07/05/2024
Hi everyone.
The more we share information about our prickly friends the more we will know how to to help a sick looking hedgehog
Please share how important it is to help a hedgehog ASAP, when you first notice it out in the day time the hog is already sick and cold and hogs are still waking up they are cold and hungry,dehydrated,thin, have mulitple ticks,flystrike and very weak and wobbly,there chests are weak they need help as soon as you see it out dont leave them another day act quickly.
Their body shape can be like a rugby ball rather then a football.
They have spine loss and very dry crusty skin,which is Ringworm and they will have Fleas and Mites.
They may be blood on them,they could have been bitten,or have an open wound either by a strimmer or a car.
They may be wobbly unable to stand.
They maybe disorentated,where they are so dehyrated,their spines can be lifted from their bodies.
They may be blind,going around in circles or head trauma.
They maybe lethargic,un responsive and very cold.
They may be coughing ,snotty bubbly nose,chesty, hard to breathe.
They may have runny poo and green.
They may have lost a leg or a foot,they may have underside injuries.
They may have have something stuck in their mouth.
They may have a pr*****ed bowel and bleeding.
These are some of the things to look for,when a hog NEEDS A RESCUE.
We all have something to help to first keep the hog safe like :
Pick it up gently with gloves,towel,blanket,scarf etc
Then keep it wrapped up
Put in a box,laundry bin,bucket.
Keep it warm,hot water bottle,a heatpad,an old empty plastic bottle fill with warm water,like any heat place under the bedding not directly on hog.
Dont worry about trying to see if will eat or drink,the hog is already sick.
It prob cant swallow,it cant breathe,never force feed or syringe feed,as it could go onto their lungs.leave it to the rescue.
Don't leave food or water in the box when taking to a rescue.
Keeping the hog warm and dry is more important.
By YOU just picking up the hog,wrapping it up and keeping it warm can help us to help save a hedgehog.
CALL A RESCUE the quicker you get the hog to a rescue we can examine the hog and give it the care it needs.
PLEASE SHARE and lets All be HEDGEHOG AWARE