Is my hedgehog licking his penis normal? When should I see a vet?

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.

Thanks for reaching out about Taz. Sorry but not photos were included. It sure seems like a veterinary visit is needed, sooner than later. A swollen back end including blood is worrisome, and sign that he is quiet and eating less, is even more serious. You should see a veterinarian tomorrow. Good luck.

Swelling and changes in behavior could indicate Kozmo might be having some illness that is causing hind end irritation as well. It is best to have a vet take a look at him, especially if this has been happening for more than a day, or Kozmo is showing signs of illness such as changes in behavior, lethargy, loss of appetite, etc. Male hedgehogs don't go into heat as they aren't the ones that carry a pregnancy. A heat cycle occurs when a female is ovulating and ready to mate and create babies. Males instead produce the sperm to impregnate females. Males that are intact and excited may have some swelling of the hind end, however you indicated Kozmo was neutered.

Most dogs do not like to be petted under their belly or groin - this is a vulnerable place which is instinctively protected by a natural reflex. I would be concerned he is licking because the tip is constantly exposed and irritated - a full vet check to assess for underlying injury or complications is recommended and surgical repair may be necessary to prevent further self trauma and injury. I recommend you take a fresh urine sample with you to rule out UTI also

I see the area you are referring to on Oliver. Unfortunately it is difficult to tell what is going on by the picture alone. This may be an area of inflammation or infection on Oliver. If he is licking the area more than normal, I would be worried that he may develop an infection if it's not infected already. I would recommend taking him in to your vet to have him checked out. He may need an antibiotic and/or anti-inflammatory to resolve the issue.

Sometimes pets will do this behavior if there is an irritant around the penile sheath or if the pet has a urinary tract infection that is causing irritation. If he is also urinating and drinking more than normal then you should get Tommy's urine sample check by your vet for a possible UTI. However, if there is no increased urination or drinking and the penis is relatively normal in appearance, iIt is often helpful to soak the pet in a warm Epsom Salt bath to cleanse the area, or you can use a turkey baster to cleanse the penis and sheath thoroughly to help remove any irritants that may be stuck there. If there is no improvement with Tommy within 24-48 hrs or if this is progressively getting worse, then I highly recommend having a vet take a look at this area to ensure no other treatments are needed.

Dogs can definitely do this as part of normal grooming behavior, or maybe a bit excessively sometimes. It's also possible that something is irritating him down there. This could be something like an infection, allergies, or impacted anal sacs. It's a good idea to have a vet check him for any medical problems leading to the excessive licking. It's definitely possible that there is a reason for this, which can be corrected. I hope that helps.