Open Wound: licking and chewing fur off his tail and leg

[astra]

I am re-posting this here for Jill to get faster attention to Chester:

Chester is going on 3 years, squirrel board helped me out last year when he was diagnosed with MBD; I gave him calcium, kept him confined; changed his diet which took him time to get used to. His feet and ankles seem to be paralzed, but he still gets around good and is fast, this week I noticed on the underneath of his tail, all fur is missing and is red, plus he has developed an open wound on his shin, almost as if he has been nawing on it. He also seem to be licking his front legs a lot and licks my hands and arms. I dont know what is going on with him, but if someone can help me, he is my baby and I want to make him better.
Regards
Jill

[stepnstone]

An educated guess about the redness and tail hair loss would be urine scald but I'll wait to see what the more experienced folk have to suggest. Don't have a clue as to the licking but suggest you can put a little neosporin on the cut. Pretty sure you'll have some better replies soon so hang in here...

[Jackie in Tampa]

:thinking just a guess...
sounds like, with the mention of paralysis...numbness is indication of nerve damage...chewing is sometimes the result...
we have all read of self mutilation with paralysed sqs
in nature sqs will rid the body parts they cannot control..
maybe tingling sensation...
this may have been from previous injury...
makes me wonder if you were treating mbd and it may have been spinal trauma instead, or even associated with or from, because of...
sometimes feeling comes back as nerves heal.

if chewing cannot be controlled, an e collar maybe needed...
there have been severe cases of self mutilation..
thinking a vet may advise best approach to treatment..
guessing again, steroid use, long term
or
inflammatory pain reliever such as metacam.

metacam would be my first choice reguardless.
it can be used for months in a healthy sq, but i wouldn't use as a life time fix...
as for the steroids, some will disagree and say they can be used longterm, with great results,
yet like all meds, there are issues associated with using either long term...
metacam can affect the liver, hydration is a must when using

however..pain sucks and needs to be addressed..
if a recent new injury has happened on top of previous nerve damage...
using metacam may help...as it is an anti inflammatory as well as low grade pain reliever

now for my inner gut feelings..
low calcium makes weak bones, even a small fall can result in serious injury, fractures, bone stress.
amplify the calcium intake, stablize the diet feeding only calcium rich foods, add low heat, lessen activity with a small cage, restrict all jumping climbing activity...do massages several times a day...all limbs need stimulation/circulation...

do your research, decide if steroids or nsaid would be best...

i doubt chewing will stop without either...
many use suppliments and insist they work,
i cannot say anything i have ever used made any improvements that i would write home about...vetri dmg, yada yada...:shakehead :peace

the only therapy that has impressed me was daily excercise in the swimming pool done by one of the vets i use...long term dedication, extreme knowledge of sq behavior, total commitment with a strong bond between human and sq..
a totally paralysed sq has regained use of upper arms and some movement of rear half of her body...three years of aqua robics:Love_Icon

others will be on soon to help with ideas.

you may have to wrap where she is chewing...
http://henryspets.com/ sells e collars as well as rodent blocks that i use and recommend.
if your sq is not on the healthy diet ...:poke do it now!
be strong...don't cave in...:grouphug

[island rehabber]

:goodpost

[CritterMom]

I would ensure that he is not actually reacting to something that is literally chewing on him, like mites or some other parasite. How about a drop of Revolution?

That it is near the area that is paralyzed does sound suspect but this will at least rule out one thing.

[Chickenlegs]

Don't mean to add two cents when really experienced folks are tossing dollars into the ring but I just got sub permitted. My sponsor had squirrels that were chewing. No mites or bugs but obviously itchy and it was causing self inflicted damage. Someone on TSB had suggested cocoanut oil for their squirrel's skin problems. It worked for my sponsor's squirrels. Won't do a thing for neurological damage but it won't hurt and may help if the chewing is skin related. So again--sorry for jumping in with the "big boys."