My Poor hedgehog with a lump....

[ChamZilla]

Hey everyone

Well everyone around here knows how much I care for and love my pets. Well hedgehogs arn't seen by most vets as they are rodents. I guess rodents don't have status in Canada! LOL well my little guy has previously had a lump removed from the inside of his leg. This is how that surgery went and what it looked like....

GRAPHIC PHOTOS!

This tumor took almost 9 months to get this big, to be operated on. Caterpiller is an almost 6.5 year old African pygmy hedgehog, male.

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He went through this surgery with no complications and minimum time off doing his running. After he grew this tumor he grew another. Behind his ear, that after 5 months it is still the same size as it was when I found it. The size of a small bead. The new tumor he grew popped up in December 2007. This tumor I thought would be like the rest and grow slowly. It was not the case. Since I was pre occupied in helping my bf with the fractured spine. I kept my hedgehogs clean, but didn't really spend a lot of time with them until this month when my bf went back to work without dr's approval. So I had time to examine my little ones, let them out for runs around the living room and play time for the two of them together. I noticed that my hedgies tumor was signifigantly bigger than it was previously in such a short time. His tumor grew from nothing into a golf ball size in a matter of 3 months.

I was hoping the Dr. could just tell me that it was an abcess, a skin infection something like that. But I knew better. He was diagnosed with a cancerous tumor on Tuesday. That is obviously fast growing. You can see that from the pictures to follow,one from feb. and the ones from march. The tumor could probably be operated on, but it would risk his life just to do the operation. As no one knows what is involved under the mass and what else it has drug into its clutches. Also looking at his age as being an old tymer hedgehog, that is working against him to. Option number two would be to let him live it out until his health starts failing (prior to the lump growing so massive and still to the present time, he still eats, walks around, eliminates normally, and drinks. He for the most part doesn't realize what this lump is that is weighing him down) Which will mean when he stops eating, or not going to the bathroom, not moving around or the leision on his skin becomes bigger. And Option #3 would be to put him down. But the vet didn't see this as an immediate option because he is still carrying on with his daily activities and is still in good spirits about everything. ALSO something major is that he doesn't seem to be in any pain. Being a rodent they can squeek and bite. Then his tumor is touched or even gently squeezed he shows no signs of struggle, squeeking or even nipping. So this likely means that he is in no pain.

So for the time being I will spoil my boy until he is going to be called across that rainbow bridge. He has had a long go at life as he is almost 6.5 years old. Most hedgehogs are lucky to make it to 5 let alone any further.

Here are a few pictures of his present tumor and its massive size with the leision on the underside of it. You can still see how much life is in those bright eyes. He is still a happy little guy and you wouldn't believe how attached you get to them. Even if they are classified as rodents. Its just not true. He is a beautiful little buddy of mine who I wish could live for 20 healthy years.

This picture is from February 1, 2008

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These photos are from March 25, 2008

Here is him walking from the side...

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The lesion on the tumor....

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And his bright cute little face.....

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Here are a few photo's of him in younger years....

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[prismwolf]

Even though I can't see the pics yet...have to wait til I get home...hedgies are not rodents. They're not even close. They're simply another exotic animal the vets want to classify as something else for ease.

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Insectivora
Family: Erinaceidae
Genus: Atelerix

Nothing in there says rodent. Grrr...vets just make me angry sometimes.

They are so very cute and if kept right love to be handled and taken out to play. Poor little guy. I know you'll spoil him rotten and give him all the treats he normally shouldn't have.

[ChamZilla]

For sure!! and I know they are not rodents. Just a disposable pet to a lot of people like iguana's are thought of to be. Which is really sad.

Yes he is very social, I have used him at schools for educational purposes. He loves play time, hanging out, sleeping in my sweater, if I take a nap in the day time he has a nap under my covers with me. He is a very picky eater, and really doesn't like anything else you offer him other than his food. I just bought some baby foods and am going to try to offer him some of that maybe he will like it. We'll see how that goes. They are very awsome little pets, they are however on the expensive side to purchase. Which I think helps a lot of them stay out of unwanted homes. To bad it couldn't happen like that for a lot of other pets. He is a very wonderful little guy, but it just seems you never have enough time with them when they are close to the end.

[prismwolf]

I sure know what you mean. When they get to where you know there's not much time left...you all of a sudden can't do enough for them. I had a hedgehog here for a little while...about 6 months before he got adopted. Cranky, cranky, cranky, and grumpy little fella. When he bit - he meant it! Here in the states you have to be USDA licensed to breed and sell them. Is it that government controlled there, too?

His cutie pics are precious Steph! What a cute little face!

[ChamZilla]

no they arn't government controlled here. I think they arn't to worried about it here because of the very cold winter temperatures I think they think they would die off. They are banned in some places around here because they think they are "exotic rodents" but they don't know what they are talking about anyway. That city is trying to outlaw a lot of things, because spoiled bratts mostly live there. No pit bulls, no snakes, no hedgehogs. What else are they going to come up with next. Its just an on going list of BS and stupid rules. But do you think they care what pet stores sell and who they are sold to... no really I don't think they do.

Ah well anyways, onto my llittle man. He used to be cranky when he didn't get enough attention and when I changed hand soaps or detergents. I guess we smell different with changing small things like that. He loves to lick sweat on your hands or anywhere he can find it. He is silly like that. Even climbs up your shirt to try and get into your armpits. He's silly sometimes.

Today I notice that he is going down hill a bit more than before. He is having a hard time getting around his enclosure but is still eating and elminating. I think this will be his last few days. It is hard for me to say goodbye to my dear friend, but it is harder to watch his health deterioriate. My bf has friday off and has agreed to take us to the vets. As its something that is hard enough to do and I really won't want to drive home after that. So I will bring his fav blankie and am looking for a nice box to put him in, and not a shoe box or something like that either.

I bought him some baby foods and I'm going to see if he is interested in them. I contacted some other hedgehog people and they mentioned I could give him some mashed potato's with gravy if he is interested in eating those. I can pretty much offer him things that would be considered bad for him if he wants to try some of if. Just to spoil him a bit more. If not he can still have his normal daily foods. Just trying to give him some treats and make him feel a bit better. Until it is time.

I will keep you updated.

[prismwolf]

Awwwe. Mashed potatoes and gravy would be wonderful! The one I cared for loved baby foods. Chicken and turkey were his favs. My thoughts are with you...((HUGS))

[ChamZilla]

Hey everyone,
just to let you guys know, that my little hedgehog that was such a strong fighter passed away early this morning. He had an appointment with the vet today to be put down, but God did it for me. I found him sleeping in his enclosure at around 8am. I layed with him and talked to him for a good hour at 2 this morning. He laid on my side just looking at me when I was talking to him and explained that even though I would miss him it was ok for him to go to sleep if he was tired of fighting. I told him I took the best care of him that I possibly could and that I hope he had a great full life with me. I said I would miss him very much and I loved him very much.

Then oddly he did go to sleep for the last time. I'm not sure if it was just a fluke or not of it happening that way for a reason. It was deffinatly odd.

Thanks for following the post and wishing him well.

[prismwolf]

Animals don't understand the words we say...but they have an uncanny way of understanding the meaning. I know you'll miss him very much.

((HUGS))