Call for help!
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Hello fellow hedgehog carers,
I know this call for help might not get any replies since I don’t live in the UK but for the sake of the hedgehogs, maybe someone will know what to do in this situation and provide a helping hand:
Two nights ago I spotted a hedghog in my feeding station that was missing it’s left hind leg. I have camera’s in both feeding stations and 2 more camera’s outside at the drinking plates so I usualy can follow and track the visiting hedgehogs. The hog in question was exhausted : it took a few bites from the silo but fell asleep very quickly. It woke up an hour later and left the feeding station. I think the injury must have been very recent. There was no blood, but it struggeled finding it’s balance and it could not yet figure out how to walk with the little stump that was left of it’s leg. I called the local RSPCA and they said to bring it in so they could euthanise it. They also pointed out this amputation might have been related to one of the hedgehog infections running havoc among the hedgehog community.
I planned to catch the hedgehog, but didn’t see it the next few nights. Last night is was back in the feeding station, looking better and visiting the station to eat on multiple occasions during the night.
Does anyone has experience with hedgehogs missing limbs or other serious injuries? How did you help? What’s the best thing to do in this situation? Is euthanasia the most humane and only solution?
Cheers,
FilipHi Filip
There are 2 trains of thought on this. Hind leg amputations can be released and have been known to do well. I have over the years released several and they have lived for a few more years that I’ve known about.
However there is also the problem that they cannot remove parasites on that side of the body if they cannot scratch, hence the reason a lot of vets go with euthanasia. You say your hog has a stump and as such this may not be an issue, however you will need to monitor for infection in the stump
In your circumstances as you say the hog is doing well I would keep feeding and monitor, only going with the ultimate option if you see the hog starting to go downhill.
If the hog is regularly coming to you then it will get used to you getting quite close to it to check it
Hope that helps
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