A puppy-like fox with an oversized head that went in for surgery last week to stop her seizures has finally returned home.

Hazel has been in the care of Sheerness charity Kent Wildlife Rescue since April 2023.

She was found lying in the road in Maidstone next to her mother, who had been hit by a car, when she was just a few weeks old.

Volunteers noticed her abnormally-sized head and, after she started having seizures, a scan revealed she had hydrocephalus.

This means fluid builds up in the brain, causing increased pressure in her head.

The rescue got in contact with Surrey-based North Downs Specialist Referrals which agreed to perform the operation on Hazel.

She went in for surgery last Monday (November 4) and had a shunt put in her head and internal tubing to drain the fluid into her abdomen.

Volunteer Gill Bishop told KentOnline: “After the operation she did have quite a few seizures but the vet put that down to the brain swelling after having a shunt put in.

“On Saturday they told us she’d been seizure-free for 24 hours so that was a good sign. But they weren’t sure about letting her go at that point.

“This is the first time they’d dealt with a fox so they weren’t sure what was normal.

“Even a fox’s body temperature is different to a dog’s so they had nothing to compare it to.”

She said the vet was “really good” throughout the whole process, and sent over regular updates.

Hazel began to take steps and they got the call yesterday to say she was ready to come home. She was back at the rescue by 6.30pm.

Gill said: “She was a little bit confused and dopey because they'd been keeping her slightly sedated so she didn't get distressed.

“But in typical Hazel fashion she fell asleep in the car on the way home and was quite happy sitting wrapped in her towel.

“We got her home and I sat with her on the sofa while she got her bearings and when she was ready to get on the floor off she went.

“Within a couple of hours she'd gone out in the garden and was exploring.

“She was still a little unsteady but was walking in a straight line and she knew where she was.”

Hazel will stay at the rescue while she recovers, and will not need to be kept in a pen.

“We’ve been told to let her do what she'd normally do and see how it goes,” Gill said.

Vet costs are likely to be more than first thought due to Hazel’s extended stay in hospital.

The bill is estimated to be around £15,000, and donations can be made here.

Gill added: “It was big smiles when we brought Hazel back. It's a relief to have her home because it was touch and go.

“With any brain operation, we might've been coming home without her. But to have her home and still be Hazel is just amazing.”