please help found baby and possible spine injury

[red reddy]

this is the third baby squirrel that i have had so i have some knowledge. this squirrel is probably toddler age, eyes are open. he was found at the bottom of a fir tree. he cannot move his back legs and it looks like he had a bloody nose. i can't afford a vet, and was wondering if theres any way to tell if it is a broken back, pelvis, legs, etc. is there a possibility that he can make or is he just suffering. i surely do not want that. hope to hear something from someone. i am in vancouver, washington. thanks

peace

[Nancy in New York]

There is always a possibility that he will end up being fine, do you have him on low heat on half of the container, are you feeding him, can you post a picture of him? How is he acting other than the back leg function? I will be right back, hold on I want to send somethiing out...:grouphug

[Nancy in New York]

Do you know of any wildlife rehabbers in your area?

[red reddy]

we were able to get some kitten milk mixed with some banana baby food down him. other than that he moves around a little but just wants to sleep. was wondering if i should get some calcium in him, will the mom kick them out of the nest if they have that calcium sickness i've been reading about? should i wrap his hind end somehow to limit movement. trying to find a wildlife rehab person now. i just most of all don't want him to suffer if indeed he is in horrible pain. thanks

[Nancy in New York]

we were able to get some kitten milk mixed with some banana baby food down him. other than that he moves around a little but just wants to sleep. was wondering if i should get some calcium in him, will the mom kick them out of the nest if they have that calcium sickness i've been reading about? should i wrap his hind end somehow to limit movement. trying to find a wildlife rehab person now. i just most of all don't want him to suffer if indeed he is in horrible pain. thanks

First off, no kitten milk...Use puppy esbilac or goats milk esbilac, perhaps you can find this at a pet store, there is enough calcium right now in the formula if he is drinking enough, you can always give him a little bit of a tums, but with the formula, I think he shouldn't be having a problem with calcium, but you do need to change the formula...He may need to have a steroid so that any swelling can be reduced if something is pinching some nerves thus making him unable to move the back end. DO NOT wrap the back end to limit movement, we don't know yet what the problem is. I will also look for a rehabber for you. If he is eating a little and drinking, I don't feel he is suffering. Sometimes these things can be reversed once the swelling goes down. You do know how to feed formula right? Very slow, warm and in an upright position....I am going to also look for a rehabber in your area...I'll be back.:grouphug

[Nancy in New York]

Here is a link that has some Washington rehabbers in...however, I also PM'd someone from this board that may be able to help as well, so if you can just hold on...keep us posted I will try to keep checking this thread.
http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=18785&highlight=washington:grouphug

[squirrelsrule&bunniestoo]

You need to check to see if he has feeling in his back legs. If you squeeze his back toes, does he respond, or does he just sit there? If he kicks his feet, squeals, or gets figgetty then he has feeling, if not, his back is probably broken and there is nothing you can do for him :sad.

Is he peeing OK? Often with spinal trauma they loose feeling in their bladder and don't have the urge to pee.

Can you post a picture?

If it is spinal trauma time is of the essence. He needs to get to a rehabber ASAP so he can get the meds he needs to reduce the swelling so he can heal.

[red reddy]

thanks so much Nancy for all your help. as I am also outside working (painting exterior) not just around the yard, i'm working, working. what we were able to get down him was very little, and it was only one time. time frame there would be>>>>> Lady found him this am before 8. I picked him up at like 10:00 am and it is now 4:00 pm. 8 hours!!!! I hate to disturb him, i'm sure he's in shock, minimun all stressed out. Is it absoulutly neccessary at this particular time to pick him up, which you know hurts like hell i'm sure, although he doesn't seem to show that really, and he's not earing on his own so you have to force it down him, which makes him squirm around, which i'm sure does him no good at all. WOW, now theres a run on sentence. what i'm getting at is "is it truly essential that i pick him up and force something down his throat against his will???? If so, what exactly should it be???? how often????

As of 4:00 pm, washington state time, he does not look good. all curled up in fetal position, breathing is hard and prominent, he didn't even raise his little head when i reached down to pet him. WHAT SHOULD I DO, he doesn't need to suffer. i feel so bad for him. i get so attached so quickly, its breaking my heart. if need be his sufferring can be delt with. wouldn't he be crying if he was really hurting???:thankyou

[red reddy]

no, no movement from the rear section, front section moved a little. what about that calcium sickness they get that causes paralysis? could it maybe be that? i have to go back to work now i'll check back in about an hour.

[island rehabber]

red reddy, to the best of our current knowledge MBD ('calcium sickness') does not occur in the wild. It only occurs in squirrels who are captive to what human beings feed them == either in long term rehab settings, or living as pets with humans.

Chances are this poor guy took a very bad fall and has serious spinal injury. He may very well be suffering....is there any kind of emergency vet or wildlife sanctuary you can call?

