Why Is My Hedgehog Shaking? 7 Menacing Health Reasons

There are usually numerous ways in which we can tell if our pets are sick or unwell. These ways can be communicated through signs that we can perceive as normal, but which could cause complications, or even death, to a pet. What about when we are talking of pets, what about hedgehogs in particular?

Last night I noticed that my hedgehog was shaking and I was worried since I’ve never seen her behave in this manner. So, is there any need for me to be concerned, or is it normal?

Why is my hedgehog shaking? There are two key reasons which could cause your hedgehog to experience shaking, and both reasons are potentially problematic. One reason that your hedgehog could be shaking is when it is undergoing the hibernation process, whereas the other reason is if your hedgehog develops WHS, otherwise known as Wobbly Hedgehog syndrome.

Why Is My Hedgehog Shaking?

If you notice that your hedgehog has been shaking lately, this could most probably mean one of two things, either your hedgehog is hibernating, or if your hedgehog is developing, or has already developed, WHS, or wobbly hedgehog syndrome.

When we talk of hibernation as one of the reasons that your hedgehog could be shaking, what is hibernation in hedgehogs in the first place? Hibernation is the process by which hedgehogs save energy by slowing down all functions of their bodies while allowing major bodily functions to take place.

During hibernation hedgehogs are not necessarily sleepy. However, they bring down their body temperature to blend with their surroundings thereby entering a state of torpor.

In accordance to this, is the answer to the question why is my hedgehog shaking be because of hibernation and WHS only or are there any other reasons? Though there may be other reasons to your hedgehog experiencing shaking, these are the two major and well known reasons.

What Are The Reasons Behind Hedgehog Shaking?

The two main reasons that could cause your hedgehog to shake are hibernation and a neurological condition known as wobbly hedgehog syndrome (WHS). It is therefore vital never to ignore any signs of disease as a quick diagnosis and treatment could be the key to saving your hedgehog’s life.

Considering that wobbly hedgehog syndrome could be fatal to your hedgehog, what are the symptoms to watch out for in case your hedgehog is dying? If your hedgehog reaches a critical state, you will notice some, or all of these symptoms

• Weight loss
• Not eating or drinking
• Stool appearing green, black, tarry, loose or with mucus
• Panting or difficulty breathing
• Unable to roll-up, just laying on one side
• Not being active anymore or sleeping the whole time
• Appearing confused, walking in circles aimlessly

Do Hedgehogs Have Seizures?

Yes, of all the neurological diseases that your hedgehog can develop, the most common one is WHS, or wobbly hedgehog syndrome. This condition will usually cause your hedgehog, well, as the name suggests, to wobble, among other things.

Furthermore, Ataxia, if left unchecked, will usually progress to cause your hedgehog to fall over, become unstable, experience seizures, and eventually become paralyzed. These symptoms may also occur alongside other minor symptoms in between.  

This reminds me, why is my hedgehog acting weird? Might it be that my hedgehog is developing WHS? Yes, this could well be the reason your hedgehog is behaving in an unusual manner.

However, apart from wobbly hedgehog disease, hibernation can also cause your hedgehog to behave in an unusual or weird manner.

Talking of seizures, why is my hedgehog shaking? Is it because of WHS, or is there another reason? There are two key reasons which will usually cause your hedgehog to shake.

First, the natural and most common reason why your hedgehog will shake is during the hibernation process. Secondly, your hedgehog will also shake if she is infected with wobbly hedgehog syndrome, or WHS in short.

What To Do If My Hedgehog Is Shaking?

Unfortunately, WHS has no cure and not much can be done to prevent it. The only thing you can do once your hedgehog has been diagnosed with this disease is to keep your hedgehog as comfortable as you possibly can until it reaches a point where the symptoms of the disease are critical and you therefore have to put your hedgehog down.

When talking of the steps you should take, or what you should do when your hedgehog is shaking, what about when it comes to the reasons behind your hedgehog shaking in the first place, why is my hedgehog shaking and what is the real reason behind it? There are various reasons why your hedgehog might be shaking.

However, out of the numerous possibilities, two are actually the key reasons. These being that your hedgehog might be shaking due to hibernation or as a result of acquiring WHS, or wobbly hedgehog syndrome.

You should therefore seek medical attention in case you notice that your hedgehog is experiencing this symptom since leaving it untreated may cause dire consequences to your hedgehog’s health and general well-being, and in the worst case scenario, it could be fatal to your hedgehog.

