I suggest applying skin treatments such as NIKS Skin Soother, flax seed oil, or olive oil to the hedgehog's skin daily or weekly. You may have to apply the oil more often in the winter due low humidity levels. The flax seed oil can be purchased from a local food store (Walmart) or some drug stores and it can be applied topically by puncturing a hole into the capsule.
DO NOT apply any Tea Tree Oil products to the animal because this is EXTREMELY toxic to hedgehogs.
DO NOT use any Vitamin E beauty products because these could contain poisonous chemicals such as tea tree oil or grape seed oil. It is not known if grape seed oil is toxic to hedgehogs, but grapes are poisonous to hedgehogs. Avoid using grape seed oil all together because there is a high chance the hedgehog can ingest the oil when applied topically.
Causes of dry skin
· Dry Air
· Mites
· Fungal infections
· Quilling
If you find your hedgehog to have dry skin, try adding vitamin E oil to their diet.
Dry Air
Much like humans, hedgehog skin will become very dry during the winter. To help fight against this cause, try adding moisture to the air with a humidifier.
Mites
Mites are a parasite that will dwell on the hedgehog, much like flees on a dog or lice on a human. Don’t fret for yourself because mites do not infect humans. A hedgehog could contract mites from bedding, food, or new hedgehogs. Avoid using any treatments without consulting your exotic vet first. Also, don’t forget to treat the hedgehog’s environment or they will contract mites again! Wash everything that has contact with the hedgehog and throw out anything that is not washable. Put any food in the freezer for 24 hours to kill off any mites that could reside in the food. To prevent further contaminations, wash your hands after handling any animal especially a new hedgehog before handling your own.
Some indications of mites include: balding of quills and hair, licking, biting, itching, scratching, fatigue, dandruff, and weight loss.
Fungal Infections
· Ringworm: Dry white flaky skin, especially round the face, thickened ‘cauliflower’ ears may be a sign, of hedgehog ringworm Trichophyton mentagrophytes or erinaceid, which does not fluoresce under a Woods lamp and needs to be diagnosed by culturing a sample. This fungus is able to spread to humans, so proper precautions should be taken. (British Hedgehogs). https://www.britishhedgehogs.org.uk/leaflets/L8-Care-and-Treatment.pdf
Kerion – A severe form of tinea capitis, in which well-circumscribed parts of the scalp are transformed into a painful, boggy, inflamed, confluent mass with loosened hair, purulent folliculitis, crusting, often with lymphadenopathy, due to a zoophilic superficial mycosis, Trichophyton verrucosum, or T mentagrophytes; geophilic or anthropophilic fungal infections may abruptly become Kerion (Medical-disctionary). http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/kerion
Ear Fungus
Symptoms
· Light gray to creamy colored “finger-like” growth that begins over the edges of the ears.
· Flaky in structure on the ears and will fray off at the edge.
· The fungus is eating away at the hedgehog’s ears, so treatment must occur
Cause
· Many bedding products contain fungus.
· A very moist environment can increase fungal growth
Treatment
· Over the counter athlete’s foot cream can treat mild cases.
· Clortimazole topical drops or other fungicidal applications administered twice a day until the fungus falls off the ear.
· Veterinarians can determine the damage done by the fungus, and check the ear internally to be sure no damage has been done.
· All fungicides must stay out of the hedgehogs’ eyes.
· Some veterinarians recommend that you rub Betadine on the ears.
Diagnosis
If you have concerns for your hedgehog’s health, the best diagnosis will be through your vet. The veterinarian may perform a skin scrape to see if mites are present but many veterinarian’s and owner’s will treat their hedgehogs for mites as a precautionary. A skin scrape will not be 100% accurate but if there is a heavy amount of mites present, then the test will show positive results. Your exotic veterinarian will prescribe you ivermectin or selamectin under the brand names Revolution or Advantage if the skin scrape comes back positive. Although your vet may treat your animal for mites based on the presents symptoms because mites are so common.
If you possess a Wood’s Lamp or ultraviolet lighting, then you may be able to spot a fungal infection. Not all fungal fluoresce in the ultraviolet lighting but most will. Be advised that if the home remedies do not treat the symptoms, veterinarian involvement is absolutely necessary.
Apple Cider Vinegar Fungal Treatment
According to Earl Mindell, author of “Dr. Earl Mindell’s Amazing Apple Cider Vinegar,” vinegar is capable of killing fungus and bacteria, especially when applied to the affected area repeatedly. Therefore, it is a helpful topical scalp fungus treatment. This is also helpful for treating dry skin and reducing dandruff, not caused by fungus.
