Veterinary referrals

Let’s work together

Veterinary Referral Process

Prickles and Paws are facing an ever increasing need to accept referrals from veterinary practices. To make this process smoother please now complete this online form.

We hope this will allow efficient transfers of cases, saving both you and the rescue time, while ensuring that the best ongoing care can be provided. We still encourage you to complete our triage forms as this is helpful in summarising care and treatment.

If you would like to discuss a case or request advice on appropriate treatments, please contact the rescue and speak to Katy or Diane. If they are unable to help they will put you in touch with our vet.

Useful Resources

Some important factors we ask you to keep in mind:

  • About Us: Prickles and Paws is a small, family-run charity dedicated to hedgehog rescue and rehabilitation. We rely on fundraising and the commitment of our volunteers, including drivers who donate their time and travel hundreds of miles each year. To respect their efforts, hedgehogs must be assessed as stable and suitable for rehabilitation before transfer.

  • Expanding Catchment Area: our rescue now covers all of Cornwall and occasionally Devon. This growth has significantly increased demand, often stretching our resources to their limits.

  • Veterinary Support: although we do not have on-site veterinary facilities, we can provide oxygen therapy, incubator care, ultrasound monitoring, and administer medications following strict SOPs. We work closely with Chris Gardner and the team at St Clement Veterinary Clinic to ensure expert treatment for our hedgehogs.

  • Triage and Capacity: if the rescue is at capacity or phone triage indicates a hedgehog may require euthanasia, urgent treatment, or is unlikely to survive transport, we advise the public to take the animal to their nearest veterinary clinic for assessment and stabilisation.

  • Science-Led Approach: our protocols continually evolve to reflect the latest research and analysis of our own data. With over 15 years of hedgehog rehabilitation experience, our co-founders have published three peer-reviewed scientific papers. While we may be known for our passion, our work is firmly guided by science.

  • We’re Moving! Prickles and Paws will be relocating to new premises in Spring 2026, with the move expected in February/March as building work is completed. Our new home will be on the Carnanton Estate near Newquay Airport. We’ll keep everyone updated throughout the process.