opinions about wound and other stuff

[jungrrlist]

well one of my wild squirrels (i dont have any tame ones, thats for sure) that i am very familiar with presented to me yesterday with what appears to be a broken arm.
she had blood on her fur, and was not using her arm at all except to hold the nuts i was giving her.
i hadnt seen her in a few days, and shes been runnning on only three legs.
quite sufficiently, i may add.

shes had babies a couple months ago, and im worried about her.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2052/2502549525_9ed9b362c0_o.jpg
i took that picture of her today after getting a better look, and was just wondering any opinions on this.
it looks like some sort of shot to me, and im not even sure how to go about treating her since shes wild (but very nice).
its an un-ordinarily and perfectly round spot...i dont know what would have caused this as i cant keep tabs on her 24 hours a day.

shes dragging her leg when shes walking around, but like i said, doesnt even use it when she runs.
she is getting around very well and is still able to climb trees and whatnot, but im worried about her.
her "paw" seems swollen and she is not moving her "fingers" on that hand whatsoever.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3088/2503442003_a3261e79fd_o.jpg
(the affected arm is the one in the forefront in this picture)

her wound is right about where your shoulder meets your arm.
the skin around it is pink and doesnt look infected, and theres a scab there now, but shes still not using that leg.


im not even sure what im asking at this point, but i would like to help her if at all possible.

im also feeling a bit guilty for feeding them because im not sure if maybe she got accustomed to having me feed her, that maybe she went up to someone who wasnt so friendly who injured her.
if thats the case, how do i go about taking care of friends, without them getting so spoiled that they think that every human could be so nice?

i hope that makes sense.

shes absolutely dear to me and a daily visitor for over a year now and i hate to see something bad happen to her.

[TexanSquirrel]

Any chance it's a warble?

http://entomology.ifas.ufl.edu/slansky/botfly/wrbpex/wrbpex.htm

[jungrrlist]

ewwwwwwwwww.
:/

i have no idea.

she suddenly appeared injured though.
this warble thing maybe takes a bit to develop.

thats gross.

i just ate.

!

[jungrrlist]

would this disable her entire arm?

and thank you for responding, i dont want to come off unthankful.

[Feeze]

I'm thinking it could have been a bb gun. Any chance you can trap her and have her looked at by a vet? This kind of trauma could explain the paralysis. Just a guess though.:dono

[Rotsuoy]

Wow, it does look swolen, but if it were a shot I doubt it would be swollen. I've seen pellets on dogs, cats and squirrles, not to mention airsoft wounds, and I've never seen one swell. The wound is very small and usually the fur hides it unless it is still bleeding. I've never seen a warble though either.

It is also possible, however, that if it is broken, then it would be swollen, but that would mean that the pellet or airsoft gun might have broken something! :Cry

You'd have to try to catch her to know for sure; It's not my call. :dono

[Loopy Squirrel]

I have had them come in w/ BBs still in them. The only way to know for sure is to trap her. It may have broken her arm. If it is just a BB, her arm will heal even w/ the BB in there but if it is close to a bone or nerve it could cause damage. If it was a lead pellet than it really needs to come out. I had a squirrel that was grabbed by a dog and had partial paralysis. When we took him in to be x-ray for the spinal trauma he was found to have three BBs and one lead pellet very close to his spine. These were all old injuries and were not causing the new one, but it shows that you never know.

[TexanSquirrel]

Keep us posted!

[jungrrlist]

shes getting around much better now.
not good as normal, but better than tripod-ing it.

i saw her today and it appears that whatever it is that is in her that made this wound, is trying to work its way out.
never saw anything like it except maybe a splinter, but the area near cheek/ shoulder is puffed out, but not red and it certainly doesnt look infected.

im at a loss.

pretty sure she got shot.

im just glad shes ok and getting a little better.

if i see her tomorrow ill take a picture.

[tatcat]

hey darlin, glad to hear she is doing better!! :thumbsup

[rippie-n-lilgirlsmom]

What a sweet girl I hope she gets better.

[Sciurus1]

Feeze is right, from the shape of the wound, as Feeze noted, it has been shot with a pellet, or BB gun. Please don't make the mistake of thinking, just because it can get around that it will be ok. These animals go far to cover how bad off they are. There was one in my Mother's yard with a broken knee with the bone sticking out, but it was still getting around, but was in agony. If you should wait till the animal's symptoms worsen, likely by that time it will be too late to help it much.

