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| 1 | 2 |  » Stats |
Members: 50,156
Threads: 82,348
Posts: 853,273
Top Poster: glsammy (15,069)
| | Welcome to our newest member, angelina50 | |  | | 
26-05-2008, 09:18 AM
| | New Member | | Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 6
| |  Hedgehog fleas
Morning all.
I have been seeing my resident hedgehog for quite a few weeks now, but lately I notice he/she is persistently scratching. Every few steps it has to stop and have a good go, often falling over backwards in the process, which is amusing for me to watch but obviously not so for the hedgehog. Does anybody know if this is normal behaviour? I can't say I've noticed it to such an extent in previous years. Is there anything I could do to alleviate its problem, or should I leave well alone? |
26-05-2008, 09:38 AM
|  | Active Member | | Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Essex
Posts: 62
| | | Re: Hedgehog fleas
You can use a bird mite and lice powder but do not ever use a cat or dog flea treatment as these are toxic.
I used to powder the ones I had in for rehab and the scratching reduced greatly 
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You can't stop the waves...but you can learn to surf.... |
26-05-2008, 09:49 AM
|  | Knight Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Bewdley, Worcestershire
Posts: 5,238
| | | Re: Hedgehog fleas
I believe as mentioned bird powder and wash them out with a little warm water
as not to drown the poor wee thing. Don't use sprays!!!
If in doubt give your local hedgehog rescuer a call! 
__________________
I dilly and dally along the Severn Valley
Last edited by Jez; 26-05-2008 at 10:01 AM.
|
26-05-2008, 09:57 AM
| | New Member | | Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 6
| | | Re: Hedgehog fleas
Excellent!
Thanks for the replies. Will get some bird mite powder and see how we get on. |
26-05-2008, 10:04 AM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Kirk Michael, Isle of Man.
Posts: 1,180
| | | Re: Hedgehog fleas
I was told to leave well alone as the hedgehog needs the fleas to stimulate its skin to keep it healthy and is a symbiotic relationship. Is this true or not?
Barbara |
26-05-2008, 10:12 AM
|  | Wild Member | | Join Date: May 2008 Location: Derry Ireland
Posts: 158
| | | Re: Hedgehog fleas
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bub-les  I was told to leave well alone as the hedgehog needs the fleas to stimulate its skin to keep it healthy and is a symbiotic relationship. Is this true or not?
Barbara | This came up on radio 4 the other day but sounds very fishy to me.
How can a parasite be a symbiont? Could be a wikipedia-type story. |
26-05-2008, 10:15 AM
| | Knight Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Bewdley, Worcestershire
Posts: 5,238
| | | Re: Hedgehog fleas
I have been doing some checking and Hedgehogs In Alderney don't have Fleas
__________________
I dilly and dally along the Severn Valley |
26-05-2008, 10:16 AM
| | Wild Member | | Join Date: May 2008 Location: Derry Ireland
Posts: 158
| | | Re: Hedgehog fleas
British Hedgehog Preservation Society
Killing fleas is good.
Unless there are some Flea Preservation Society members here? |
26-05-2008, 10:41 AM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Suffolk
Posts: 2,795
| | | Re: Hedgehog fleas
I would be very careful about any spraying/powdering at this time of year in case it is a feeding mother hog. |
26-05-2008, 10:46 AM
|  | Officer of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Baldock, Herts
Posts: 603
| | | Re: Hedgehog fleas
I was told that the hedgehogs on the Uists don't have fleas. So when they have been relocated to the mainland (as an alternative to killing them) they suffer alot as they don't have any natural "immunity". Any truth in this? | | | |
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