Why Does My Hedgehog Shake When She Walks?

Hibernation and a neurological condition known as WHS, or wobbly hedgehog syndrome, are the two most common factors that can affect your hedgehog and cause it to experience shaking. Although WHS is the more potentially life threatening of the two, hibernation can also be dangerous, and in the worst case scenario fatal, if it is not addressed as required.

According to this, why is my hedgehog shaking? Is it due only to these two reasons, or is there another reason. These two factors are the ones that are currently well and widely known to cause the shaking that you can notice in your hedgehog.

When talking of whether these two conditions are the only ones which would have adverse effects on your hedgehog’s health, what about when it comes to diseases which would affect hedgehogs in general, or to better put it, what are the common illnesses in hedgehogs? Some of the notable and common diseases which can affect your hedgehog include internal and external parasites, ringworms, cancer, gastrointestinal diseases, and pneumonia.

Can Hedgehogs Have Seizures?

Yes, your hedgehog can have seizures if it is undergoing hibernation or if it has been infected with WHS, or wobbly hedgehog syndrome, which is a neurological disease known for affecting hedgehogs. However, these conditions can be controlled if they are detected on time and if they are addressed accordingly.

With what we have gathered above in mind, why is my hedgehog shaking? Is this the reason either one of the two mentioned above, and is there cause for me to be worried? As reiterated above, your hedgehog may be shaking unusually and without seizing if he is suffering from WHS or if he is undergoing hibernation.

Though there may be other minor causes, these are the most common and well known reasons. 

Do Hedgehogs Get Hypothermia?

Sickness, injury as well as orphaned hedgehogs are very prone to hypothermia. One of the most obvious signs of hyperthermia is staggering. Furthermore, although sunbathing is usually normal for animals, this could also be an indication that your hedgehog is experiencing hypothermia.

So if you notice that your hedgehog is not up and about at night, or that she’s not eating her food as usual, it is advisable to check the temperature in her enclosure.  

When we talk of hedgehogs getting hypothermia or being cold, what about getting too hot? Can my hedgehog get too hot?

Your hedgehog can cope with temperatures of up to 90 degrees Celsius. However, this temperature is not the best for your hedgehog and it should be avoided if possible.

Furthermore, despite the fact that your house could be in the recommended range as per your thermostats reading, the thermostat should be placed in your hedgehog’s cage. This is because while temperatures in the room may read as ideal, the temperature in your hedgehog’s cage could be higher, considering it is an enclosed space.

While on the subject of whether or not hedgehogs experience hypothermia, why is my hedgehog shaking? Is it because of hypothermia, or is there another reason?  Your hedgehog will usually experience shaking as a result of  hibernation.

This is usually a safe and natural process and is usually not fatal. On the other hand, your hedgehog can also experience shaking as a result of developing WHS, or wobbly hedgehog syndrome.

If you notice that your hedgehog is behaving in a weird manner and symptoms seem to point to this disease, seek medical attention sooner rather than later. This is because WHS, if left unchecked, is potentially fatal to your hedgehog.

What Does It Mean When A Hedgehog Is Shaking?

Your hedgehog shaking may mean one of two things. First, it may mean that your hedgehog is passing through the hibernation process. Secondly, it may be an indication that your hedgehog is developing, or it has already developed a condition known as wobbly hedgehog syndrome, or WHS.

Wobbly hedgehog Syndrome is a neurological condition which is known to affect hedgehogs. Though this condition can be controlled and cured if detected and treated early, it may have serious adverse effects on your hedgehog’s health if it is not detected and treated early enough.

Furthermore, if left unchecked, it can be fatal to your hedgehog. That said, does what we have learned here help us comprehensively answer the question why is my hedgehog shaking? Yes, what we have learned above basically illustrates that the two main factors that will usually affect your hedgehog and cause her to have the shakes are the hibernation process as well as a neurological condition known as wobbly hedgehog syndrome, which is notorious when it comes to infecting hedgehogs.

When analyzing what it means when a hedgehog is shaking, can shaking be fatal to hedgehogs in the first place? Although it is not usual for shaking caused by these two conditions to be fatal to your hedgehog, if the shaking is not detected on time or if it is left unchecked, it can definitely become fatal to your hedgehog.

What Does A Hedgehog Seizure Look Like?

