A Peggy Update

Peggy has been off the social media radar recently. And here's why:

Before christmas she was worryingly urinating a lot of blood. However she was still her perky self, eating well and using her wheel at night. A bewildered vet and some antibiotics later she was back to her self again.

This week however, the blood urinating has reappeared and this time she is definitely not well. She has lost a ton of weight and is very dehydrated (her gums are pale). She is on antibiotics again which because of her lack lustre self I am able to give to her straight, with a syringe. She is not eating or drinking so I am also feeding her cooked watered down chicken juice (yuk) from a syringe. This evening she has also been pulling her back legs along and appears very flat-looking. It's not looking good and it has been quite distressing to see.

Edit: I believe this could be 'Wobbly Hedgehog Syndrome'.

I have taken out the ladder to the upper level of her cage as well as made a pile of litter so she doesn't have to heave herself into the litter tray. Edit: I've ground up her normal biscuits and put her food and water on shallow trays for easy access. The two rolled up tea towels were to give her support to stand but she's more inclined to move away from them and to lie near the edge of her cage which is heated from the warmth of the radiator.

There is a specialist vet that I will book in to see asap but in the mean time I wish nature would do it's thing and end any pain she's in. I really don't want to be the one to decide- if you are pet owner you will empathise! I would rather the specialist vet say what's to happen next. Peggy is nearly 4 years old (they live 3-5 yrs) now and I have had her since she was 8 weeks old so she will be a big loss in my life.

UPDATED 30/1/16

UPDATED 4/2/17

Whoops, sorry for the delay- this is the first time since my last post where I've been able to sit down and catch you up properly!

Peggy is alive and well! She is back home and in recovery from her big operation. The vet could feel a swollen 'mass' in Peggy's abdomen and suspected a tumour in the uterus which would be bleeding. Hence her blood loss. However, on operating, there was no tumour there but the uterus was bigger than normal and he has explained the following: as female hedgehogs age, hormonal changes cause the lining of the uterus to develop abnormalities which lead to bleeding (resembling menstrual bleeding). This is not uncommon in ladies of a certain age who require removal of the womb known as 'Hysterectomy'. One condition (which Peggy may have had) is called 'Cystic Endometrial Hyperplasia'. Removal of Peggy's uterus and ovaries known as 'Spaying' should have cured her abnormal bleeding.

Peggy has a neat little scar on her belly and is not to do any wheel-running for at least a week. She is on antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medication (giving medicine to a hedgehog is tricky I'll tell ya that!) The vet said to monitor her and give her some TLC as us humans would want after any operation. She's looking more wide-eyed and lively now and has been gulping down lots of water, nibbling her biscuits and mealworms and doing lots of poo- which I've never been happier to see!

More Peggy:

Keeping an African Pgymy Hedgehog 

100 Days of Peggy 

12 Days of Peggy (xmas Edition)

read more "A Peggy Update"

Keeping an African Pgymy Hedgehog

Why a Hedgehog?

Since I was young I have owned small furries; guinea pigs, gerbils, mice and rats. After a particularly difficult time after uni, moving back in with the parents I needed something to fill the Man-Void. Degus (large gerbils) were a possible although they need to live in groups, a Chinchilla -another option but we always thought they needed a quiet lifestyle (they don't) which our house, isn't. So at The London Pet Show 2013 I found my companion: An African Pygmy Hedgehog.

African Pgymy Hedgehogs are a specially domesticated breed. They live indoors, have a simple diet and live for 3-5 years.

read more "Keeping an African Pgymy Hedgehog"

The 12 Days of Peggy

Christmas Edition

Tune into this post or instagram to open the 'advent doors' to more festive Peggy pictures coming your way up 'til Christmas Day!

