Baby Hedgehog Advice Please

Farplace · #1 (**permalink**) 13-07-2011, 01:22 PM

I have a young hedgehog, about 3 inches long. He was found lying on his side by a major road, on a hot day. He does not appear to have any injuries, but he is underweight. I put it down to the heat, and less food available.
I dont think he is eating much at all. I have tried him on cat food in gravy, cat food in jelly, soaked dry cat food, dried mealworms (rehydrated), Live mealworms, Omelette, tinned grasshoppers and banana, but he just ignores it. He walks through his food dish, and might have taken a couple of mouthfulls a day. There is also a dish of lactol, which is ignored.
Do I try bottle feeding?
He's on a heatmat, and sleeping under a towel. i have had him for 3 days. No fleas or other external parasites.
Ideas to kick-start is appetite please?
Jan

Hedgehoggy · #2 (**permalink**) 13-07-2011, 01:53 PM

Yes, I would Jan. In the first instance, if he’s also not drinking water try bottle feeding with some rehydration fluid, then a little later try with the mammal milk replacer (both to be given lukewarm, not cold - but you probably knew that anyway!). Is he toileting ok, have you checked inside his mouth for any probs (p.s. does he have teeth?)

Baby rusk mashed with either milk replacer or water (served lukewarm) is a good convalescing food to offer.

(Got to go out now, I’ll log in again later this evening, hope you have some luck with the bottle feeds)

Hedgehoggy · #3 (**permalink**) 13-07-2011, 05:11 PM

Any success, Jan? When I’ve had poorly hogs in who refuse to eat the standard foodstuffs, it’s amazing how many of them will readily devour baby rusk mixed with mammal milk replacer. I also add a pinch of SF-50 vits to the mix. I then start adding a spoonful of cat meat to the mix, and over the course of a few days, increase the cat meat while reducing the baby mix until they’re then eating just the cat meat – works every time! Hills A/D is an excellent convalescent food to give (it can also be watered down for syringe feeding), but I’ve rarely come across a poorly hog wanting to tuck into this with relish, unlike they do with the baby rusk mix.

Farplace · #4 (**permalink**) 13-07-2011, 06:24 PM

He has had a little Lactol from a bottle, as well as rehydration fluid. Can't get the baby rusks till tomorrow, but I will try him on them ASAP. He seems bright. Peeing and pooing fine. No obvious tooth problems. I do have some Hills A/D in, and will try him on a little warmed up with a bit of boiled water.
No idea what he weighs because one of the cats broke the scales... I will keep you updated.
Jan

Farplace · #5 (**permalink**) 13-07-2011, 07:33 PM

UPDATE: I have just caught him tucking in to a bowl of mixed "stuff". I think it was the omellete and the chopped chicken breast that did the trick! Im going to keep on topping him up with lactol until Im happier with his progress.