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| Balloon syndrome hedgehog is 'popped' | Balloon syndrome hedgehog is 'popped' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A hedgehog who had "blown up like a beach ball" is said to be doing well after a vet "popped" him with a needle. | |
| The male hedgehog, who had inflated to twice its size, was found wandering around in circles by a member of the public in Toll Bar, Doncaster. | The male hedgehog, who had inflated to twice its size, was found wandering around in circles by a member of the public in Toll Bar, Doncaster. |
| The unnamed animal was diagnosed with the rare "balloon syndrome", caused by gas collecting under the skin. | The unnamed animal was diagnosed with the rare "balloon syndrome", caused by gas collecting under the skin. |
| He was taken to a RSPCA centre in Cheshire where a needle was inserted to vent the trapped air. | He was taken to a RSPCA centre in Cheshire where a needle was inserted to vent the trapped air. |
| More news from across Yorkshire | More news from across Yorkshire |
| Bev Panto, head vet at the RSPCA's Stapeley Grange centre, said it was a very unusual syndrome. | Bev Panto, head vet at the RSPCA's Stapeley Grange centre, said it was a very unusual syndrome. |
| 'Mostly air' | 'Mostly air' |
| "In my career I have seen three or four of these cases and they are very strange every time and quite shocking," she said. | "In my career I have seen three or four of these cases and they are very strange every time and quite shocking," she said. |
| "When you first see them they appear to be very big hedgehogs but when you pick them up they feel so light because they are mostly air." | "When you first see them they appear to be very big hedgehogs but when you pick them up they feel so light because they are mostly air." |
| She said the condition only occurs in hedgehogs and was due to their ability to curl up, meaning they have a lot of space under the skin. | She said the condition only occurs in hedgehogs and was due to their ability to curl up, meaning they have a lot of space under the skin. |
| In some circumstances air can get trapped under the skin due to an injury or trauma. | In some circumstances air can get trapped under the skin due to an injury or trauma. |
| "They literally blow up like a balloon," she said. | "They literally blow up like a balloon," she said. |
| "The first thing to do is to just pop them. To pop a needle in and drain all that air out." | "The first thing to do is to just pop them. To pop a needle in and drain all that air out." |
| Ms Panto said the hedgehog was eating well and staff were hopeful of a full recovery. | Ms Panto said the hedgehog was eating well and staff were hopeful of a full recovery. |
| "It is certainly not out of the woods yet so it's fingers crossed," she added. | "It is certainly not out of the woods yet so it's fingers crossed," she added. |