Hedgehog Diseases

Hedgehog diseases

Hedgehogs suffer many diseases common to humans.[12] These include cancer, fatty liver disease and cardiovascular disease.

Cancer is very common in hedgehogs. The most common is squamous cell carcinoma. Squamous cell spreads quickly from the bone to the organs in hedgehogs, unlike in humans. Surgery to remove the tumors is rare because it would result in removing too much bone structure.

Fatty liver disease is believed by many to be caused by bad diet. Hedgehogs will eagerly eat foods that are high in fat and sugar. Having a metabolism adapted for low-fat, protein-rich insects, this leads to common problems of obesity. Fatty liver disease is one sign, heart disease is another.

Hedgehogs uncommonly transmit a characteristic fungal skin infection to human handlers as well as other hedgehogs. This ringworm or dermatophytosis infection is caused by Trichophyton erinacei, which forms a distinct mating group within the Arthroderma benhamiae species complex.

Good post Lou

Thanks Lisa x

Thats really interesting Miss Louvain, thank you xx

Did you know that a disease or infection that can be passed from animal to human (or human to animal) such as ringworm is called a zoonosis....?

A little bit of extra info for you there

xoxox

I knew Mad Mel!

I love little snippets of extra info .. im still learning all the time x