Author Topic: Sick hedgehog - a danger to stock? (Read 2673 times)

SallyintNorth · « **on:** June 21, 2011, 01:24:35 am »

I have tonight quarantined a sick hedgehog that was making friends with my calves. The hedgehog has raspy breathing and a very runny - verging on frothy - nose. One eye is semi-closed.

Anyone know if hedgehogs can pass any diseases to cattle, sheep, dogs, hens or pigs?

And any suggestions for treating the little fella?

Sylvia · « **Reply #1 on:** June 21, 2011, 07:21:36 am »

Your local wildlife rescue will help him. I've never heard of hedgehogs passing on sickness to livestock. I hope he makes it, poor little soul

Eastling · « **Reply #2 on:** June 21, 2011, 07:44:03 am »

Take it to the vets, they treat wildlife for free.

Roxy · « **Reply #3 on:** June 21, 2011, 12:14:40 pm »

A lot of hedghogs are suffering due to the drought the country (or most of it) has suffered. Once they get run down and lose weight, they get ill. There are quite a few wildlife places who will be able to take this one for you. People feed them bread and milk, but apparantly they need cat food - or slugs etc

As to disease, there is an old wives tale that hedgehogs carry TB .....and then suckle milk off milk cows lay in the fields.......how many cows would stand for a prickly hedgehog helping himself to milk?!!!! Otherwise, apart from fleas, which they have, nothing comes to mind that would harm other livestock. Just a thought - it could be flea ridden, and got sick through that?!!!

Sylvia · « **Reply #4 on:** June 21, 2011, 07:04:36 pm »

Or ticks which they are prone to.

little blue · « **Reply #5 on:** June 21, 2011, 08:03:50 pm »

and fleas!

good luck to the hodge-heg, not seen our resident ones for a while now I think about it....

SallyintNorth · « **Reply #6 on:** June 21, 2011, 11:10:42 pm »

Sadly the wee fella was too far gone and was well on his way to the slugfest in the sky by the morning. At least he spent his last few hours in comfort, dry and warm, with a drink of fresh water.

Thanks for all the ideas anyway.