A Hedgehog Life

We're Moving!!

2009-04-12T16:54:00.005-04:00

We're moving!! Mom and Dad have been super busy selling and buying houses. The look is finally over! We settle into our new place fairly soon. Mom took some pictures of Huey exploring months ago, and now we have some time to post. Huey had a blast exploring through the metal jungle.

I love this face!!

2009-01-27T21:29:00.001-05:00

Bubbles

2009-01-18T22:14:00.002-05:00

Huey on a Saturday Morning

2008-11-29T14:20:00.003-05:00

Yummy!!

2008-11-15T17:23:00.002-05:00

Huey finds something tasty (you can see his curly quill in the first shot).

It's been a while....

2008-09-28T20:31:00.005-04:00

Mom was having some technological issues, so it's been a while!!! But now that everything is back to 'normal', I thought it was about time to share some photos. Here's me during my weekend photo shoot. Dad got some really great shots.

Illusive Horatio

2008-09-13T22:54:00.006-04:00

It is not often that Horatio allows himself to be seen.... awake or asleep. Some days he is just like mom and is overcome with sleep. He doesn't quite have the energy to disappear into the depths of orange iglooness.

Home Away From Home

2008-09-01T21:56:00.004-04:00

Mom and Dad got back from a one week vacation recently. After a 45 minute bumpy, tummy upsetting ride, we all arrived at Grandma's house. Grandma, Grandpa and Tia Lisa took really good care of us while mom and dad were away. Mom said she missed us a lot and was afraid that we would forget who she was...... silly lady! Mom made sure to pack as much comfort into the car as she could fit for our stay at Grandma's. Once our travel crates were in, the car was packed! Who knew three hogs and their stuff could take up so much room!

Outdoor Adventure

2008-08-21T22:12:00.002-04:00

Huey really enjoys being out in 'the wild'. He loves to run around in the bushy green grass, pretending to hunt for bugs and running around as the blades of grass tickle his tummy.

What's This?

2008-08-16T12:10:00.003-04:00

Huey sniffing around the empty mealworm container....

Sleepy Hog Bottom

2008-08-11T18:19:00.001-04:00

Hog Keychains

2008-08-09T23:33:00.001-04:00

Mom's been getting crafty... check out the keychains she has made.

More Horatio

2008-08-08T17:59:00.004-04:00

The results are back and Horatio has a confirmed bacterial bladder infection. He is to finish his dose of antibiotics and another sample of his urine will be tested in about 2-3 weeks. Here are some more pictures of my cutie!

Horatio Hog

2008-08-02T23:50:00.006-04:00

My sweet little baby. Horatio is on a second dose of antibiotics. This time he is on Chlor Plam three times a day for 10 days. The blood in his urine has returned. He's been eating strictly Hill's c/d for about 3 weeks now. Mom and dad are waiting for the results of Horatio's urinalysis. They should hear back on Tuesday.

Sunny Sunday

2008-07-27T14:27:00.003-04:00

Crazy Hog Feet

2008-07-21T19:16:00.003-04:00

Mom simply can't get over the ways our feet & leg's move. She is in love with how cute they look. I don't get it....

Hairy Shark

2008-07-09T21:54:00.006-04:00

We should have knocked on wood....

Horatio was sitting in mom's lap while she typed the last post. As she scooped him up to tell him how good he was being, this is what happened!

Horatio Hog

2008-07-09T21:33:00.007-04:00

Horatio has recently gotten over a urinary tract infection (Hill's C/D did the trick). Mom wonders if this was maybe the cause of his moodiness lately. Once all traces of blood disappeared from his urine, so did some of his huffiness. Mom isn't brave enough to handle him bare handed just yet, as she wants to keep all the skin on her fingers intact. The good news is that he hasn't latched onto any of his blankets during snuggle time in the last few days. He also seems to be less aggressive in general. He even allowed mom to snap some photo's and smiled for the camera!

Cage Bottom

2008-07-07T22:06:00.004-04:00

Since mom built us our new cages I've had the hankering to continually sleep under the cage liners. Bare belly on the cage bottom....mmmmmm.... nice! Mom has tried everything, including placing an area of coroplast underneath my once beloved igloo, trying to replicate the experience for me. I like it in there sometimes, but its just not the same. She will simply need to understand that I, like her, thrive on change.

