgehogs (how stupid is that??).. what can I do??
