Eight-year-old Jasmin saves hedgehog lady Freddy from death!

Eight-year-old Jasmin saves hedgehog lady Freddy from death!

Eight-year-old Jasmin from Lipbach saved the life of a hedgehog with courage and determination. A few days ago she found the animal in a precarious condition during an evening walk. According to a report from Schwäbische, the female hedgehog Freddy was completely apathetic, did not curl up and also had an open mouth, a stuffy nose and fly eggs around his eye. If Jasmine hadn't found Freddy, the animal would probably have died.

Jasmin said that the Philipp family quickly decided to take Freddy to hedgehog expert Helga Weißkopf. She is a true expert who has been looking after hedgehogs in need in Ahausen for 20 years and founded the association “Igelnothilfe Bodenseekreis”. As soon as she arrived, Helga discovered that Freddy was suffering from a respiratory infection and that the fly eggs that were near her eyes posed a serious threat. Helga pointed out that such eggs can quickly develop into maggots, which can cause significant harm to the animal.

Intensive care for Freddy

Freddy was treated intensively over several weeks. She was given two different types of antibiotics to stabilize her condition. The hedgehog expert praised the Philipp family for their vigilance and dedication. “If we hadn’t treated Freddy in time, her fate would certainly have been different,” says Helga Weißkopf. Fortunately, the specialists were able to see improvement in Freddy's condition during her treatment. There was still hope for the little animal.

But how do you know if a hedgehog needs help? According to information from Igel-Schutz.info, there are some signs to look out for, including injuries, symptoms of illness or hedgehogs wandering around during the day. Particular attention should be paid to emergencies in animals that weigh less than 500 grams or are encountered after the winter in temperatures below zero degrees. How do you recognize a sick hedgehog? They often walk during the day, stagger or appear apathetic. According to the Federal Nature Conservation Act, the legal requirements require that hedgehogs in need of help must be temporarily taken in and cared for in a species-appropriate manner.

Preventive measures and first aid for coughing

The topic of respiratory diseases in hedgehogs is not only important for Freddy. Coughing can be a serious symptom in the small spiny animals, as can be read on Vetbilim. To do this, it is important to keep the environment clean and clean regularly to avoid allergens. A hedgehog needs between 50 and 100 milliliters of water per kilogram of body weight every day - a reason to always provide it with fresh water so that it doesn't lack anything.

So what should you do if a hedgehog coughs? First, you should observe the frequency of the cough and other accompanying symptoms such as shortness of breath or loss of appetite. If more serious symptoms occur, a visit to the vet is essential. Such health problems can have serious consequences if left untreated. The joy is even greater that Freddy has now arrived back in their territory.

Helga Weißkopf and her team are still looking for support in the form of donations, members and helpers for the “Igelnothilfe Bodenseekreis” association. Anyone interested is welcome to contact the association to take part in hedgehog helper training and become part of the growing network, which is inspiring more and more people to take care of the little prickly friends.

The return of Freddy shows us all how important it is to be vigilant and to act quickly in emergencies - you might just save the life of the next little hero.