Hedgehog spines

[pattie may]

Last night I had a new hedgehog visit my garden. Well I think he's a new visitor. He ate some food and as I watched him on my CCTV camera he didn't seem right to me. His lower spines seemed very smooth. When I approahed him he put his head down and the spine on his upper back prickled but the spines on his lower back stayed flat. I picked him up and he curled up but the lower spines lay flat. Any idea what may be wrong or does this sometimes happen. When I put him back on the patio he ran off very fast. So he doesn't have a mobility problem.

[CharlieCreek]

Hi Pat,

Normally this would indicate a spinal fracture however then the hog would be dragging its back legs. Sometimes there can be issues with the complicated muscle structure that allows for the erection of the spines that could cause this. There have also been cases of extremely obese hogs that can't raise their spines but we are talking 2kg hogs in this case.

Either way obviously there is something that isn't right and as the defense system for the hog the spines issue is limiting its defenses and possibly pointing to a larger issue. So this guy needs to be looked at to see what is going on.

All the best

Charlie