I need some hedgehog help!

[TheDiddlyGang]

So, yesterday my DH saw a council gardener walking down our street with a hedgehog and put it in the wooded area near our house.

This morning, I was taking the children to school and a very poorly looking hedgehog was on the pavement, I initially thought it might be dead but it was warm to touch so I picked it up and it rolled into a ball so obviously alive.

It’s now in my living room in a cardboard box on a fleece jumper against the radiator.

It has unfurled a little, it’s breathing, it’s stretched it’s leg out a bit so I assume it’s okay and sleeping?

The plan is to move it’s box into the dogs cage overnight (if he’s still alive) with some dog food and water.

Is this right?

I don’t want to take him to a vet because as far as I can see it isn’t injured and our vets will euthanise it.

I don’t drive so taking it to a wildlife sanctuary isn’t an option either.

If it were me, if you’ve exhausted all rescue avanues I’d probably move it to a box in the back garden with food and water and let it take it’s chances. I don’t know what to suggest about the lungworm issue
As it stands, the hog is in a box on fleece by the radiator and sleeping soundly.
It has only made the sneeze sound once so I’m not sure if it does have lungworm as the websites I was reading say an occasional sneeze is nothing to worry about.

I’m hoping that once night hits it’ll get lively and eat and drink, we go to bed around 1am so if it’s eating and drinking tonight i’ll put it and it’s box in the garden with food and water.
I’m hoping the two rescues call me back in the meantime and take him.

Do hedgehogs dream?
It’s little toes are twitching.

Oh he’s such a cutie

It is adorable.
I will have to disturb it soon as it has gone to the toilet though

Thankyou for all you are doing for the hedgie, but please persist in seeking help and don't just put it back in the garden tonight as suggested, as it will almost certainly die.

I am a VERY experienced hedgehog rescuer, I just wish that I lived closer, sadly I am a long way away in Suffolk and you are in MK area, otherwise I would be around to help in a heartbeat. Please, I cannot stress enough that the very fact that this hedgie was found in the daytime means that it is unwell and in trouble. You said in your previous posts that the hedgie was found in broad daylight on the pavement, with people stomping past it and it didn't move or react. This in itself tells you that it is ill, or starving/dehydrated or both. Any self respecting hedgie would not stay asleep in broad daylight, with danger nearby and people walking right past, it would wake up and scuttle to safety. A previous poster saying they are very sleepy and comatose in the day is not helpful as, yes of course they should be asleep in the day, but in a safe leafy wooded area in undergrowth, a healthy hog does not just chill out on the pavement! And yes, sadly healthy hogs get injured by strimmers and mowers, but this is because they are sleeping tucked away and out of sight, not on the concrete for all to see.

A previous poster also suggested maybe putting it back in the garden later and letting it 'take it's chances', but sadly that would just be consigning it to death. Also, although it is hard to tell from the pics, the hedgie does look quite young and underweight (I can also see in the 2nd pic that it's likely a male!) and it will therefore need help even more.

Please don't think I'm having a go at you, I think you are lovely for wanting to help the hedgie and you are doing the right thing by keeping it warm and giving cat food and water. I'm just passionate about hedgehogs that's all and it's one of the few areas of life that I am knowledgeable about, so I just want to help. I really hope the rescues you've contacted get back to you asap (always phone rescues directly, don't leave messages on social media as they may never see these). But also, I really think that a wildlife caring vet would help (some do exist!) and then the hedgie would hopefully get taken to a local rescue and they can diagnose what is wrong with it. PLEASE consider sounding out a couple of local vets on the phone. Please don't just return this hedgie to the garden tonight, it will just die unwell, untreated and cold. Good luck and please keep us posted! Many thanks x

I have good and bad news.

The good:
Hedgie is awake and eating and drinking.

The bad:
His bowel movement was loose, he looks thin to me and there is a snuffle

I’m going to call the local vet (the bad one who PTS wildlife) and see if they’ll treat if I agree to take him home.
The local one is the only one I can realistically get to as they are within walking distance

Rescues are usually very quick to get back. He needs to go to one ASAP.

