What to do if you find a dead hedgehog. If you find a dead hedgehog, please report it to the Garden Wildlife Health project. If you find one during the breeding season, watch out for any orphaned hoglets nearby.
Heart disease can cause sudden death, but he was not an old hedgehog and usually there are other signs if heart disease is present. What you describe is not that uncommon — a pet dying unexpectedly and both the owner and the veterinarian being at a loss to understand why the pet has died.
Keep the box in a quiet, warm place: a hot water bottle filled with hot tap water wrapped in a towel can provide a gentle heat source – make sure it doesn't go cold! You can provide some fresh water and meaty cat or dog food, but don't try to feed the hedgehog directly.
Firstly I need to stress this - hedgehogs are NOT a project for your children. These animals look hardy but can easily die from stress.
Hedgehogs put up with a lot of pain before they start to scream. Make sure the little one has warmth and a shallow dish of water. Check it carefully for injury, a cat claw leaves a miniscule hole.
Depression. Without room, a hedgehog will show signs of depression, such as excessive sleeping, refusal to eat, repetitious behaviour, and self mutilation.
They have sharp needles all over their backs which can penetrate the skin. It will often itch if a needle does and may cause a rash.
A hibernating hedgehog will be completely rolled up into a tight ball with no face visible. You can tell that the hedgehog is hibernating and not dead by the fact that it will 'ripple' when touched very gently. It may also emit a little 'snore'! Hedgehogs also generally don't die curled up….
Hedgehogs can be a fun and low-maintenance pet for your household, but they do need some special care. They have sharp quills that can make handling difficult. Consistent and proper daily handling will help them relax and feel comfortable with you.
Hedgehogs are naturally quite active, and they can get quite sad and depressed if they don't get enough exercise.
Speak softly and be gentle with him. Avoid surprising a hedgehog, approach him slowly and quietly. It is best to pick him up gently with two cupped hands from underneath where his fur is soft. They sometimes roll into a ball when picked up, but if you hold him and are patient, he will unroll and sniff around.
It is important to keep the hedgehog in the dark and quiet but also warm, as this will help with the shock of being picked up. A hot water bottle can be placed under or in half the box, alternatively a drinks bottle can be filled with warm water.
They usually have some food reserves in their nest, so might be able to survive for a few days, but could die if there are prolonged periods of heat.
When Should I Take My Hedgehog To the Vet After a Hibernation Attempt. Veterinary intervention is necessary if your hedgehog doesn't show progressive activity within an hour. If they are still unresponsive or minimally responsive and cold this is considered an emergency.
Ponds & Pools
Hedgehogs swim very well, but if they cannot escape from a pool they will become exhausted and drown.
Hedgehogs – Not Living As Long As They Should
In this article, we've seen that although hedgehogs can live to over 10 years old, the average lifespan of UK hedgehogs is just 2 to 3 years. Few wild animals live to old age because of the inherent dangers of the natural world.
When awake, they are very active and it's fun to watch them dig, go through tubes, push toys around and run on their exercise wheel. They should get at least an hour every evening out of their cage to explore. Because hedgehogs are a little prickly, they are best for older children and adults.
Adult hedgehogs do not generally get lonely; they are solitary animals by nature, much preferring to live alone. However, baby hoglets can suffer separation distress if removed from the litter while still too young. Hoglets also typically need the company of others in the litter.
By that we mean you could very gently touch the hedgehog's spines and if it's alive you'll see a slight ripple of the skin and spines in response to this. If a hedgehog is out in the open and looks to be hibernating, it has either sadly died or it's extremely unwell, in which case you can call BHPS for advice.
HEATSTROKE AND DEHYDRATION
If they are laying on their sides then it is very serious. Often seen in the summer months but also dehydration can be a problem in the winter months. Giving a hedgehog dried food, or any food when they are suffering from this condition can worsen the situation.
Hedgehogs use body language to communicate their emotions. They will often curl into a ball and use their quills, or spines, to indicate their mood. Hedgies startle easily. When they're frightened, hedgies will curl up into a ball with their quills erect.
Hedgehogs can carry Salmonella germs in their droppings while appearing healthy and clean. These germs can easily spread to their bodies, habitats, toys, bedding, and anything in the area where they live. People can get sick after they touch hedgehogs or anything in their habitats.
Hedgehogs can be handled (they are not too prickly), although some patience is required to make sure your hedgehog is both safe and comfortable in your hands.