How Do I Get My Hedgehog To Take Liquid Medicine?

A reader wrote Quilly and asked, “How do I get my hedgehog to take liquid medicine?” It isn't always simple and straight forward. In fact, it can be a dilemma! If you mix the medicine with food and they won't eat it, the medicine is wasted. We prefer the quick and direct approach to make sure the medicine truly does go down!

A thick, juicy wormie helps the medicine go down
The medicine go down-wown
The medicine go down
Just a thick, juicy wormie helps the medicine go down
In a most delightful way
 
Hey hedgie fans!

Today’s question comes from Emily in Tennessee. 

She has a sick hedgie and the vet prescribed some liquid antibiotics.  She wrote in and said that it looked so easy when the technician in the vet’s office gave the first dose. 

Now that she’s home, it’s not as easy as it looks and she asked, “How do I get my hedgehog to take liquid medicine?”

My friends at Heavenly Hedgies wrote her back right away since getting the medicine into her hedgie is really important.

Maybe you’ll need some pointers in the future if your hedgie ever gets sick.

Most hedgehogs aren’t going to drink medicine up like it’s a yummy treat. PLUS – you don’t want them to anoint with it!

So, putting them on their backs is going to be the best way to get it in them and prevent anointing.

I suggest that you use a piece of fleece or some other material to shield your hands in case they get really frightened and curl up tightly.

Depending on how trusting your hedgie is with you, they may or may not curl up into a tight spikey ball.

If they do curl up tightly, keep them on their back and talk to them in a soothing voice. 

The last time I went to the vet, I was mad and curled up so tight, that the vet tech couldn’t get the medicine syringe anywhere near my mouth. She blew in my face, which made me relax my ball just barely enough for her to force the syringe in my mouth.

After that, I was even angrier so it was impossible for her to get the other two doses of medication in me. My human told the vet tech to leave it to her and she would do it later when I calmed down.

I like it when my human gives me my medicine, because she always gives me a worm chaser to help the medicine go down.

If you have a hedgie that is difficult to loosen up enough while on their back, you could try blowing in their face. But don’t expect to get a second chance.

Another thing you can try is to wrap them in a hand towel (like a burrito), so they can’t ball up. They probably won’t like that either.

One trick that works with some hedgies is the “hedgie tickle spot”. Many hedgehogs have a ticklish spot on them. Many hedgehog owners say that most often it’s a spot between the shoulder blades on their back. I can’t confirm this because I don’t have one. But maybe your hedgie does!

You can also try to get them to unball a little by passing a wormie treat past their nose. And be prepared to slip the syringe of medicine in the side of their mouth quickly. Just make sure that you give them the wormie so they don’t think it’s all tricks and no treats!

I hope these tips help and that your hedgie never has to need them!

If you’d like to hear more hedgehog tips, please leave your question in the comments below or on my website!

If you love hedgies, please comment, like, and subscribe so you’ll know when there’s a new Ask Quilly video!

Until next time, Bye for now!
 

If you're suspect your hedgie is ill, we have many articles on common hedgehog illnesses. Just look under the Health and Nutrition category.

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