Might be too far from you, but it could be worth trying Hettie's Helpers Hedgehog Rescue in Letchworth, they might be close enough to come out?

You couldn’t bloody make it up!!
The vet doesn’t have a vet working today.
What the hell kind of vet doesn’t have a vet in?!?!

I am on a specialist Hedgehog forum (I use regularly) and I'm just asking if anyone can help you before he goes to a vet. I will let you know as soon as anyone comes back to me.

Poor little mite eating and drinking.
He is very thirsty.

I'm glad he found you OP. I hope you can help him. Poor little thing.

Did you read my last post? Sorry it was long, but there is some good advice in there.

Just read your update that poo was loose and he does look thin, so both are not good news.

I didn't understand your comment about getting him treated at the vets and then taking him straight home.....now I do understand what you mean. But, just to let you know that the vets won't be able to just give hoggy some treatment and then hand him back. When hogs are ill with lungworm/ringworm (VERY common, nearly all the hogs in rescues have this if unwell), it takes quite a while to treat it, often weeks. Which is why he needs to go to a rescue.

Please keep phoning the bloody rescues, I wish they would answer, you are doing your best to get help! I know the rescues are busy, but please bombard them with calls till they answer, just keep trying. Very frustrating though I know. He needs specialist treatment at a rescue ASAP.

The forum have got back to me and here goes:

Hedgehog Haven MK is definitely a rescue still, the post at the top of the page from 2019 is a pinned post and she has more regular posts under there 😊

Other rescues are:

Little Wiggly Snouts: 07942 680432

Spiny Normans Hedgehog Support: 07847 335663

Hedgehugs Rescue: 07723351444

I will let you know if I can find out anymore 😊 Keep us updated 😃

He is lovely! Hope he gets better soon, keep us updated ❤️

Which is why he needs to go to a rescue
Please keep phoning the bloody rescues, I wish they would answer, you are doing your best to get help! I know the rescues are busy, but please bombard them with calls till they answer, just keep trying. Very frustrating though I know. He needs specialist treatment at a rescue ASAP
I know
I am trying, I don’t want him here as I don’t know what I’m doing.
I hope he doesn’t die.
He is such a sweet little thing.

Just seen your latest pics, oh bless him, he's VERY thin and underweight. I can see how sunken-in he is on his back end, if healthy it should be all plump and rounded. Oh it's heartbreaking, I wish I was there to help in person.

Just seen your update that there is no vet at the vets today- wtf?!- that's actually ridiculous. Previous poster has mentioned Hedgehog Haven MK, yes I'm sure they are still active, I've heard of them. Please try some of the other rescues listed by that poster. Your persistence will pay off in the end, I'm sure.

🦔 sending positive vibes for Hedgie! I'm nowhere near you sadly to recommend our Hogs rescue 🤞🏻

Further update.
He is getting quite lively!
Walking about exploring my lounge.
He has another poo which looks much more solid and a bright yellow wee

You can also try Hornbeam - they aren’t too far away and I’m sure would give advice if you’re too far for them to come out to: www.hornbeamwood.org.uk/

[quote mrstt89]@Hoppinggreen

They definitely would. I've had the SSPCA out for an injured frog and a pigeon. [/quote]
We’ve had the SSPCA come and take a poorly hedgehog to a hedgehog sanctuary. Surely the RSPCA would help

@FreshBedding

The forum have got back to me and here goes:

Hedgehog Haven MK is definitely a rescue still, the post at the top of the page from 2019 is a pinned post and she has more regular posts under there 😊

Other rescues are:

Little Wiggly Snouts: 07942 680432

Spiny Normans Hedgehog Support: 07847 335663

Hedgehugs Rescue: 07723351444

I will let you know if I can find out anymore 😊 Keep us updated 😃

Just quoting this one for you OP in case you missed it.

Good luck!

This may be the best thread I've ever seen on Mumsnet. I am heavily invested in this little guy and well done OP for being a great human being.

Please keep us posted and all photos of the hog gratefully received!