How to Clean Hedgehog Ears – The Ultimate Guide


long eared-hedgehog as owner inquires about How to Clean Hedgehog Ears

Discovering your pet hedgehog’s ears looking gross with dirt or accumulated wax can trigger a lot of guilt as a hedgie parent. Dirty ears may result in diseases and infections that can cause problems for your cute spiky buddy and it is only logical to seek ideas on how to clean them so your hedgehog enjoys healthy ears.

This article focuses on How to Clean hedgehog Ears by revealing the tips and tricks that could be employed to ensure your hedgehog’s ears stay sanitized always. We also reveal the necessary tools for ear cleaning and additional ways to prevent infections.

How to Clean Hedgehog Ears

Cleaning your hedgehog’s ear with the wet ends of a q-tip or a warm damp washcloth can remove accumulated dirt and wax. Getting the ears flushed by your vet could also lower the chances of your hedgehog suffering ear mite infections, tattered ears, or middle ear infections.

Many of us pay attention to other areas of our hedgehog’s bodies but forget the ears completely until there’s a serious infection. However, this neglectful behavior can cause lots of problems for our beloved hedgehogs because their ears may be prone to a wide range of infections.

Do Hedgehog Ears Need to Be Cleaned?

earbuds in a container as hedgehog enthusiasts wonder Do Hedgehog Ears Need to Be Cleaned?

Hedgehog ears do not ordinarily need to be cleaned since wax seldom builds up in there. However, they should be checked regularly, especially each time you give them a bath. Signs of dirt or wax accumulation should trigger a cleaning job with a wet q-tip or washcloth.

You may also rinse the ears with warm water but make sure the water does not get into the ear canal because it can trigger infections. Also, be careful not to apply too much pressure with your hands during the rinsing process to prevent discomfort to the pet hedgehog.

Do Hedgehogs Have Ear Wax?

Hedgehogs may suffer accumulated ear wax sometimes although it is not always common. A quick glance inside the ears should reveal the presence of built-up wax to be cleaned if any. A quick inspection once a month should be enough to shut down wax buildups and keep the ears sanitized for maximum health.

Why is My Hedgehog Shaking Its Head?

Hedgehogs shake their heads when suffering from ear infections. If your healthy little buddy keeps shaking his head all of a sudden, you may want to examine the ears for signs of infections. Evidence of abnormalities should trigger a quick visit to the local vet for the right treatment.

The vet may decide to simply remove accumulated wax and flush the ears to ensure thorough cleaning or could prescribe some medicines for more serious fungal and bacterial infections.

How Do I Know If My Hedgehog Has an Ear Infection?

Here are the signs of infections in pet hedgehogs. Any of these should spook immediate action before it is too late.

  • Ear discharge
  • Scratching
  • Head shaking
  • Loss of balance
  • Grey or cream fingers growing outside the ears
  • Ringworm
  • Tattered ears

What Are The Common Types of Ear Infections?

Hedgehogs may be prone to different types of ear infections depending on the level of sanitation in their environments. Here are the 3 main types you may notice.

Fungal Infections

Tattered ears are not always a sign of ear mite infections because it is a popular symptom in various fungal infections as well. Fungal infections are often characterized by cream fingers on the edges of the hedgehog’s ear which can be visually unappealing.

The use of wood shavings or paper bedding typically exposes hedgehogs to fungal infections due to their propensity to trap moisture which encourages thriving populations of the fungus in the hedgehog’s cage. Ringworm is another common type of fungal infection that hedgehog ears may be exposed to.

Fungal infections can be difficult to treat and may literally eat the affected ears away. An urgent visit to your local vet could be lifesaving for the little guy. Antifungal creams such as Clotrimazole and Panalog are known for effectively eliminating thriving fungi populations which may provide relief for hedgehogs.

Apply antifungal cream twice a day to the affected ears for quick results and do not stop until the ears are completely healed.

Ear Mite Infections

upclose pics of hedgehog ear infections
close-up photo of a black cat with otitis and scratching dermatitis

Ear mite infections occur when mites on the skin of your hedgehog somehow end up in the ears. The presence of the parasites may lead to signs such as tattered ears which should be promptly treated to prevent escalation to a wide range of bacterial ear infections.

Ear mites are a serious condition that requires urgent veterinary care. Your vet may prescribe various ear drops including a cocktail of Neomycin and Permethrin. Permethrin is a popular active ingredient in insect sprays and is known for effectively killing sprawling mite populations wherever they’re applied.

Inner Ear or Middle Ear Infections

Is your hedgehog experiencing foul-smelling discharges from the ear? That could be a sign of a middle or inner ear infection. These ear infections are usually difficult to notice and require close observation of your pet hedgehogs.

Loss of balance is another common sign of middle or inner ear infections and one may see the little hedgehog wobbling or walking around in circles during attempts to move. Standing typically becomes difficult because they’re unable to maintain balance.

Additional symptoms include loss of appetite and lack of interest in staying hydrated. They may also lose interest in engaging in their favorite physical activities like running on their exercise wheels.

If you suspect middle or inner ear infections in your pet hedgehog, speak to a vet immediately because the situation could result in serious repercussions including hearing loss. Hedgehogs rely on their sense of hearing to live normal lives and failure to treat infections quickly may rob them of that gift.

Vets typically flush the affected ears with antibacterial or antifungal medications when there are signs of middle or inner ear infections. This is often enough to provide relief for the affected quill baby.

Conclusion: How to Clean Hedgehog Ears

Hedgehog ears may be cleaned with the wet edges of a q-tip, a clean washcloth dipped in warm water, or simply rinsed in warm water. This eliminates signs of dirt or wax buildup which can cause severe hearing problems over time.

Most hedgehog ear infections may be treated with antibacterial or antifungal creams depending on the type. Middle or inner ear infections are often treated by flushing the ears with antibacterials to provide relief. Always treat hedgehog ear infections with urgency to prevent more serious problems including deafness.

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