Hedgehogs suffer from various skin ailments. The most common of all is dry skin. Your hedgehog’s dry skin may result from low water intake or low moisture in their food.
However, that’s not always the case. Dry skin on hedgehogs can be due to a fungal or bacterial infection or mite infestation. Other causal factors are hygiene and environment.
To treat each of the causes, you’ll need different interventions.
Causes of Dry Skin in Hedgehogs
- Bathing Methods: Regular bathing with sand or diatomaceous earth can dry your hedgehog’s skin.
- Low moisture in the air: During intense humid weather, your hedgehog will likely suffer dry skin.
- Allergic reactions to paper shreds and wood shavings: Your hedgehog can lie on paper and wood shavings, and if they’re allergic, it’s likely to itch their skin and lead to dry skin.
- Poor nourishment: If the food your hedgehog takes is dry, it leads to dry skin. Further, if it doesn’t take enough water, it also suffers dry skin.
10 Solutions for Dry Skin in Hedgehogs
1. Proper Nutrition
The long-term solution to your hedgehog’s dry skin is proper nutrition. The diet plan should be well-balanced and can contain salmon oil, which offers long-term healing and skin repair in case of dryness.
2. Avoid Excessive Bathing
You don’t need to bathe your hedgehog regularly. Do so only when necessary or once per month. Excessive bathing causes your hedgehog’s skin to dry and itch. You can choose regular foot baths to keep it clean.
Consider an oat-meal bath if your hedgie’s dry skin results from itching. Oats contain moisturizing benefits. Besides the oat bath, you can also use creams that contain colloidal oats.
3. Give Enough Drinking Water
If your hedgie doesn’t take enough water, it’ll have dry skin. Ensure you replenish your hedgehog’s water bottle before it’s empty.
4. Ensure to Keep Your Hedgehog Warm
In low humidity, the heat dries up your hedgehog’s skin. Keep your hedgie warm without using high temperatures to prevent its skin from drying up.
5. Avoid Exposing Your hedgehog to Cold
Colds can do the same, as heat can dry up your hedgehog’s skin. Ensure no drafts get through your hedgie’s cage as they remove moisture from their skin.
6. Use Vet-Recommended Oils
Vets recommend flaxseed or vitamin E oils on your hedgehog after a bath. The oils retain moisture on your hedgie’s skin.
7. Check for Bacterial and Fungal Infections
Infections cause your hedgehog’s skin to dry. If your hedgie is diagnosed with a bacterial or fungal infection, ensure they are timely treated using antibiotics.
8. Watch Out for Harmful Oils
Not all oils suit your hedgehog’s skin. Although it has a moisturizing ability, Olive oil causes reddening on your hedgie’s dry skin.
Low linoleic and oleic oils in olive oil cause skin damage in hedgehogs.
9. Check For Mites Infestation
Mites are a common ectoparasite that causes your hedgehog’s skin to become itchy. Itchiness irritates, and as your hedgehog scratches itself, quills fall out, exposing the skin.
Tiny mites are diagnosed through microscopes, and vet-a-approved treatment is administered.
To avoid introducing mites to your hedgehog, ensure the bedding and food are clean.
Also, check for any rodents in the neighboring area.
10. Avoid Over-Drying After Wash
Once you wash your hedgehog, keep it warm in a towel. Do not expose it to extreme heat or cold.
Once it’s dry, put it back in its cage, but ensure its pouch is well insulated.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put coconut oil on my hedgehog?
If you find your hedgehog with dry, itchy skin, you can mix a few drops of wheat germ oil, flaxseed oil, and vitamin E in their bath water. Don’t apply on its skin directly since it clogs its pores. Also, don’t use coconut or olive oil, as they can damage your hedgie’s skin.
How do you hydrate my hedgehog’s skin?
If your hedgehog’s skin is not damaged, you can use a syringe or eyedropper to apply four to five drops of olive oil directly to the skin to moisturize.
However, if necessary, repeat the treatment only two to three days per week.
How can you tell if my hedgehog has mites?
If your hedgehog has mites, you will notice it frequently biting, chewing, licking, and scratching itself, has less energy, suffers from dandruff, and loses its quills.
Conclusion
Hedgehogs generally look rough on the outside but require delicate care to keep their skin moisturized and healthy. They can suffer from various skin problems, with dry skin being the most common.
Your hedgehog can start scratching itself often when its skin becomes dry, leading to irritation and more severe skin problems. However, dry skin in hedgehogs is preventable and treatable, so you don’t have to worry.
We’ve discussed short-term and long-term solutions you can use on your hedgehog’s dry skin problems.
