Hit by car- broken leg!? HELP

[BaylorGuy314]

Good evening everyone.

I'm new to the boards, but found it in search of information.

Today, as I was driving through a neighborhood, a car in front of me hit a squirrel that was darting across the road. As I came upon where it was hit, I realized the squirrel wasn't severly injured...or it appeared that his torso had been spared.

However, as I pulled over to try to get him off the road, he began to crawl away from me, dragging one of his hind legs pretty severly. I'm assuming that the car crushed his little leg but spared the rest of him. Nevertheless, I was able to scoop him up and bring him home.

However, as expected, the squirrel will not let me exam him. As I mentioned, there is not a lot of blood (there is a little, but not much) but I didn't see any bones breaking the skin or anything like that. However, the break may be severe or not so severe...I just can't tell.

It took a lot of effort (and a few bad bites) just to get him where he is now. Right now, he's in a large box in our second bathroom. I put a saucer of water in there along with some nuts, bird seed, and a few corn kernels. We keep our home fairly warm (79-80 degrees), but I went ahead and threw in two old t-shirts of mine that I was planning on throwing away anyways. I covered him up with one of those and he's lying belly-down in the corner.

There is one person in this county that supposedly will rehab small mammels like a squirrel but I've yet to get any response from her.

Until I do (or find someone else that can properly keep him), I need some insight in how to care for this little critter. I am concerned that he will eat his way out of the box and plan to put him (comfortably) into the squirrel trap I have tomorrow with a t-shirt. It may also give me a better chance to exam him...

Thoughts? Help?

[rippie-n-lilgirlsmom]

Hi, your guy needs to be in a dark room/container with a heating pad on low under one end of the box. Do not put him in a trap it will stress him out even more. We will work on finding you a rehabber, hold tight.

[BaylorGuy314]

That would be great!

I'm in the Waco area, but can travel or meet someone in surrounding counties if need be. FWIW, I have already tried Jane Thomas and left a message...but there was no answer.

Please let me know!

[rippie-n-lilgirlsmom]

Thomas, Jane Robinson Birds (incl. raptors), mammals (incl. deer) 254-662-4025 (anytime)
Wareham, Nada Elm Mott Birds (incl. raptors), small mammals 254-799-7170 (8am - 8pm), 254-829-1958 (8am - 11pm), 254-829-1958 (emergency only)

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/wild/rehab/list/
List by county

WHere is Muffinsquirrel loacted, anyone know?

[BaylorGuy314]

I spoke with Nada today and she said she only did birds now.

[pamela lee]

Thomas, Jane Robinson Birds (incl. raptors), mammals (incl. deer) 254-662-4025 (anytime)
Wareham, Nada Elm Mott Birds (incl. raptors), small mammals 254-799-7170 (8am - 8pm), 254-829-1958 (8am - 11pm), 254-829-1958 (emergency only)

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/wild/rehab/list/
List by county

WHere is Muffinsquirrel loacted, anyone know?
In Buna.

[rippie-n-lilgirlsmom]

I spoke with Nada today and she said she only did birds now.
She must be a saint?:dono
Still working on it, check out the link for Texas rehabbers/

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/wild/rehab/list/

[BaylorGuy314]

Good news- got ahold of Eddie Bruton (Coryell County) and he can take him, but not until tomorrow or Wednesday.

Until then, I'll try to keep him warm. He's got plenty of fur, so it shouldn't be too hard. He's a full grown critter.

Any other advice?

[rippie-n-lilgirlsmom]

Thats great the sooner the better, he's very traumatized and is in need of medication. Please let us know how it worked out.
A heating pad would help him greatly, fur does not help him now he needs the constant warmth. Think Dark, warm, quiet..keep his area very quiet and keep other pets away so he doesnt get scared.

[BaylorGuy314]

Thanks for the insight. Unfortunately, I have no heating pad, but I threw a couple of extra t-shirts in there and refilled his water.

I got a good look at his leg this time and it's pretty, well, flat. I'm not sure it will heal properly, but we shall see.

