My hedgehog's belly is swollen and bleeding. Should I go to the vet?

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.

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.

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.

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.

Any potential eye infection or injury should be considered veterinary emergencies. Atticus should be examined by your veterinarian, a veterinary ophthalmologist or at the nearest veterinary ER as soon as you can. Ideally, any new pet should be examined by a veterinarian within 72 hours of arriving home to confirm good health or to diagnose and treat any pre existing conditions.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This may be a benign or malignant growth. This could even be an infection or nothing serious. This cannot be completely assessed just by looking at pictures and usually requires sampling such as fine needle aspiration to determine its origin. Sometimes a biopsy is needed for a definitive diagnosis. I recommend that you have him evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. I am really hoping for something benign. Good luck and have a good day!

Thanks for reaching out about Prickles. A raised blister could be an abscess (inner ear), neoplasm or cyst. A veterinary visit is needed to determine which and to prescribe a treatment plan. Treatment probably has better success if it doesn't continue to progress. Good luck.