Breeding Questions

[Hoovershounds]

I have been reading some info on the web about hedgie breeding & have some questions so here it goes. I know that if they are going to be be breed it needs to take place between 6 months & a year of age but do they have to be breed a certain amount of times to keep them in optimum reproduction health, like once or twice a year or can they have a litter at 7 months & another at two years old? My next question is, I was told that with females they are prone to reproduction cancers if they are not breed. Will having just one litter reduce this possiability? And lastly I read about giving hedgies tea after they birth. What is the purpose of this? Thanks for the help.
Amy

[illinidairychic]

It is correct about the breeding between 6 months and 12 months. I believe the reason for trying to breed them under a year is that their pelvic bone can fuse causing complications. Most breeders will have two litters a year and most females are out of reproduction after two years (so about 3-4 litters total) I'm not sure about the breeding once at 7 months and then again at 2 years. I have had females that I spread out breeding over several months (more than the recommended 6) I know there was a talk about reproductive cancer on here before but I would have to search through old threads to find it. If you are primarily worried about cancer I would suggest a spay. I have had one of my hedgehogs spayed (she had dystocia) and she is doing great. I know other members on here have had their females spayed too with no problems. I'm not sure about the Tea after birth either. I think I heard it had something to do with lactation though. Sorry I couldn't answer everything but hey that's what these forums are for ;)

[paris26]

I believe the tea does help with milk production as well. For some reason raspberry tea is sticking in my mind, but don't quote me on that.

Having a litter will not decrease chances of your female being diagnosed with cancer. Of my 6 girls, I have 3 of them spayed, 2 of them are not and my newest one may be spayed in the upcoming weeks.

[Hoovershounds]

Thanks for trying to help. So...it is reccomended that they be breed every 6 months or is that the reccomended most that they be breed? I had originally wanted to spay but thought I had read that it was very risky unless being used as a life saving measure. It sure would save a lot of time & worry if I could just get her spayed.
Amy

[Nancy]

Get her spayed. Done by a hedgehog knowledgeable vet it is no more difficult than spaying any small animal. Laser is the best way to go if it is available. It is faster, less blood loss and quicker healing time. It used to be considered risky but not any more.

There is as much risk in breeding her as there is in having her spayed. :)

[paris26]

Thanks for trying to help. So...it is reccomended that they be breed every 6 months or is that the reccomended most that they be breed? I had originally wanted to spay but thought I had read that it was very risky unless being used as a life saving measure. It sure would save a lot of time & worry if I could just get her spayed.
Amy

I agree with Nancy. I watched all three of my spays that I had done by my vet. She used a laser and the surgeries ranged from 12 minutes to 20 minutes. That was from start to finish. I've had no complications and it's a huge relief to me to know that a) there will be no babies from them and b) no reproductive cancers in these girls.
My other three girls are older and I only know the approximate ages and they are all over the age of 3. With these girls, I take it day by day and watch for any signs of reproductive issues.

[hemi_mygirl]

And what was the average cost of spaying a hedgehog? I know it varies by vet, but was it pretty much the same as a guinea pig, or did they charge more because a hedgehog is exotic? I'm considering having Hemi spayed, just to cut down on the risk of cancer, but my vet won't give an estimate over the phone.

[Nancy]

It's around $300. with the laser. :)

[paris26]

Holy cow Nancy!!! It must be less expensive in the states or else I get a heck of a deal. For me, it's about $100 with the laser

[hemi_mygirl]

Wow, that's way more expensive than the "old" way of spaying. Maybe that will be something I look into as soon as I'm out of school (yay, August) and I have more money available. She'll only be a year and a half old, which shouldn't be too old, should it?