And a Salt & Pepper one too!Happy Chinese New Year everyone!
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Hedgehog Biscuits!
It was baking day prior to Chinese New Year, and with a bit of creativity, this year we have something called the 'Hedgehog Biscuits'!
And a Salt & Pepper one too!
And a Salt & Pepper one too!
Friday, January 16, 2009
Illnesses & Ailments
Wobbly Hedgehog Syndrome
This illness is one of the most common you’ll find in hedgehogs. The hedgehog will lack mobility, and usually the legs will look ‘wobbly’ when moving, if it moves at all. This is due to the degradation of muscle control and up until now, there is no known cure to this illness. During later stages of the illness, the hedgehog will be unable to move, and will require regular observations and hand-feeding. According to reports, high diet of Vitamin E can hide the effects of this syndrome, but in actual it will do no better to heal. There have been mentions that the illness may be genetically inherited, but there is no evidence to prove this statement.
Cancer or Tumors
One of the fastest-spreading disease in hedgehogs, and very commonly found. The only solution is to bring your hedgehog to the vet regularly for check-ups and seek medical advices to cure this illness.
Obesity
Although not really an ‘illness’, it may lead to liver diseases if the hedgehog is having too much fat in the body. Poor diet and lack of exercise often points to obese hedgehogs, and it’s best to monitor your hedgehog’s food intake and prepare a proper diet. Wheels are also a good gadget to make sure your hedgehog have decent exercise to burn all the extra calories and fat in the body.
Green Poops
Some hedgehog owners may find their pet producing green and watery-texture stools instead of normal poops. Have your hedgehog traveled a lot recently? Did it fall from a high place? Had it been transferred to another home with drastic changes in environment? The usual cause of green poops is stress. When the hedgehog is having more than it can take, they’ll temporarily suffer from digestive disorders, although they will recover in days. Cheap cat-food and dairy products may also result in soft stools. Despite in countries like New Zealand where people are encouraged to place a tray of milk to attract wild hedgehogs to come to their garden and consume pests (insects), dairy is actually doing harm to a hedgehog’s body.
Mites
Constant scratching, flaky dry skin and loss of quills in concentrated areas are few symptoms that your hedgehog is having mites underneath its quills. Regular bathing (at least once or twice a month) will lower the chances of infection. Also, clean and disinfect the cage and supplies regularly will help. Change beddings. Locally, you’ll be able to find Frontline spray which can be used if your hedgehog is already infected with mites.
Although I haven’t come across anything from the list above (fortunately), I thought it would be useful to write something about hedgehogs’ common illnesses just in case anyone notices these symptoms in their pet hedgehogs. These will be useful information for all hedgehog owners, or those who intend to have one as pet.
This illness is one of the most common you’ll find in hedgehogs. The hedgehog will lack mobility, and usually the legs will look ‘wobbly’ when moving, if it moves at all. This is due to the degradation of muscle control and up until now, there is no known cure to this illness. During later stages of the illness, the hedgehog will be unable to move, and will require regular observations and hand-feeding. According to reports, high diet of Vitamin E can hide the effects of this syndrome, but in actual it will do no better to heal. There have been mentions that the illness may be genetically inherited, but there is no evidence to prove this statement.
Cancer or Tumors
One of the fastest-spreading disease in hedgehogs, and very commonly found. The only solution is to bring your hedgehog to the vet regularly for check-ups and seek medical advices to cure this illness.
Obesity
Although not really an ‘illness’, it may lead to liver diseases if the hedgehog is having too much fat in the body. Poor diet and lack of exercise often points to obese hedgehogs, and it’s best to monitor your hedgehog’s food intake and prepare a proper diet. Wheels are also a good gadget to make sure your hedgehog have decent exercise to burn all the extra calories and fat in the body.
Green Poops
Some hedgehog owners may find their pet producing green and watery-texture stools instead of normal poops. Have your hedgehog traveled a lot recently? Did it fall from a high place? Had it been transferred to another home with drastic changes in environment? The usual cause of green poops is stress. When the hedgehog is having more than it can take, they’ll temporarily suffer from digestive disorders, although they will recover in days. Cheap cat-food and dairy products may also result in soft stools. Despite in countries like New Zealand where people are encouraged to place a tray of milk to attract wild hedgehogs to come to their garden and consume pests (insects), dairy is actually doing harm to a hedgehog’s body.
Mites
Constant scratching, flaky dry skin and loss of quills in concentrated areas are few symptoms that your hedgehog is having mites underneath its quills. Regular bathing (at least once or twice a month) will lower the chances of infection. Also, clean and disinfect the cage and supplies regularly will help. Change beddings. Locally, you’ll be able to find Frontline spray which can be used if your hedgehog is already infected with mites.
Although I haven’t come across anything from the list above (fortunately), I thought it would be useful to write something about hedgehogs’ common illnesses just in case anyone notices these symptoms in their pet hedgehogs. These will be useful information for all hedgehog owners, or those who intend to have one as pet.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
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