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Tiny injured hedgehog being nursed back to health

Volunteers at the charity ibelieve the hoglet's nest was disturbed with its mom injuring the baby while she fled the wreckage.

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A charity has been left with no choice but to feed a tiny hoglet through a canula after he was found weighing the same as half a lightbulb with bruises and an open wound. (Prickles and Paws Charity via SWNS)

By Charlotte Penketh-King via SWNS

A tiny injured hedgehog is being nursed back to health via a cannula after he was found weighing just 16g.

The teeny spiky creature arrived at charity Prickles and Paws when it was just 24 hours old and every teat at the center was far too big.

They feared the worst until they realized a tiny cannula - usually fed into a vein - was small enough to deliver life saving food to the hoglet.

Now named Sherlock, the animal has perked up and has been snuggled up in its incubator with fellow hedgehog residents, Pinky and Perky.

Volunteers at the charity in Cubert, England believe the hoglet's nest was disturbed with its mom injuring the baby while it fled the wreckage.

The disturbed nest, which contained a dead sibling, was found in a garage, last on June 22.

A spokesperson for Prickles and Paws said: "His wound is healing but he was struggling to feed from the teats we have as he is so tiny.

"Sadly, with newborns, itā€™s not uncommon for the mums to abandon if disturbed or stressed in any way.

"Thanks to Penmellyn donating a catheter to try, he started feeding well and is snuggled up in an incubator with Pinky and Perky.

A charity has been left with no choice but to feed a tiny hoglet through a canula after he was found weighing the same as half a lightbulb with bruises and an open wound. (Prickles and Paws Charity via SWNS)

"Sadly, yesterday afternoon, Sherlock deteriorated a little and is now not taking feeds well.

"Weā€™ve been feeding using a canula which was working well for him as our usual hoglet teats were too small.

"It is going to be very touch and go for him as success rates in neonates isnā€™t good.

"The chances for one so young are never good but we try. His injuries and the fact he may not have had any colostrum from mum lower his chances further.

"Sadly, itā€™s not looking like his story will have a happy ending, but we will do what we can for him."

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