If you notice your hedgehog exhibiting signs like seizures, your hedgehog’s head tilting, circling, self-mutilation, weight loss due to a decrease in appetite, muscle loss, difficulty walking, falling over when standing or walking, and eventually being paralyzed, this could be an indication that your hedgehog is experiencing a seizure.

When we talk of your hedgehog experiencing a seizure, what about when it comes to your hedgehog, what are the indications that your hedgehog is sick? If your hedgehog happens to be sick, she will tend to be less active than normal.

This may also be accompanied by a weak appetite. Other indications that could show that your hedgehog is unwell could be lethargy, generally being dull, panting or labored breathing, discharge from your hedgehog’s nose or eyes, sneezing, coughing and paralysis.

While on the subject of what a hedgehog seizure looks like, why is my hedgehog shaking? Is it because of seizures or Is there another underlying reason to this? Your hedgehog will normally experience shaking due to two main reasons.

This is either when your hedgehog is undergoing hibernation, or when your hedgehog is infected with wobbly hedge syndrome, which is a common neurological disease among hedgehogs.

What Does It Mean When Your Hedgehog Is Shaking?

When your hedgehog is shaking, there are two likely causes that could be making her do this. It is probable that your hedgehog is passing through hibernation or has been infected with WHS syndrome, which is a common health condition known to afflict hedgehogs.

In most cases this condition begins with ataxia, which is the loss of motor skills or loss of full control. Your hedgehog can also experience paresia, which refers to muscular weakness brought about by nerve damage or certain diseases in the hind legs. Furthermore, you will notice that your hedgehog will have a “wobble” while it is trying to stand.

Considering what we have learned above, why is my hedgehog shaking continuously? Your hedgehog may be shaking unusually due to the hibernation process or if it has been infected with wobbly hedgehog syndrome.

That said, you should act with haste to ensure that the exact condition affecting your hedge is known and you should start treating your hedgehog as soon as possible to prevent it from developing complications or even succumbing to the condition affecting it.

When talking about shaking, what about when it comes to vibrating, why is my hedgehog vibrating, and is this dangerous to my hedgehog? Unlike shaking, vibrating is more or less normal and natural behavior for your hedgehog, so there’s no need for concern if you notice your hedgehog doing this, unless otherwise.

This is because, for starters, vibrating is a defense mechanism adopted by hedgehogs to scare off their predators. This is because while vibrating, hedgehogs look more harmful to their predators. Secondly, your hedgehog may be vibrating so as to get comfortable, or she may just be in “dream land”.

Do Hedgehogs Shake When Scared?

Yes, shaking is a universal reaction to fear, and hedgehogs are no exception to this phenomenon. However, shaking as a result of fear is quite different from shaking which is induced by your hedgehog undergoing hibernation or by your hedgehog acquiring WHS.

That said, why is my hedgehog shaking, is it as a result of fear, or is it due to other reasons? Apart from fear there are two other reasons your hedgehog might be shaking.

These are when your hedgehog is passing through the hibernation process, or if your hedgehog happens to be infected with wobbly hedgehog syndrome, otherwise known as WHS in short. In Fact, these last two reasons are the main reasons that would cause your hedgehog to shake. 

Talking of whether hedgehogs shake when scared, can shaking be fatal to your hedgehog? Yes, although it is not likely that shaking as a result of these two factors will be fatal to your hedgehog, if left unchecked, it could be fatal to your hedgehog.

Final Verdict- Why Is My Hedgehog Shaking?

In conclusion, what can we establish about the topic, why is my hedgehog shaking? We can conclude that there are various reasons that could cause a hedgehog to shake.

However, there are two most probable reasons that could cause your hedgehog to experience quivering, or shaking. First and foremost, your hedgehog may be shaking as a result of hibernation. In this case there is usually no need for concern as this is completely normal.

One the other hand your hedgehog can also experience shaking due to wobbly hedgehog syndrome, or WHS, which is the most common neurological condition among hedgehogs. In this case you should act fast to accord your hedgehog medical treatment since this condition could be fatal if it is not addressed on time and with the seriousness it deserves.

As a pet lover, make sure to learn about pet more and give your pet hedgehog a good and comfortable life!

Rajkumar Ravichandran

Welcome to Learn About Pet. My name is Rajkumar Ravichandran and I love all pets, travel, and amazing food. I write about my passion and personal experience caring for multiple pets in this blog! ❤️