luckies4me
04-21-2003, 09:17 AM
Speedy my hedgehog is sick. I took him out of his cage during the day for playtime, but since they are up all night he gets time out to run around in the bathtub while we are sleeping. I usually throw some Carefresh in the tub with some hidey areas and his towel. Well this morning I woke up and looked into the tub, BLOOD EVERYWHERE!!! :eek: :(
I felt like crying right then and there. I also noticed that he had some loose stools, and some tarry ones (dark thick and black) with some mucous in them. I took him out of the tub and his whole body was covered in blood. I set him down on the floor, rinsed out the tub and then he went into the bath to get all the nasties off of him. After his bath, there were no obvious injuries, which I assumed as there is no way to hurt himself in the bathtub. I looked at his underside and no more blood, it all washed off. So I am assuming the blood came from his urine or his stools. :(
I was up very early this morning so called the ER clinic, which told me to just take him to my regular vet. Well they are not too experienced with hedgies (although VERY good with rats) so I am taking him to work with me tomorrow. Luckily, my clinic takes drop offs and work ins. I am so happy to be able to bring him to work with me tomorrow. I can watch him all day. :D
What really worries me if the tarry poop, because I know that signals the animal is very ill. He's been eating and drinking thank god, thank you God! I cleaned out his whole cage at 6 this morning. I am so worried about him. I hope it is not a bladder infection. :( He would have to be anesthetized to look at him if it was, which I am assuming they would have to do anyway since they will probably have to draw blood from him. Poor guy. I can't wait to get him in tomorrow. I am going to call my work as soon as they open and talk to Dr. Barrett to see what I should do in the meantime. I am so sad right now. Speedy is my little man and I love him so much. I hope he is going to be ok. I am so sad. :(
He was fine yesterday and enjoyed a spring Easter photo session and loved it. He was in good spirits. I just don't know what has happened.
Sorry for all the typos, but I am so worried right now I can't think straight.
I felt like crying right then and there. I also noticed that he had some loose stools, and some tarry ones (dark thick and black) with some mucous in them. I took him out of the tub and his whole body was covered in blood. I set him down on the floor, rinsed out the tub and then he went into the bath to get all the nasties off of him. After his bath, there were no obvious injuries, which I assumed as there is no way to hurt himself in the bathtub. I looked at his underside and no more blood, it all washed off. So I am assuming the blood came from his urine or his stools. :(
I was up very early this morning so called the ER clinic, which told me to just take him to my regular vet. Well they are not too experienced with hedgies (although VERY good with rats) so I am taking him to work with me tomorrow. Luckily, my clinic takes drop offs and work ins. I am so happy to be able to bring him to work with me tomorrow. I can watch him all day. :D
What really worries me if the tarry poop, because I know that signals the animal is very ill. He's been eating and drinking thank god, thank you God! I cleaned out his whole cage at 6 this morning. I am so worried about him. I hope it is not a bladder infection. :( He would have to be anesthetized to look at him if it was, which I am assuming they would have to do anyway since they will probably have to draw blood from him. Poor guy. I can't wait to get him in tomorrow. I am going to call my work as soon as they open and talk to Dr. Barrett to see what I should do in the meantime. I am so sad right now. Speedy is my little man and I love him so much. I hope he is going to be ok. I am so sad. :(
He was fine yesterday and enjoyed a spring Easter photo session and loved it. He was in good spirits. I just don't know what has happened.
Sorry for all the typos, but I am so worried right now I can't think straight.