Poorly Prickles Hedgehog Rescue - New Zealand Rescue

HOW TO KEEP AN INJURED/DISEASED HEDGEHOG~

If the hedgehog is weak and wobbly, it is best to keep him inside in a medium sized cardboard box (about the size of 3 shoe boxes) with fresh water and a sachet of wet cat food every night until he is stronger.

Those who are strong, are best to be kept in a rabbit/chicken/guinea pig run, and one without a step ladder. The best bedding is a layer of shavings on the floor, with hay or straw to curl up in. This place should be dry and warm. The run is a good way to keep them so that they can be kept safe and restrained, but able to go outside and get fresh air. The outside run needs to be cleaned out approx every 2 weeks, depending on how dirty they make it. It is best to move the run around the garden to prevent the deadening of grass under the house and less poops in one spot. They must be available to fresh water all the time, and we find it best to feed them just before it gets dark in the evening.

HOW DO YOU KNOW IF A HEDGEHOG HAS MANGE? ~

If a hedgehog is out in the day, it is most likely they are sick, and there are 3 main illnesses:
*de-hydration
*fly-strike
*mange.
The most common of these is mange (unless it's the middle of sumer, then it is de-hydrated).
Mange is a skin disease caused by the parasite: mites and causes hair loss and gunky skin.
If you see a hedgehog, try and look in between his prickles, without scaring him, and if it looks like he has muddy clumps, it is most likely he has mange. Quite often it looks like the prickles have been grouped into sections by cracks in the skin. Also the prickles fall off relatively easily.

HOW TO TREAT MANGE~

1) Take him to the vet, and they should give the hedgehog an ivamec injection to kill the parasite. These are a course of injections; one every 2 weeks.

2) Once you have brought the little man home; hold him a pair of rubber gloves (washing up gloves) and hold him over a thick layer of newspaper or a plastic bag.

3) Steadily pour, a little bit at a time, some vegetable cooking oil (just plain so not to irritate the skin) whilst being careful not to get the oil into his ears, eyes or nose. Cover his whole body. In the tricky areas around the face, it is easiest to use a small paint brush. Ensure that he is thickly covered. The oil is to lift the chunks of mange up, and if there is loose prickles, pull them gently off. If they don't come freely; leave them.

4) Repeat the oiling every few days. The aim of this is to remove all the damaged skin and prickles, so yes they are bald for a little while.

5) Once the skin seems to be clear, so the skin is smooth and soft, there is no longer need to oil and so all he will need is the rest of the course of injections.

6) Keep the hedgehog in captivity until most of his prickles have grown back, otherwise he won't be able to defend himself.

HOW TO FEED A HEDGEHOG~

Best to feed them out of cat bowls or low sided dishes. One should be kept for clean water, and the other for the food.

Easiest way to feed them is out of wet cat food sachets because this way you don't get your hands dirty. One sachet per hedgehog is best.

The odd time a week, as a treat, it's good to feed them dry cat biscuits to strengthen their teeth and they love them They usually eat the biscuits over the wet food, hence why only a treat. Wet cat food is good to help keep them hydrated and it is easy for them to eat, especially for the week ones who are still recovering.