The reason I write this is that if the BB or pellet may still be in the animal, know that with pellets being lead, if not removed it would lead to lead poisioning. BB or not, it likely would fester, and perhaps to become infected, which can lead to an agonizing death. That along with it needing help with the arm itself, to set it, IF it is broken, to administer antibiotics, to ward off infection. It needs to be seen by a Vet is what I am saying. Thanks for caring to ask what you could do to help it.

You can ask the members to share the number of a rehabber in your area. Please make that contact before attempting to trap it, and make sure they are ones that do not out of hand euthanize this species of squirrel, like Washington State does. Make sure they are one that will help save it's life to release it back to the wild. If not the find a Vet on your own who will.

As far as trapping it, use the larger size tender trap for small mammals, like possum, not the tiny one used to trap rats. As long as you are home while the trap is out, there is no danger to the other squirrels that might wander into it, because you can just let them out.

I just LOVE dem Foxers! S1

[jungrrlist]

thanks for your replies.
i was kind of figuring she got shot with something...most likely a BB gun.

i am afraid to trap her just out of fear of freaking her out and putting her through mental trauma.

i saw her today, and shes a lot more wary than she was before...she spooks easy.
its very odd for her, but i guess she "got burned"....

i would love to know of a rehabber in my area (toledo ohio), but wasnt aware there were any around here.

im wary about vets.
unless they specifically deal with wild animals, what could they know about squirrels?
i really have no idea.

i am a nurse, and just from looking at her she seems to be ok.
although the area around where she got shot is rather puffy looking now.
the only thing that seems to not work so well is her fingers.
she is still using her arm but her fingers on that arm are not working so well.

id like to do whatever i can for her.

shes very nice and sweet and i hate to see her in this condition, even though she seems to be getting around pretty well.

the whole idea of someone shooting her is pretty angering though.
i dont get it

[jungrrlist]

this was her today(with affected side nearest the camera)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3053/2522334365_89ed56394a_o.jpg

[Feeze]

Sounds as though she may still be suffering from the wound, and I'm worried that there may be a bb still inside. Perhaps you can call around, and save the trapping until you know where to go for sure. Then you can cover her with a towel to calm her. If there is a foreign body in there, I'm sure you are aware of the possible effects... Is it swelling in that area, or is it just the way she has her arm?

[jungrrlist]

its definetly puffed out around the area where i believe her to have been shot.
like i said, it looks as though its trying to work itself out of her.
whatever it is im sure is probably pressing on a nerve or something, just by watching her move around and stuff.

im worried.
:/

[Sascha]

i am also sure that its a shot... the wound is so perfectly round...
and like Sciurus1 said, if the bullet is still in there... she might have a problem cause these bb gun bullest are made out of lead.

i just can't get it that people can do something like this to these beautiful animals.

thank you for taking such good care of her and please keep us updated.

[Apple Corps]

I would strongly suggest that you get a HAVAHART trap - trap her - get her to a vet (we can help) - and get the wound treated.

The mental trauma is insignificant to the wound and its Rx -that lil fuzzer is way toooooo cute to let suffer (they all are).

AC

[Apple Corps]

BTW - we can also help you with some of the tricks of the trade to help trap her - there are some techniques that really help.

[Sciurus1]

Be assured as I shared, they do cover their condition, they do not act like humans who call for help, it is a instinct they have for self preservation. Since she has more than one issue, the arm and the pellet or BB, there is no time to waste; so this squirrel a favor, and help it out by trapping it to take it to a Vet who can help it. Let one of us know what State and City you are in, but do that by Private message in the upper right hand corner of the page. We have a lady her who can help you name Island Rehabber, who has a list of rehabbers across the Country. She is our Administrator, you can contact her if you like with that.


I will send you my secret to trap her, it has worked everytime I have used it, I just don't want to share it here, or others, you understand. I will send that tomorrow morning early. One foxer that we had visit our yard, had a absessed forepaw, and came up to me many times even so. it was easy to trap, went right in.
As another member mentioned, cover up the trap immediately after trapping, using a dark colored towel or small throw. They calm down very fast, you will be surprised. She will chatter up a storm. but it will be ok. Talk to her with a soothing low voice, I find it helps. Then when she quiets down be quiet too. I have done it many times, you can do this!

[island rehabber]

jungrrlist I am sending you a list of Ohio wildlife rehabbers via private message. If you are able to trap this poor girl I would strongly encourage you to consult with one of them and hopefully get treatment for her that way :thumbsup.

[jungrrlist]

thank you