Help! Sick Adult Squirrel that I had released

[fl_shasta]

I have a squirrel who has been out on his on for about 8 months. He had been missing for 3 1/2 days. I just found him in my shed. He is very sick. He is skinny and appears to have a swollen gland on the side of his neck. His eye is leaky and he can barely squeak. I don't know if it's from weakness or if it sounds raspy like pneumonia. He drank 3 baby syringes of Ebsilac. He was moving around the room trying to find a way out and then was chewing at the bars of the cages, so he has some energy, but now he is sleeping in the cage and seems kinda lethargic. I have 250 mg Amoxycillin capsules available, but I don't know if this is the correct antibiotic or how much to give him. HELP!

[island rehabber]

hi fl shasta! I"m so sorry your released baby is sick. We have some excellent members on your side of Florida and someone may be able to help you in person -- but I"ll do my best from here, right now! Definitely keep him indoors, dark and quiet place away from kids & other animals. Stress should be minimized if at all possible. It was a good thing that you gave him the Esbilac; you may also want to hydrate him with Pedialyte or a homemade solution, because he is most likely very dehydrated.
The lump could be an abcess -- it's hard to say without seeing it. Is there a hole in the middle? Could it be a bot fly warble? If you can post a picture that would help immensely.

[fl_shasta]

Thank you so much for the quick reply. There doesn't appear to be any opening in his skin at all. Just his eye is puffy, and that same side of his neck is bigger than the other side. If you feel around there is just a hard area from the jaw to the side of his neck.

[fl_shasta]

I took a few pics but have not been able to figure out how to post them. It says to enter picture url. Sorry, but I am clueless as to where to find that. :/ Anyway, in he mean time I was able to get a hold of Jackie in Tampa. I am so thankful that she is able to help me again. We think that he may have gotten into a fight or some animal got to him. I found a puncture wound behind his front right leg. He ate a pecan and drank some water out of a small cup, which makes me feel a lot better. I will keep an eye on him throughout the night and if he is not improving will get him the proper antibiotics.

I am so thankful that the squirrel board is here to save me again!

[island rehabber]

Could very well be an abcess which hasn't come to a head yet. Tumors aren't very common in squirrels, I don't think. Is the Clavamox the only antibiotic available to you? I would rather see him on Baytril or Sulfatrim for an abcess. Do you have a vet who would give you some ?

[island rehabber]

You're in touch with Jackie? You're good to go -- she's one of the very very best! :bowdown :thumbsup:thumbsup

[SquirrelNut]

good luck to you!

i was going to tell you to check for puncture wounds. poor baby!

hope all goes well!

[4skwerlz]

Could this be an overgrown tooth? Can he chew normally?

[fl_shasta]

He had been eating 4-5 shelled pecans, 1-2 shelled almonds, a piece of fresh corn and occasionally a blueberry every night when he would come to visit. Those are the only things I could ever get him to eat. He has always been a picky eater, but he has been eating them with no problem. But the lump is way back and low if it is a bad tooth. I did wonder myself if it could be a tooth problem just because of the area that is swollen. I tried to open his mouth to look. He opened it a little and then made a little weak sounding squeal. He has been outside for about 8 months though so he maybe just didn't like what I was doing. If it did turn out to be a tooth, would it be treated with just antibiotics also?

p.s. he has gotten real skinny in the last 2 months. Jackie said they do usually get skinny during mating season though.

[atlantasquirrelgirl]

Sometimes maloclusion can result in a tooth growing towards the back of the throat. You need to get help ASAP to get a look back there. If so, that tooth needs to be trimmed. It would explain why he's skinny, as he could not eat very well.

[atlantasquirrelgirl]

Checking on an updated. Jackie, did you get a look at this one?

[Jackie in Tampa]

Susan picked up meds...Baytril, Metacam, syringes and some FValley and hazelnuts...if he isn't better tomorrow, I am going to ck on him.
Prayers going to him and Fl_Shasta.
Hoping for a good update.:Love_Icon

[Gina]

Praying for your little guy, will check back to see how he is doing. Jackie is the BEST, if there is a way to get this guy better, she will :grouphug .

PS, what is his name?

