| HWS European Hedgehog Month - June 2003 |
Deb Weaver's European Adoption Story:
Hi Everyone,
Through the HWS I adopted a euro hedgie.
Sonia is my contact person in the UK. Below
is my email to her to name my wee one, and
my wee one's story.
Cheers,
Deb & Gabby & Grover & Euro Magnolia
Hi Sonia,
I'd like to name her Magnolia. There's a story . . .
My friend Debra got me in to hedgies. Her very
first hedgie was named Magnolia. A sweeter
creature God never created. Magnolia had many
children, and my first hedgie was one of her
daughters (I named her Gracie). I've had so many
enjoyable times with hedgies, the hedgie community,
and friends I've met because of hedgies - - and none
of it would have happened without my friend Debra
and her first hedgie Magnolia. My friend I can't thank her enough for
all she's done for me - - and I'd like to name this
wee one in memory of her beloved Magnolia.
Have an enjoyable weekend and look forward to hearing from
you and Magnolia soon. By the way, thanks for
all that you do!!!
From Wisconsin,
Deb & Gabby & Grover
From Sonia in UK:
Magnolia came into the hospital on 18.5.2003, she had been found stuck down
a drain, and unfortunately we had had several days of heavy rain. There is
no way of knowing how long the poor girl had been trapped, but her feet
were very sore & her nails completely worn away with her desperate attempts
to climb out.
She was totally collapsed, hypothermic & dehydrated.
She was immediately placed in a warm incubator to restore her body
temperature & dry out. I also gave her a drop of a homeopathic remedy
'Aconite' to help warm her & an injection of essential fluids to combat
shock & rehydrate her. Fresh food & water was also made available, the
outcome was now up to her strength & will to live. She was checked again at
midnight & given another dose of Aconite and wished a peaceful goodnight.
Next morning Magnolia was very much livelier, trying to find an escape
route out of her incubator. I quickly assessed that being a plump female it
would be advisable, considering her much improved health & desperation to
escape to place her in one of the hutches with a separate sleeping
compartment. She settled in her bedroom but still failed to eat.
First thing on arriving home from work, I peeped inside Magnolias boudoir
to find her in the process of childbirth & one fetus at her feet, which did
not look alive. Ever the optimist I quickly & quietly retreated hoping all
would be well.
For the next two days she was let undisturbed with only her living quarters
quietly cleaned & fresh food & water given each evening. By the third day
the room was starting to smell, so I decided it would be best to risk
cleaning her entire hutch. I donned latex gloves so as not to leave human
scent behind & prepared some fresh bedding to make the process as quick as
possible. I lifted her gently out complete with her old bedding & placed
her in the living area, while I disinfected her bedroom. There was no sign
of any babies. I lifted her into her fresh nest & examined the old bedding
there was a little mess but no young ones. I believe she aborted her babies
due to the terrible ordeal & cleaned up the bodies as is normal with hedgehogs.
I could now at least examine her closely & assess her health. She had a few
ticks, which I removed & a wound on her back which I think had been caused
by a tick burying its head into her skin. She is now being given a course of
antibiotics & the wound cleaned twice daily with saline solution & lavender oil.
She is eating well & the prognosis is good Magnolia will be released back to
the wild where she will be happiest once she is 100% fit & able to cope.
Magnolia is a sweet & very good looking hedgehog & in my opinion not very
old, probably born last year.
Sonia
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