The Hedgehog Haven ......Rehabilitating hedgehogs in need.

I just went and weighed Hope, as I do tea time every day....498g!!! She's doing well!!!!

I am getting fewer calls now, so hopefully that means many wild hedgehogs are now snoozing their heads off!  Had one the other day about one with a bleeding front leg, my advice was to seek veterinary care straight away.  Today I have received an email, via this website, asking for advice. I am waiting to hear back with some answers to a couple of questions so I can advise further.

Hope is now becoming much less anxious.
Her weight has been up and down, and at times no change for a few days. I always weigh at roughly the same time each day, around tea-time when I feed.  Today I weighed her more than once, to check, then check again...

...she has put on 118g in 24 hours!!!!  She now weighs 427g. I suspect that the weight will not continue to go on this much - I hope not or she won't be able to curl up soon!!!
She certainly isn't being fed too much, she cleaned her bowl last night but the previous 2 she had left some.
The fact she is in a small enclosure is partly why the weight gain is as it is, she isn't moving around much, this has been done on purpose due to her initial injury, shock and the fact that until now her weight gain has been minimal.

Some time soon I will move her so she has more room,

Hope is the little one bitten by a dog.  She continues to make steady progress. She is not so scared of everything now, her wounds have healed and it isn't at all noticeable that there are any broken prickles.

She enjoys making a mess of her cage every night, and has developed a habit of stuffing her water dish full of newspaper!!

I was fortunate enough to receive a donation of dog food yesterday, such a big help.  Thank you!

Harriet made release weight and is healthy, the weather here is good so this evening I released her into her new garden - a wonderful hedgehog paradise!

Many thanks to Georgie and Mike who now have her in their garden, and who are also doing a brilliant job with a hedgehog they are getting up to weight - hopefully a male for Harriet! 

I went to my vets this afternoon to settle my bill on The Hedgehog Haven account to be told there was only a few pounds to pay as a very kind and generous person had wanted to give a £10 donation so it was put on my account!!

Whoever you are (the lady I dealt with didn't know) you kindness is very much appreciated.  Thank you! xx

I checked Hercules yesterday, he went into hibernation a couple of weeks ago and as I usually do every few days I check hibernating hogs.

As soon as I looked at him I knew things were not right.

I brought him in, and put him straight onto a heatpad, wrapped in a towel. I hoped that the gentle warming would wake him, but after hours of trying it was clear he wouldn't.

Hercules had died.

I am so so sad, he worked so hard with me to get his leg strong and working again, and let us see his gentle but cheeky character.
He will be greatly missed.

Rest in Peace Hercules.

Harriet is doing very well, her weight isn't too far off good enough to be released.

Hope continues to make slow progress.

On Saturday I took in a small female that had been bitten by a dog. 2 wounds which i cleaned and treated, and some broken prickles.
I didn't want to post sooner in case she wasn't here long, but she is making steady progress - still quiet and nervous, but she is eating well and her wounds are healing.

Today I had the pleasure to meet a lovely couple in the next village who wanted some advice on overwintering a small hedgehog.  That done, I had the pleasure of a tour of their garden which is the most perfect place a hedgehog could wish to live - and Harriet may well be going there before too long as she is doing very well and will soon be fit for release.  Thank you Mike and Georgie!!

Harriet is slowly but surely putting on weight, I have put her on worming medication which is helping.  She isn't looking so underweight now, a more normal shape is coming.

Hercules is hibernating! He finally decided a few nights ago. I will check him every so often though it will have to be very carefully done as he is asleep against the door!!! Funny boy!!

The hedgehog carer community have been told there IS a virus in hedgehogs - we have suspected as such for some time. Now we all hope the exact type can be found out and hopefully we can then help more.

Little Harriet is making good progress, she eats well and is putting on weight nicely.

Hercules is as gorgeous as ever, not had hydrotherapy for a little while as he is getting ready for hibernation (a little early maybe but the signs are there) and hydrotherapy will use a lot of energy.  He still hasn't  made up his mind about hibernation; I put a bowl of dog food in and it is more often than not untouched. I leave the dog food out and supply the usual dry food and water and on those nights he makes a right mess but still doesn't eat! He ate the other night - I wish he would let me know if he wants food or not!!

Hedgehogs don't follow any set of rules!!!

I got a call while out this afternoon, a small hedgehog on a ladies lawn in daylight, she knew this was wrong so had a closer look and saw fly eggs. She went onto the BHPS (British Hedgehog Preservation Society) site and got my number.
She agreed to bring it to me - which I have to ask sometimes to keep my costs down - about 6pm.

It's a young female, the finder said if it was female to call it Harriet (I ask the finders if they want to name them).  She is underweight and has already eaten some food and is making use of the heat pad.  I have removed fly eggs and can't see any injuries.

Hopefully this is a case of an autumn juvenile not having been able to find enough food. If so, I will keep her until she is a releasable weight and release when weather permits.

Fingers crossed please!