African Hedgehog
Diseases part 2

Eyes
Hedgehog eye disease is not common, most likely due to the excellent protection the quills provide when they are pulled over the face. Hedgehogs can sustain eye injuries due to fighting or contact with protruding cage wires.
These pates can also develop infectious eye disease. Although not reported as of this writing, it is likely that hedgehogs can develop cataracts and glaucoma. A hedgehog’s eyes should be clear, bright and dark. If you notice swelling of the lids or of the eye itself, excessive tearing, squinting, staining of the face with eye discharge or a closed eye, there is a potentially serious problem that needs immediate medical attention. You can gently clean the eyelids of the area around the eye with warm water or saline on a cotton ball if there is dried discharge that might be causing discomfort. Particularly in the case of eye injuries, it is important to get your pet to a veterinarian as soon as possible in order to try to save the vision.

Ears
The most common disease that afflicts the ears of the hedgehog is mange mites. The second most common is fungal disease. The normal hedgehog ear appearance is thin, nearly hairless skin with a smooth edge. There should be little or no wax present in the ear canal. The signs of both fungal and parasitic disease are similar and include crusting and thickening of the ear edges, ragged ear edges, flaking of the skin on the earflap and sometimes accumulation of wax in the ear canal. The treatment for these conditions is found under the section on Skin Disease. In addition, hedgehogs can be infested with the same ear mites that can affect cats, dogs and ferrets. The signs include excessive wax in the ear and the hedgehog may be scratching at its ear frequently. The diagnosis is made by either seeing the mites with the naked eye moving about in the ear (they are white and about the size of the head of a pin) or by examining a sample of wax from the ear under the microscope looking for mites and eggs. The treatment can vary from topical medication to injections of an antiparasitic drug. All animals that are in contact with the affected hedgehog should be treated.

Hedgehogs can also develop bacterial ear infections. The discharge in the ear will be of a more liquid consistency than normal earwax and will often have a foul smell. In addition, the pet will be sensitive to touch on that side of its face. The diagnosis is made by examining the ear and the discharge. Your veterinarian may wish to perform a bacterial culture and sensitivity of the material in the ear to aid in selecting an antibiotic. Antibiotics are used topically in the ear and, in severe infections, are also given orally.

If a hedgehog develops an inner ear infection, it may exhibit a head tilt or circle to one side. Damage to the brain can also cause these signs. Get medical attention for your pet as soon as possible.

Teeth
Captive African hedgehogs are often afflicted with tooth and gum disease. This may be due to a diet that is insufficiently high in food items that stimulate the gum tissue. Using hard food as a major portion of the diet is the best prevention, but as the pet ages gum and tooth disease may still develop. Normal hedgehog teeth are white and the gums should be a healthy medium to dark pink in color. Signs of dental disease include a decreased or complete loss of appetite, drooling, a foul odor to the breath, reddened and/or swollen gums, tooth discoloration and pawing at the mouth. These signs indicate a serious problem and you should seek medical attention for your pet right away. Your veterinarian may need to take an x-ray to see if there are any tooth root infections prior to instituting treatment. Some hedgehogs that have lost a significant amount of teeth will need to switch over to a soft diet because they have lost the ability to break down hard food.

Respiratory Disease
The most common cause of respiratory disease in hedgehogs us bacterial infection. There are a variety of bacteria that can cause problems in these pets including Bordetella bronchiseptica and Pasteurella multocida. Signs of respiratory disease include nasal discharge, decreased or no appetite, difficulty breathing, increased breathing sounds, loss of energy and sudden death. Respiratory disease can range from a mild upper respiratory problem to a severe pneumonia. One factor that may make a hedgehog more prone to develop respiratory disease is if it is kept at too low of an environmental temperature. In addition, a poor diet and a dusty or dirty environment can contribute to the respiratory disorder. Respiratory disease in the hedgehog can be rapidly fatal if pneumonia develops, so it is imperative to get your pet to a veterinarian as soon as possible if you see any of the signs listed. Your veterinarian will diagnose respiratory disease based on clinical signs, the physical examination and an x-ray. You will need to keep your pet in a warm, quiet, clean area while it is on medication. Exercise should be restricted for hedgehogs with pneumonia until they are back to normal.

Other disorders of the hedgehog that can mimic the signs of respiratory disease include heart disease and cancer in the lungs or chest. These can be differential from respiratory disease by x-ray and/or ultrasound examinations.
© 2004 Midwest Bird and Exotic Animal Hospital