I'm going to call Eddie around 8 in the morning and we're going to find a way to get him into Eddie's care.

I'm hopeful that he will at least live through the night as he was hit around 2:00 this afternoon and he is still trying to pull through.

[TexanSquirrel]

I hope he pulls through!

[JLM27]

Do you have anything to give him for pain?

I just want to mention this. I have no idea if it would be ok or not, but I read an article about squirrel research in the wild, and the researchers used a soft CONE that they somehow got the squirrel into that was narrower near the head than the hind legs. This soft cone (it looked like it was made of thick felt) allowed them to hold the critter while they took measurements, inspected for general health, lactation histories, weighed, etc. without getting bitten. Now HOW they got the squirrel into the cone, I'm not sure, but it looked like a gentle way to hold a terrified wild animal while it was being inspected and measured.

Then they just slipped off the cone and the fuzzer went back to whatever he was doing before he got abducted by aliens.

So, maybe a way to hold a wild one when you are trying to help him? Seems like almost anything you do to intervene is going to terrify him anyway.

[muffinsquirrel]

I'm not close enough to be of immediate help, but if things don't work out email or PM me and I can meet you half way. (Which will still be quite a drive, won't it?!?!) I'm about 25 miles above Beaumont.

muffinsquirrel

[Blue Fantasy]

Nobody has mentioned, but you said you got some nasty bites. Does anyone know if squirrels can carry rabies? Make sure you take care of yourself as well, or you won't be any help to the squirrel. Keep any bites clean with soap and water and use peroxide. If they can carry rabies, the rehabber should be able to monitor it for signs that it's carrying or not. I don't mean to push the attention off of the squirrel, but my husband already had to get his $1200 rabies shot because he was bit trying to rescue a stray cat and we never found it again. There's no cure, so please be careful and find out asap! I hope the squirrel does well, in any case!

[rippie-n-lilgirlsmom]

Nobody has mentioned, but you said you got some nasty bites. Does anyone know if squirrels can carry rabies? Make sure you take care of yourself as well,
Squirrels do not carry rabies, they could not live through (remember we are talking a little 1lb. animal)an attack of a rabid animal.

[island rehabber]

Rippie's correct -- even the New York City Dept of Health website, the most paranoid-of-all-things-in-nature organization on the planet :shakehead, agrees that squirrels do NOT carry rabies.

[BaylorGuy314]

Well, some good news this morning.

The squirrel made it through the night and actually appeared to be more alert this morning (he hissed at me). I also think he drank some water. However, I'm not sure he ate. His leg sure doesn't look good though.

I re-covered him in the t-shirts and covered up the box as I did last night. Hopefully that'll last until I can get ahold of Eddie today.

[rippie-n-lilgirlsmom]

The less you look at him the better,:) stress alone will kill a squirrel and understanding you have to check on him from time to time.
I sure hope you can get this guy the help he deserves today, thanks so much for caring.:thumbsup

[JLM27]

This poor sweetie! I can't even imagine the pain he must be going through. You are wonderful for caring so much.

[BaylorGuy314]

Got the lil' guy to Eddie about an hour ago.

He was much more alert this morning and I think his vitals are all good.

Unfortunately, the leg isn't very pretty. I didn't see any obvious wounds, but it likely has several breaks, given its shape. I'm sure it will heal to some degree, but my guess it that it will have a bum leg for the rest of its life.

The good news is that its in the arms of someone who will care for it and give it the medicine it needs.

[rippie-n-lilgirlsmom]

:thankyou Baylor, for seeing the little guy through & getting him help. The quicker the leg is set the better his chances are.
:bowdown

[Frickster]

did you ask what will be done if he's not releasable? if not.....do you still have a way to contact him to let him know a home could be found for him? thanks for all you did!

[island rehabber]

Good job, BaylorGuy314 :thumbsup
I will move this thread out of Life-Threatening into Non-Life-Threatening so it will not trigger emails to rehabbers. Do keep us posted on the little guy's progress if you can, though, ok? :)

[BaylorGuy314]

I will call Eddie tomorrow and get an update and also see what she says about what she does if they are not releasable.

