One of the most commonly occurring problems that Hedgehog owners face are the dreaded mites and the occasional ticks. How common the problems of mites could be for a Hedgehog mostly depends upon where you live?Although it is not very difficult to counter the mites problem, but they can become really serious if left untreated.
Some of the signs or symptoms of your pet Hedgehogs having mites are
Solid deposits mostly close to their eyes, excessive scratching of back, and loss of fur in a larger magnitude also indicates the problem of mites among the pet Hedgehogs.
The problem of mites can be solved with proper treatment and right care. These mites found in the Hedgehogs can also prove to be contagious to fellow pets to a certain extent . It should be noted that some of the species of mites that infest and infect the Hedgehogs can also be transmitted and transferred over to other animals such as dogs and cats.
Along with that , one should also be careful about the eggs laid by the mites that infect the Hedgehogs, as these eggs can almost stay anywhere inside or even outside the cages of the Hedgehogs. It would be a good idea to clean the cage of your pet to get rid of suspected mites and their eggs. Completely washing the cage and cleaning of all the dishes and sleeping bags can be of great help. Along with that, there are many mite repelling shampoos for Hedgehogs that are pretty safe and very effective to use.
It should be noted that not all the mites that infect Hedgehogs are potentially harmful to other pets like cats or dogs. This is due to the fact that most of the mites are not very host specific and can be carried by even humans or any other sources. To put it in plain words, it is highly difficult to pinpoint a particular source of mites.
Another specific indicator of mite infection in your pet would include marks or dots, mostly on the face and you could also notice a thinner skin texture than usual. Other symptoms would include oily skin. Other than that, skin discoloration is also a major indication where in you should rush your pet to a vet immediately.
Getting rid of mites problem at an earlier stage, mitigates the risk of going through elaborate treatments in a longer run and also reduces the risk of other dangerous infections like ringworms.
Hedgehog Facts 