Thank you @stef, this is just the kind of advice I was looking for.
I kept hold of the hog last night, as I was unsure what to do. It seems to be eating and is a little less fearful of my handling of it when I clean out the box I am keeping it in, which I am doing a couple of times a day.
Regarding food, I am now feeding it Felix Chicken & Jelly and it has gone through about a pouch in the last 24 hours and is on a second pouch, plus a little kibble that I am offering alongside, though kitty food seems to be much preferred.
Stools aren’t too bad, still mosty firm, which with it’s change in diet I am assuming is very positive.
I live in an old, drafty house in the NE, so there are places inside that would be equivalent to a garage in a modern house. I am trying to make sure that I don’t expose it to extremes of temperature at either end. I don’t have a garage and the roof of my shed fell in and is in the middle of being renovated, this was not a planned intervention. Sounds like it may not have been a necessary one, I now wish I had just moved it somewhere safer in the locality and moved on. I hope we can both get past this with it being an education.
My local carer is full and not answering, but I’ll try the BHPS in the morning and see if there is anywhere else that they can suggest. Is medication/stool sample necessary? This doesn’t look like an unwell animal to me, but am happy to scoop some up and mail it off if you think it is necessary? I can imagine that this experience has stressed the animal somewhat and I am very keen to try and minimise any negative impact my intervention may have had on its future.
Finally, you mention release plan. I have seen some leaflets around, though haven’t read anything like this yet. Is this something I should discuss with the BHPS team, or are you assuming that they will find someone more experienced to handle this? My intention was to pop it to Northumberland Hedghog Rescue Trust in Longframlington, but it isn’t to be.
Thanks again for your advice.
