paralyzed squirrel care

[crystal timber]

My squirrel timber was electrocuted 9 days ago he stopped using his back legs or moving his tail I brought him to the vet today and she told me there is no hope for him to ever walk again also he has gotten urine scold. Timber has moved his legs a little bit and today when I pull the end of his tail he moves it. Is there hope? Can paralyzed squirrels still move at all? Any help is so appreciated thank yoi

[NaturesGift]

My squirrel timber was electrocuted 9 days ago he stopped using his back legs or moving his tail I brought him to the vet today and she told me there is no hope for him to ever walk again also he has gotten urine scold. Timber has moved his legs a little bit and today when I pull the end of his tail he moves it. Is there hope? Can paralyzed squirrels still move at all? Any help is so appreciated thank yoi

If he moves his tail and feet he is not fully paralyzed

[equine623]

It depends on what the circumstances were when he moved. If it was actual voluntary movement versus just a reflex pathway.

Keeping him at a comfortable temperature, giving him a good diet, keeping him clean and keeping stress to a minimum will give him the chance to recover if he can. He might, he might not.

Did you take him to the vet right after the electrocution happened? I'm assuming you are treating the urine scald and making changes in his housing and care to make sure it doesn't happen again. Did the vet check for deep pain response? That is often a good indication of the prognosis for recovery.

[Tickle's Mom]

I have a paralyzed squirrel, Tickle. She gets baths daily - no exception - and I change her bedding a minimum of twice a day. She is in a low cage so as not to further injure herself as she can still climb and zip around like you would not believe. :alright.gif Her cage is lined with a lambswool "carpet", available at Wal-Mart for ten bucks, cut to size and withstands repeated washings. I bought six. She now has a lucite "nest box" as she tore to shreds all of the cloth ones lovingly made for her by Anne. I tried a store bought cube but she got tangled up in that - literally hanging by her back legs/tail so you must be very careful Timber cannot get tangled in anything!!

I also have fleece squares for her to nestle in, which she loves. Diet is very very important as are the daily baths. Tickle is paralyzed due to poor nutrition - she has MBD - BUT, she has shown some improvement since I got her Thanksgiving of 2010. It is a long process to recovery but she leads a wonderful squirrelly life in captivity - her paralysis is not an issue for her :D

[Rescue04]

We had one like this, we her in a long 40 gallon aquarium. We lined the floor with cedar chips and changed it every day. We avoided any foods with high acid content, but god love us she had to have her "boo berries" (blueberries), p.s. - she loved the frozen ones! I made her a wood house, for her to hide in - I made it tall enough where she could not climb it (I made it out of hardened oak). We gave her a bath every other day, but cleaned her through out the day with baby wipes - always a plenty in our house.

She started out with a back injury, then fell and broke her back on a ledge when we were cleaning her (the door beel spooked her). She never had any health issues - infections...ect. When she was about 9 months old she passed away, we think her heart gave out. She was so loving to us, and loved to be held - she loved to lay on my chest and watch football with me when i had the time!

[island rehabber]

crystal timber, your love for this little squirrel is obvious, and nobody would deny that fact. But are you prepared to lead the kind of life Tickle's Mom and Rescue04 described, where you are always vigilant, bathing your squirrel every day, changing the bedding once or twice PER DAY, watching for infection, watching for self-mutilation? Most importantly -- and the most difficult -- are you willing to admit it when you see clear signs that your Timber is in pain? Nobody wants to see the one they love suffering, and sadly, with human beings we have no choice but to watch and suffer along with them. In the case of an animal, you can release him from that fate if he will have no quality of life, or if he is in constant pain. That's when you know you truly love them, when you can face that possibility. :peace

[astra]

first of, it's still not clear if he is:
a) 100% paralyzed
b) paralyzed permanently
c) temporarily disabled.

It's been only 9 days since his injury - that is way-y-y-y too short a time for any finite diagnosis and predictions. Anything that has to do with loss of mobility, whatever the cause, usually takes a while for recovery, big or small.

Then, he has some movement. Have you tried the pinch test to check for sensitivity in his legs and tail?...
Since there is some faint movement, there might be a chance for him to regain mobility - to what extent we can't know at this point.

Since it might be a combination of factors (MBD + electrocution, or MBD triggered by electrocution, and from what I understood from the posts, it is not even definite if he did get electrocuted, it might still be MBD, or MBD related) - proper nutrition is one of the major keys in his possible recovery!

Another thing I recall - some sort of physiotherapy for him, just like you'd do for humans: gently massage the legs, move them (imitating squirrels' leg movements) etc etc. I remember reading somewhere that it can be very helpful.

HOwever, while he is on the road to recovery, he will need the kind of care that Tickle's Mom and others mentioned.

But he has a chance (at least from what I've read) and it's worth all the effort.

[UDoWhat]

:wave123 Hi Crystal, I have also been posting in your other thread. So don't forget to check there for some of the answers you needed to your questions.
I'll keep posting in that thread too. How is Timber today? Can you get the calcium in him? Just tell him you are the boss of the calcium!:rotfl

[lilidukes]

Trying to find someone closer to Crystal and Timber with fresh meds. I can ship tomorrow but it will be at least Monday before they arrive. Crystal has said she will road trip if needed. The vet refuses to help her. But that's normal:shakehead

The finger has turned black and I'm pretty sure he will lose it. Ab's are needed ASAP!

If you can help please let me know. ab's, ssd and metacam are needed.

Thanks TSB

[Jackie in Tampa]

Trying to find someone closer to Crystal and Timber with fresh meds. I can ship tomorrow but it will be at least Monday before they arrive. Crystal has said she will road trip if needed. The vet refuses to help her. But that's normal:shakehead

The finger has turned black and I'm pretty sure he will lose it. Ab's are needed ASAP!

If you can help please let me know. ab's, ssd and metacam are needed.

Thanks TSB
what about overnighting meds?

[pappy1264]

Lilidukes, I pm'd you. I may be able to help, what, exactly is needed for meds, will see what I have on hand and can call Jodi later (she is out for the day).

[astra]

any news?

[Charley Chuckles]

Just checking in to see if there is an update...praying hard for the little guy :grouphug

[lilidukes]

Pappy has meds to share and I have some to ship, awaiting word from Crystal to see if she is traveling today and I need an address.