Hungry Hog

2008-06-30T06:47:00.001-04:00

Bath Time

2008-06-11T18:55:00.001-04:00

Huey has a real blast during bath time. Mom filled the tub a little more than usual this time as Huey seems to always like hanging around the 'deep end' of the tub. She filled it just enough so there was swimming room in the deeper part. Huey swam like mad. He didn't want to come out. When mom tried scooping him out, he jumped out of her hands and right back in. It was so cute!!

Lazy Sunday

2008-06-08T11:28:00.001-04:00

Fleece Jungle

2008-06-04T22:43:00.002-04:00

***The edges of my box ARE NOT as sharp as they appear***

Adventures

2008-06-01T12:29:00.005-04:00

I always love my pillow climbing and hog linen basket adventures.

Just Because

2008-05-29T22:23:00.002-04:00

What a cute fuzzy belly.....

Huey wheels with perfect form...

The Cages Are Done!!!

2008-05-25T22:52:00.008-04:00

Me and my boys moved into our new roomy cages. I love my two story pad. I've spent hours running up and down my ramp. I especially love poking my head through the cage. I always think I am going to be successful in squeezing myself through, but no luck. It's kind of freaking mom out, but she knows there is no way I am fitting through the new wire walls. Huey spent all afternoon running around in all his new space. Horatio, well........ he hasn't quite figured it all out and is a bit edgy and nervous about his move. He had stopped biting the last week or so, but started again today. It may all be too stressful for my sensitive little guy. He'll settle in soon enough!

Sleeping Quilly

2008-05-24T22:19:00.002-04:00

New Cage

2008-05-24T22:15:00.005-04:00

Mom's building us a new home!!!!!

Play Time

2008-05-19T22:29:00.005-04:00

Huey's play time usually consists of a large running area, with minimal toy's that could turn into obstacles due to his blindness. He is very good at exploring his surroundings each time he is placed in his play pen and mapping out his route so that he doesn't run into anything. Today mom decided to add a lot of the same toy's and environmental stimulation that Horatio and I get. She kept a close eye on him, and as usual, he quickly managed to plot out his surroundings and ran around like a tiny round mad man for 3 hours!!!! He even had a ton of fun with the wooden log ramp.

Nap Time

2008-05-18T22:07:00.001-04:00

A little snooze between runs...

Anointing

2008-05-17T23:31:00.006-04:00

Mom got some really great shots of me anointing. I didn't know I was quite the contortionist.

My Biter

2008-05-12T22:45:00.003-04:00

The once snugly Horatio has become a master biter. He bites everything and everyone. Things he likes to bite:

- Mom's Fingers

- Toilet Paper Tubes he used to love running around with on his head

- Cat Ball toy with bell

- Pieces of toilet paper or paper towel he used to love shredding

This behaviour started about 2 weeks ago. Slowly, a nip here and there. Now it seems constant. Mom ignores bites to her fingers and holds Horatio for long duration after the bites so that he doesn't associate biting with getting rid of humans.

Hopefully it is a phase. Mom is going to buy a whole bunch of new toy's for Horatio. She is thinking the biting is a sign of boredom and that new toys may provide new stimulation and outlets to release energy.

Runaway Hog

2008-05-11T09:05:00.000-04:00

Huey the Explorer

2008-05-07T18:09:00.004-04:00

Huey is such an explorer. He loves wandering about the house looking for new discoveries and adventure. With his nose leading him, he studies and investigates new places and smells. This week's discovery : The Green Rug.

Sound Asleep

2008-05-01T21:43:00.001-04:00

Extreme Close - Up

2008-04-28T22:42:00.003-04:00

Hog Sling

2008-04-27T19:41:00.013-04:00

Mom made an exciting new snuggle sac for us. Inspired by baby carrying slings, she made a smaller version for me and the boys. I've been snuggling inside of it for the last hour or so. I usually sleep in moms lap when she is on the computer but she is so overly cautious that she always keeps one hand on me or close by, in case I decide to wake up and run! With the new sling I can snuggle close to her chest and keep super warm while she remains hands free. As much as I would like to go everywhere with her, she has warned me that this is for sleepy snuggle time only!! I can't hitch a ride in the cozy sac. If I want to explore I am going to need to do it with my own feet.....

