Wild with a cut eye lid

[SkweeksMom]

It is supper windy here in WV today so my wilds didn't come eat as early as usual. I just looked out and one of my fur babies was eating seeds and I noticed he has a nasty vertical laceration across his right eye lid. It also looks like he may have something going on with the top of his head. He was eating and would rub at it with his paw then resume eating. He is active and mobile but being a prey animal I am guessing he would have to be pretty bad off to slow down and let it be known he is hurt. Is there anything I can do to offer him assistance other than keeping food and water out so he doesn't have to forage as far? I am afraid of infection or that the eye it's self is damaged.

Helps please??? :dono :dono :dono

[SkweeksMom]

She (it looks like a female) is sitting on the ledge of a nest box outside my office window. My kids let the dogs out and it scared her from the food. She is plump and healthy other than the cut but, her plumpness has me worried she may be having babies soon .... just wanted to add this to my list of worries. My heart is breaking. I want to help so bad but just don't know what to do.

[SkweeksMom]

These aren't great, there is a screen door in the way.

[astra]

looks like the beginning of mange to me. It often starts around the eyes, forehead, between the ears, spreading to neck and shoulders... looks like she is losing fur on her face as well?...
Most likely, mange, especially, if she is scratching so much.

Mange is treatable in the wild.
Henryspets sells tablets - worked great for me. One tablet per squirrel once a week three weeks in a row.

You can also get ivermectin paste for horses 1.87% ivermectin (can be called Panomec, Bimectin etc). The dose is the size of an uncooked grain of rice, put on a nut. For more details on dosing the paste you can contact Pierre. Again, once a week, 2-3 weeks

If you have a good vet, you can get liquid ivermectin, But I don't know how to dose this one.

...keep looking at the pic... still looks like mange to me...:thinking
maybe, experienced rehabbers will have other opinions...

[SkweeksMom]

Thanks Astra. I kind of thought the same thing at first but there is an actual cut on her eye lid and sore that is open on her head. That was what made me think maybe she had gotten hurt and was just rubbing all the hair off with her paws. She does rub at they eye a lot.

After your post I saw that there is a whole mange thread running right now. I will continue to follow that as well. :thankyou :thankyou

[astra]

she might have cut herself while scratching so intensely...:thinking

[Scooterzmom]

I've always seen mange starting moe like at the back of the head on mine here but it could be that, yes. However, let's not forget one thing... if she got pounced on by some other animal or even another squirrel it could be a claw cut - those occur most on top of the head and on the face when they fight. The cut on top of the head might itch badly while it begins to heal and she would scratch at it a lot, or even if it stings she would be scratching.

So, I don't know but in such a case I probably wouldn't take a chance and treat also to prevent infection. Someone else here might be able to advise you, or a vet could tell you maybe? Can you call one and get an answer that way?

If you do give Baytril as an AB: what I've been doing is putting a bit of peanut butter on a walnut (no shell) and putting the AB on it, then putting another walnut on top to make like a little sandwhich; it hides the bad taste of the Baytril. I've had no trouble with my wild Hershey taking her meds every day for the past 3 days that way. I toss it in front of her and she grabs that thing without hesitation. I could put it inside a ball of avocado I guess, she's crazy about avocado.

[SkweeksMom]

Thanks for all the help and support. I am hoping she comes to eat today and I can get a better picture.

[UDoWhat]

Have you seen her today yet? It does look like mange, but my backyard babies are like what Scooterzmom described. Starting on their backs and around tails. I know, however, it can start around ears, eyes, etc. To me it does look maybe like a combination of being attacked or grabbed on head and mange as a result of stress. Hard to tell in the picture. Does the head injury look to be healing or still aggravated? Is the eye cut dry or seeping any fluid?See if you can get any more details and we will know better how to proceed with intervention if needed. :thinking

Marty, Licensed Maryland Master Wildlife Rehabilitator

[SkweeksMom]

I put out lots of yummies today but no sign of her. The kids and dogs were out a lot and that may have kept her away. They usually come in the morning so maybe I'll get to see her tomorrow before I have to work. Keeping my fingers crossed that she is okay out there. It just breaks my heart to not be able to help.

[astra]

It just breaks my heart to not be able to help.
you could give her ivermectin - at least, that will take care of mange. If it is mange, you will see it progressing.

[SkweeksMom]

So it's okay to put it out for all the wilds that come eat? I will pick some up at the feed store tomorrow. If it's okay I will put it out on walnut and peanut butter sammys for all the wilds. Is it dangerous if one gets more than a single dose or if I have to dose over a couple of days since she may not come every day and I am not home all day to monitor??

[UDoWhat]

It has been my experience that you should be VERY careful with Ivermectin. I would not advise putting out for all wilds. Must be monitored carefully. Must be dosed according to what product you get, approximate animal weight, etc. Usually only 2 doses at least 2 weeks a part. Hold on before giving dose tomorrow. Please call or PM me tomorrow. Overdose can kill animals.
Marty

[astra]

So it's okay to put it out for all the wilds that come eat? I will pick some up at the feed store tomorrow. If it's okay I will put it out on walnut and peanut butter sammys for all the wilds. Is it dangerous if one gets more than a single dose or if I have to dose over a couple of days since she may not come every day and I am not home all day to monitor??
yes, it is dangerous if one gets more than a single dose.:nono :shakehead
Ivermectin is very potent and an overdose kills the animal.
That's why, if you look through threads on ivermectin, you will notice very detailed discussions on dosing it.

