Choosing a Healthy Hedgehog
look at the hedgehogs face. Are his eyes nice, round, beady, wide open, and bright, without discharge? Is his nose clean and not running? Are his ears short, clean, with no discharge or crustiness behind them? Sometimes an ear has been chewed on by a sibling. As long as it has healed, this is not something to worry about.
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Is his fur on his belly soft and not matted?
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Are the spines all there with no bare spots? Bare spots indicate an unhealthy animal. Is there any sign of mites, fleas, or crustiness on his back?
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Check the pen, is there green droppings or diahhrea?
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Is his body plump? (not fat)
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Place him on a flat surface such as a table and watch him walk. Does he wobble or have difficulty staying upright? A healthy hedgehog should have a stride that is somewhere between a walk and a shuffle?
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Can you here a rattle when he is breathing or does it seem okay? (do not mistake normal hedgehog "talk" such as chirping, purring or cheeping for a pneumonia-related rattle)
Both male and female hedgehogs make equally good pets so this decision is entirely your own. You can readily tell a boy from a girl. If the hedgehog is tame and friendly, gently roll it over and look at the area closest to the tail. A female's genitals are immediately next to the anus, while the male's penis sheath, or "belly button" is farther up the tummy. The distance between the anus and belly button will be approximately 1/2 inch on a six week old male hoglet. However, this distance can increase to as much as an inch or more once it fully matures.
Sexing your hedgehog
