Supportive care includes keeping the hedgehog in a warm, clean, and quiet place and making sure the hedgehog continues to eat. If the hedgehog has completely stopped eating, force feeding may be necessary. Handle sick hedgehogs are little as possible. At this time, the exact nutritional needs of hedgehogs have not been recognized, therefore many of the problems seen today may have a nutritional underlying cause. The primary nutrition related problme is obesity.
Obesity is caused by lack of exercise and a diet too high in fat.
This causes the liver to function abnormally. Liver disease may result in a loss of appetite, lethargy, and weight loss. Diagnostic tests for liver disease include bloodwork, X-rays, ultrasound, and biopsies. Treatment includes decreasing the fat in the diet, increasing exercise, and supportive care. A well balanced diet helps decrease the incidence of dry skin and hair and quill loss.