Squirrel Bite Help

[frodotype]

Hello, I am looking for a little help and advice. I was bitten by a squirrel yesterday while golfing. The little fella got under the golf cart and did not want to leave. I was not going to risk hurting him and wanted to make sure he was gone before I took off to the next hole. He was sitting directly infront of the tire under the cart so I picked him up to move him, he did not try to run. My golf buddy took the 2 pictures attached. After I picked him up I could see how sick or old he looked.

I didn't relize that he had even bitten me until a few holes later when I found 2 small puncture marks on my thumb. Today I went to the doctor for him to look at the bite. The doctor recommended that I get a rabies shot when I told them that the squirrel looked old/sick with his eyelids almost shut and pussing. For a rabies shot they made me go to the ER. At the ER they told me that squirrels cannot get rabies and just gave me a tetanus shot and antibiotic, then sent me home.

I have been doing a lot of looking for myself because I know the rabies virus is deadly if not treated. So here are my questions:
1- can you really get rabies from a squirrel?
2- can anyone tell if the little guy has pox (I know the pictures are not the best)
3- is there any other disease that would cause swollen eyes with puss discharging?
4- could this little fella just be really old

Please, if you have any input let me know. I plan on going by the golf course in the morning to see if I can find him again to take him by a vet and take more pictures of him.

I really do not want him tested for rabies because they will kill him, but I too do not want to have rabies. If I can get more picture of him I will post them too. Please help if you can.

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you if you want to email me directly please use frodotype@hotmail.com I can also email the pictures for a better look, I had to shrink them to put them on here.

Thank you again,
Nick
http://i464.photobucket.com/albums/rr9/frodotype/squirrel.jpg
http://i464.photobucket.com/albums/rr9/frodotype/squirrel1.jpg

[Apple Corps]

Not to worry at all - squirrels are NOT a rabies vector species.

Can't count the times the lil fuzzers have nailed me when feeding them treats in the yard.

[Apple Corps]

Could be the tail end of pox

Could be mange

Could need Rx for an infection

:thankyou :thankyou :thankyou for caring

If he allowed you to pick him up he needs help........

[Mountain Mama]

Did the ER give you a prescription? Most of us (myself included) have been bitten by a wild squirrel with no ill effects afterwards. I have never taken antibiotics when bitten.

BUT, a vet will likely euthanize him. He looks to have pox. Stand by...there will likely be people in your area that are willing to take him if you catch him tomorrow.

Apple Corps is right. If he allowed you to pick him up, he is sick and needs help. Thank you for being so kind to him.

[LynninIN]

Hi Nick, thank you for taking the time to try and help this squirrel. I removed your number from the post for your protection as this is a public board. You can pm me with your location and the golf course so we can find a rehabber to help you find this squirrel and check to see if others are sick as well. I could email my father with your picture from the course, I think he can identify any course in the US from a blade of grass. :D

BTW: Squirrel pox is not zoonotic, meaning it is not transmittable to human. It's not transmissible to other types of animals either. It is very contagious to other squirrels.

If anyone needs Nick's number, please contact me via pm.

[Buddy'sMom]

Nick, someone else recently had a question about possible rabies in a Florida squirrel and spoke at length with the FL State Health Department, including the Director. They stated there has never been a confirmed rabid squirrel in the state -- ever. There are so few rabid animals of any kind in Florida that they will only even test if a raccoon has bitten someone, not for other animals. Moreover, they consider the risk to be so completely remote that they would not even authorize the rabies shots. Really, no rabies worries in Florida.

[fyi, this information is specific to Florida -- the concerns about rabies are very much geographical and in other areas of the country (the Northeast in particular) the answers may be quite different. Although it is very unlikely a squirrel could be infected, in some areas it could be possible.]

But .... this poor sweetie definitely could use help. :Love_Icon Let LynninIN know the location and she may be able to find a rehabber to help you.

:grouphug :Love_Icon :grouphug

[frodotype]

Thank you for everyone that posted up!!! I feel at ease now. After looking for him again this morning, he was no where to be found, at not least any where I first found him. If any one is around my area he was at the Lone Pine Golf Course in Riviera Beach in the small woods area between holes 13 and 16.

Thank you again.

Here is a picture of the first squirrel I was able to help. I found him on the 3rd floor of a doctors office in the elavator with a hurt nose. He should still be doing really well, my wife and I took him to Back to Nature in Orlando at that time.

Make it a Great Day!!

Nick
http://i464.photobucket.com/albums/rr9/frodotype/Nicksquirrel.jpg

[Mrs. Jack]

omgosh. that little one is so sweet. I'm sorry about golf squirrel,he does look like he's been through the wringer. Glad you're at ease about the rabies though.. when I got bit I had to convince my dr. but after he went and relooked up all the research I'd done, he agreed ;) got a tetanus shot and started craving nuts and climbing trees :D

[Apple Corps]

frodotype - please do what you can to find and help that poor lil fuzzer from the golf course - he needs help and you may be the one to save his life and provide some much needed TLC for him.

Your lil one is AWESOME - they are wonderful creatures are they not?


mjs mjs mjs

[Buddy'sMom]

You seem to be quite the Squirrel Magnet!! :thumbsup :thumbsup

Here is a Palm Beach County rehab center: Heaven scent 561-684-0614 (Someone else just dropped off a baby squirrel there today, and said they were very nice.)

They might be able to lend you a carrier to transport him, assuming you can find him again. And then give him the care he needs. :Love_Icon Squirrels are creatures of habit and tend to be out and about the same time of day. You may be able to see him if you try the same time as the first day you saw him. (This may take a little coordination with the course, and hopefully they will cooperate.)

Since you were able to pick him up, you probably would be able to again (but perhaps heavier gloves (two!) than a golf glove this time :D ). Or pick him up in a towel or small blanket (which he can then hide under in the carrier). And bring an extra to place over the carrier -- they stay calmer when it is dark and they feel like they are hiding.

I hope you will be able to help him! :bowdown And that your thumb is feeling better. :)

:grouphug