Tag: hedgehogs

wildlifeaid:

This young hog came into the centre with a nasty cut on its back. We’re not sure how the injury occurred, but our vet team were able to give it a thorough clean and stitch the wound. She will stay in one of our pens to recover until she is ready for release.

wildlifeaid:

These young hedgehogs arrived at the centre after their nest was disturbed by a dog.

Sadly, they could not be returned to their mother and were far too young to survive in the wild on their own. They are currently being taken care of by Viv, one of our trained hedgehog orphan feeders, and will return to the wild as soon as they are fully grown.

Hi! What treatment do vets usually prescribe when an APH has mites?

hedgehogsofasgard:

fantasticbeastsandhowtokeepthem:

Hey! 🙂

So there are two usual treatments for mites with hedgehogs – Ivermectin and Revolution. Always ask for Revolution. 

Ivermectin is given in three ways – topical, oral, and injected. Of these, injected seems to be the most dangerous, but personally I would avoid any. There have been cases of hedgehogs dying or becoming ill after Ivermectin injections (in the first day or two after). Symptoms before death include slow paralysis – Ivermectin works by paralyzing mites.

Ivermectin is often used for a lot of other small mammals, including European hedgehogs. But for some reason, APHs seem to be sensitive to it, or maybe it’s just from slight errors that result in overdoses? We don’t really know, and I don’t think there are any studies on it yet. Some people have had vets brush them off or disbelieve that there have been any issues with it because they figure it’s just “internet horror stories”.

But between the two, the side-effect risks from Revolution are far less dangerous (I’ve seen dry skin & itching mentioned, and I think that’s it). It’s much harder to overdose enough to pose a hazard. So it just makes more sense to use it instead. Personally I would find a different vet if one refused to use Revolution instead of Ivermectin, but luckily I haven’t had one outright refuse before. 

APH could very well have some hypersensitivity towards Ivermectin, just like certain dog breeds do. A genetic anomaly allows the medicine to access the central nervous system. The symptoms in these dogs are the same as those seen in hedgehogs. So far there seem to be no issues with Ivermectin treatment in European hedgehogs. 

Revolution (called Stronghold outside of the US) is definitely the safest option. Sometimes Ivermectin is still used topically, when Stronghold isn’t working well enough, but it should always be a last resort and very carefully applied by an experienced vet.

yesterdaysprint:

A Description of Three Hundred Animals, 1768

A HEDGE-HOG is about the Bigness of a Rabbet, but more like an Hog; being covered all over with sharp thorny Hair, as well as on the Face and Feet, and those sharp Prickles covered with a Kind of Moss; but, when ‘tis angry, or gathers its Food, it strikes them by a natural Instinct, as sharp as Pins, or Needles. He has two Holes under his Tail to discharge his Excrements; which no Creature living has besides. His common Food is Apples, Worms, or Grapes. It is reported, that when he finds Apples on the Ground, under the Trees, he rolls himself upon them, until he has filled all his Prickles, and then carries them to his Den; never having above one in his Mouth. When it is apprehensive of Danger, it draws itself up as round as a Foot-ball; so that nothing appears but the prickles.