Mischievous Hog Sequence

2008-04-25T21:36:00.007-04:00

Mom decided it would be great to switch our littler from Yesterday's news to less messy paper towel. She thinks it will make for quick clean ups and less dust (not that Yesterday's news is hugely dusty, but it is a bit). This is what Huey thought of that idea....

"Exploring...."

"Pretending like I dont care about the new intersting thing in my litter box...."

"Still pretending....."

"Making my move....."

"RUN!!!"

"emmmmm... geeeeeettttt in there..."

"Ok.. let me get a running start this time....."

"go... goooooooooo"

"Success!!"

Wheeling Fun

2008-04-20T17:47:00.003-04:00

Huey loves wheeling in his slow, steady, cautious pace. Mom rarely gets to see me or Horatio wheel, but Huey, that's another story! It probably has a lot to do with being blind and little to do with being outgoing and free. Mom gets to watch Huey for hours doing his own thing, which is a rare sighting for hog parents. Enjoy!

My Handsom Boy

2008-04-14T21:24:00.003-04:00

Everyone says I should have named him "Billy"..... why?????? :)

Huey and his Pirouette

2008-04-11T22:02:00.004-04:00

This is new behaviour for Huey. He's started whirling around during play time for no apparent reason what so ever. He's kind of like mom that way..... She finds great joy in spinning around in circles when the mood strikes her. It's not the circular route he takes but much more about the smaller turns he makes while running the larger path that is new!

A Hog on a Misson

2008-04-08T22:08:00.006-04:00

Mom is always amazed and amused when she watches Huey during play time. Huey definitely does not let it be known that he has no sight. One would never know he is blind by watching him run around in his play pen. He explores for about 10 seconds before he maps out his route and runs the exact same path over and over until he gets bored and then switches it up a little. He runs non stop, as fast as he can. Unless mom stays up really really late and hides in the dark she doesn't get to see Horatio or I play, however......... Huey is a totally different story!! As Huey can't differentiate between day and night (light and darkness) he is active whenever his little heart pleases. This often means he is active right when mom and dad get up and then again in the evening when mom and dad get home. He puts on quite an impressive show. He loves his wheel, but he is a very cautious wheel runner, so his pace is a little on the slow side (therefore he has a rounder bottom than the rest of us). On solid ground though, he's faster than as a speeding bullet.... OK, sort of! Here's some shots of him getting away!!

Baby Photo's

2008-04-04T23:29:00.005-04:00

Reminiscing....

Play Time

2008-04-01T22:30:00.004-04:00

I had a blast running around all over the place. I played with my Cuddle Pal warm fuzzy toy, toilet paper roll and hedgie hat. I love running around in stealth mode hidden underneath my hedgie hat. I sometimes pretend that I am a master of disguise as I snoop around mom's hobby room, unseen to the human eye. It is so much fun!!

Mom did try cuddling with me once I tired myself out but it didn't last too long. I wanted to impress her with my master couch scaling abilities. She really wished she hadn't put her camera away. I think I impressed her with my leg-stretch-balancing-myself-between-the-couch-and-Horatio's- cage maneuver.

Chubbihogs

2008-04-01T21:25:00.002-04:00

Mom received her Chubbihog magnets today!! A very talented lady named Deena makes the cutest "Chubbihog" and "Chubbichin" art. You can see her work at: http://www.chins-n-quills.com/forums/showthread.php?t=133012

Deena can also be contacted by emailing: gowahoogal@aol.com if you are not a member of Chins-n-Quills and are interested in her work.

Thanks Deena, we all love the magnets!!

Sweater Crazy

2008-03-29T23:02:00.008-04:00

I discovered another one of mom's interesting tasting sweaters today. I especially loved how delicate and fine the fabric was. It felt like I could easily pull on a thread and the whole thing would unravel. I wonder how amusing mom would find this....?? Very tempting!!!

Mmmmmmm..... sweater.....

2008-03-28T22:19:00.001-04:00

I quite like mom's sweater.....

