Hedgehog wound and abscess treatment

Wounded hedgehogs are some of the most common admissions to the hedgehog hospital. Infected wounds and abscesses, particularly from dog attacks, are becoming more common.

This is Octavia, who was treated for a nasty facial wound. I’m sorry for the graphic nature of these wound pictures but this is the kind of reality that wildlife rescues face on a daily basis.

I wish hedgehogs could talk and that I knew the cause of the wound. This one is possibly a bite wound. The wound has got infected and the skin underneath is dying (necrotic). She has an abscess in the neck area on the same side that you can’t see in this picture.

Upon arrival, hedgehogs are checked to assess the nature of their wounds. They will also go through a range of other checks to assess their size, weight, general health and whether they have internal or external parasites.

Some hedgehogs will immediately be taken to a vet for treatment if the wound is very severe. Many will require x-ray to ascertain the extent of any damage and infection. With any wound, it is possible that an impact may have caused bones to break or damage to nerves and ligaments. Infection from abscesses can also track deep into the bone. Many of these things are beyond the skills of a hedgehog rescue, who must always work closely with a vet. You can read more about abscesses here.

Depending on the nature of the wound/abscess, it may also require draining. This is done by a vet using a syringe/scalpel to draw out the infected pus. The hedgehog is usually ‘gassed down’ for this procedure.

I initially clean wounds using a mix of hibiscrub (an antibacterial fluid used in surgery) and warm saline. This softens the scabs and aids their removal. It also cleans and sterilises the wound. Hedgehogs are obviously wild creatures and wounds may have picked up all kinds of dirt and debris. Note that you should not use Hibiscrub for wounds over the longer term because it keeps wounds open and can actively prevent healing.

The treatment for wounds like this takes a long time. This wound is sprayed regularly with Leucillin or Vetericyn antibacterial sprays. These can help to keep the wound moist (aiding healing). These products are safe even if they get into the hedgehog’s eyes so are great for facial injuries. They are also effective for treating mild cases of ringworm. I use various different wound treatments depending on the nature and location of the wound. In this case, I use wound gel (Intrasite gel) and veterinary grade manuka honey. For deep bone infections, it is possible to add powdered antibiotics suitable for treating osteomyelitis into the treatments.

Depending on the nature of the injury, pain relief may also be required as well as targeted antibiotics. Octavia received an antibiotic that is very good at treating open wounds and abscesses. This is given for at least 7 days.

The wound is regularly monitored for signs of healing/infection. If it is not healing, swabs may be needed to identify if bacteria are present and to help identify suitable antibiotics.

I am happy to say that Octavia survived her injuries and was released back to the wild. You can read more about her here. You can also read more about dog attacks, one of the most common causes of injuries, here.

Many hedgehog rescues are having good results with using active silver/colloidal silver spray on some hedgehog wounds. Infra red treatments are also possible to accelerate wound healing, working in conjunction with a vet or specialist pet service. It can also help with ringworm, healing bones and inflammation, although is relatively new for hedgehog rescue.

I have over a decade of experience running a hedgehog rescue. I am a member of many wild hedgehog rehabilitation forums and I also follow the Vale Wildlife Hospital protocols for treating hedgehogs. I don’t put very detailed information on my pages about the treatments I use but, if you are a hedgehog rehabilitator and would like to know more or would like any help please contact me. You may also be interested in my online hedgehog care courses. I run courses for all levels, which are a useful addition to the recognised full day Vale Wildlife Hospital course.

My wildlife work is entirely self funded. You can read more about me and my work here. You can also find out how to support my work.

I make handmade silver jewellery inspired by nature and wildlife to raise funds for my wildlife work.