When you buy a hedgehog, you need to inspect it carefully and look for some specific things. You may want to know which gender to buy, a question that people usually can answer when buying a cat or a dog.
It is perfectly acceptable and even recommended to purchase only one. Hedgehogs are not that social and may even get aggressive towards each other, if two are kept together, especially if they are both male.
In general, male and female hedgehogs have similar temperaments. However, they can develop very different health problems. Male hedgehogs can contract urinary tract disease or get kidney stones. In the case of females, they can die while giving birth. Uterine cancer can also be a potential issue for the un-bred females.
You should ask for veterinary records before buying your hedgehog. The objective is to find one that has a ideal weight. The thin ones may be sick. The ones that are overweight, on the other hand, can get some chronic illnesses. If you notice fat rolls next to the leg areas, this is a sign of obesity.
You can get a sense of the animal's temperament by picking it up. An animal that has a dry or flaky skin, missing quills, or mucous around the nose could be suffering from health problems. Between the ages of 8 and 12 weeks, hedgehogs shed their baby quills for adult ones. But in general, healthy quills are unbroken and shiny. Points protruding through the skin will show the appearance of new quills.
As with a dog, the nose may be moist, but there should be no signs of discharge and there should be no scabs or wax build-up in the ears. Skin problems could indicate the presence of mites whereas reddening around the anus could point to recent episodes of diarrhoea. The genitals should be clean and free from swellings.
In general, hedgehogs that have sunken eyes that leak substances have health problems. Their eyes should be instead bright and slightly protruded.
It is also recommended to check how the hedgehog interacts with humans. You probably do not want an animal that fear humans are only stay in its cage. It is common to see younger hedgehog fear strangers. They will ball and put their spikes out for a moment. Then they usually relax and start looking around.
Finally when you buy a hedgehog, you also need to ask some questions to the breeder regarding the animal's diet and housing needs.
It is perfectly acceptable and even recommended to purchase only one. Hedgehogs are not that social and may even get aggressive towards each other, if two are kept together, especially if they are both male.
In general, male and female hedgehogs have similar temperaments. However, they can develop very different health problems. Male hedgehogs can contract urinary tract disease or get kidney stones. In the case of females, they can die while giving birth. Uterine cancer can also be a potential issue for the un-bred females.
You should ask for veterinary records before buying your hedgehog. The objective is to find one that has a ideal weight. The thin ones may be sick. The ones that are overweight, on the other hand, can get some chronic illnesses. If you notice fat rolls next to the leg areas, this is a sign of obesity.
You can get a sense of the animal's temperament by picking it up. An animal that has a dry or flaky skin, missing quills, or mucous around the nose could be suffering from health problems. Between the ages of 8 and 12 weeks, hedgehogs shed their baby quills for adult ones. But in general, healthy quills are unbroken and shiny. Points protruding through the skin will show the appearance of new quills.
As with a dog, the nose may be moist, but there should be no signs of discharge and there should be no scabs or wax build-up in the ears. Skin problems could indicate the presence of mites whereas reddening around the anus could point to recent episodes of diarrhoea. The genitals should be clean and free from swellings.
In general, hedgehogs that have sunken eyes that leak substances have health problems. Their eyes should be instead bright and slightly protruded.
It is also recommended to check how the hedgehog interacts with humans. You probably do not want an animal that fear humans are only stay in its cage. It is common to see younger hedgehog fear strangers. They will ball and put their spikes out for a moment. Then they usually relax and start looking around.
Finally when you buy a hedgehog, you also need to ask some questions to the breeder regarding the animal's diet and housing needs.
About the Author:
Alan Stables is a freelance writer on topics related to the animal kingdom. For those thinking of having hedgehogs as pets, Alan advises that you contact several reputable hedgehogs breeders before you buy a hedgehog.
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