Huey's Idea of Cozy

2008-03-28T22:09:00.003-04:00

Now that Huey is on antibiotics and his tummy is upset, mom has laid down some paper towels for easier cleaning. Huey would much rather sleep in it than walk on it......

This is what it is supposed to look like:

Huey Vet Visit #2

2008-03-24T22:31:00.004-04:00

When Huey isn't sleeping deep within the fleece strips of his house, its seems like all mom does is examine his face and legs for signs of change and hopes of improvement.

Mom and Dad took Huey to the vet tonight to have the bumps and scabs on his face and legs looked at. The vet agreed that it is very possibly linked to a food allergy. The scabs did not look like they were due to an infection (staph). Huey is now on his second round of antibiotics in order to heal the scabs that he has scratched 'raw'. The antibiotics are to help heal his skin. This time around, NO BAYTRIL!!!! He is on Antirobe twice a day for two weeks.

The vet also provided mom some Hill's Prescription Diet z/d. This food has been developed by using a process called Hydrolyzation. This is the same process used to create baby formula for human babies who are allergic to milk protein. Basically, the proteins in hydrolyzed food is broken down so small, that they do not create allergic reactions.

The vet said we should start seeing improvement in Huey's skin within 3 days due to the antibiotics. If the irritation is due to a food allergy we should see his skin clear up in two weeks due to the new food. Once his skin has improved, he is to remain eating the Prescription Diet z/d for two additional weeks before mom re-introduces (one food at a time, with a two week gap) his current kibble. This will help determine what it is that he is allergic to. The Prescription Diet is a bit high in protein, but the vet said it should be OK for 4 weeks.

We're all really hoping this is the answer to all his skin woe's.

Food Allergies?

2008-03-23T00:02:00.002-04:00

Mom and I wanted to share a really great article we read together (ok.. maybe she did the reading and I just stared at the screen...) about hedgehog food allergies. Mom has been reading up on a whole lot so that she can be as informed as possible when she and Huey visit the vet to talk about the bumps and scabs on his face and legs.

All hedgie owners, or to be owners should read this article from Hedgies.com:

http://www.hedgies.com/allergies.htm

Mom really wishes she had read this sooner as she would have allowed for much longer gaps of time between introducing us all to new foods. This would have helped her monitor Huey's skin and new food intake for any signs of a reaction. She says she would have also kept her already detailed hog log more detailed and very specific.

Lesson learned!

My, What Big Teeth You Have....

2008-03-21T18:53:00.004-04:00

Here's a photo of Huey chomping on some of his kibble. Mom was finally able to find some low fat cat food to mix in with the higher fat food she is trying hard to wean us off of. Our mix currently consists of Royal Canin Kitten, Eagle Pack Holistic Select Duck and Oatmeal formula, Fromm Mature Gold for cats and Now! Senior Weight Management. So far so good.... we all seem to like this mixture. Mom is trying to track down some Natural Balance Green Pea & Duck formula for us, because she has this obsessed notion that we will love it. Some really nice people at Global Pet Foods in Oakville are ordering some samples for us to try. It should be in quite soon!

P.S. The cause of the scab under Huey's chin is unknown. Mom thinks it is a staph infection as he has developed the start of new sores on his legs today. Mom's taking him to the vet either tomorrow or Monday, depending on which vet is available, to determine the cause. My little (though chubby) Huey is definitely my special needs little hog!

Horatio Meets Couch Animals

2008-03-20T22:35:00.004-04:00

Horatio met the couch animals all at once yesterday. He cautiously maneuvered his way around them as he sniffed his new found friends. Mom said he made little high pitched squeaking sounds a few times, similar to babies in their nest wanting more food from mom. We're not really sure what that means but he didn't seem stressed out about the situation, so it must have been good!

Quilling

2008-03-16T16:23:00.003-04:00

My boys are going through their 8-12 week old quilling stage. They are just over 10 weeks old now and have been terribly huffy for the last few days. Even Horatio the cuddle bug has been quite sensitive when it comes to being held.

Quilling is the term used for the process of shedding a set of quills in order for a new set to grown in. In other words, their 'baby quills' are shedding, making room for their strong manly adult quills. The fallen quills are quickly replaced by new quills which break through quill points in their skin. It is easy to see why my little guys are irritable and moody. Hopefully this stage only lasts a week, but it is possible that it can last up to 3 weeks or slightly longer.

