My hedgehog is foaming at the mouth!!!!!!

[Cassy]

My hedgehog is foaming at the mouth randomly but it doesn\'t act aggressive.

I was carrying it around in my purse when I noticed it happening.

Does anyone know what could be wrong? Please help!

[Pookie753]

hey cassy! my hedghog sometimes makes a lot of foam and spits it on his quills.. i thought it was strange so i looked up somethin and found this: \"Exotic Pet Care\" goes on to say, hedgehogs will sometimes behave strangely by salivating and foaming at the mouth. They may react this way when something new, such as an unfamiliar odor, is encountered. This behavior is quite normal and should not be a cause for concern. I found this at http://fl.essortment.com/hedgehogshowdo_rqqw.htm

[LoriL]

It is probably self-anointing.

It can be disturbing, to say the least, when you first see it happen.

It usually occurs when they taste something that they aren\'t familiar with. They will then gather up enough saliva to place it on their quills. When they place it on their quills, they contort themselves in such a way--it\'s really hard to explain. Afterwards, they look like they are foaming at the mouth.

There is an article about it on this website here along with pictures:
http://www.hedgehogworld.com/content/view/38/42/

We now get very excited when it looks like Lucy will self-anoint!

Hope this helps a little and sets your mind at ease.

[HamorHollow]

LoriL wrote:

It is probably self-anointing.

Yup, what she said. No need to worry, that is natural hedgehog behavior.

-K

[4hedgies]

Anointing is normal behavior for hedgies, I know they are very curious about new smells but I have always believed that hedgies anoint because it is a way to protect themselves from predators. Pet hedgehogs don\'t have predators but in the wild, anointing is a way for hedgies to smell like thier surroundings. This helps them to stay hidden from predators. Some behaviors never go away in animals even though now African Pygmy Hedgehogs are now bred for captivity.

[hedgehogkiwi]

HamorHollow wrote:

LoriL wrote:

It is probably self-anointing.

Yup, what she said. No need to worry, that is natural hedgehog behavior.

-K

yup yup yup no need to worry excpet my pricklye priincess does not do it oh well

[HamorHollow]

hedgehogkiwi wrote:

LoriL wrote:
yup yup yup no need to worry excpet my pricklye priincess does not do it oh well

She\'ll learn.... or at least get a little better with balance.

-K