My hedgehog is getting really really skinny..

Question

.. but he still eats. we got him a wheel about 2 weeks ago, could that be why? my vet couldn;t find anything wrong with him.. but he no longer has the cute little hedgehog belly it is just bone. he runs and eats and drinks a lot. any suggestions?

Answer 1

make him fat and don't him exercise.

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do i look adorable by the way

Answer 2

Take away his wheel for x amount of weeks and see if that makes a difference.

Answer 3

Take away his wheel.

He's addicted to exercise.

Answer 4

Do not take away his wheel. No hedgehog will exercise themselves until they are severely underweight. The wheel is not the problem.

Did the vet say that there was a problem with his weight? Hedgehogs should not have bellies that protrude from their bodies when they are full grown. You should also be able to feel his ribs. My guess is that he was overweight and when he started wheeling, he has now gotten down to a healthy weight.

If you are sure he is eating his regular meals and drinking plenty of water, one thing you could try is adding more mealworms to his diet. They are high in fats and proteins and will help him maintain a healthier weight.

Good luck!

Answer 5

Is he young and still growing? Then he'd need more to eat.  If he's really thin, maybe a diet with more fat and carbohydrates along with protein.  

He sounds like he's enjoying his wheel, running, eating and drinking alot.  Seriously, the thinness would worry me too.

Try to search on google, hedgehog health advice...  Does he have enough space in his living quarters to run around other than his little wheel?  Maybe he's depressed if his quarters are too snug?  Hope he's not lonely missing other hedgehogs companionship?  I'd be depressed without another little companion.  Maybe their territorial & could fight though, get aggressive instead of having fun chasing eachother around.

I think he should do the Nutrislim advertising instead of Marie Osmond and Jenny Craig instead of Kirstie Alley.  I'm thinking of buying an oversized wheel for myself and start running like mad!