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The
Basics
Articles on basic care and considerations for new or prospective owners. Articles pertaining to health, nutrition, and veterinary care. Articles and pictures about hedgehog breeding, growth, and development. Articles for people who already own a hedgehog or want to know more than just the basics. Learn more about hedgehog colors! Wondering where to buy a hedgehog? Start here! Where to purchase hedgehog supplies and collectibles. Meet the hedgehogs of Hedgehog Valley! 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 All information on this web site is copyright of Hedgehog Valley. You may view/print the web pages for your personal use. You may also provide a link to these pages without prior approval. No one is allowed to re-post the information from Hedgehog Valley Web Site, including pictures, to any other web site, without the approval of Hedgehog Valley. Copyright 2002
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