astra
12-08-2010, 08:38 PM
Please, prepare to read a short novel here.
There are about 9 Fall babies that come to my deck regularly.
One of them - I think, a boy - has always been slightly different...more timid, and overall, on a weaker side...
He got wobbly - he cannot sit up and eat, because he falls over onto his right side. He can sit neither straight up, nor bending over, just falls over. In addition, it looks like he's started getting mange (losing some fur - usual shoulder/neck area).
HE seems to be ok when running or climbing, i.e., doesn't fall over. However, I don't know whether he is truly ok, or is doing his best, really trying hard to appear ok (as prey animals do).
Most of the other squirrels chase him away from food, so he often has to wait for his turn. Although, a couple of times I saw him lunging at some other babies to keep them away from his food pile.
I gave him a small dose of oral Ivermectin (68 micrograms). It is within the safe dosage for squirrels, but then, later I read that it might not be good to give it to those with neuro problems, and now I am worried, really, really worried that I might have exacerbated his neuro problems. Of course, it will wear off as ivermectin leaves his system. I would have to give him the next dose this coming weekend, but now I am very hesitant.
If what I read about ivermectin and neuros, I'd better not give him the next dose. But then, he will lose his fur due to mange and will freeze (Canadian winter here).
So, I don't know what to do.
Maybe, I don't need to do anything?
But i feel like there is something I could do to help this little one, and I am not sure what that is.
I will start making HHBs next week, but don't know how he will accept them. He might ignore them.
I have Vetri-DMG, but don't know how to ensure he takes his daily dose:
1. According to the instructions, it looks like a dose for compromised ones needs to be more than just a drop a day (it says that for compromised dogs and cats [those that need special care] up to 25 lb - 1ml of Vetri-DMG. Ok, squirrels aren't cats and dogs, but still, however many ml/mcg/drops can be given, I cannot give it to him with a syringe.
2. To add it to their water - there is no guarantee he will drink it, especially, now that it freezes within an hour of me putting it outside.
3. To add a drop per nut and give it to him is unreliable as he will either go to stash it, or drop it before eating (which means whatever drop of Vetri on it will be spilled)...
4. As with any meds/supplements, it has to be administered regularly in order to be effective, but all weekdays I leave at 6am most of the time, before they even wake up. And come back after 5pm, when they are gone.
I see them mostly on weekends, or sometimes in the morning, when I leave at 7-7.30 am.
Bringing him inside?... I am afraid to stress him out. I do know that often those that need help sense it and settle in a cage etc. But there is no guarantee. As weak as he is, he seems to me to be such a normal wild little boy, that I am afraid he won't get used to a cage and will be miserable.
Even if I do bring him inside, and, say, he settles ok, how will I release him in the Spring?... Since I am on the 3rd floor, I don't have a backyard. My deck is all I have. I suppose, if worst comes to worst, I could set up his nesting box on the deck... I don't think, I can just let him out like that: he won't have a nest, he will need time to adjust to the outside again...etc etc etc
There is also a sad chance that he's got raccoon roundworm (we have raccoons around and there has been raccoon poop in the area). If that's the case, then, it might be deadly.
I also don't have a vet - I am in ON. Of course, I could start calling all vets and see who would see him, but that's not guaranteed. So, i say I don't have a vet lined up.
I am constantly thinking about this little one. Every time I see his shaky little butt with that thinning mangy fur, my heart aches for him.
Please, share all your thoughts and suggestions. There must be something I could do for him.
And if you think there is nothing I can do... please say so, and, hopefully, I will try to accept that (can't promise I will be able to)
:thankyou
There are about 9 Fall babies that come to my deck regularly.
One of them - I think, a boy - has always been slightly different...more timid, and overall, on a weaker side...
He got wobbly - he cannot sit up and eat, because he falls over onto his right side. He can sit neither straight up, nor bending over, just falls over. In addition, it looks like he's started getting mange (losing some fur - usual shoulder/neck area).
HE seems to be ok when running or climbing, i.e., doesn't fall over. However, I don't know whether he is truly ok, or is doing his best, really trying hard to appear ok (as prey animals do).
Most of the other squirrels chase him away from food, so he often has to wait for his turn. Although, a couple of times I saw him lunging at some other babies to keep them away from his food pile.
I gave him a small dose of oral Ivermectin (68 micrograms). It is within the safe dosage for squirrels, but then, later I read that it might not be good to give it to those with neuro problems, and now I am worried, really, really worried that I might have exacerbated his neuro problems. Of course, it will wear off as ivermectin leaves his system. I would have to give him the next dose this coming weekend, but now I am very hesitant.
If what I read about ivermectin and neuros, I'd better not give him the next dose. But then, he will lose his fur due to mange and will freeze (Canadian winter here).
So, I don't know what to do.
Maybe, I don't need to do anything?
But i feel like there is something I could do to help this little one, and I am not sure what that is.
I will start making HHBs next week, but don't know how he will accept them. He might ignore them.
I have Vetri-DMG, but don't know how to ensure he takes his daily dose:
1. According to the instructions, it looks like a dose for compromised ones needs to be more than just a drop a day (it says that for compromised dogs and cats [those that need special care] up to 25 lb - 1ml of Vetri-DMG. Ok, squirrels aren't cats and dogs, but still, however many ml/mcg/drops can be given, I cannot give it to him with a syringe.
2. To add it to their water - there is no guarantee he will drink it, especially, now that it freezes within an hour of me putting it outside.
3. To add a drop per nut and give it to him is unreliable as he will either go to stash it, or drop it before eating (which means whatever drop of Vetri on it will be spilled)...
4. As with any meds/supplements, it has to be administered regularly in order to be effective, but all weekdays I leave at 6am most of the time, before they even wake up. And come back after 5pm, when they are gone.
I see them mostly on weekends, or sometimes in the morning, when I leave at 7-7.30 am.
Bringing him inside?... I am afraid to stress him out. I do know that often those that need help sense it and settle in a cage etc. But there is no guarantee. As weak as he is, he seems to me to be such a normal wild little boy, that I am afraid he won't get used to a cage and will be miserable.
Even if I do bring him inside, and, say, he settles ok, how will I release him in the Spring?... Since I am on the 3rd floor, I don't have a backyard. My deck is all I have. I suppose, if worst comes to worst, I could set up his nesting box on the deck... I don't think, I can just let him out like that: he won't have a nest, he will need time to adjust to the outside again...etc etc etc
There is also a sad chance that he's got raccoon roundworm (we have raccoons around and there has been raccoon poop in the area). If that's the case, then, it might be deadly.
I also don't have a vet - I am in ON. Of course, I could start calling all vets and see who would see him, but that's not guaranteed. So, i say I don't have a vet lined up.
I am constantly thinking about this little one. Every time I see his shaky little butt with that thinning mangy fur, my heart aches for him.
Please, share all your thoughts and suggestions. There must be something I could do for him.
And if you think there is nothing I can do... please say so, and, hopefully, I will try to accept that (can't promise I will be able to)
:thankyou