Bonus Video! (woop woop)

 Eleven Hedgies A-Waiting,
Ten Hogs A-Bathing,
Nine Peggy's Sabotaging,
Eight Peggy's Baking,
Seven Hedgehogs Pooing,
Six Peggy's Anointing,
Five Festive Quills,
Four Snuffling Hedgehogs,
Three Curled Hogs,
Two Spiky Hedgehogs,
And a Peggy in a Pear Tree.
 ~ 

*Hedgehogs are lactose-intolerant so obviously the milk is not for Peggy but for Santa!*


Ten Hogs A-Bathing,
Nine Peggy's Sabotaging,
Eight Peggy's Baking,
Seven Hedgehogs Pooing,
Six Peggy's Anointing,
Five Festive Quills,
Four Snuffling Hedgehogs,
Three Curled Hogs,
Two Spiky Hedgehogs,
And a Peggy in a Pear Tree.
~

Nine Peggy's Sabotaging,
Eight Peggy's Baking,
Seven Hedgehogs Pooing,
Six Peggy's Anointing,
Five Festive Quills,
Four Snuffling Hedgehogs,
Three Curled Hogs,
Two Spiky Hedgehogs,
And a Peggy in a Pear Tree.
~

Eight Peggy's Baking,
Seven Hedgehogs Pooing,
Six Peggy's Anointing,
Five Festive Quills,
Four Snuffling Hedgehogs,
Three Curled Hogs,
Two Spiky Hedgehogs,
And a Peggy in a Pear Tree.
~

Seven Hedgehogs Pooing,
Six Peggy's Anointing,
Five Festive Quills,
Four Snuffling Hedgehogs,
Three Curled Hogs,
Two Spiky Hedgehogs,
And a Peggy in a Pear Tree.
~

Six Peggy's Anointing,
Five Festive Quills,
Four Snuffling Hedgehogs,
Three Curled Hogs,
Two Spiky Hedgehogs,
And a Peggy in a Pear Tree.
~

Five Festive Quills,
Four Snuffling Hedgehogs,
Three Curled Hogs,
Two Spiky Hedgehogs,
And a Peggy in a Pear Tree.
 ~

Four Snuffling Hedgehogs,
Three Curled Hogs,
Two Spiky Hedgehogs,
And a Peggy in a Pear Tree.
~

Three Curled Hogs,
Two Spiky Hedgehogs,
And a Peggy in a Pear Tree.
~

Two Spiky Hedgehogs,
And a Peggy in a Pear Tree.
~

 and a Peggy in a Pear Tree.

~

(You don't understand how many takes this took!) 

~

read more "The 12 Days of Peggy "

A Peggy Post #3

Peggy has been busy being cute and turning her paw at some origami...

~

But now that the temperature has taken a sudden drop Peggy took the most silly decision to try and hibernate. Yes normal for wild hedgehogs but fatal for African Pgymys. Their body is not suited to storing large amounts of food to keep them going through the winter months and hibernation must be prevented!

A hedgehog must be kept in a warmed environment: nesting box/fleeces/heating pad or warm lamp if you have such a thing and I hadn't realised just how cold it has got- even in our radiator-on-max furnace of a house! When the hogs body temperature drops they attempt hibernation.

This morning I found Peggy curled solidly in a ball. Often she will meet me with a disgruntled huff and poke out her head to acknowledge me before unraveling. Not today.

Hedgehogs that attempt hibernation often stay in a ball or if uncurled have cool to the touch bellies so it's best to warm them up immediately. Placing them on your stomach, with a blanket to keep in the body heat warmth is best- breaking out in a hideous rash over your abdomen due to their prickles on your bare skin is an unfortunate compromise to keep the hoglet warm.

Peggy has thankfully since uncurled and is having a special treat of hiding (and warming up) in my own fleecy winter blanket. **please don't poo please don't poo**

Today was a pet service at my local church- she was the star of the show last year, shame she's having a duvet day this year :(

Update shortly on how she's doing!

read more "A Peggy Post #3"

A Peggy Post #2

Peggy feels deflated.

*England is out of the Rugby World Cup, 3rd Oct 2015* 

~

Peggy goes Eco.

In the UK from today supermarkets and retailers will charge 5p for their plastic bags.

~

 

 

read more "A Peggy Post #2"

A Peggy Post

Yarrrr it's International Talk Like a Pirate Day! 

Capt'n Peggy Strikes Gold! 

