Found paralyzed chipmunk - need advice

[Baxied]

While running this afternoon my eye caught movement and I saw a chipmunk pulling himself along with his front legs. I caught him just as he/she was about to go into a hole.

He is peeing (all over himself) and pooping which is great!!! I am hydrating first and have fox valley to start him on later. I have put a call in to my rehabber friend, but in the meantime I thought that I would get advice here. You guys and girls are the best!

I have pictures, but I am waiting for hubby to stop working so I can upload them onto the computer. I have noticed the little guy is moving the left rear leg a little but not the right one. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[Alaskan Squirrel Cam]

Hopefully, one of the rehabbers who has a Veterinarian ear will answer your question. Nonetheless, good on you trying to save this little one.

bob
:thumbsup

[CritterMom]

Warm, hydrated, fed, all good - if your rehabber friend can hook you up with a way to get him an injection of dexamethazone within 24 hours it MAY help the leg if it is the result of an injury and he has not actually severed the spine.

These little buggers have amazing recuperative powers - we have a hit and run squirrel on here that was completely paralyzed a few months ago and the woman who is working with her thinks she may be able to be released next spring because she has made so much progress. He may just need plenty of time away from predators and with good food to get there.

[Baxied]

Okay, spoke with the rehabber, and I am not happy. I have helped her quite a bit lately with feeding an osprey twice a day, and all she said was to check toe response and anal tone. Her last words in the message were "good luck with him". UGH!!! At this rate I will NEVER get my rehabbing license.

Enough ranting.

I think that the little one is a girl. Toe response on the left rear foot was okay but not so much on the right. I am assuming since she is passing normal looking poops that she has anal tone?:dono I do think that she has no bladder control as she is always wet on her underside from leakage. Also, she weighs in at 56 grams, and her teeth are in fine working order as evidenced by the blood on my finger!:)

[CritterMom]

Don't be too sure of the loss of bladder control - she may just be unable to get her tummy out of the pee because she doesn't get around properly.

[Baxied]

You're right Crittermom. I am hoping that she does have bladder control. Were you referring to Brighteyes earlier? I have been reading her thread to see if I can get some pointers.

[Baxied]

Excellent news!! While giving the little boy (definitely a boy) a bath this morning he kicked his rear right leg!!:wahoo He bit the crap out of me too!!:jump I've started him on Fox Valley, and he ate a little but not too much. I'll keep plugging away and offering other foods as well.

I wonder what happened to him. He was in the middle of the woods and has no marks whatsoever on him. I wonder if a rat snake grabbed him and started to squeeze but let go as I was coming along. :dono

[CritterMom]

Perhaps...but all of my chippie babies are out now - my yard is FILLED with them, little cuties, and what I have noticed is that the babies climb VERY HIGH into the trees, something you rarely see the adults do, They can all climb but you seldom see them up in a tree...I wonder if these little idiots see all of the grey squirrels and assume they should be there too?? I have no idea if this is a chippie thing, but a number of times recently I have seeen what I thought were my little red squirrels 40 feet up a tree and it turned out to be a juvie chippie! He could have fallen...

[Jackie in Tampa]

:thumbsup yippie...sounds like maybe getting better:thumbsup
:Love_Icon good vibes to you both!

[atlantasquirrelgirl]

Sometimes, they just need a little time and some physical therapy. Let him roam free in a safe, quite, flat space where he can get some traction on the floor. Looping your fingers around his abdomen like a sling, try and to hold him up so he can get those feet under him. and let his back feet touch the ground as they usually should. You'll need to crawl around with him and hold him up as he is walking around, but will encourage him to try and use those feet rather than pulling himself with his arms. Hope this helps.

[Baxied]

Crittermom, maybe. He is definitely a juvie and I didn't see anything. I am very alert when running like this - too many poisonous snakes almost stepped on.:eek:

ASG, I will try the sling thing. I noticed this afternoon that he is holding his tail up whereas yesterday it was dragging. Also, when he tried to get away from me he was using his legs more. My goodness the booger draws blood every time I try to do something with him. I keep thinking that I have a good hold on him, and darn if he doesn't somehow get his needle sharp teeth into me!!!!

JIT, thanks for the good vibes, lets hope they continue to help him improve!!!

[Baxied]

Sadly, I have to report that the little chipper died this afternoon. I had thought that he might be able to come back from his injuries, but it was not to be. I still think that he had kidney injuries. His urine was stinky and so pungent that when I had it on my hands I could still smell it after I washed them.

Thank you to everyone who posted.

:sad RIP sweet baby chipmunk:sad

[Twi_prime]

Sadly, I have to report that the little chipper died this afternoon. I had thought that he might be able to come back from his injuries, but it was not to be. I still think that he had kidney injuries. His urine was stinky and so pungent that when I had it on my hands I could still smell it after I washed them.

Thank you to everyone who posted.

:sad RIP sweet baby chipmunk:sad

Sorry to hear it, Baxied. :(

[UDoWhat]

I am so sorry you lost the little chippie. You gave him a much better end than he would have had. He was loved, cared for, and safe. Thank you for caring for him. Rest little one.:Love_Icon

[mpetys]

Baxied, I'm so sorry this little one did not make it. Thank you for helping him and giving him the dignity of compassion, care, food and shelter.

Michele