A lucky hedgehog...

[Hedgehoggy]

Just wanted to share this story with you all.

This is one remarkable hedgehog who is lucky to be alive. She was being used as a football by a gang of youths, when a passerby intervened and rushed her straight to my vet in a very poor condition. A lot of vets would have pts on the spot after assessing the extent of her injuries, but my vet (best vet in the world!) didn’t think twice about it and operated on her to repair a large hernia and internal tear, and stuff her intestines back in their rightful place (after the kicking her intestines ended up just beneath her skin). She also suffered a damaged left eye which has been slowly opening over the last few days (fingers crossed she regains some vision in that eye), and a lame left front leg, but vet couldn’t find any fractures and suggested giving her time to see if it was neurological/nerve/soft tissue damage induced -- hedgehogs cannot survive with a missing front leg (even in captivity) and the kindest thing to do in these circumstances is to pts.

Three days post-op, vet rang me to say he hadn’t been able to get her to eat anything, and that he was keeping her alive via sub cut fluids and asked if I would take her to see if I had better luck. Amazingly, she took to a baby gloop mixture via syringe feeding. From there she progressed to feeding on solids, but as she was still struggling to move due to her lame foreleg, I was placing her at her food at regular intervals and returning her back to her bed once she’d finished eating.

Hedgehog then spent a week at my vet's while I was away and during her stay there she began, tentatively, using her front leg, albeit with her foot bent the wrong way round. Yesterday, she walked with her foot facing the right way, although a little clumsily . The leg is still quite swollen and I won’t be releasing her until I’m 100% satisfied that she’s built the strength back up in that leg and is able to use it normally. Keep your fingers crossed. When the time comes, I’ll be releasing her into my own garden (after a period of close monitoring soft-release) with the hope that she decides to stick around.

Today, for the first time she huffed at me and curled into a defensive ball when I picked her up to weigh her and clean her hutch out, instead of being so amenable as previously – that’s a sure sign she’s feeling better!

A BIG thank you to the lady who rescued her from the louts , and a BIG thank you to my brilliant vet ; without either she would have died, without a doubt.

She really is one lucky hedgehog. Here she is, meet Styrbjorn (yes, he does know she’s named after him! -- she’s a girl btw, Ric!)...

[Farplace]

She's beautiful! Such a lucky girl!

[Kayleigh]

How can people be so horrid, she is beautiful and a very lucky girl..

[nightshade]

I would like to happen on these "football" games with a baseball bat
The Heggie looks great in your photos, I have an immediate vacancy for a very lucky heggie at the moment

[Ladywell]

So glad you are winning with her. The background story beggars belief! Is/can action be taken against the offenders? Really glad that your Vet gave her a chance and, fingers crossed, she will make a full recovery.

[CharlieCreek]

A very lucky hog indeed. Lucky three times over, to have someone who acted and intervened, lucky to have gone to a vet that will take the time for wildlife pulling out all of the stops. Finally and certainly not least to have reached a carer that will also put in the time needed to get a case like this back on the road to health.

Strange isn't it, the needy hog when turning that corner starts to get huffy but as you say you then know that they are on the mend.

All the best with her and for a speedy recovery and release.

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by Hedgehoggy

Here she is, meet Styrbjorn (yes, he does know she’s named after him! -- she’s a girl btw, Ric!)...

"there are yet jomsvikings living"

[Hedgehoggy]

Thank you for all your good wishes for this little critter’s recovery.

Originally Posted by Farplace

She's beautiful! Such a lucky girl!

Originally Posted by Kayleigh

How can people be so horrid, she is beautiful and a very lucky girl..

I agree she is beautiful, even if I am a tad biased!

Originally Posted by Ladywell

So glad you are winning with her. The background story beggars belief! Is/can action be taken against the offenders? Really glad that your Vet gave her a chance and, fingers crossed, she will make a full recovery.

Thank you Ladywell The RSPCA/police weren’t informed because the lady that rescued the hedgehog didn’t hang about long enough for my vet to even take her contact details.

Originally Posted by CharlieCreek

A very lucky hog indeed. Lucky three times over, to have someone who acted and intervened, lucky to have gone to a vet that will take the time for wildlife pulling out all of the stops. Finally and certainly not least to have reached a carer that will also put in the time needed to get a case like this back on the road to health.

Strange isn't it, the needy hog when turning that corner starts to get huffy but as you say you then know that they are on the mend.

All the best with her and for a speedy recovery and release.

Aaw Charlie, that’s a lovely thing to say, thank you, but I had the easiest (and the most pleasant) role to play here, and seeing her go from strength to strength against all the odds has been yet another humbling experience.

Originally Posted by nightshade

I would like to happen on these "football" games with a baseball bat
The Heggie looks great in your photos, I have an immediate vacancy for a very lucky heggie at the moment

Aaw, bless, if only you lived nearer to me nightshade

Originally Posted by eeyore

"there are yet jomsvikings living"

Indeed there are, and I’m still deliberating about signing up little Styrbjorn with the Jomsviking Fighting System re-enactment organisation to master warrior fighting techniques, so she’ll be better prepared upon her release...

[pattie may]

I agree with Charlie. She is three times lucky. And she's beautiful too. Well they all are aren't they?

[toadpole]

she is most certainly one lucky little hog why 0h why are some children/youths like this ...i brought my children up never to harm anything from when they were very small ....i told them everthing has a purpose on this earth.... and i have to hold my hand on my heart to say it has stayed with them for life and they are 33 and 31 now ...god help this world i say if the only thing some youths can find to do is use a hedgehog for a football ...good on that lady for saving it Marion