Vinegar Application
According to Dr. Linda B. White and Steven Foster, authors of “The Herbal Drugstore: The Best Natural Alternatives to Over-the-Counter and Prescription Medicines”, you shouldn’t use straight vinegar, which would be much too harsh.
Instead, boil 1-2 cups of vinegar then let it cool, measure 1/8 cup and mix it with a cup of water. Apply to the affected area twice a day Apple Cider Vinegar and Hydrogen Peroxide.
Dilute them by 1:10:1 part ACV1 part Hydrogen Peroxide with 10 parts water. Leave the mixed solution on scalp for about one minute before rinsing away in water. Repeat this again if the infection is severe enough. Avoid getting the solution in the eyes as it may cause stinging. You do not need large amounts of the concoction, only small amounts… just enough to get it to the scalp.
Apple Cider Vinegar and Baking Soda Recipe
Mix 2 ounces of baking soda in 10 – 12 oz. of water and gently pour over the affected area. Rinse the baking soda out and follow with 2 ounces of vinegar in same amount of water. Let the vinegar stay on for about a minute as it helps to restore scalp ph. Both baking soda and vinegar are anti-fungal.Since the vinegar will be mixed with water, it should be generally mild and harmless to the skin. The vinegar mixed with the water is mildly harmless to the skin, but not to the eyes. Be sure to keep it away from the hedgehog’s e730388yes and your eyes. You should see a decrease in irritation and dry skin within a week, and it should clear up within a month, according to White and Foster. If there are no improvements with the fungus or there are worsening symptoms within a few weeks, please see your vet as soon as possible for a stronger solution.
Resources:
Other Causes of Dry Skin
Hedgehogs have very sensitive skin, so they could have dry skin as a result from grass, detergents, fabric softener, and carpet cleaners. I suggest using dreft to eliminate the dry skin reactions because this fabric softener is clear and used for a baby’s delicate skin. Frequent bathing, shampoos, hot water, and not thoroughly rinsing off the shampoo will cause dry skin. I suggest using any tear-free baby shampoo such as Aveeno oatmeal baby shampoo or Johnson’s and Johnson’s lavender baby wash.
Bathing
You will need a toothbrush, nail cutters, and a towel before beginning the bathing process. I advise you to trim their nails with every bath because the hedgehogs will not curl in water and the nails are softer when soaked in water. Bathing your hedgehog should occur once a month at the most. The water should be warm, not hot or cold. Hot water can cause your hedgehog’s skin to become very dry.
Some hedgehogs tend to defecate in the warm water, so make sure you pick a place that is easy to disinfect and does not come in contact with food such as a sink, dishpan, infant bathtub, or a bathtub.
If you have difficulties bathing your hedgehog, try to apply the soap to your hands rather than applying it directly on your hedgehog. If your hedgehog is not fond of you just yet, they may try to puff up and if you are not comfortable handling your hedgehog yet, use a toothbrush to apply the soap.
While giving them a bath, be sure to evaluate their feet for any abnormalities such as a string wrapped around the leg. If there is a such occurrence left untouched, this will result in loss of blood supply and an amputation of the limp.
DO NOT FILL THE WATER ABOVE THE CHINS! IF ANY WATER ENTERS THE EARS, IT CAN CAUSE A FUNGAL OR BACTERIAL INFECTION! HEDGEHOGS DO NOT LIKE SWIMMING! IT IS NOT CUTE! HEDGEHOGS PANICK!!
After bathing your hedgehog, please take notice to the skin. It will need to be moistened with olive oil.
If you notice there is dried feces on your hedgehog's feet, but it is not close to their bath. You will need to soak their feet to remove the hardened feces or this will cause pain and discomfort.
Treatment
The veterinarian should NOTprescribe oral antibiotics and oral fungal medications at the same time.
Oatmeal bath:
· Place a handful of uncooked regular oatmeal (not quick oats) in a cheesecloth, panty hose, sock, or baby washcloth tied with a rubber band.
· Hold your sock or container under warm, running water.
· Squeeze the oatmeal to release the milky colored emollients into the water.
· Bath the hedgehog in warm water and pour the oatmeal water over its back.
· Do not get the water in the eyes or ears as this may cause irritation or fungal infection.