Hedgehog medicine Flashcards
Characteristics
Nocturnal, solitary and territorial
Need lots of exercise
Illegal in some states and need permit in others
Senses
Poor vision but sensitive smell and hearing
Special anatomy
Thick fibrous dermal layer under spines with increased fat and decreased blood vessels
Panniculus muscle under spines allow them to roll up and is thickened at the rim (orbicularis muscle)
Nutrition
Insectivores
Have specific diets with 30-50% protein, 10-20% fat and fiber from insects
Can use insects as treats and small amounts of produce
Zoonotic diseases
Salmonella
Dermatophytosis
Most common area of neoplasia
Oral cavity
Be sure to really look in there
Where to give SQ and IM
On the sides of the body where it can be absorbed better
Orbicularis muscles or quadriceps
Venipuncture
Jugular and femoral for large quantities
Cephalic and saphenous for small
Most common disease
Neoplasia
Can be in every body system and can have more than one type of tumor
Most common types of neoplasia
Mammary adenocarcinoma, lymphosarcoma, oral squamous cell carcinoma, uterine adenosarcoma
Wobbly Hedgehog syndrome
Progressive paresis/paralysis start with pelvic limb
Unable to roll into ball, ataxia, pelvic limb paresis
Lesions of wobbly hedgehog syndrome
Axonal swelling and degeneration
Demyelination in spinal cord
Vacuolization of white matter
Common respiratory bacteria
Corynebacterium
Bordetella
Pasteurella
Most common cardiovascular disease
DCM in 3+ YO
Act more like cats (dont cough as much)
Treat it like a cat