[Buddy'sMom]

:thumbsup You did a wonderful job!! I'm so glad you were able to locate someone nearby to help. :bowdown :bowdown

:grouphug :Love_Icon :grouphug

[Momma Squirrel]

Great job by all involved, TSB pulling together to get this little guy what he needs :thumbsup :bowdown

:thankyou baylorguy314 for seeing this through for the sake of the squirrel :grouphug

[BaylorGuy314]

Spoke with Eddie again today.

She seems to think the lil guy will make it, but obviously his leg is a huge question mark at this point. It may heal suitably well for him to be safely re-released or he may be crippled all of his life without use of the leg.

I asked her what her honest opinion was and she said that she thinks he could probably be re-released as long as he had some use of the leg. That being said, if he can't be re-released, she was planning on keeping him there. She does not usually euthanize animals unless it is a last resort.

However, if he can't be re-released and someone wants to take the lil fella, that would obviously be preferable. I'll be happy to give Eddie's number to anyone that might want to keep him.

We'll see how he makes it through the next few days. I'm hoping he doesn't get an infection and make a turn for the worse.

[Buddy'sMom]

That's great news -- and sounds like you found our kind of rehabber, that will work with him to heal and give him a home if he can't be released. :thumbsup

We're pulling for him and hope his leg heals well enough for him to function. Squirrels are amazing healers, but, obviously, it depends on the nature of the injury. Hang in there, little guy!! :flash3

:grouphug :Love_Icon :grouphug

[BaylorGuy314]

Good news.

Eddie called this morning and said she startled the squirrel this morning and it ran up the side of its cage...thus it can climb. Now, the leg still doesn't look great and it's not using it very well, but this is good news.

Eddie will probably keep it for a few more days, but if it shows little pain and can climb on its own, she'll probably re-release it.

That is, unless someone on here wants a pet?

[island rehabber]

That is, unless someone on here wants a pet?

BaylorGuy I can't imagine a previously wild adult squirrel being happy as someone's "pet". I'm sure he was manageable for you and Eddie because he was in great pain and shock, but he will return to his wild self soon enough and then, look out. Also, it is illegal to keep squirrels as pets in Texas, meaning that again we will have a squirrel with little or no access to veterinary care. Let's release this guy to the wild where he belongs -- and you gave him that second chance! :thumbsup For what it's worth, New York State wildlife rehab protocol states that it is perfectly OK to release a squirrel with only three legs...that's how convinced they are that squirrels do perfectly well despite this handicap. :)

[Buddy'sMom]

AWESOME NEWS!! :wahoo :wahoo :wahoo

Since this squirrel has already known the wild, if his leg heals and he can function, he will likely begin to show a very strong preference to go on his way. If he can be a wild squirrel, he should be allowed to run free. :flash3 But if he cannot be released, or appears not to want to be on his own, we would try very hard to find a Forever Home for him. :thumbsup My guess, though, is he will be happier in the trees, since that is what he knows.

You saved his life!! :alright.gif :alright.gif

:grouphug :Love_Icon :grouphug

[Frickster]

is he going to release the squirrel back near you where you will be able to keep a watch out?

[Sciurus1]

Is your rehabber friend going to take him to a Vet to have the leg X-rayed so they can see if it it needs to be set, or can be? Don't want to let the little guy suffer it is it not healable without intervention. Trust me when I say I know of a TX wildlife rehabber, that has squirrels she receives with broken legs set by the Vets her group is associated with, towards releasing them back in the wild. That one and others do have a heart, so don't sell them short, but ask if this guy or girl can see a Vet to make sure the leg can heal on it's own, or with a splint if necessary, rather than just hoping it will heal up correctly. Only if the injury is not healable with intervention, thus prone to infection, or very painful for the animal continually, with a death prognosis, that they would not try to save it. Please let us know about this squirrels progress, and what the real condition of the leg is, not just messed up, but if it is broken, and where, and what can be done if anything.