This is Violette
Last Sunday when coming home from a dinner with friends I saw a hedgehog who was about to cross the track just in front of the car. To get home we have to take a dirt road from the tarmac road. As hedgies are nocturnal animals, when I drive at night I always look carefully if there in not one of those wonderful creatures on my way. The area where we live is quite populated so if I see one hedgehog, I would take it, clean it and release it as soon as possible in a safer environment. So Sunday, here it is, a little creature about to cross. I stop the car and ask Ben to go and get it. The little spiky thing looks quite relax when Ben grabs it. Muffin was with us, in her bag. I had an extra towel in the bag which I give to Ben as the little thing is quite dirty... it is the rainy season here so it is muddy. Also, as hedgies are mammals, they can always have rabies.
So as the little thing looks quite relax, it is fairly easy to manipulate. After a first quick check we know 1) it is a "she"; 2) she is one-eyed; 3) one of her feet is missing; and 4) some of her spikes are missing too. All of these look like old injuries. Poor thing. She looks quite tired, not nervous at all to be manipulated by those two humans.
First thing, a bath. She is very dirty. Then it is a good way to spot blood. A bit of olive oil and doggie shampoo. Ticks hate olive oil. hee hee!
No blood. Her wounds seem to be old ones. She looks ok but needs some rest. Funny she does seem to be quite confident.
But drama this morning! Since Sunday she was enjoying the main bathroom as her playground at night without problem. But this morning when opening the door, I find her sleeping above the water evacuation hole in the shower. I immediately know there is something strange as a hedgie would not choose this place as there would be some air coming from under. So I grab her slowly and find quickly that her handicapped leg is stuck in the grid. She looks calm though. I go wake up Ben and get the kitchen oil. I put some on her leg and on the grid but to no avail. Her leg does not move. She starts panicking poor thing. she bites me but she is not as good as Muffin for this so it is ok. Ben takes a screwdriver and takes off the grid. We are more at ease but we do not really know what to do. She gets more and more nervous. Just one solution. I put her on her back, put a towel on her face and hold her firmly while Ben pushes her leg out. She cries (quit unusual to be noted as hedgies are quite silent except for their puffing) but she is free. Her little leg regain colors and her heart is beating like crazy. She deserves a full day of sleep.
Tonight she is feeling better. This picture was taken less than one hour ago and now she is trashing the guestroom. Those little things are real pooh machines.
She is feeling ok, I think, looking less miserable than Sunday, being cleaner, with less ticks, eating fine and getting massage with aloe vera gel. She looks to be a quite old hedgie. She also walks ok.
During the week-end we will release her! (I am sure Janeth will be happy!) Hope she will do fine!
By the way, I named her Violette from Violette Szabo a war heroin from the WWII.
