Vet Deflates Hedgehog After It Ballooned Due to Trapped Gas

A hedgehog that ballooned three times his size was deflated, thanks to a Good Samaritan who found him and a vet who treats him.

A hedgehog has inflated to three times his size due to a rare condition called “balloon syndrome.” Due to bacterial infection, gas gets trapped under the skin. This means emergency because hedgehogs can go into shock and die.

Bubbles the hedgehog was found wandering around a busy road by a Good Samaritan. He brought him to a vet clinic where he was deflated. The vets “popped” the animal three times with a needle because he kept re-inflating to the size of a melon.

Bubbles’ skin was so tight from constantly blowing up that he was also given pain relief and antibiotics to treat the infection. Now eight-week-old, Bubbles is under the care of veterinary nurse Laura Bernal who runs The Little Hog Hospital.

“Once the antibiotics started to work, we saw a huge improvement by the next day, and he was able to stay his usual size. He was given an x-ray to rule out any underlying injuries, and luckily that came back all clear. He did, however, test positive for lungworm, so parasite treatment was given,” Laura said of Bubbles’ recovery.

“He is responding well to all his medication and is eating like a little pig, so is doing very well. He is one lucky hog,” she added.

Laura told SWNS that concerned citizens regularly bring in wildlife to her clinic. When local rescues are full, she regularly steps in and takes home any patients that need extra love and care.

“Hedgehogs have always had a special place in my heart as they are full of character, extremely cute, harmless but also so vulnerable. They are iconic in British wildlife, and it’s easy to see how they are a favorite in people’s gardens,” the wildlife lover said.

“It’s so rewarding nursing them back to health so they can be released back into the wild. The Little Hog Hospital officially started just over a year ago. However, I was taking home the occasional hedgehog to nurse a long time before that,” Laura added.

Thanks, Laura. The world needs more people like you.

Source: PEOPLE