It can happen at any time of the year that sick, weak and emaciated hedgehogs wander around the garden. Particular attention is required if the animals are spotted during the day. As twilight and nocturnal predators, he althy specimens sleep through the day.
How can you boost a weak hedgehog?
To boost a hedgehog in need, prepare him a warm shelter, provide warmth, first aid with glucose, access to fresh water, and feed him scrambled eggs followed by a mixture of cat food and oatmeal.
Dealing with hedgehogs in need of help
Well-fed and he althy young and old hedgehogs resemble a round apple. They are in poor condition if the upper body is wider than the rear. Such animals look like an upside down pear. The further the lack of food progresses, the more noticeable the hunger wrinkle at the back of the head becomes. It is separated from the body and the flanks are heavily sunken.
Prepare accommodation
If the animal needs help, you should get it warm and put it in a makeshift shelter. A bathtub that you line with newspaper is suitable. The Spiked Knights are good climbers and can easily overcome low obstacles. They then like to hide in dark corners and are difficult to catch. A hiding place such as an upside-down cardboard box with an entry opening offers the hedgehog a place to retreat.
Provide warmth
If you have found a neglected baby hedgehog or a hypothermic young animal, you should warm it. If the body feels cold in the hand, the temperature is too low. Wrap a bottle filled with lukewarm tap water in a towel and place the boulder on it. Cover it with another cloth and change the water regularly. For severely hypothermic found animals, it can take a few hours until they reach their normal body temperature.
First Aid
A malnourished specimen often suffers from hypoglycemia. Dip your little finger in Cola and place the drop in your mouth. Caffeine and glucose stimulate circulation and promote appetite. Once the mammal has regained its strength, it needs permanent access to fresh water.
Tip
If the baby weighs less than 500 grams, you should not feed it yourself. Such extreme cases belong in the hands of expert veterinarians or animal shelters.
Food for weaklings
About 30 minutes later, offer your child scrambled eggs, which you prepare without milk or spices but with a little oil. The protein is good for building muscle. Give him plenty of rest so that he can eat and warm up undisturbed.
Additional feeding
Hedgehogs are insectivores that can only break down animal protein. Your intestines are not designed for plant food and your body cannot use milk either. As further nutrition, a mixture of cat food and oatmeal is the right choice.
How to do it right:
- offer new food every day in the evening
- if this is completely eaten the following day, increase the amount slightly
- the correct dose has been reached when a small residue remains the next morning
