Kelly J
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Prolapsed Bowel - 2008/01/22 07:21
I'm posting this hoping that nobody else will have to encounter this problem, but should it arise, then maybe it'll be of some use.
My hoglets were six weeks old on Saturday, and while we were having play time, both myself and partner checked over the hoglets to make sure they're well prior to seperating them from mum. Both boys and both girls were alert, happy and seemingly healthy. After play time we went to the pet shop to buy some extras for the hoglets new homes. We were gone no more than one and a half hours.
On returning I went straight to see them, and to start setting up their new homes. Fizzgig, on getting sick of running around after four lively babies, had actually put three of them to bed at one end of a tunnel, and used herself as a bung so they couldn't get out. All was peaceful, but one baby was missing.
On looking in the hide I noticed that one of them was sleeping alone and there was blood on the bedding. Naturally I started to panic. Had Fizzy had enough at week six and accidently hurt her hoglet? Had it been bitten? All sorts of things raced through my head in the few seconds it took me to pick her up gently and cup her in my hands.
At first I thought that it was a male as the baby began to unfurl. There was a dark pink, 1 1/2 cm worm-like thing in the genital region. As Holly opened up further it was clear that this was something altogether much worse.
We called the emergency vet, who was rather blunt about the whole thing, and not very pleasant at all. In fact, he was no use at all. He said, and I quote:
"It's pointless me coming out there tonight because the odds of survival are nil, and it'll cost you a fortune out of hours. Even if you can push it back yourself using vaseline she'll still die. Bring her tomorrow and I'll put her to sleep then, it'll be cheaper then."
Great eh?
Feeling completely helpless I trawled all articles on this subject and found very little as it's rarer that I realised. I rang the British Hedgehog Assoction in the end and they were much better.
Although the vet was right to suggest using vaseline or a lubricant like KY jelly to keep it soft, trying to push back a baby hedgehogs bowel without any form of pain relief, when they naturally roll into a ball is just painful for all concerned - both the baby and the carer. The girl willing to help also said that they'd had some sucess using gas and air, where they're able to insert it back into the correct position. Holly, even though she was obviously in a critical condition, just wanted to play and appeared to be in no discomfort at this point. I figured that if she was definately going to die, or live a life in pain, then I'd see a vet and have her put to sleep that night if there was no hope, before she'd have to endure any pain. If the re-insertion isn't successful then the hedgehog can't pass bodily fluids and waste efficiently, which leads to a very long and painful death. I didn't want that for Holly. I expected the worst, but hoped for the best.
I called a second emergency vet, and explained what the procedure was and asked whether she'd be prepared to access the situation, before deciding the outcome for Holly. This vet was lovely. She said that she'd use the gas and air to sedate her, try to reinsert the bowel, and see how she come through. We signed consent forms to say that if she couldn't insert the bowel, or if she couldn't position it correctly, then she'd put her to sleep while she was unconcious. We came home feeling better for acting in her best interests, but completely devasted for our little six week old girl.
An hour later the vet called to say that she'd managed to reinsert it very easily, but we wouldn't know if it was 100% successful until she'd managed to use the litter tray without any problems.
The next morning I woke expecting the worst, but still hoped for the best. We went to collect her and couldn't believe the news. She'd been feeding and had managed to poop without any problem. She just wanted to play, completely unaware of the stress we'd been through - not to mention the huge dent in our bank balance 
The operation was on saturday and up until now there's been no problems at all. The vet did say that it could happen again at any time, so I'm watching her very closely. We've renamed her lucky, because she's lucky to be here, and we've been very lucky to have been able to spend some more precious time with her. She really is one in a million and has defeated the odds so far. She's a miracle baby. I'm praying that it was a one off occurance, but have to be aware that she could also have the same problem again at any time.
So, should you notice that your chog has the same problem, my advice is to:
1 - lubricate the area to keep the bowel moistened and soft (my vet said that it would've been impossible had we not done this prior)
2 - Call your emergency vet and explain the situation. Also mention the gas and air procedure (the first vet didn't even suggest it - he was gonna use a much stronger drug that would've killed her)
3 - Sign a consent form to say that the hog will be put to sleep if the op is unsuccessful. Otherwise, the vet will have to wake the hog first before getting your consent. This way, if there's nothing that can be done, the hog will not suffer.
4 - Keep a careful watch until you get over that first milestone. Once they've used the litter tray without it re occuring you're half way there.
I hope nobody needs to read this, but should it happen, then I hope it can be of some use in an emergency.
Kelly J xxxxxx
Kelly J xxx |
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