Baby with broken leg

[jkp]

Hi all
Found nest of 5 babies (gray squirrel) 1 dead....two on the ground below, and unable to return to the nest...No mother to be observed anywhere. All in distress, probably why they started climbing around and some fell to the ground. Managed to get all 4 live ones rounded up, and all seem to be happy to be reuinted and we have given them some pedialyte, and eqilac (puppy formula) we believe that they are probably 2 months old give or take a week or two.
Emergency is one seems to have a broken hind leg...it hangs limp, but no obvious break.
I am looking for a rehab rescue person, but I am having trouble finding one that can take them. Should I attempt to splint the leg while I am looking. It has maybe been broken since this morning or last night when we believe this particular one (Chester) fell from the tree.
Any help is greatly appreciated !

[lizharrell1]

I can't tell where you are from, but please just hang on and a rehabber will be with you shortly. Does the baby seem to be in any obvious pain? And hopefully a moderator will be on here soon to remove your phone number (can't be too sure these days). We have a lot of excellent rehabbers (and many aren't rehabbers but have a WORLD of experience) Just hang in there and thank you for caring for these babies.

[Legomom]

Do not attempt to splint the leg. He will most likely chew/rip at whatever you do & if the break is jagged, it won't heal properly. Keep doing what you're doing, rehydrate, esbilac & heat. Nice & quiet.

I think you are in the Atlanta area...correct me if I'm wrong. One of our board members is a rehabber in Atlanta. I have private messaged her with the link to your post. Hopefully, she will check in tonight. :grouphug

[atlantasquirrelgirl]

You have received good info so far. It's hard to keep a leg in a splint with these little chew monsters.

I'll send you my number. Give me a call tomorrow and we'll fiind the person closest to you.

[Legomom]

:bowdown Thank you, ASG! :bowdown

JKP, please, take her up on her offer. You're little one needs experienced care as soon as possible. :thankyou

[SkwerlGirl]

Yay! Did she get him?? :thumbsup

[atlantasquirrelgirl]

He is going to make arrangements with his vet to have the leg x-rayed, and make a determination about releasability. If he runs into a snag with being seen by his vet, I gave him the name of several rehabbers closer to his side of town that can examine the leg.

He will call me back if he is not able to make any progress.

[Legomom]

:thumbsup

[jkp]

Thanks to all for help and advice !

I took the baby (thought he had a broken leg) to my vet for x-rays and splinting. After a while of observation, she concluded that sadly "gromit" was paralyzed from the waist down.....no rear leg function, no tail movement, and no signs that he could pee, or poop. We had her humanely put him to sleep. My kids were crushed, but I did not want to bring him back home hoping against all reason and risk that he would have a slow and painful decline. Very sad about it.
The other 3.... "Bones", "Big Hairy", "Gromit 2" are doing very well.

:thinking
NEW PROBLEM....all three are male,...and there seems to be some mistaking their private parts for Mom's nipple....two of them have a fair degree of swelling down there. ANY IDEAS ON THAT ?

Thanks again !

[psychobird]

you can try to put a tube sock on them, sometimes putting vicks on them helps, but i think that stings them.
i usually put them each in a lightweight breathable sack that i get my mealworms in, and keep them together, but i'm sure you wouldn't have them.
if all else fails you may need to separate them

[gs1]

I'm so sorry about Gromit :sad - some paralyzed squirrels do very well but it would depend on the degree of injury - and probably would need to be taken care of by an experienced rehabber.:grouphug (if they couldn't pee for example the rehabber would be able to get the pee out.)

It can be very dangerous if they're sucking on each other because the tip at the head of the penis can scab over and then no pee could come out.

this has happened a lot lately.

first thought is to feed more - ofcourse - that depends on how much you are feeding and what a rehabber thinks you should feed depending on the weight of the squirrels. Hopefully when they're more stable they'll stop or you'll need to separate them when not supervised.

some people use socks with the foot cut out as a barrier - you could try it.

all the best.:grouphug

[4skwerlz]

You can try a tube sock. Cut a small hole in the toe for the head, then close up the open end with a piece of string. If that doesn't work, you might have to separate them except while you are watching to stop this behavior.

Nursing on each other can be a sign they are going too long between feedings. It can become very serious, as the penis can swell and close up, preventing urination, so do whatever it takes to stop this.

Watch carefully for any scabbing on the tip of the penis, or excessive swelling that can prevent urination.

Sorry about the baby you lost.:grouphug

[jkp]

One of them has a scabbed over penis, and his abdomen is distended around the base of the penis...Please Help !

[gs1]

it's very serious. I'll do an emergency thread for you - if you haven't done it already.

I think i remember that you should soak it with warm water - the scab and then gently try to peel it back - if all else fails maybe a warm water bath to help it soften ....

but i need to go and read some other threads about this ... and try to get someone who knows something - NOT ME!!! - be back soon.

[gs1]

http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=19144&highlight=penis


I'm not sure about bathing him in sugar water or using hemorrhoid cream but otherwise this thread is good too.

http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=18997&highlight=penis

[muffinsquirrel]

Either wet a cotton ball (really wet) with warm water and hold this on his penis to soften and remove the scab, or hold him halfway in a bowl of warn water to loosen it. Just be sure to keep his head out of the water, and be sure to dry him well afterwards. After you get the scab off, you could put a very light film of vaseline on the penis, to keep another scab from forming. And be sure to either separate them, or make the little sock sacks for them.

muffinsquirrel

[gs1]

thanks muffin!!!

I just remembered that i should have said - lower body bath only!!!

:D

[psychobird]

oh how i hate it when they do that, i have had ones that do it to themselves also

[JLM27]

Here is an illustration of soaking the baby:

94608

94609

In warm, but not hot, water. Could take 30 - 40 minutes.

[muffinsquirrel]

Hehe - that is one mad, evil looking squirrel you are soaking there! You can just see him thinking "I'm gonna remember this when I get bigger and have bigger teeth!" Luckily, they forgive and forget, or no one on this board would be able to use a keyboard due to lack of fingers!!:rotfl :rotfl :rotfl


muffinsquirrel

[gs1]

:D he is adorable though!!!!

Thanks JLM!!! now I have a picture to show other people whenever I again recommend a half bath ... no getting water in the lungs!!!!

JKP!!! please let us know what is happening!!! Too much back up of pee could also mean an infection in the next couple of hours ...

we've got some information that your vet could use to prescribe ...sorry I forget what the medication is ...

but i'm sure your vet would be happy to have some suggestions especially if he's not squirrel super experienced - which so few are - unfortunately -

but fortunately!!!! you have us!!!:D

:thumbsup

[gs1]

ok ... the first link I gave you .. this one ...

http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=19144&highlight=penis

there is a suggestion by PBluejay on Sulfatrim; now, i don't know the dosage and if there are other suggestions but it's a start.

Please let us know how he's doing. :grouphug



According to Wild Mammal Babies, Sulfatrim is "an excellent choice to treat for enteric and urinary tract infection." Is there a possibility your baby is nursing himself (since you separated them and the issue continues)? I don't know what kinmd of ointment you're using, but some ointments should not be applied to body orifices as they can cause, rather than eliminate, irritation. I'd use plain old petroleum jelly. Good luck!