It must be monitored. You need to monitor to conduct the full treatment, otherwise, it won't be effective.
The treatment is usually 3 weeks. The dose is given once a week (e.g, if you give it on MOnday, the next dose should be next monday, not saturday or friday before, but Monday). If you miss a week, the effectiveness will be lessened.

Rarely people can be home all day to monitor. You might have to pick times/days you are home, and wait for her.
What might help - if she comes when you are home, feed her. Make sure she gets some food. Squirrels are creatures of habit and routine, so she will try to show up at your place the same time.
E.g., when I had to treat my wilds, I picked weekends, because that was the only time I could stay and wait for them.

You cannot put out dosed nuts unmonitored - not only one squirrel can eat all dosed nuts, getting fatally overdosed, but also you won't know which squirrel got it and which didn't. Inconsistent treatment will be ineffective.

Overdosing Ivermectin is fatal.
Send a pm to Pierre - she will help you dose the horse paste.:bowdown

Also, ivermectin shouldn't be administered to neuro squirrels, because it will exacerbate their neuro problems. Only topical Revolution for neuros.
If you have a neuro squirrel and you might not know that, if it gets a dosed nut, its condition will get worse.

If you are not sure - keep asking questions! People will be happy to help!:)

[UDoWhat]

Yes, as I said, please speak with someone who is experienced with Ivermectin dosing before giving tomorrow. I have used liquid before and also know how to dose the paste. My Vet has instructed me on how to use both. I have not used the pills but can get Vet help with them too. Point here , pm someone, anyone, before using Ivermectin :sanp3 Don't mean to panic. Just Ivermectin can be fatal if overdosed. Willing to help if needed.

[SkweeksMom]

Thank you so much! I will do nothing until I have spoken to a trained rehabber :wave123 :wave123

I am certainly not about causing any harm to my wild babies. :thankyou

[SkweeksMom]

Good news... hubby saw our little girl today and reports that the eye looks better, swelling is down, she ate well and he didn't see any additional signs of hair loss. The eye was open more and clear (not weeping or cloudy) :wahoo :wahoo :wahoo

If the weather that is being called for hits I will have the chance to be home tomorrow and look out for her myself. I hope the snow isn't too bad and that she will be able to get to our deck to eat.

Thanks guys as always. The support and kindness still just blows my mind.:thankyou

[UDoWhat]

:jump Great news!!!!!! :jump

Marty

[Scooterzmom]

YIPPEE!!!! So glad to see she's improving! :wott She's lucky to have you looking out for her. You're an angel. :bowdown

[SkweeksMom]

Oh good good news. My injured girl has moved into the nest box just outside my living room windows. Hubby has seen her on the deck eating during the day the past few days and reported she was looking better but I hadn't seen her myself. This morning she is out on the ledge of the next box and the eye looks almost healed. There is no sign of mange just healing cuts and on her head. Also, no sign of babies but I am hopeful since she is just outside the window. How wonderful it would be to look at at baby skwerlz peeking from the nest box.
:wott :wott :wott

[astra]

Oh good good news. My injured girl has moved into the nest box just outside my living room windows. Hubby has seen her on the deck eating during the day the past few days and reported she was looking better but I hadn't seen her myself. This morning she is out on the ledge of the next box and the eye looks almost healed. There is no sign of mange just healing cuts and on her head. Also, no sign of babies but I am hopeful since she is just outside the window. How wonderful it would be to look at at baby skwerlz peeking from the nest box.
:wott :wott :wott
:thumbsup :crazy :alright.gif

[SkweeksMom]

I am finally getting to see her boo boos up close. She is pretty scared and scabbed up so I am thinking she was grabbed or in a fight. I am just so happy that she is settled in close by where I can see her. The little one that follows her around tried to get in the nest box this morning and was promptly chased a way.

[UDoWhat]

Hi Sqweeksmom, :wave123 So glad you were able to see her up close and get such great pictures. She does look to be on the mend. I'm wondering if maybe your little girl might be pregnant? :thinking The reason I say that is because often when a female squirrel begins to evict (or not allow)other squirrels from their nest, they are getting ready for babies. It is the right time of year for around here and she looks plump in the middle to me. Watch for signs! OR she could be a plump, grumpy, female squirrel wanting to be left alone in her nest. LOL :rotfl That can happen too. :dono Keep us posted.

[SkweeksMom]

I was thinking the same thing. She just moved into this nest box and the really great part is I can see the opening from my window. When she was on the ledge earlier today I thought I noticed nipples but not prominent like she was nursing. Do they start to get fuller when they are ready to give birth? She stays near the box unless she is hiding nuts or on the deck getting food. How totally awesome it would be to see little baby faces peeking from the box (it has a ledge inside so they can perch and peek out). :multi :multi :multi

[UDoWhat]

:jump Didn't want to get too excited, but heck, why not!:wahoo
Ok, I'll settle down. To answer your question I believe you would be able to see her nipples if she is pregnant. If she is nursing yes, yes, yes, nipples would look like what my friends and I call "dinner plates". The nippies are bigger yet and the fur around them looks sparse or smoothed down, not fluffy as usual. Time will tell! Keep us posted.
Marty :crazy