Causes , Treatment , and bar
Joe Raedle / Getty Images
Mitesare galling andcommon parasitesthat sting and cause irritation to your hedgehog’sskin , spines ( quill pen ) , andhair . They canspreadfrom one hedgehog to another quite well . Fortunately , they’reeasy to prevent and handle . Unlike some other external sponger such as ticks and flea , mites will not typically bother human beings .
African pygmy hedgehog.Credit:Joe Raedle/Getty Images
What Are Mites?
Mites are a case of pocket-sized Red River or black arachnid , like spiders and ticks . You may or may not be capable to see the actual speck on yourpet hedgehogbut you probably will see the damage the tinge crusade to your pet .
Symptoms of Mites in Hedgehogs
You may not notice any sign of soupcon in your hedgehog when the problem is in the early stage and especially since your pet is covered in quills that can hide any fuss . However speck may be go around all over your Erinaceus europeaeus ’s typeface and capitulum , and may be visible . Regardless , as the innervation worsens , you will likely see symptom that may include the following :
Symptoms
Spine Loss
The presence of tinge can extend to hair’s-breadth and spine loss in your porcupine . While hedgehog will normally shed some of their thorn , areas of apparent spine loss or hair loss are unnatural and should be indicators that your hedgehog may have mites .
Excessive Gnawing and Scratching
Mites stimulate an itchy irritation and will cause your Erinaceus europeaeus to constantly and aggressively gnaw , cabbage , and even lick or chew itself to rid itself of the soreness . This eccentric of body process can lead to fuzz and spine loss . Your pet may even oftentimes rub up against its cage or object in the cage to scratch the itch .
Weight Loss and Low Energy
As with any animate being that has any type of irritation ordisease , your Erinaceus europeaeus may be uninterested in food for thought and it will begin to lose weight and act lethargic .
Dandruff and Red, Flaky Skin
The frequency of biting and scratching at its skin to relieve the itch will cause your hedgehog to rise injured skin that can be tender and red . The cutis will also become very flaky .
Causes of Mites
Hedgehogs can strike victim to mites in many way . newfangled hedgehogs brought into the home , bedding , and nutrient are the usual culprit of a mite plague . It ’s not unusual for hedgehogs to be overrun with pinch if , for example , it has lived in a favored store near rodents or razz . If you have n’t exposed your Erinaceus europaeus to another hedgehog , and have n’t deal another porcupine and then handle your own , the mite plague may originate in its kibble or bedding . rude items like food and substrate often comport modest pinch that are then are innovate to your hedgehog ’s inclosure and cause an infestation .
Diagnosing Mites in Hedgehogs
Your veterinarian will diagnose hint by conducting a skin scrape to incur a sample distribution of cutis and hair and look under a microscope for the mites . A cutis abrasion is not a dead exact run , but if there is a heavy burden of mites it will normally be able to detect their presence .
Treatment
Even if the peel abrasion used for diagnosing is disconfirming your veterinary may still treat for tinge free-base on symptom since mites are clean unwashed in Erinaceus europaeus . There are no anti - mite treatments specifically made for hedgehogs , but sure treatments made for cats are generally good . Your vet will probably use a drug such as ivermectin .
Avoid using any medication without your vet ’s approval , as Erinaceus europaeus reply bad to some treatment intended for cat and dog . In particular , avoid mite collars , permethrin nebuliser , or other permethrin Cartesian product , as these can be deadly to your pet .
If these mite treatment do not work and the skin scrape was damaging , further testing such as skin biopsy may be warrant to check for other disease or allergies .
away from regale your hedgehog for hint , you ’ll demand to take these footstep to treat its environment as well .
Prognosis for Hedgehogs With Mites
If given the correct aesculapian discussion by a veteran , your hedgehog should respond to the medicine very well . Environmental treatment for mites is usually successful if it ’s done long enough . However , perennial bouts of mite can take place if the last adults from the breakout were not caught and they begin to consist nut .
How to Prevent Mites
There are many ways to foreclose mites , and it almost always has to do with clean and maintaining your pet ’s environment . Take these hygienical measure to foreclose mites :
Diseases Of Hedgehogs . Veterinary Manual , 2020
Hedgehog Care . Lake Howell Animal Clinic,2020
Mite plague in Hedgehogs ( Erinaceidae ) in Israel – Characterization and Response to Treatment . Israel Journal of Veterinary medicinal drug
Caring for Your Hedgehog . Mountain View Vet
