Your pet hedgehog can develop a variety of health problems, including gastrointestinal (GI) obstructions. GI obstructions refer to blockages within the intestines. Here are three things hedgehog owners need to know about GI obstructions.
What are the signs of GI obstructions?
Acute abdominal pain is one of the main signs of GI obstructions. If your hedgehog is in pain, you'll notice that they're hissing or grumbling. You may also notice that they refuse to uncurl and don't want to socialize with you.
Hedgehogs with GI obstructions will also stop eating and become lethargic. Vomiting can also be present, though this doesn't always happen and the absence of vomiting doesn't mean that your hedgehog is fine.
If you notice these signs, take your hedgehog to a vet. The vet will perform diagnostic testing like x-rays or ultrasounds to determine if there is a blockage. Since hedgehogs roll into balls when they're scared, the vet may need to anesthetize your pet to make the examination possible.
What causes GI obstructions?
Hedgehogs are curious creatures and will nibble any object that they suspect may be edible. If you see your hedgehog chewing a non-edible object, take it away from them right away; hedgehogs don't need to chew on objects to wear down their teeth, so doing this won't hurt them.
If they swallow the item, it may get stuck within their digestive system and lead to a gastrointestinal obstruction. Most of the time, the culprits are rubber, hair, or carpet fibers, but any non-edible object can lead to a blockage.
How are GI obstructions treated?
GI obstructions need to be treated with surgery. Since hedgehogs are so tiny, this surgery is performed with the help of a microscope. Once the blockage has been removed, your pet will be sewn up and sent home.
Caring for a hedgehog that has just had abdominal surgery can be difficult. Your pet may chew their incision site, and since Elizabethan collars can't be used, you'll need to monitor them closely to ensure they don't damage their stitches. Infection of the surgical site is also a concern, so ensure that your pet's cage is kept very clean while they're recovering.
While your pet is recovering, they need to avoid strenuous activities that could tear their stitches. Hedgehogs can walk around their cage during the post-surgical period, but anything more strenuous is dangerous. Remove the wheel from your pet's cage to keep them from running and also remove anything your pet could climb.
If you think your hedgehog is suffering from a GI obstruction, take them to a vet immediately.
For a vet, contact a clinic such as Edinburgh Animal Hospital.