Run Away!!!!

2008-03-15T12:40:00.002-04:00

Even when I give mom my best evil eye, she still doesn't get it...

Oh, how they grow.....

2008-03-09T23:18:00.002-04:00

Mom and I were looking through old photo's and found this great shot of Huey taken February 2, 2008, when he was just one month old.

Mom Went Fabric Shopping!

2008-03-07T22:24:00.003-05:00

Mom went fabric shopping and bought a new stash to make us new cage liners. She bought two types of really cute dinosaur flannel and fuzzy fleece to ensure we stay as dry as possible. The fabric cage liners ensure our spaces stay dust free and keep us breathing healthy. It also makes cage cleaning a whole lot easier. Mom changes our liners every 2-3 days. By the end of the week she has a great big load of liners, hedgie bags and snuggle blankets to wash. We love the fact that liners also create less waste, meaning they are "environmentally friendly". Every little bit counts!

Huey Update

2008-03-05T21:53:00.003-05:00

Huey is finally finished his stint with his antibiotics. He managed them with absolutely no adverse reactions. YAY for my little guy!!

His skin looks a lot better and his problem areas are drying up quite nicely. He also seems to be a whole lot less itchy and uncomfortable. I feel so happy that he is feeling better. He has been a real trooper. He hasn’t complained or slowed down one bit. He wheels around all day while Horatio and I are trying to get some sleep. He also tests me by staying up as long as he can, pretending like he doesn’t need to sleep. What a guy!!

I am sharing a shot mom took of him as he was getting acquainted with Big Chester the Hobby Room sheep!

What's with the Shoe??

2008-03-03T12:24:00.003-05:00

Ok.... so it looks like I am not the only one that like's the shoe......

Play Time

2008-03-02T17:59:00.006-05:00

Play time always almost equals worm time for me. I love a good old larva of the mealworm beetle or Tenebrio molitor. These pests of stored grain do just fine in my belly!!

Mom tries to bribe me with mealworms in order to come out and play with all the colourful (and what she thinks are fun) toys she got us. This does work just briefly until the worms are gobbled up. At that point I go and 'play' in my favourite toy. It happens to be one of dad's old shoes. As you can see, the only playing that happens is a game of hide and seek..... Mom tries her hardest to entice me out and to make sure she can see me run about and play, but I'd much rather take a nap and leave all the running around and cage rearranging to when she and dad are asleep in bed. I think she is onto me though..... She caught me wandering around in my space when she came home today. I was somewhat confused. Usually mom and dad are home Sunday afternoons but I hadn't heard a peep out of either of them since after lunch today so I thought it was safe to come out for a brisk walk...... Well.......... in a much different way than mom's usually unstealthy self, she snuck up on me as I was having a wander. She was so happy to see that I was out and about, that she briskly placed me in my pen and I suppose couldnt resist snapping some shots of my cute little face!

Our Spaces

2008-02-26T22:31:00.004-05:00

I thought I'd share pictures of our bedrooms with everyone. As mentioned before, mom keeps us in her 'hobby' room. In the midst of a computer station, jewelry board, dress form and sewing machines, rests our three homes. I live on the top floor in a blue Zoo Zone 2 cage. Huey and Horatio live in large Ikea bins on the ground floor. Mom searched long and hard for the largest bins she could find for my boys. She tells me she dragged dad everywhere!! Huey owns a blue wheel and Horatio owns a green one. These pictures were taken with what dad calls a 'super wide' angle lens so the angles may seem odd for the interior shots of Huey and Horatio's place. We were all hiding in our beds when these were taken.