[fl_shasta]

His name is Rocky. I think I finally figured out how to post a picture. He is still not feeling well, but Jackie and I are working on it. I just pray that he doesn't have a tumor. Here are some pictures. He is the sweetest boy.

This is a pic taken yesterday
http://flic.kr/p/8ggCig

This is a picture from February
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14304573@N08/4767292631/

and this is a picture of him at 12 weeks old
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14304573@N08/4767916836/

[Jackie in Tampa]

:wave123
I see red X's:dono

[atlantasquirrelgirl]

I am still concerned about maloclusion. Antibiotics will only help with a portion of that issue, and if left untreated, can kill him. Can you get him over to Jackie so she can help you get a look inside his mouth?

[fl_shasta]

Yes, she is trying to arrange it so that we can get in to see her vet. He has a lump the size of a ping pong ball starting straight below his ear hole and ending at his shoulder bone. It is impeding his ability to use that leg fully. It is a rock hard lump not squishy or movable at all. It is not loose in the skin where you can see it. Maybe if he didn't have hair you could see a bit of a lump, but when you palpate it you can feel the size of it. He has absolutely no openings on his skin at all. His breath does not smell at all. Her vet mentioned that it could be an abcess or a cyst, but if it is it is from the inside and it sure is awfully hard. I thought those things were movable and a bit fluid. As soon as she calls me back I will be taking him. In the mean time I am trying to feed him formula as often as he will take it. He won't eat or drink anything else. He has had 3 doses of Baytril 1.5 cc so far. The lump has not changed in size at all.

[fl_shasta]

Leaving for vet now

[Secret Squirrel]

Poor baby, Gods speed little one....let's hope for the best. :grouphug
Biting my fake nails until your next post.

[Jackie in Tampa]

vet wanted ME to drain it...ugh...on his throat..
too scared...:sanp3
if we had no choice, I would have...but we have VET:thumbsup

[Ronda]

Prayers for Rocky. :grouphug for all his caregivers.

[atlantasquirrelgirl]

vet wanted ME to drain it...ugh...on his throat..
too scared...:sanp3
if we had no choice, I would have...but we have VET:thumbsup

Would probably be less stressful if they can sedate him, and they can then get a good look at it.

Sending prayers down your way for a good outcome.

[Jackie in Tampa]

Hardest damn abcess I have ever felt...but the doc drained it!:alright.gif
almost 3ccs of yuck...
This little boy was so good and his momma too...no sedation needed...over in seconds...
all good! I feel so much better!:thumbsup
Rocky is so special...what a sweetie!:Love_Icon
I love this vet...$32...
I know local vets that would have charged $150 for the same visit!
I am sure he feels better...his neck was tight, it was a big booboo:shakehead
Hugs Rocky qwerl!:Love_Icon

[Secret Squirrel]

Good news :thumbsup
Now what is the outcome for him ? Will he stay at home to recover ?
I am sure he is stressed out with all the excitment...sounds like he was a good boy. Smooches to him
XOXOXOXOXOX

[atlantasquirrelgirl]

Thanks for the update, Jackie. I was worried about this one. I know he feels so much better now to have that pressure off his throat.

[Jackie in Tampa]

just heard from Susan...he is already up and jumping around!...
saw himself in the mirror and bumped his head trying to get the other sq.
that sounds alot better than he looked at noon!:thumbsup
he is a sick little feller...but already feels relief.
She is keeping him hydrated and he likes his formula!:alright.gif
I think in a few days ...he'll be eating the house!
I guess he'll stay as long as he will, ya know how a wild male is in July....:shakehead
He is in good hands too, Susan is wonderful...
I might say he's spoiled:)
get well Rocky:Love_Icon

[fl_shasta]

A very large one! She drained alot from it. He is feeling much better now. Moving around more. He must have been in extreme pain. :( I am so happy that it was only an abscess and am hopeful that the antibiotics (Baytril) that he's on will completely finish off any infection that may be left in there. Thanks for all of the help and the kind words.

[SquirrelNut]

amazing no sedation!!! more amazing the price! in california, it would have been a few hundred!

what do they think caused it? a bite?

thanks so much for helping him. without your help, he would not have made it!