We have spoken to the lovely man who took Clive the Hedgehog in to nurse him back to health. He says that he had dropped to only 100g from 250g and though he was going to lose him. He decided that he probably had lung worm and treated him for this plus saline. He is now 400g and on the road to recovery. My little grandson (3yrs) is worried that when Clive comes back to our garden he may climb the fence and hurt himself and have to go back to 'hospital' We had an extensive 1/2 hour conversation today about the poorly hedgehog. He was almost manic in his concern, bless him. "How big is he? how small was he? As small as a mouse? or is he now as big as that namama (banana)". "Yes - he is as big as a banana!!". This went on and on but was such fun. " What will he eat in your garden ganma?" " 'Slugs and snails'" "But not big slugs and snails have shells on they would crunch and not nice" "no only small snails" "Me no like snails to eat, me like humous and chocolate"
Well thank goodness for that.
The thing is, it is important in the breeding season as if an injured hedgehog is found then it is ok to keep it overnight if it has the bellybutton/penis thingy but if not it is a female and may be lactating. The way to 'open the hog up ' is to either wait for it to start unfurling and standing up as if to make a break for it then to gently press on its back (with gardening gloves) and lift it from both ends to check the appropriate bits. OR as our hedgehog man told us. Fill a bowl with warmish water (body temperature) and put the hedgehog into it. He doesn't know that he can swim but he can (the hedgehog not the hedgehog man) then when he starts to do the butterfly stroke or whatever lift him out and check his 'bellybutton' I am a mine of useless information.
Friends using messages instead of picking up the phone
The importance of grandparents - we could have told them this!
