Fingers crossed for Mr. Hedges .....

[mrs.chappie]

Good evening to all you good peeps on A & N!

I've just taken a poorly hedgehog to the hedgehog hospital in the village next to where I live.

He's last year's hog, very small, and has been out in the daylight, on my patio. He was out yesterday in the daylight too.

When I went to take him some mealworms, he didn't scuttle away.

The lady at the hedgehog hospital will do her best for him, but it doesn't sound good, does it? Please keep your fingers crossed he'll pull through.

[Schutzengel]

Poor little hedgehog. It was a good job it was your patio where he appeared, so that he could get the attention he needs. I do hope he survives. Will the hospital let you know how he's going on. I'll certainly be keeping my fingers crossed for him. Cheers. Schutz.

[mrs.chappie]

Schutz, the hospital will phone me tomorrow, after they have had him on a heat pad overnight, de-flea'd and de-wormed him and checked him over.

He is underweight so I am hoping that the extra heat, plus lots of food, will be all that is required to fatten the little fellah up and give him a fighting chance.

The lady who runs the hospital is not a vet but has looked after poorly hogs since 1997 and has 107 resident hogs at the mo! You would have to see it to believe it.

I must admit, I came away laughing - she runs the hospital from her home and I had to squeeze my way past thirty boxes of catfood (360 tins) in her hallway!

Thank you for your good wishes, I'll keep you posted on his progress.

[paraffin]

Yo, mrs.c:

What a nice person you are ! I, my wife, both our dogs and both cats have all legs, toes, fingers crossed for little tiggywinkle - hope he pulls through !!!

[crazycathy2]

Oh me too - everything crossed

I love the noise they make - We always feed the hedgehogs in the garden with cat food. Give the same stuff to her in doors and she won't eat it but outside she will.

One day last year was looking out the garden Mr or Mrs Hedgey, our cat and a fox all eat from the same dish.

I love having them in the garden.

[Ice.Maiden]

Hi there chappie! We get them as well, and we love to watch them. The thing is, they sometimes shouldn't be removed from where they're found, unless showing obvious physical injuries. A young one wandering from its nesting place can get very distressed, and may not integrate with others when put back into the wild. I'm just going by what we were told at a hedgehog rescue centre, because I also found one in daylight, hardly moving. I was told to leave it where it was, unless injuries were visible. I did, and apart from coming to feed, it eventually ambled off, even though it looked in a rough state. Hope yours is OK though. x

[mrs.chappie]

Hey thanks very much, paraffin and cathy, it's great to know that folk are wishing him well.

It was a funny sight this afternoon, the spikey fellah actually sat in the dish of mealworms, and one of my regular blackbirds appeared and had his fill from the dish, undeterred by the hedgehog. It looked so funny.

[Ice.Maiden]

I imagine the blackbirds are feeding their young now, so that'd be a juicy treat! Eeeewwww, though! Can you pick those worms up? I shudder just at the thought of them!

[mrs.chappie]

Hi Ice! Sorry, didn't mean to ignore you, your reply wasn't there when I started typing.

I think the hedgehog you found was possibly a nestling. If my little fellah had been a nestling, I would have probably just popped him back under my shed. He's definitely not a nestling, I am sure he is a hog from last year (one from the family I have under my shed).

I have posted a link to a website that I think is interesting, you might want to have a look.

http://www.sttiggywinkles.org.uk/hedgehogs.htm l

I phoned the lady at the hospital for advice before taking the spikey fellah, and she said to take him to the hospital as soon as possible, so I hope I have done the right thing for him.

[mrs.chappie]

Hi again Ice!

Forgot to mention, the hogs are always returned to the place they were found. My little fellah (hopefully) will soon be back in my garden, under my shed, fingers crossed!

Re the mealworms, I buy them dried and then rehydrate them. I was squeamish about handling them at first, but you soon get used to it. The hedgehogs absolutely love 'em, as do the wild birds.

[gelda]

I just wish there were more caring people in this world mrs. chappie, well done.

[seekeerz]

Hope there's good news for you today, Mrs c - fingers still crossed, gee it makes typing hard !!

[mrs.chappie]

Hello all. Just an update for all you good peeps .......

Mr. Hedges is apparently suffering from hypothermia, he is severely underweight and according to the lady at the hospital, was near to death last night. She doesn't think he would have seen the night out.

However, she put him straight onto a thermostatic heat pad and has given him treatment for a worm infestation (apparently most hogs suffer with these infestations, but cope with them if they are otherwise fit and well - but this little fellah is just too thin and weak to fight).

It is still too early to say that he is gonna survive. I am hoping to return him to his usual living space under my shed, but the hospital says it will be at least three weeks (everything crossed) before he is big enough and strong enough for that.

Thanks again for asking about him. In a world where we hear about so much cruelty, it is heartening to know there are so many kind folk around.

Bless you all. xxxxx

[paraffin]

Hi mrs.c:

Great to hear that the little guy's fighting his corner. Let's hope that he wins his fight.

Don't forget to let us know the result - everything crossed !!

[mrs.chappie]

Thanks paraffin. I'll keep you posted. xx

[seekeerz]

Poor wee soul - please keep us posted, Mrs c