Hedgehog which swelled to size of beach ball released into wild

'The poor guy kept reinflating', says rescue centre manager

Zepplin the large hedgehog has successfully been re-released into the wild after recovering at the Scottish SPCA in Fishcross, Clackmannanshire (SWNS)

A hedgehog which swelled up to the size of a beach ball has been released into the wild after recovering from "balloon syndrome".

The Scottish SPCA has been caring for the creature named Zepplin, who had inflated to a circumference of 30 inches (76cm).

Over the last eight months the hedgehog has made a full recovery.

Found by a member of the public and brought to the rescue centre, staff said it was one of the largest hedgehogs they have ever cared for.

They said the swelling is most likely to have been caused by a puncture in his lung which caused air to become trapped under his skin.

“Zepplin suffered from ‘balloon syndrome’,” said National Wildlife Rescue Centre Manager Colin Seddon, adding added that it was likely the animal had been clipped by a car, puncturing a lung and causing air to become trapped and slowly inflating his body.

The creature spent 253 days at a rescue centre in Fishcross, Clackmannanshire, where he underwent special treatment to help deflate him.

Mr Seddon added: "He's certainly one of the largest hedgehogs we've taken into our care, with a circumference of 30 inches. Zepplin had a difficult time recovering, the hole we made in his skin kept healing faster than his punctured lung, we had to put plastic in with his spines to ensure the excess air could escape as the poor guy kept reinflating.

"Zepplin has thankfully made a full recovery after his ordeal and was released over the Easter weekend, along with other hedgehogs, in the Perthshire area."

SWNS contributed to this article