For morrrr me hearty, Peggy posts click he-arrrr: #100DaysofPeggy or walk the plank!

Ahoy There, Shipmates: Yarrr the lass is back! Check out the blarrrrrg forrr morrr Peggy Posts coming soon! 

Yo. Ho. Ho.

read more "A Peggy Post"

Day 100 #The100DayProject

WE. MADE. IT!!!

#100daysofPeggy

Peggy leaves home.
 Peggy has had enough of all this modelling and is going on a little holiday!
~

#100daysofhappys

happys of the day: 
It's Day 100!!! I can have my evenings back :D   
and
It was a fete at school to day and me and my colleague got a cheeky free go on the giant bouncy castle slide thing because... YOLO. 
god, I hate that phrase.

 

read more "Day 100 #The100DayProject"

Day 98 #The100DayProject

#100daysofPeggy

Peggy gets in touch with her Feline side.

 ~

#100daysofhappys

Sunday being spent tidying, bell-ringing and playing the piano from this very fine musical! 

Resting and gearing up for the last crazy week of the school year before I can breathe a sigh of relief and enjoy my muchly needed and richly deserved 6 week Summer holiday!!

read more "Day 98 #The100DayProject"

Day 97 #The100DayProject

#100daysofPeggy

Peggy behind bars.

~

#100daysofhappys

Social Dancing Time! 

Despite the hall being dead with only 12 couples over the age of 60 turning up...I got to practice lots and fine tuned my ability to follow a 'stranger's lead in tango and foxtrot.  

Plus I bought some new pumps in the sale wop wop! 

 

read more "Day 97 #The100DayProject"

Day 96 #The100DayProject

#100daysofhappys

Leaving-Do drinks with work colleagues and it's National Pina Colada Day (win!) 

~

#100daysofPeggy

  

Peggy passes the school year!

 but must work on her tolerance levels and friendships.

read more "Day 96 #The100DayProject"

Day 95 #The100DayProject

#100daysofPeggy

Peggy trains for Wimbledon 2016.

~

#100daysofhappys

On a clear out of the school stock cupboard i found some 'puppets' with phonic digraphs on the back that my colleague's gran had made: I asked 'bl'?, 'Bl' for what? She answered Blobby!! You could say this tickled my pickle- but maybe you had to be there! .. But just look at that craftsmanship!

 ~

Not allowed dancing tonight - I must RELAX... pfft.

 

The Autistic Gardner

I watched 'The Autistic Gardener' this evening on Channel 4. As I work with children with Autism I find these programmes really interesting especially seeing adults with Autism- it informs my practice! This programme is both entertaining and eye-opening! I do wish though that they'd changed the title to be political correct you mustn't put the label first- but that's my training making me say that...and The Gardner with Autism doesn't have the same ring to it some how.

Also would have been a little more respectful to stop always showing the long-haired guy muddle his words- yes it's a trait but for those who don't understand it could be seen as funny- which it ain't- I fully emphathise.

Ooh and the girl who said she was bullied and never had her ideas listened to and valued- made me cry! So touching and shows just how judgemental society is.

Anyhoo this is a new series on Thursday evenings at 8pm and I fully reccomend tuning in. It will educate you on this increasingly diagnosed but misunderstood neurological disorder and its a good ol' makeover show too.

 Check it out on 4od HERE

read more "Day 95 #The100DayProject"

Day 94 #The100dayproject

#100daysofPeggy

Peggy presents her Budget.

~

 #100daysofhappys

After an abysmal day, this evening I checked lots of things off my to do list! ...except the holiday packing..

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Day 93 #The100DayProject

#100daysofhappys

Movie Time and I'm being nostalgic and watching 
Anne of Green Gables. 
Such a lovely adaptation, beautiful scenery, stunning costumes and oh so poignant! 

The tape is an old VHS taken from 80s/90s TV so double happy to see all the old retro adverts with posh queen's english commentary.

