Hedgehog Ollie loses all his spines to illness and wins hearts online
Volunteers in Stoke Fleming, UK, have spent four months caring for Ollie, a hedgehog whose ringworm left him without any spines. Videos of him have drawn millions of views, and a fundraising campaign featuring him raised £4,877.
In Stoke Fleming, in the United Kingdom, the animal charity Prickles in a Pickle has been caring for a hedgehog named Ollie for four months. In the wild, the animal developed ringworm, a fungal skin infection, and lost all of his spines as a result. The story was reported by the BBC.
Ollie currently weighs about one kilogram. Veterinarian Lauren Jennings says his recovery is slow. The hedgehog is given baths with antifungal medication and other treatments. His skin was very dry, so it is moisturised regularly. Ollie also receives painkillers, and the vet describes the routine as many spa treatments.
Popularity on social media
Videos of the hedgehog posted by the volunteers have attracted millions of views, along with thousands of likes and supportive comments from around the world. Ollie became the face of the charity's latest fundraising campaign to pay for animal treatment. The campaign raised £4,877.
The organisation thanked supporters on social media and noted that only two hedgehogs are now being treated for ringworm, compared with more than 20 a month earlier.
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