Hedgehog Poo and the Clues In It

Why is it that whenever you start talking with fellow hedgie parents, the topic will eventually turn to hedgehog poo? You know how new mommies talk about every little detail of what they found in their baby's diaper? Well that's what hedgie parents do! Except the subject is what consistency of hedgehog poo they found in their wheel, litter pan, or cage.

Since hedgehogs can't tell you what's going on inside their bodies, we have to look for clues. Oddly enough, the poo from your hedgehog can give you clues about what may be a medical issue. Let's examine some of these poopie situations so you can determine whether a trip to the vet is needed immediately.

Just to be clear, not all bloody poo is red. When it is red, it usually indicates something wrong near the exit of the gastrointestinal tract. However, when something goes wrong further up in the GI tract, it usually presents itself as black hedgehog poo. You should treat this as an emergency situation as well. Sometimes there are other situations that may cause black poop. But, only a qualified veterinarian is able to assess that and recommend treatment options.

We don't want you to panic and jump to the fatal conclusion though. Just because there's evidence of bloody hedgehog poo, doesn't necessarily mean it's a death sentence. We know it's difficult not to assume the worst, but try to remain calm so that your hedgie doesn't sense your distress. However, don't delay taking them to get medical treatment! Scrape the sample into a plastic sealable baggy and take it along with you.

We recommend that you give your quill baby about 1/8-1/4 teaspoon of unseasoned, unsweetened, cooked pumpkin. This is useful for both constipation and diarrhea. In the case of constipation, the water content in the pumpkin helps soften the stool and also has a laxative effect. Secondly, put your hedgehog in a warm bath to help them relax their bum so that things can start moving. Thirdly, make sure they are drinking water.

If these measures don't produce hedgehog poo within 24-48 hours, then we highly recommend a visit to the vet. It may indicate a bowel impaction or obstruction. Or they may be so backed up they need an enema. Whatever the cause may be, if you don't get results after the pumpkin and warm water trick, they need medical intervention without further delay.

In extreme cases, it could indicate a bacterial infection known as clostridium. Clostridium comes in five different strands which require lab cultures to differentiate. The reason why this is something you don't want to allow to continue is that if left untreated, your hedgehog could waste away. Secondly, depending on what strand it is, it can be zoonotic, which means it can pass from animals to humans.

Always practice good hand washing! But as added safety, when illness is a possibility, you should consider an antiseptic or anti-bacterial soap.

Another possible cause of diarrhea is an imbalance of gut flora. When the good bacteria gets out of balance with the bad bacteria (and every mammal has it), then diarrhea can result. One preventative measure you can take is to regularly give your hedgehog probiotics to keep their gut flora in balance. Many hedgehog owners will also use BeneBac when there is an unexpected bout of diarrhea.

Because they can dehydrate quickly, you should diligently watch them and make sure they are drinking plenty of water. Diarrhea can be the result of many different illnesses, so we strongly suggest that if you can't get their poo back to a solid after trying the pumpkin and the probiotic, that you take your hedgie to the vet within 24-48 hours. Some illnesses can be zoonotic, so it is best to isolate your sick hedgie from other family members while they have diarrhea. And please thoroughly wash your hands with an antiseptic/anti-bacterial hand cleaner after handling your hedgehog or any of their cage accessories.

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Helpful Hint

Pumpkin helps add bulk and fiber, so it helps balance the digestive system. There are some brands of cat kibble that have pumpkin within the list of ingredients. So, making this part of your hedgehog's daily diet can help keep things moving. In fact, here is one of the brands that make up Quilly's mix of cat food:

Did You Know?

Did you know that Omega 3 and 6 can be found in CBD oil? Additionally, when comparing CBD oil to flaxseed oil, the Omega6: Omega3 ratio of CBD oil is 3:1. Flaxseed oil only has a 0.2:1 ratio. According to the Milton S Hershey Medical Center, there is a long list of health issues that may benefit from Omega-6 fatty acids.

CBD oil is also helpful for anxiety and stress. Although it is made from the hemp plant, there is no THC in it to get your hedgehog (or any other animal) high. Quilly uses it and is in very good health.

Extra smelly hedgie poo can also indicate that they ate something that disagreed with them. For example, if you fed your hedgie some worms that might have been on the cusp of death, it could upset their stomach. They might not necessarily get diarrhea but instead passed awful smelling poop. It may also appear slimey and green. Another possible cause of smelly poo could be stress – which can also be a green tint.

On the other hand, hedgehogs can also be stressed when they are subjected to an environment that is unhealthy for them. This can include (but is not limited to):

• Not having somewhere to hide
• Nutritionally inadequate food
• Improper light cycle for them
• No exercise opportunities like a wheel
• A habitat that is too small for their needs
• Improper handling

Sometimes you may find normally formed hedgehog poo that seemingly has foreign objects in it. If you have given your hedgehog insects like mealworms or superworms, you could be seeing the undigested outer skin. If you find white specks and have given your lap cactus dubias, or maybe pinkie mice, you could be seeing skeletal parts – which is completely normal.

As you can see, hedgehog poo can be very telling when it comes to their mental and/or physical health. It's one of those taboo topics that most people feel uncomfortable talking about, but it's important nonetheless. As a loving hedgie parent, be aware of your hedgeog's poop consistency, color, and smell. As always, seek medical treatment (with specimens) if you try our suggestions and they don't correct the situation. If you feel uncomfortable trying any of these measures, you should follow your instincts and take them to the vet…always!

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: We would like to thank Amber Petry for her contributions to this article. Amber runs Louisiana Hedgehog Rescue Safe Home and was very gracious about sharing her knowledge and pictures. Thank you Amber for helping us and the hogs!