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latest update
11 August 2008
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place him
gently into a high sided box using gloves or
a towel if you are deterred by the prickles
a hot water
bottle wrapped in a towel will provide life
saving warmth whether he is suffering from
hypothermia or shock - but leave room for him to
move off the hot water bottle if he feels too warm.
He must have direct heat, a radiator just isn't
sufficient.
check very
carefully that flies (blue bottles) haven't already
laid their deadly eggs in his ears, eyes, mouth,
bottom, armpits or anywhere amongst the fur on his
face or tummy. These eggs will quickly develop
into maggots that will eat the hedgehog alive.
Artists' paint brush, tweezers, cotton buds, nit
comb and magnifying glass are all useful aids for
the meticulous removal or eggs or maggots.
Never
use dog flea spray on hedgehogs - it is lethal.
Johnson's Rid Mite or Johnson's Cat Flea Powder
(from pet shops) is best.
Offer
cat/dog food, we use Whiskas.
DO NOT feed pork
and DO NOT feed
bread and milk. Lectade (from the vet) can be
dripped from a dropper or syringe if the patient is
too young or weak to eat meat. Further
persuasion to swallow can be given by tickling his
pallet with a soft paint brush dipped in Abidec
(from the chemist).
The hedgehog
must be kept warm at all times
Cover him with
something woolly, protect him from flies, stress,
noise, light children and pets.
Inspections may
also reveal bean-like nodules, which are ticks.
Careless removal can leave the head in the skin to
cause an abscess so paint the parasite with
vegetable/cooking oil to suffocate and release its
grip
constant warmth is essential for his
survival.
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Further information
and advice
is available on request - if in doubt please phone us or a
local vet.