Watch Out Hedghogs About

[Neil]

Join our free community today.

Connect with other like-minded dog lovers!

Login or Register

Hi All,

Last night there was a big cuffuffle in the garden as our greyhound Tom had found himself a new toy - he was tossing it around the garden and initially i thought it was a stray football - but soon realised it was a hedghog and it was the monster of all hedghogs - it was huge!!!!

Anyway I managed to get Tom to release it and was a bit concerned for its well being. I gave it a quick inspection and couldn't see any damage. With a torch from my bedroom i watched as it slowly unculred did a couple of laps of the garden and then scuttled under the gate - it was OK :luck:

Looks like ill have to inspect the garden every night for a while as its hedgehog time again.

Oh, and Tom was also fine by the way and rather pleased with himself

 

[dessie]

We have a regular huge hedgehog that comes in the dog run, it makes the ESS bark/become unsettled but they don't touch it. If I let the Whippets out last thing and it is there Rupert goes BALLISTIC at it and has tried to pick it up but, luckily, can't. So then I have to get them all in and leave it a few minutes, then check if he has cleared off before I let them out again. Rupert still goes mad looking for it though!! What amazes me is the little gaps that this huge thing must squeeze itself through because I can't actually find where he comes in and goes out!!!

 

[Jan Doherty]

Watch out for signs of ring worm around the muzzle area? Indy was a great Hedgehog catcher and got ringworm twice :angry:

 

[dessie]

Blimey! As well as fleas and ticks!!

 

[Macha]

my dogs have had a few hedgehog scuffles over the years. One time the lurcher picked up a hedgehog, had a good run round the field then dropped it. As far as I could determine neither was hurt.

Last night was awful however. I had three dogs on lead but didn't see hedgehog in the dark and I think from the injuries sustained that the hedgehog had been walking and didn't see them in time to curl up. They didn't bark a warning - probably suddenly noticed the hedgehog and pulled and pounced. After I got the dogs inside I went to check on the hog. It was curled up but I could see it was bleeding. I kept it inside warm, dry and safe in a dogcage upstairs. It moved about several times during the night and it was obviously alive but in the morning. It was also still able to curl up to resist inspection but I could see better that the cut was large -- then I got a shock when outside I found a little piece of hedgehog including a paw. Hedgehog rescue said three legged hogs can cope and I found someone who would keep hedgehog longterm in secure garden if and when it recovered; they are good for hunting slugs you know and can become companionable with people. I was very upset but not very surprised when a veterinarian recommended putting the hedgehog permanently out of its pain due to the amount of flesh that was torn from out.

Hedgehogs are seen a lot in our area at present. They gather food in preparation for hibernation. I am going to be as careful as I reasonably can be to avoid a repeat experience.