Huey's Vet Visit

2008-02-23T17:42:00.005-05:00

Mom and Dad took Huey to the vet today. The main purpose of the visit was to check Huey's eyes out because they look cloudy and sunken in. The vet confirmed that Huey is blind, just like we all suspected. The vet also said that there is inflammation in his eyes. He stated that Huey is not in any pain and that it may have been uncomfortable in the beginning. Huey's eyes had brown spots in them since he could open his eyes. As time has gone by they have become cloudy and sunken looking. The vet said that Huey's eyes are drying up and that eventually they will shrink to the point that they will disappear. As horrible as that sounds, it's not that bad. The vet said there was nothing that could be done at this point. Mom and Dad are supposed to watch Huey for an eye infection. If all goes 'normally', Huey's eyes will close up on their own when his eyes have completely dried up and basically, disappear. Mom and Dad need to keep a close eye on him. If they notice any discharge coming from his eye they will have to take him back to the vet to have his eyes removed. Discharge = Infection.

If you click on some of the photos to enlarge them you can see the cloudy spot in his eye. Both eyes are the same.

On a side note, it looks like Huey has a skin infection too. He was treated with Revolution at the vet's office for possible mites and mom and dad need to give him Baytril for 12 days. We're all super concerned and hoping he does not have any adverse reactions to the antibiotics. Mom brought some Revolution home and treated me and Horatio too, just in case!

Quills crossed that my little boy gets all better!!

Sunday Brunch

2008-02-18T21:37:00.007-05:00

We got introduced to A LOT of new people this weekend. Mom and Dad had a Sunday Brunch with friends and of course they had to show me and the boys off. There were a lot of strange new people. New voices, new smells, new everything! I played like I was shy and Huey followed right along. Horatio of course acted all cool and calm and stayed relaxed most of the time so that everyone could touch his quills and "ooohh and ahhhh".

It was so funny..... as mom was bending over to show the children Huey, dad snapped a shot of her bum, while auntie Lily laughed an pointed out what they thought was a piece of hog droppings on her bottom! Mom thought hard all weekend long about how it was even possible. We are as neat and tidy as hogs can be and mom is so careful to catch all of our "accidents" in a wad of toilet paper before we even know what's going on!

It wasn't until only moments ago that she saw the most talked about shot ever and was overcome with relief. It turns out that dad and everyone else, had a good laugh at nothing! The hog poop, was not poop at all, but a piece of our kibble dried onto her pants. It was funny while it lasted!!

Meet My Boys

2008-02-16T19:39:00.010-05:00

Meet my boys. Huey is an Algerian Chocolate just like me and Horatio is Albino. We all live in separate spaces. The boy's can’t stay together or they will fight.

Horatio is a snuggle bug who loves playing in Mom's hair. He loves nothing more than to climb on mom and snuggle with her. His quills are soft and shiny. He has the cutest little pink nose!

Huey is an explorer. He love's wheeling around in his blue silent spinner. Even though hedgehogs are nocturnal, Huey is super active during the day. This could be because Huey is blind. He has no sensitivity to light. Huey has molting on his body and because of this he has the cutest little spots on his bottom and tail. He's such a cute little guy!

Hello World!

2008-02-16T19:12:00.004-05:00

After much thought and consideration, I have decided to jump into the blogging world. I hope that a glimpse into my life will be educational and entertaining.

My name is Holly Hog. I'm and African Pygmy Hedgehog. I think I was born October 15, 2007. My mom isn't so sure because the breeder she adopted me from couldn't give her my birth date with much confidence. My parents brought me home December 18, 2007. It didn't take much for them to fall in love with me and vice versa. My bedroom is very large, roomy and colourful. My mom keeps me in her 'hobby room' so that she can stay close to me as much as possible. She can't get enough of me!! I have my very own space heater to keep me warm. My room needs to be the warmest in the house. Us hedgehogs are sensitive to temperature. We need to be kept between 74 - 78 F in order to stay healthy and happy.

Shortly after bringing me home, I gave my parents a big scare!!! You see, when my parents adopted me, I was pregnant. Secretly pregnant. I did a really good job at hiding it. I still remember my mom's face when she took me out of my favourite sleeping bag on January 2, 2008, and found one of my little pink boys. Priceless! We laugh about it now but she was really terrified and didn't know what to do.

Mom received lots of encouragement and advice from very wonderful people at Chins-n-Quills.com. My boys and I are doing just fine. It seems like just the other day, but Huey and Horatio are almost 7 weeks old!! They've grown so quickly. It's definitely been exciting times.

(The picture of me was taken the night before my boys were born. I suppose I looked a little round.........)