The Basics

Articles on basic care and considerations for new or prospective owners.

Vet/Health Care

Articles pertaining to health, nutrition, and veterinary care.

Breeding and Development

Articles and pictures about hedgehog breeding, growth, and development.

Advanced Care Issues

Articles for people who already own a hedgehog or want to know more than just the basics.

Colors

Learn more about hedgehog colors!

Purchase a Hedgehog

Wondering where to buy a hedgehog? Start here!

Hedgehogabilia

Where to purchase hedgehog supplies and collectibles.

Our Herd

Meet the hedgehogs of Hedgehog Valley!

Other Critters

Meet the other critters that call or have called Hedgehog Valley their home!

Ear Drainage Problems in Hedgehogs

Sometimes hedgehogs will get a nasty drainage in their ears. The first thing that you will need to check is the consistency. If it is granular, it is most likely mites. It may seem shocking, as the ear may be clear one day and filled the next, but mites can cause that. If you have any suspicion that mites may be involved, it’s usually best to take hedgehog to the vet right away to check for mites and to treat if they are found.

There is another type of drainage, more of a runny type of goo, that can be caused by yeast infections. I had one hedgehog named Janaki who used to get this type of infection about 4 or 5 times a year. When this occurred, my veterinarian advised me to first use a q-tip outside of the ear to clean the yucky stuff off of that area. Then he had me use a 1cc syringe with peroxide in it to do the initial inner ear cleaning. First, I would drip about half of the peroxide into each ear. It foamed and didn't seem to be very comfortable for the hedgehog. Later in the day, I would do the same thing with a half water/half vinegar solution. I did one in the morning and one in the evening for a course of 3 treatments of each. It pretty much always cleared up with this treatment.

The important thig to remember is that when in doubt, always take your hedgehog to a veterinarian. If your hedgehog appears to be having balance problem, then this is especially important, as ear infections can do permanent damage to the inner ear.

 If you suspect any kind of bacterial infection, you will need the vet to prescribe an antibiotic. If your hedgehog has more symptoms than just the goo from the ear(s), you’ll need a vet to diagnose further as there could be polyps or cancer present. And, if the problem recurs (like with our Janaki), you’ll want the vet to check to make sure that you are treating the correct problem. The vet will make sure that you are giving the correct treatment to remedy the problem.

Antigone Means

Iola, KS

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This page last updated by Tig on  11/10/18