Gnawing at injury! Help!

[ShereeJacobi]

8 month old grey that has constantly been to vet for back injury, yadayadaya. Anyway, he has been in a small cage for 8 days to see if it helps with his gnawing on an injured foot and his back issue. He can't stand up on his hind legs from injury probably caused by MBD last October. 2 weeks or so ago, he got a steroid shot that is suppose to last 30 days and a antibiotic (Covenia) this is to last 10 days. Yesterday he got another antibiotic shot cause his foot hasn't healed completely cause he wouldn't leave it alone (that's why he went in small cage mainly because vet thought him moving all around made his foot tingle which I think she is right). I am also having to put Animax in his ears twice a day. He was getting better and his one foot was healing and his other leg was just about completely healed. I believe he is scratching his better leg with his nails from his injured foot because it drags underneath his belly when he runs around. But, this AM he is biting his better leg or it is being scratched from his nails and appears to be messing with his bad foot again in little cage. Blood all over the cage. I started putting the Animax in his ears last night and I did again this AM. My question is would Animax in his ears frustrate him and make him start gnawing at his foot and running around cage where it injures other leg or what would make him start doing this again? Could vet have made his foot start tingling again from having to mess with him to clean out his ears and give him shot (he is always gased to do this stuff)? I am so frustrated! I just can't get a break with him! So, right now I have him covered up and in the dark so he will be still and leave stuff alone. How long can I do this tho? He eats HHB's and still drinks some formula. I am just at a loss with this hurt foot and him not leaving it alone even with the bitter Yuk on it, and now his other leg again, all the blood! Geez! I think if his sores heal, he will be okay for awhile! :osnap :peace

[djarenspace9]

For now, so he can't do more damage, fashion an e Collar for him so he can't chew on his leg.

I've never been able to buy one small enough for a squirrel, but a vet once showed me how to make one.

I'll see if I can find some directions for you.

[Tickle's Mom]

For now, so he can't do more damage, fashion an e Collar for him so he can't chew on his leg.

I've never been able to buy one small enough for a squirrel, but a vet once showed me how to make one.

I'll see if I can find some directions for you.
I saw one on here recently but danged if I can find it now. :sanp3

[djarenspace9]

Here's a site that shows how to make an ecollar for a sugar glider (close enuff!)

http://www.suzsugargliders.com/ecollar.htm

My vet said the best material is xray sheets, but this one suggests plastic from a notebook.

Hopefully you can get some good advice about the injury, sorry I can't help much with that.

[ShereeJacobi]

For now, so he can't do more damage, fashion an e Collar for him so he can't chew on his leg.

I've never been able to buy one small enough for a squirrel, but a vet once showed me how to make one.

I'll see if I can find some directions for you.
Thanks so much for the info on the ecollar but the vet explained to me he wouldn’t be able to eat or drink with it and I have to agree after seeing it. He has to hold his food with his front paws on the ground and that collar extends past the nose.
He is much better after just a few hours in quiet and dark. No new biting, no more blood. I am worried about him getting neurotic and that was on my mind this am when all this started with the intense gnawing at himself and the cage, just not sure. He has only been in the little cage 8 or so days and can now stand up high on all 4 and that hasn’t been the case in the past. Vet thought his gnawing at foot was from tingling in it because of a back injury at some point and I have to agree. He has had full large room to drag/hop/climb himself around in for over 2 months but just foot thing started when he injured himself in med cage because I had to be gone all day one day and I guess he went coo coo.
When I changed out his bedding this afternoon, he got on the slick window sill and the one leg went right under him and stayed until he got on cloth. Ugh! But still, just seeing him stand up tall on all 4 is wonderful! Maybe someday he will be able to stand on his back legs! I still don’t know if it was the vet messing with him yesterday and got his back hurting or legs tingling that caused this am episode. I just don’t think it’s the Animax in his ears because it was put on last night too and his cage wasn’t covered but he was exhausted after being at vet for 6 hrs cause they have to sedate him with gas to give shot and clean out ears so he slept yesterday early evening. Vet wanted him in real sunlight for at least 30 min a day even in the cold when the sun was shining but when I explained to her he always ran around the cage crazy when outside and then after 3rd day he started gnawing at his foot again she said drop the outdoor sunlight for right now. It has to be his nerves going to his legs/feet and that is why vet said at least 2 weeks immobilized in small cage. Do you think him being kept quiet for a couple of days with only light a couple of hours or do you think I need to try his regular routine of lamp all day with window view tomorrow? I just don’t know what or when to do anything with him. I just wish that foot would heal cause he might be chewing on other leg cause of blood, just not sure about anything! Thanks so much for your help!

[CritterMom]

If he is eating a rodent block of some kind - HHBs, Harlan Teklad, Mazuri, Sunsweet Critter Cube, Regal Rat - ANY of them he is getting the Vitamin D he needs from his food and does not require direct sunlight.

I would absolutely start using Bach's Flower Rescue Remedy on this squirrel. It promotes calm and de-streses and you can simply rub it on areas without fur - ears, paw pads both work. It is available at any health food store and HenrysPets, who also makes a rodent block, sells it as well. Buy the human variety instead of the pet variety. You cannot overdose, it is not toxic, and it will help calm this baby.

[philomycus]

This sound exactly how Rocky's life started -SAME thing. They CAN learn to eat with e-collar on. You may have to hand feed, you may had to midify the way he feeds, but you have got to stop that chewing. an e-collar may just save his life until you can figure out what is going on. With spinal cord injuries, the foot may look completely normal, but may not feel right to him, and he'll keep chewing.

I'm not saying to you should think amputation- it's way too soon, and there are other things you can try. However, you need to think about ALL the possibilites of what you may have to go through with him.

[UDoWhat]

I would definitely try the Rescue Remedy. But in this case, I might not rub it on his ear just because he is having trouble with his ears and they are giving him problems. (Most other cases ear rubs with RR is always good.) Also, is this sweet squirrel on any pain meds from his Vet? If the Rescue Remedy does not bring real relief in 24 hours I would call the Vet and ask for some. For high level pain my Vet gives my animals Buprenex. I feel like this guy needs some relief for a few days. Back/nerve pain is taxing on our/their system. Buprenex is injectable but can be put in the mouth along the gum. Now Buprenex is a "big gun" drug. My Vet believes in pain management and feels that animals heal better when not in pain. She even gives Buprenex for 3 days ,2x per day after spayings. I just wanted to suggest this. You and your Vet know what is best for your squirrel. BTW, the Animax should take care of that ear. It works great. Hope he is better soon.

[NaturesGift]

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk194/natureagift2/1eea179f.jpg
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk194/natureagift2/976b7f4d.jpg

I used a notebook thing.. Works great.. On my second one I glued some fleece on the neck part so it was softer

You don't need it really far over there face.. You can make it short enough they can still eat and drink but make her unable to stick her injured leg in her mouth

[muffinsquirrel]

I think that someone on here, at some time or the other, had a squirrel that had trouble holding it's food. So they fixed up a shish kabob type thing that would hold his food up where he could eat it. This might work for your squirrel while he must wear the collar. I'm sure that someone with a much better memory than mine can give you more information about this. I seem to have a knack for remembering everything......just not much about it!:D

Hope he gets better soon.

muffinsquirrel

[djarenspace9]

I believe that was for Christine...I thought it was INGENIOUS of Legomom. :thumbsup