My hedgehog isn't eating. Is this normal or should I be concerned?

Hello, I’m sorry to hear Hung May be having issues. I would recommend taking her to a veterinarian for a new pet exam just to be sure she is otherwise healthy and to establish a relationship with a local vet. In general, hedgehogs need a high protein diet since they are insectivores. Mazuri insectivore diet is a good option, but feeding insects like mealworms, roaches, etc is also enriching and a good food source for them. Some hedgehog owners feed high quality cat or kitten food, which is an acceptable alternative to an insectivore food. Avoid human table scraps as obesity is a common problem in hedgehogs. Also, make sure you keep the hedgehogs enclosure warm ~72-82F. Dental disease, mites, heart disease, and cancer are common diseases of hedgehogs you might want to be aware of.

Thanks for reaching out about Hubert and including photos. The lump on the skin could be a cyst, abscess or tumor. Not sure if this is part of the anorexia problems or a second problem, but a veterinary visit is recommended. Try wetting the food and offer through a syringe. Try and maintain hydration also, until a veterinary visit is scheduled. Good luck.

Thanks for reaching out about Ivory and including a photo. You are correct that snakes can be finicky eaters during weather changes. If you feed mice, try offering rat pups: to snakes they smell and taste differently. If that doesn't work, a veterinary visit is recommended as intestinal parasites or infections are common. Good luck.

I’m sorry to hear about your hedgehog. There is a progressive neurologic disorder in these guys called “Wobbly Hedgehog Syndrome”. I am suspicious that this may be the problem. However other issues such as brain tumor, trauma, etc could be the cause as well. I would try using a dropper to drop water into his mouth to keep him hydrated until you can get him to the exotic veterinarian. I do worry that this could be a life threatening situation and the earlier you have him seen the better. Best of luck and I hope he improves soon. Thank you for using Pet Coach.

Thank you for reaching out about your ball python - she is really cute! There are a few things you can try/check for the appetite. Often times, when we are seeing issues with appetite, the first thing we try to do is check the husbandry and ensure that it is as perfect as it can be. Sometimes in between seasons the temperatures can get off in the enclosure, and I would recommend checking that first. Also, the humidity can affect the shedding intervals, in addition to the temperature. I would recommend evaluating the temperatures in the enclosure with digital thermometers to ensure that they are appropriate. Also, based on how she looks in the photos, she appears to be in fair body condition, so she may also be regulating herself as far as her weight/appetite goes. This would be a bit of an exception for a ball python, as most of them will overeat and become overweight. But, there are exceptions to the rule and maybe she is one of them! For the prey items - I like that you are using a separate container, and that you are warming the prey items in warm water. Please ensure that the water gets them to body temperature for rodents, which is around 100-102F. Often snakes will eat prey items that are cooler than that, but if a snake is being picky I try to encourage owners to get them measure the temperature to ensure it is warm enough. I hope that this gives you a place to start, and if she doesn't eat despite all of these changes, I would recommend a veterinary visit for her!

Thanks for reaching out about Peggy and including a photo. The skin does appear a little flakey. Dermatopathies such as quill mites, skin infections, vitamin A deficiencies or other nutritional problems needs to be investigated. Monitor her for being itchy. If you continue to have problems or the condition progresses, a veterinary visit is recommended to assess and provide a diagnostic/treatment plan. Good luck.

This is a quite generic but concerning sign. Differentials are many, from gastrointestinal diseases (infection/inflammations often dietary related) to any disease that can spread systemically (causing lethargy for example) like infection, and anything that can cause pain/discomfort. The approach must be logic, starting from offering different kind of food. A check up is needed if inappetence last for more than 24-36hours. Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.