A hedgehog with trapped gas is finally on the mend after being 'popped' three times when she ballooned to the size of a football.
The critter had tripled in size due to a rare condition called 'balloon syndrome' where gas, usually caused by bacterial infection secondary to trauma, gets trapped under the skin.
Without immediate treatment hedgehogs can go into shock from it and it can prove fatal.
Balloon, named because of her condition, was found stumbling around a garden in the daytime by a concerned wildlife lover on Wednesday, June 28, who realised the critter was in peril.
The prickly patient was rushed to Hessilhead Wildlife Rescue Centre, in Beith, North Ayrshire, where she was 'popped' three times with a hypodermic needle and syringe as she kept re-inflating.
Balloon, who is believed to be suffering from a crush injury, was also given antibiotics and pain relief to make her more comfortable and treat the underlying infection.
Shocking photos show the bloated beast lying on her side with a grossly distended belly and her limp legs wearily outstretched.
Now under the watchful eye of trustee Gaynor Christie, Balloon will likely spend another fortnight recovering before being released back into the wild.
Gaynor said: "We had never seen a hedgehog's tummy bloated as much as that, it looked really uncomfortable. It was lucky that somebody found her.
"There's not any sign of a wound but her breathing is fairly laboured so it could be a trauma injury with some crushing.
"Hedgehogs are normally a lot smaller than the size of a football, she's probably one of the biggest we've ever seen.
"She was enormous. You lifted the box and it felt like a normal weight hedgehog but when we opened the box she was enormous. She was about the size of a football.
"It's air that's making her blow up hence the name Balloon Syndrome. It's caused by an infection that produces these gases that build up under the skin.
"She looks an awful lot better than she did when she came in. She's on antibiotics and pain relief as well to make her feel more comfortable."
Balloon is slowly recovering and will likely need treatment for another couple of weeks at the rescue centre before being released back into the wild.
Gaynor said: "She was brought in by a member of the public who, as far as I know, found her in the garden.
"She's been in care since Wednesday and we got some of the air out using a hypodermic [needle] and syringe sucking the air out.
"We did that twice, she was a lot better than when she came in but she was still pretty blown up.
"Our vet was here [the following day] and managed to get more air out.
"We're going to wait and see how she does. If all goes well it could be just two or three weeks from now."
Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter here .
