Why is my hedgehog breathing weird?
Respiratory Infection
Hedgehogs easily develop respiratory infections, especially when they are young. For example, bacterial infections, such as pneumonia, are common. Signs of a respiratory infection might include sneezing, a runny or crusty nose and eyes, and raspy breathing, wheezing or coughing.
How do I know if my hedgehog has a respiratory infection?
Respiratory diseases, especially pneumonia, are often seen in pet hedgehogs. Symptoms may include nasal discharge, sneezing, and difficulty breathing. Severely affected pets may be listless and stop eating.
Why do hedgehogs make a huffing noise?
Huffing and puffing is a way for a hedgehog to say, “I’m big and bad.” It is a sign that your hedgehog is feeling threatened and scared, nervous, or possibly unhappy. When a hedgehog huffs and puffs, it is trying to intimidate whatever is making it feel defensive.
Why is my hedgehog making weird noises?
A Quick Guide to Hedgehog Noises:
Grunting and snuffling, like a pig = hedgehog out and about, looking for food. Chuffing like a steam train = mating season. Chirping like a baby bird = hungry hoglets in the nest. Screaming Hedgehog = in pain and distress.
How do you treat a respiratory infection in a hedgehog?
A long course of antibiotics may be required for pneumonia and other infections. Decongestant/expectorant drugs may also be used to help the hedgehog breathe more easily, along with pain relief. A few drops of olbas oil on bedding can also help hedgehogs with minor breathing problems.
Can hedgehogs get upper respiratory infection?
Predisposing factors for upper and lower respiratory tract infection in hedgehogs are suboptimal environmental temperature; aromatic, dusty, or unsanitary bedding; concurrent disease causing immunocompromise; and aspiration of material from an oral infection.
How do you treat respiratory infection in hedgehogs?
What causes respiratory infections in hedgehogs?
What is hedgehog Lungworm?
Lungworm is the common name used to describe infestation of the lungs with parasitic worms. Two types of parasitic worm, Crenosoma striatum and Capillaria aerophila, are known to cause lungworm in hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus). These parasites can be found on their own, although mixed infections are also common.
How do I know if my hedgehog is happy?
If a noise is loud to you, it is probably too loud for your hedgehog as well. Observe the sounds your hedgehog is making towards you as well. If he is purring, he is happy and content.
How do you know if a hedgehog is ill?
How can I tell if a hedgehog is sick?
- Does its skin spring back when you pull up a couple of spines? If the skin appears to stay in place, the hedgehog could be dehydrated.
- Does the hedgehog look thin?
- Does the hedgehog have a funny smell?
- Is the hedgehog having trouble breathing/coughing?
How do you know if a hedgehog is stressed?
Tiredness or excessive sleeping during the evening (their normal time to sleep is during the day) If stressed, hedgehogs might exhibit stress symptoms such as jumping, hissing or snorting. Twitching or shaking its head nervously. Spines and fur falling out.
How do you treat lungworm in hedgehogs?
There is no known control for lungworm in free-living wild hedgehogs. If you feed hedgehogs in your garden make sure that you rotate feeding sites and clean the areas regularly to prevent accumulation of hedgehog faeces.
What is hedgehog lungworm?
How do you know if a hedgehog has lungworm?
Signs of disease
Signs of lungworm, therefore, can range from no disease to snuffles, wheezes, nasal discharge, increased respiratory effort (sometimes with rattling breathing), cough, weight loss, reduced appetite, weakness, reduced activity, staggering gait and open mouth breathing.
How do I know if my hedgehog has lungworm?
Signs of lungworm, therefore, can range from no disease to snuffles, wheezes, nasal discharge, increased respiratory effort (sometimes with rattling breathing), cough, weight loss, reduced appetite, weakness, reduced activity, staggering gait and open mouth breathing. In severe cases, the disease can cause death.
Can hedgehogs survive lungworm?
Lung worm is a parasite that occurs naturally in hedgehogs but, in a healthy hog, it will be kept to a manageable level. It is when the hedgehog’s immunity is low – due to disease, injury, or dangerous weight loss – that the lung worm will take hold. Lung worm can be fatal if it gets out of control and goes untreated.
How do you know if your hedgehog is stressed?
Signs of aggression. Tiredness or excessive sleeping during the evening (their normal time to sleep is during the day) If stressed, hedgehogs might exhibit stress symptoms such as jumping, hissing or snorting. Twitching or shaking its head nervously.
Should I leave a light on for my hedgehog?
Light. Because they are nocturnal, hedgehogs do best with a consistent source of light for about 12-14 hours each day. It’s a good idea to have a light with a timer near the cage, or keep an overhead light on for the allotted time.
When should I be concerned about my hedgehog?
However if you find a hedgehog staggering around, lying still (not in a nest), with flies around it or obviously sick or injured be it day or night, it needs urgent help. Sick, injured and orphaned hedgehogs are very susceptible to hypothermia.
How can you tell if a hedgehog is dehydrated?
Things you can look out for are: Does its skin spring back when you pull up a couple of spines? If the skin appears to stay in place, the hedgehog could be dehydrated. Ensure the hedgehog has access to plenty of water if you suspect dehydration.
How do I destress my hedgehog?
A bath may help your hedgehog relax and get to know you through the bathing process. Even the grouchiest hedgehogs will uncurl in water. Allow a tiny gentle stream of water to run over your hedgehog’s back. Many times the sound of the water alone is enough to get a hedgie to uncurl.
How do you relax a hedgehog?
Talking to your hedgehog while holding, snuggling, bathing, and other enjoyable activities will help your hedgehog associate the sound of your voice with comfort and enjoyment. Over the years we have found the radio and music very soothing for a variety of different animals.
How do I know if my hedgehog has a fluke?
Fluke can cause excessive hyperactivity and the poo to smell particularly horrid. I can smell fluke before I see it under the microscope. Hedgehogs with lungworm can have a terrible deep cough like a smoker’s cough. A high worm burden will often put a hedgehog off eating.
Is lungworm common in hedgehogs?
Of the 3,000 hedgehogs we treat at Tiggywinkles every year, the vast majority will be suffering from lungworm, which is prevalent in the autumn and winter months.