Higgins acting weird.

[Alexc844]

lately he has been a little lethargic and his balance seems a little off. He moves very sluggishly now and sometimes it seems like his back legs are weak and just don't want to go. He walks around fine, but when I hold him it doesn't feel like there is much power behind his legs anymore... Could he just be slowing down because of age?

[lilspaz68]

sounds like age or the beginnings of HED for Higgins. Are the muscles in his hindquarters wasting a little?

[Simisama]

Yup - Male rats' hind legs start to slow down as they get older. It's normal - although very sad.

[Alexc844]

sounds like age or the beginnings of HED for Higgins. Are the muscles in his hindquarters wasting a little?

By wasting do you mean does it look like they are deteriorating? Honestly he looks the same to me. It's just when I put him on my shoulder he lets his hind legs kind of dangle instead of scampering up to my neck like he used to...

[ema-leigh]

I agree it sounds like HED which is fairly common in older males. The only thing you can do is start adapting his scehdule/set up to suit his needs. If it is HED the muscels in his legs will start to waste away as he doesnt use them as much and he will look thin in his hind end - almost sunken. He would eventually need help getting around and cleaning himself, until he was no longer having a good quality of life.

I had a hedgehog that I took in last year who had WHS. Which is fairly simular to HED, sympton wise. We did some water therapy with him to try keep his back legs as active as possible. We filled the tub with some luke warm water, held his front end and encouraged him to use his backlegs. The water helps them move the legs and takes alot of the weight and pressure off. This might be an option to help him retain as much strength as he can in his legs for as long as possible.

[Alexc844]

It happens just all of the sudden like that? He was fine a week or so ago...

[Alexc844]

Here are some pics I took of him today. Not sure if they will prove anything, but maybe you guys can tell me if he looks normal.

[Alexc844]

anyone?

[lilspaz68]

Alex you need to be more descriptive...is it the way he's walking, the way he's moving, lethargy, etc? Pics could be anything at all "acting weird" with no further explanation is not good enough. No one can comment on what they have no clue.

[Simisama]

Well - she said that he seems lethargic, his balance seems to be off, he moves very sluggishly now, and his back legs are just weak and don't want to go.

So Alex, is it his back legs causing the trouble? Or does it just seem like he doesn't want to move?

And I don't mean to be rude at all - but I can't really tell what's going on from those pictures. His legs look fine in the pictures - I can't tell how he's moving though. Could you post a video? That would be the best way for us to help you.