Content

• Steps
• Tips
• Warnings
• What do you need

Degenerative myelopathy, or staggering hedgehog syndrome (WHS), is a progressive degenerative neurological disease that affects African pygmy and European hedgehogs and is thought to be hereditary and, unfortunately, fatal. If your hedgehog has degenerative myelopathy, there are therapies to help make your hedgehog's life easier, as well as prolong it as much as possible.

Steps

1. 1 Diagnosis of degenerative myelopathy. It is not always easy to identify WHS in a hedgehog. Although many claim that your animal may start to fall or stagger to one side, subtle actions such as waddling or stretching a paw, or a sudden stop while running in a wheel can also be evidence of illness. If the actions of your hedgehog have changed, it is probably the right decision to visit a veterinarian, since a sick hedgehog always needs a specialist diagnosis and proper care.
   • When transporting a sick hedgehog to the vet, place it in a warm place in a sleeping basket with a lid. Ask a friend to hold the lid of the basket or box in the car to reduce shock and vibration to prevent stress from the car.
2. 2 Identify the symptoms. This disease is predominant in domestic hedgehogs and is similar to multiple sclerosis (MS) in humans. This disease is considered genetic and cannot be predetermined until the disease manifests itself. It affects both male and female hedgehogs. Symptoms include:
   • A rapid or gradual disease first affects the hind legs, then moves along the body to the head.If the disease spreads rapidly, it depletes the body very quickly, and can occur within a few days.
   • Muscles weaken, then atraphy.
   • Further, the curve of the ridge and body straightens.
   • Overall weight loss.
   • The onset of the disease can occur at any age from 1-36 months, with an average of 18 months.
3. 3 Consider your options for caring for a hedgehog with staggering hedgehog syndrome. As the disease progresses, your pet will require specialized care. With this care, your pet can survive for many months until physical decline occurs. If you are unable to provide special care, or think this is excessive suffering for the hedgehog, discuss euthanasia with your veterinarian. However, keep in mind that many sick animals can live for up to 24 months after diagnosis, with appropriate care.
4. 4 Take care of the physical needs of your hedgehog. It is very important to lay your hedgehog as naturally as possible to ensure proper circulation. As with any other living thing, you want to create the most comfortable and natural conditions. Here are some tips:
   • While the animal loses its ability to move around normally, you can use towels or soft cloth to support your hedgehog vertically. One method is to roll up two towels and place the hedgehog between them, like creating a depression in the cradle so you can keep it upright.
   • Consider constructing a labyrinth with vertical walls so that the hedgehog can move around without staggering to the bed. Use all available materials like cardboard, plastic, etc.
   • Some doctors suggest using physical therapy to maintain muscle strength and tone. If you do this, you must take care not to injure the animal, but rather try to help it. Make sure that you do not move the legs in a direction in which they have not been able to move for a long time. As long as you care for your hedgehog, it is a good method to massage it daily to help keep your muscles toned. Some tips include:
     • Massage your hedgehog's tummy clockwise with your fingers while your back rests on your knees to improve digestion (never counterclockwise).
     • For the feet, massage each foot separately and gently move each foot for a few minutes.
     • Turn the animal over and massage it from head to tail.
5. 5 Set the environment for your hedgehog. As soon as it cannot stand on its legs, place food and water lower so that it is easier for the animal to reach them. When the hedgehog cannot actually move, the bowls of water should be removed to prevent the hedgehog from choking. During this time, you should water your hedgehog with a pipette or syringe. It is very important to stay hydrated, so you should remember to water your pet regularly.
   • When the hedgehog loses its ability to move, cover the basket to control the temperature (use a soft cloth in several layers). You may also need to use a heater, but make sure not to overheat. Too hot and too cold temperatures equally negatively affect the condition of a sick hedgehog.
   • Avoid pressure sores, change the position of the animal often. If the disease develops, treat him with antibiotic ointment and keep his sleeping area dry and clean. Check with your veterinarian if you are unsure what to do or what to use.
   • Change bedding frequently to keep your hedgehog's sleeping area dry and clean. A hand towel folded in four is the best size to make a soft and comfortable pillow. Quarter-folded paper towels are highly absorbent and easy to replace so you can lay them on top of your hand towels.It is also convenient to store soft layered sheets nearby to wrap your pet - which will make it easier to handle and reduce the possibility of it falling, or not inconvenience its sore and weak joints.
6. 6 Adapt to feeding your sick hedgehog. Anything you fed him before he got sick needs to be replaced, however, you need to feed him high quality food if you haven't done so before. How to create a new diet is described below:
   • Dry food, of course, you can grind.
   • Chop up boiled eggs, fish, chicken, etc. to prevent the hedgehog from suffocating.
   • As mentioned earlier, often water your hedgehog with a pipette or syringe to prevent dehydration or distress.
   • Ultimately, your pet may become unable to feed on its own. At this point, you can force food into him with a straw or straw.

Tips

• Dealing with Emotional Stress: Make no mistake that caring for a hedgehog with degenerative myelopathy (WHS) is a difficult and time-consuming process. And, it is very painful to watch your animal fade before your eyes. Nevertheless, providing complete care for another living being, you receive a reward of a different kind - you extend the remaining time for him, you will form a bond with your pet. Dependent beings form relationships that cannot exist before the onset of the disease. Hold him often and talk to him! Understanding your pet does not depend on the disease, it needs encouragement from your concern and your voice.
• Caring for a sick hedgehog can be a good experience for both you and your pet.
• If you think that a hedgehog needs to be put to sleep just because he has lost the ability to move, imagine that you would like, being in his place - if you had food, water and love, you would only be taken care of because you could not to move around?

Please do your best to provide comfort for your hedgehog.

• Degenerative myelopathy affects approximately 10% of African pygmy hedgehogs in North America.

Warnings

• WHS is not spread to humans, but it is always a good idea to wash your hands before and after handling your hedgehog. Even healthy hedgehogs can carry salmonella.

What do you need

• Clean sleeping area or bedding
• Handy materials for the maze
• Towels or soft napkins
• Pipette / syringe
• High quality feed
• Heater or cooling system as required