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The wife just resuced a hedgehog...

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  • 28-07-2009 11:34pm
    #1
    unclebill98
    Registered Users Posts: 3,816 ✭✭✭


    Ok,

    Mrs Doolittle here rescued a hedgehog that was being attacked by a dog. It seems ok and is walking around the box we put it in.


    Is it better to let it out around the same spot in the morning when the dog is long gone?

    Whats the best thing to feed it?

    cheers,


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    #2
    doctor evil
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,114 ✭✭✭doctor evil


    Don't give it milk or bread.

    It should be fine for one night with some water to drink. You could try some wet cat/dog food, I wouldn't give a cheap brand in case it gives the hedgie the runs.


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    #3
    Sigma Force
    Registered Users Posts: 5,132 ✭✭✭Sigma Force


    If the hedgie needs a vet many vets will treat wildlife for free, as said never feed milk. Hedgies diets are made up of beetles and other insects not so much slugs and snails (too many can cause lungworm) there's a hedgie food available on the market but as said the cat food would be ok.

    Keep the hedgie somewhere quiet to help him/her get over the stress. There's a few places that take them in but if the vet gives the hedgie the all clear releasing him/her into the same area is best.


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    #4
    kiffer
    Registered Users Posts: 2,097 ✭✭✭kiffer


    ... Why would you let it out in the morning? They are nocturnal, would it not be best to let it free in an hour or two when the dog is gone and it can continue foraging the night away.
    If you let it out in the morning it'll have to find some where to hold up for the whole day...

    Do hedgehogs have nests, dens or some habitual hiding place?


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    #5
    Sigma Force
    Registered Users Posts: 5,132 ✭✭✭Sigma Force


    Dusk is probably the best time to release the hedgie, they do have an area they kip down in during the day as well so it's important to release them where you find them if possible.


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    #6
    Kaldorn
    Closed Accounts Posts: 299 ✭✭Kaldorn


    hey OP, if you still have it this morning please wait untill after 9 pm this evening to release it in the same spot you found it put in shreded newspaper so he can kip through the day comfortable..also maybe before you release him/her try to get them to eat some good quality dog or cat food with some water..it'll give them a good head start...let us know how you get on..is it a youngen?


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    #7
    Orla K
    Registered Users Posts: 2,462 ✭✭✭Orla K


    Hedgehogs only come out at day time when they are already ill. I don't know what time of day you found it but a once over with a vet isn't a bad idea.


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    #8
    unclebill98
    Registered Users Posts: 3,816 ✭✭✭unclebill98


    Hi all, just to let you know we put the hedgehog back out at 5am around the same area we found it. We gave it some dog food which it eat and water.

    Thanks for the advice, the little bugger ran off into the ditch, so all is well. Thanks for the fast response.


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