[Nancy in New York]

I feel that if this is just a young one, it isn't the calcium...can you post a picture? If not can you email me one, and I will post it for you
nmognoni@nycap.rr.com
I just PM'd another member that may be able to help, and as soon as I hear, I will let you know or they will come on, I'm sure, I too will keep this up and keep checking on you. I would try to hydrate this little one, I don't like the force feeding though. Do you have pedialite?

[squirrelsrule&bunniestoo]

I too feel this isn't a calcium issue. This is an injury caused by a fall or possibly being hit by a car :dono. It is extremely rare to find MBD in wild babies that are with their moms.

[red reddy]

well he's still hanging in there, he does move around every now and then, haven't tried to give him anything more i'm sure picking him up and moving him is probably not a good idea. i put the end of the water bottle down to his nose and let it drip, he kind of licked at the drip, but then he drug himself away and crawled back under cover. as i observed, no, absoulutly no kind of movement from back legs, i believe his tail is also not moving. no luck with the link, spent last hour in phone book, making calls no luck there either

[red reddy]

i do appreciate the help, but both the links you all sent me were a complete waste of time. i would just like to know, do i let him be for the night or do i pick him up and force stuff he don't want down his throat.

[TinyPaws]

What type of problem did you encounter with the link? there are several wildlife rehabbers listed in various parts of Washington.....

Were you able to get espilac puppy formula? Yogart is good also to mix with the espilac...

If he is a juvy he probably doesn't need to be syring fed...and he may be able to lap the formula from a shallow dish...He may also be able to eat nuts..walnuts, pecans...also fruit and vegies...I've found they love avacado...

The best chance for this little one is to be treated by a rehabber...the sooner you can get him to one the better it will be for the squirrel...He will definetly need meds that you do not have.....

If you don't have the formula yet, here is a homemade reciep for peiolyte...
1 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons sugar
1 quart warm water...
mix it all together and offer it to him warm....refrigerate the rest and use as needed.....this will keep him hydrated for the moment....

Warmth and darkness in a quiet place is best for him at this time....

We have very good people here on TSB and i know they will do all that is needed to help you to help this squirrel......

My prayers are with you and for that baby.....

[red reddy]

1:24 am washington state time: well we are feeding him the pedilyte and he seems more alert, he even is movng his tail and holding it up. and he did take some pedialyte. maybe just maybe:wahoo :wahoo

[Nancy in New York]

I am keeping my fingers crossed this is good news. I have to work but will still check in today, I would like to get you in touch with a rehabber...good luck with this little one...:grouphug

[TinyPaws]

This is very incouraging news....my prayers continue....:thumbsup

[Buddy'sMom]

:Welcome red reddy and :thankyou for helping this little one!

Here are two rehab contacts in Washington -- they are in the Seattle area, which I know is not that close, But we jnow they are current, active contacts and each of them may know someone that is closer to you:

http://www.westsoundwildlife.org/ (across sound from Seattle)

Debbie Cantlon -- rehabber, ex-Zoo employee - Seattle
http://www.snopes.com/photos/animals/finnegan.asp
(A new TSB member brought a squirrel to her last week)

I hope one of these can help you.

:grouphug :Love_Icon :grouphug

[Buddy'sMom]

Posted this in the other thread but wanted to make sure that you saw it:

:Welcome red reddy and :thankyou for helping this little one!

Here are two rehab contacts in Washington -- they are in the Seattle area, which I know is not that close, But we jnow they are current, active contacts and each of them may know someone that is closer to you:

http://www.westsoundwildlife.org/ (across sound from Seattle)

Debbie Cantlon -- rehabber, ex-Zoo employee - Seattle
http://www.snopes.com/photos/animals/finnegan.asp
(A new TSB member brought a squirrel to her last week)

I hope one of these can help you.

:grouphug :Love_Icon :grouphug

[island rehabber]

I am merging both threads here in Emergency to cut down on confusion and because both threads trigger emails to rehabbers.....

[red reddy]

9:00 am great news,he drank some pedialite all by himself, much more alert and i swear i saw the right leg move:jump

[wheezer]

:wahoo

[red reddy]

tuesday 9:30 he is now suckling all by himself on a mixture of baby food (banana) and the milk. all his back toes you can feel that they have a grip. the right leg definately is moving and the left one is trying. i believe he is gonna be ok. his name is jimmie. whether or not i'll be able to turn him free is un determined. wonder what could of happened to him for him to be so bad and then be able to start moving again?

[prncsbabs1]

Happy to hear he is getting better.:tilt

[red reddy]

very good news jimmie is completly healed. hard to believe he went from dragging his lower half to a regular bee bopping around squirrel. i believe he can be released soon. this is not the area where he was found do you think he will be ok. also do they like redwood trees or cedar trees? i also have several large firs but those seem to be occupied. will the other squirrels beat him up. i'm glad to be able to set him free but yet it also so breaks my heart. how will i know its him. oh damm i got way too attached.

[SkwerlGirl]

Can this little guy go to a rehabber for release??