Poor hedgehog looks unrecognisable covered in mud and roots after a dog played with animal like it was a ball
He was rushed to a wildlife hospital where he was given a bath and dried off in an incubator
A DOG owner brushed the mud off this “ball” his pet was rolling around the garden and discovered it was a hedgehog.
Clay and roots covered the creature which had curled up to protect itself.
The animal lover took it to Brent Lodge Wildlife Hospital near Chichester, West Sussex, where it was given a bath and dried out in an incubator.
Rescue worker Mae Leason said: "The hedgehog is all okay now and doing very well.
"He was a little underweight when he came in so we're just making sure he's fit and healthy before releasing him back.
"The hedgehog was in a garden and was found by a dog owner. He noticed his dog playing with something and went to see what it was.
"He noticed a lump of clay and when he looked a little closer, he saw it was breathing. That's when the hedgehog was brought in to us."
She added: "He was heavily covered in clay, it would have been easy to miss him.
"When he arrived we warmed him up and cleaned him for about 20-30 minutes before he started getting grumpy and then let him rest, sleep, eat and dry off in an incubator overnight.
"The following morning, the clay was dry and it was just a case of helping to gently pick off the rest of the clay which took around 30-40 minutes.
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"He's doing great now and has finished a big bowl of food as he was very hungry when he came in. He's still a little grumpy but I don't blame him after he was rolled around by a dog!
"He shouldn't be here much longer before he's ready to go back outside and get home. He's doing really well now which is great to see."
The organisation, who been helping wildlife for 40 years, treat, rehabilitate and release sick, orphaned and injured wildlife.
Each year, on average, they look after around 3,000 animals - including more than 500 hedgehog.