A post from my local Rescue. I can see the thinking behind the treatment and someone thought they were doing the right thing, but this is a crucial message.
NEVER TREAT HEDGEHOGS WITH ANYTHING!
Although you may want to help a hedgehog in your garden please never treat them with anything.
External parasites such as fleas are normal and actually very few Hedgehog in this area carry fleas, therefore there is no need to apply any flea treatment to a hedgehog in the wild environment
Internal parasites should only be treated in a rescue where the correct medication for a hedgehog will be given based on a positive test. Any treatment of a wild animal in the wild is illegal, treatments must carried out by a rescue.
This little hoglet was found out in the day today, covered in fly eggs and surrounded by flies, unfortunately the finder sprayed the hedgehog with Raid flyspray which is toxic ! After talking to our vets on the phone the hoglet has been washed and given fluids, he was suffering from tremors consistent with poisoning which have eased now, although the Raid has been washed off we don’t know what damage has been done internally through the raid being inhaled. Only time will tell and keeping our fingers and toes crossed
An update for anyone interested, and also another cautionary tale. Please check for hedgehogs, even in the most unlikely places !
The little hoglet who had been sprayed with fly spray has been venturing out of his bed to check out the food bowls, the tremors have stopped and he is up and about so keeping fingers crossed.
We also had a second hoglet brought in who was found out in the day and too small to be alone.
Then last in today were 4 hoglets with their eyes still closed, mum had made a nest in a watering can that had been on its side, unfortunately the watering can was stood back up earlier in the week which meant mum couldn’t get back in once she climbed out that first night, the hoglets were ice cold and were unresponsive when they arrived, even with the incubator I could not get them warm and they all died within 2 hours of arriving, they have been without mum for 4 days so with no food and no heat they stood little chance 😢😢
Hedgehogs will build nests in the strangest of places, please if you see anything that contains leaves, Moss, grass etc it could be a nest!
I know I have a hog visiting because I find its poo regularly but I've never seen it despite nightly checks. A trail camera is going on my list of 'pre-approved gifts'
It's been raining a lot lately and we don't see the hogs until it has stopped. I know that this might be a silly question but do they stay under the bushes or in their nests until it has stopped?
@Logan4 , l don't think they are very keen on heavy rain. One bonus is that they don't have to go far to find something to eat as it tends to bring out worms and slugs etc. I have seen them on the camera giving all their spines a good shake to try and dry off a bit !
Luckily I bought a box to put the hog food inside ( much to the disgust of the blackbirds) , so even though we are swimming here when they do venture out the food should be dry.
As well as a couple of adult hogs we have seen a young (not baby size) hog for the past few nights - eating from the food we put out. It looks healthy and is eating well. I am tempted to let it get on with life - we have lost so many to birds/poison (not ours I hasten to add) sickness and ticks - mostly taken to the rescue centre but sadly some haven't survived. Not a good year for hogs here, so fingers crossed for this newbee
Posts
Quite right too !
A post from my local Rescue. I can see the thinking behind the treatment and someone thought they were doing the right thing, but this is a crucial message.
NEVER TREAT HEDGEHOGS WITH ANYTHING!
Although you may want to help a hedgehog in your garden please never treat them with anything.
External parasites such as fleas are normal and actually very few Hedgehog in this area carry fleas, therefore there is no need to apply any flea treatment to a hedgehog in the wild environment
Internal parasites should only be treated in a rescue where the correct medication for a hedgehog will be given based on a positive test. Any treatment of a wild animal in the wild is illegal, treatments must carried out by a rescue.
This little hoglet was found out in the day today, covered in fly eggs and surrounded by flies, unfortunately the finder sprayed the hedgehog with Raid flyspray which is toxic ! After talking to our vets on the phone the hoglet has been washed and given fluids, he was suffering from tremors consistent with poisoning which have eased now, although the Raid has been washed off we don’t know what damage has been done internally through the raid being inhaled. Only time will tell and keeping our fingers and toes crossed
The little hoglet who had been sprayed with fly spray has been venturing out of his bed to check out the food bowls, the tremors have stopped and he is up and about so keeping fingers crossed.
We also had a second hoglet brought in who was found out in the day and too small to be alone.
Then last in today were 4 hoglets with their eyes still closed, mum had made a nest in a watering can that had been on its side, unfortunately the watering can was stood back up earlier in the week which meant mum couldn’t get back in once she climbed out that first night, the hoglets were ice cold and were unresponsive when they arrived, even with the incubator I could not get them warm and they all died within 2 hours of arriving, they have been without mum for 4 days so with no food and no heat they stood little chance 😢😢
Hedgehogs will build nests in the strangest of places, please if you see anything that contains leaves, Moss, grass etc it could be a nest!
I have seen them on the camera giving all their spines a good shake to try and dry off a bit !