Signs Of Good Health

Last Updated on December 11, 2022.

The following is a list of things to observe both in selecting a hedgehog as a pet and as a way to identify potential problems with your pet.

Eyes

• Check its eyes to make sure they are bold, clear, round, and bright.
• The eyes should be wide open.
• The eyes should not be watery or sunken or dull.
• They should not have any discharge or matting of the fur around the eye.

Nose

• The hedgehog’s nose should be moist and clean.
• It should not be dry, bubbly, or running.
• Keep in mind hedgehogs have an excellent sense of smell so that nose is likely to be busy sniffing you or the air to check out its surrounds.

Ears

• Your hedgehog’s ears should be clean with no drainage or crustiness of the fur at the base of the ear.
• There should be no flaking or “finger-like” projections on the outer part of the ear.
• Some hedgehog babies may have ear damage that occurs during birth or at a young age.  As long as the wound has healed a less than perfectly shaped ear should not affect its quality of life or health status.

Skin and Quills

• Check the skin to make sure there are no abrasions or open wounds.
• Lumps
• Bumps
• Excessive dryness
• Missing quills or bare patches may be a sign of mites.
• Some colors of babies may appear to have thinner, less dense quills and may look a little bare when their spines are erect and still be perfectly healthy.

Underbelly Fur

• The underbelly fur should not be matted.

Body Shape

• The hedgehog’s body should be filled out through the back and sides.
• Some hedgehogs have a streamlined appearance, but their skin should not be loose and they should be filled out below the ribs.
• Other hedgehogs are plumper but they should not be so fat that they cannot easily roll into a ball.

Breathing

• Breathing should be regular with no wheezing or signs of stress.  Do not confuse the normal hedgehog huffing for the rattle of a respiratory illness.
• Notice the amount of food and water consumption from the previous night and has the hedgehog gained or lost a significant amount of weight.

Bowel Movements

• The hedgehog’s bowel movements should be similar in color to the hedgehog’s food.  Green droppings or diarrhea are signs of illness and stress.

Movement and Gait

• Your hedgehog should move freely without limping, wobbling, or dragging its feet.
• A hedgehog’s normal gait will create a “pitter-patter” sound.