What are some common diseases and ailments of ...

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What are some common diseases and ailments of hedgehogs?

Question 2

How should a hedgehog be handled?

[Swizqar]

Answer to Question 1

A change in eating habits, such as reduced appetite, drinking excessive amounts of water, or a lack of thirst,
may be the first sign of illness in a hedgehog. Dark, torpedo-shaped fecal material is the sign of a healthy
animal. Soft, green, or liquid fecal material may indicate a problem.
Poor hygienic conditions cause many of the hedgehog's health problems. Following are some ailments that
affect hedgehogs:
(a) Mites
(b) Intestinal threadworms (Capillaria species), intestinal worms (Brachylaemus species), and coccidia
(Isospora species)
(c) Eye infections
(d) Diarrhea
(e) Overgrown toenails

Answer to Question 2

A hedgehog not familiar with you or your scent will roll up into a ball when you get near it. This is the
animal's natural reaction to danger. The spines on the hedgehog are very sharp. When one attempts to pick
up an animal that has rolled up into a ball, it is possible to get some painful pricks from the spines. Gloves
would be recommended for handling hedgehogs that are rolled up into a ball. As an animal gets familiar with
its handler and his or her scent, it will not sense any danger and will not roll up into a ball. The hedgehogs
can then be picked up with one hand on each side of its body and under the belly. A hedgehog that is familiar
with its handler will many times walk up into his or her cupped hands.

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Thank you

[Swizqar]

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