Help! Bedding is stuck on my hedgehog's penis. How do I remove it?

Hello, thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. If you can have little Henry seen by a veterinarian, this would be best, because it sounds like he may be suffering from internal & external parasites. A stool sample would show if Henry has a parasite called coccidia, or other parasites such as lungworms, tapeworms , or other species of nematodes. The rubbing could result from the presence of the common mange mite of hedgehogs, although they can also harbor other mite species, fleas & ticks. Keeping his environment very clean ( every 2 days ) will prevent reinfestation once he receives treatment. Hope all is well soon with Henry.

The quills may fall off if they were damaged. They should grow back unless the follicle was damaged. You can use dilute Betadine (1 part Betadine to 10 parts water) to clean the wounds until you can get him to the vet on Monday. You should be able to get Betadine at any pharmacy. Make sure it is solution and not scrub. ( https://www.walmart.com/ip/Betadine-Solution-Topical-Antiseptic-Bactericide-Liquid-0-5-Oz/47574887 ) If you can't get this you can go to Petco and get this Vetericyn wound spray. ( ) He will need antibiotics orally so definitely get him to your vet as soon as you can. Watch him closely because I would be more worried about any internal injuries he may have. If he starts to seem very sick you need to get him to an ER vet ASAP. Best wishes.

Hi there. Before applying anything I recommend taking Cedric in to see your vet to make sure that he doesn't have bumblefoot-a type of pododermatitis that can cause the symptoms you are describing. If that is the case, he will likely need systemic antibiotics, as well as a few changes in his surroundings to prevent reoccurrence.

Any food coloring could have possibly stained his quills. If he will allow, gently wipe with a moist, soft cloth. If the color comes off then you know it was something external. While you are cleaning him, check for obvious wounds or injury.

Hello! Unfortunately this is a very common thing for hedgehogs to do to themselves but there is not a single reason as to why. I will list some of the reasons and you can rule out what you can at home, a vet is needed for the others. !) itching: can be caused by parasites such as mites that can be diagnosed and treated by Shaymin's vet. Allergies can cause itching too but can not be diagnosed itself, it is what is left when everything else is ruled out. 2) Being overweight: If it is an older hedgehog that was overfed at its previous home this can be a cause as they traumatize their skin when normally moving around. 3) non healing trauma: If she was injured by another hedgehog or sharp cage decor and she won't leave it alone it can be difficult to heal without pain meds and antibiotics from her vet. 4) urine scald from a messy wheel: These guys sure love to run and they don't care if they pee or poop there first. Sometimes this can be prevented by letting her out or blocking her wheel when she first gets up until she goes potty somewhere else first but wheel cleaning often is still necessary. 5) behavior: Stress can cause this for many reasons and is very difficult to figure out sometimes. Below is some basic care information to start with and make sure her needs are being fully met. Some hedgehogs can tolerate a topical antibiotic from over the counter twice daily in small amounts but others will traumatize more because of it and will need oral meds. https://www.petcoach.co/article/african-hedgehog-husbandry-and-nutrition-housing-diet-behav/

Hello, I suggest you refer to this article on handling tips. There is more information than I am able to fit in this forum. If after reading this you have more questions feel free to ask again. Please be as specific as possible when asking questions. ( http://hedgehogheadquarters.com/secure/handling.htm ) There are also many YouTube videos that may be helpful. Just search for them! Best wishes.

Poor Sonic! He should be seen by a vet as soon as possible. Eye conditions, especially those involving the cornea can be extremely painful. They can also progress very quickly and even result in loss of the eye. Your vet can prescribe antibiotic drops, pain medication, and help any damage to the cornea heal quickly. In the meantime, you can carefully trim his nails to prevent any further trauma he may cause while scratching. I hope this helps and that Sonic gets better soon!