Sharing our home with a pet is undoubtedly a good decision, as well as a great responsibility. Although initially only cats and dogs had a place in the world of pets, today and with increasing frequency we find that pets are very diverse and many people choose to share their space with an exotic pet.
The hedgehog is one of those exotic pets that is becoming increasingly important as a companion animal, and we must be clear that, like any other animal, it needs care and attention that allows it to enjoy a complete state of well-being.
One of the most common signs seen in a hedgehog and of concern to owners is itchy skin, so in this article on our site we help you understandwhy your hedgehog scratches a lot . Keep reading!
Moult of tines
The period of moulting of quills in the hedgehog, also known as quilling, is a phenomenon that is repeated periodically until the hedgehog acquires quills as an adult and their color is finally defined.
During this process we can see our hedgehog restless, with itchy skin and dandruff One characteristic of shedding quills is that if this occurs normally, we will not observe in our hedgehog body areas without quills, since as some are lost, others grow.
Let's see below when your hedgehog will be in the process of shedding its quills:
- At 4 weeks old it will change the nest barbs for the juvenile ones
- At 6 weeks of age the first color change will occur in the quills
- Approximately in the second month of life it will make a second molt and change the juvenile quills for the adult ones
- Between 3 and 6 months of life we will again observe a moult of quills, the new quills will acquire a definitive color and will be thicker
During the changing of the hedgehog's quills it is important not to disturb our pet, lubricate its skin with jojoba oil or hypoallergenic liquid petroleum jelly, do not place it on its back and remove the quills that have remained inside its cage.
Dry Skin
The hedgehog's skin can suffer changes in its level of moisture and become dry, giving rise to various signs and symptoms, we can observe the dry and irritated skin with the presence of dandruff as well as the loss of some bristles that does not correspond to a shedding period.
This alteration in the hedgehog's skin may be due to environmental factors, poor rinsing after bathing or inadequate feeding.
Same as when shedding quills, we must moisturize the skin regularly and use jojoba oil or hypoallergenic liquid petroleum jelly.
Mite infestation
Our hedgehog is susceptible to external infestation caused by mites, small arthropods that can be seen as whitish particles, similar to dandruff.
When a hedgehog is infested by mites, it manifests it through the following symptoms:
- Irritated skin
- Reddish skin
- Peeling
- Burning Skin
- Excessive scratching
- Tip Loss
- Lack of appetite
- Weakness
Mite infestation should be treated immediately as it can lead to secondary bacterial infections. If we brush the bristles of the hedgehog on a black surface, we will observe that what we thought was dandruff moves, therefore, we are in the presence of parasites.
In this case we can use dewormers that contain the active principle selamectin, however, the veterinarian is the only person qualified to administer or prescribe any pharmacological treatment.
Fungal infestation
Fungal infestation, also known as ringworm or dermatophytosis can affect our hedgehog if its skin is not in optimal condition.
If our hedgehog suffers from ringworm we can notice it through the following manifestations:
- Skin lesions
- Crusts
- Peeling
- Hyperpigmentation (darkening) of the skin
- Excessive scratching
- Bleeding from lesions
- Widespread spike drop
Fortunately fungi can be treated, however, treatments are lengthy and require active monitoring by the owner and veterinarian. Generally, antifungal active ingredients will be used topically, such as ketoconazole, although oral treatment can also be carried out depending on the severity of the case.
If we suspect the presence of fungi in our hedgehog we must immediately go to the vet, furthermore, only he can prescribe the treatment timely drug treatment.
Tip Hold
Sometimes the quill shedding process does not occur as normally as it should since some quills may be retained causing an infection at the baseof the same that is accompanied by a pus accumulation Occasionally the spike and the abscess do not follow a normal course and this can produce subcutaneous cysts in our hedgehog.
In these cases we must keep the area clean and disinfected (applying an antiseptic), in addition, the topical application of antibiotics will also be necessary, and in some severe cases, the oral administration of drugs.
We must remember that veterinary attention is essential because the veterinarian is the only professional qualified to prescribe drugs to our pet.
What to do if my hedgehog scratches a lot?
We have been able to observe that when a hedgehog suffers from excessive scratching, there are multiple causes that can cause it, some of them are minor and may simply be due to an inadequate diet, but others can end up being very dangerous, such as those characterized by an infestation of parasites.
In order to diagnose the underlying cause and provide our pet with the best care, the ideal is that when we notice the presence of this excessive scratching we should not hesitate to visit the vet, in fact, this is the only way to ensure that our hedgehog receives the treatment it needs.
Do you share your home with a hedgehog?
If you have decided to welcome a hedgehog into your home, we recommend that you continue browsing our site to find articles that will be very useful:
- The hedgehog as a pet
- Basic care of a hedgehog
- Newborn hedgehog care
- Types of hedgehogs
- The diet of the African hedgehog