 ~

#100dayofPeggy

Peggy gets an upgrade.
 

read more "Day 93 #The100DayProject"

Day 91 #The100DayProject

#100daysofPeggy

Peggy helps to fertilise the garden.
~

 #100daysofhappys

I have been told to stop all activity this week and RELAX. This is no easy concept for me as my brain is always on the go; a running commentary or high speed song on replay.  So going with the stereotypical nonsense formula of getting a good night's sleep is a hot sweaty bath, lavender pong and a branded bath product dictating i will 'sleep easy'. So here goes!

UPDATE: It kinda worked...but I put it down to the spontaneous massage I had this evening which funnily enough I don't have a photo of! 

read more "Day 91 #The100DayProject"

100 Days of Peggy

Here is the gallery of pictures of Peggy's Adventures since April 6th 2015 (part of the #the100dayproject). Click a thumbnail to find out more about Peggy's photo.

Which is your favourite?

read more "100 Days of Peggy"

Day 90 #The100DayProject

#100daysofPeggy

The real Mount Rushmore! 

 (Apologies to Abraham Lincoln who got replaced)

 *I do not own the original image*

~

#100daysofhappys

I attended the evening concert of a one-off screening of Back to The Future with Live Philamonic Orchestra at the Royal Albert Hall, London.

Great film with a cult following who were all present in the audience cheering away in epic scenes during the movie (kinda annoying but good atmosphere). The sound amplified round the auditorium was spot on; taking surround sound to a whole new level!

There are due to be more of these types of screening later on in the year and next year- so keep up to date with What's On at the Royal Albert Hall.

~

read more "Day 90 #The100DayProject"

Day 88 #The100DayProject

#100daysofhappys

So very happy that my copy of Life with a Sprinkle of Glitter has arrived in the post!  

Yes Yes, every Youtuber is 'cashing' in on branded products but I really respect Louise as a genuine person, who like a Big Sister is willing to help shed some light and experience on life. But. I am a girl. I like girly things. I'm allowed guilty pleasures. And this book might just be one of them.

Sprinkle of Glitter Blog and Youtube.

~

#100daysofPeggy

Peggy gets her 5 minutes of TV Fame. 


Yes- the date is wrong. Heyho! 

read more "Day 88 #The100DayProject"

Day 87 #The100DayProject

#100daysofPeggy

 
Peggy couldn't put Humpty together again. 

~

#100daysofhappys

 1) The Centre's assembly went brilliantly! When you see 16 children who have all started the year with some form of difficulty get up in front of a whole school and remember their words and signs it really makes my job so rewarding! (bluegh- this is getting cheesy)

2) Today was a day of great heat, not alot of working, alot of getting splashed and having ice cubes slid down my dress my staff and children!

3) Only 12 days to go until SUMMER

4) Time to play some Top Golf- what ever that means...

Top Golf is a franchise where you rent out a bay for a 30-40 minute game. You scan your ball, pick a club and whack (not with the sweeping the floor method my mum is going for in the pic) it towards a target. Different points are added to a scoreboard similar to bowling.

You can order food - greasy american style grub with non/alcholic drinks available too.
Get there before 7 when it became very crowded, with lots of queues and people waiting ages for their food.

It was a very male dominated place (ooh yeah!) but is really for everyone who can whack a ball or likes to sit and watch people whacking balls. This is getting very innuendo-y...

I'd reccomend this place for a social evening - something different from bowling- children are allowed to come too and you don't have to be a great sportman to go- the pic of my mum is proof! 

Find Out More about Top Golf here

read more "Day 87 #The100DayProject"

Day 85 #The100DayProject

#100daysofhappy

Mediterranean weather in England! 

~

#100daysofPeggy

Peggy reads the Classics.

read more "Day 85 #The100DayProject"

Day 84 #The100DayProject

#100daysofPeggy

Peggy meets her Patron.

~

#100daysofhappys

What a great photo! 
#sarcasm

Today was my first 'relax' day in a while but I am incapable of relaxing.
I made a start on my Book Day costume- the most impractical thing I could think of! 
Any ideas?

Thanks to a guest coming to stay, my mum has gone into dessert-making frenzy
so here is some excess: GLOOP! or Raspberry Souffle if your from a normal family. 
  

read more "Day 84 #The100DayProject"