Nhewyt
08-18-2011, 05:30 PM
Hello,
This past Saturday evening the neighbors little girl came over to say they had found a baby squirrel and their mother wondered if I could come take a look. Long story short, it appeared they had it most of the day, tried to let it go in the back yard, but it just wandered about crying so they picked it up again. It was on the mothers lap trying to eat saltine crackers - they didn't know it needed milk. Looks to be 6 to 8 weeks old (may be older but just a 'runt'), was bone thin as if away from mother for at least a few days. They wanted me to take it because I am the one on the block who has some experience with rescue and rehab of wild animals.
She is doing much better now after just 6 days in my care, taking 10 cc of formula 3 or 4 times a day and nibbling on dry foods such as multi-grain cheerios, raw vegies (plays with them more than eats them lol). As you can see in the one photo where she has jumped up for the bottle before I can even get it down to her, she seems quite healthy. But she has this lump on her hind leg at the joint which I am not sure what it is. I can't see a pore hole as in a bot fly lump, and it is the only lump I can find so not sure it is pox as I have read that comes in multiples. She uses the limb normally, and it apparently is not hurting her as she was more interested in playing than in holding still while I tried to get a picture. It isn't rock hard, but it isn't really mushy soft either. I have been sure to disinfect my hands every time I have handled her.
I was hoping that someone here could give some advice. I am more than happy to hand her off to a much more experienced squirrel rehab person, but fear calling the game commission here as they have a reputation for just putting the animals down, not really taking them to a rehab center. I am, unfortunately, not in a financial situation that allows me to afford expensive visits to specialty vets (the only vet I know of in the area who would see her charges $300 for exotics, that's just to look at them), so I am trying to do the best I can for her. If I had not taken her, she would have been taken out to the back woods of the neighbor and dumped, so I assumed it was in her best interest to take her even though I can't afford the vet visit. I do hope that no one here will bash me for not taking her to a vet as I honestly cannot afford to do so. Which is why I am willing to hand her off to someone who can and will if you can point me in the right direction, or, do what I can to help her on my own.
Any and all help/advice is appreciated.
Thank you,
Nhewyt
http://www.nhewyt.com/aberrantbehavior/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/SQUIRREL1.jpg
http://www.nhewyt.com/aberrantbehavior/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/SQUIRREL3.jpg
This past Saturday evening the neighbors little girl came over to say they had found a baby squirrel and their mother wondered if I could come take a look. Long story short, it appeared they had it most of the day, tried to let it go in the back yard, but it just wandered about crying so they picked it up again. It was on the mothers lap trying to eat saltine crackers - they didn't know it needed milk. Looks to be 6 to 8 weeks old (may be older but just a 'runt'), was bone thin as if away from mother for at least a few days. They wanted me to take it because I am the one on the block who has some experience with rescue and rehab of wild animals.
She is doing much better now after just 6 days in my care, taking 10 cc of formula 3 or 4 times a day and nibbling on dry foods such as multi-grain cheerios, raw vegies (plays with them more than eats them lol). As you can see in the one photo where she has jumped up for the bottle before I can even get it down to her, she seems quite healthy. But she has this lump on her hind leg at the joint which I am not sure what it is. I can't see a pore hole as in a bot fly lump, and it is the only lump I can find so not sure it is pox as I have read that comes in multiples. She uses the limb normally, and it apparently is not hurting her as she was more interested in playing than in holding still while I tried to get a picture. It isn't rock hard, but it isn't really mushy soft either. I have been sure to disinfect my hands every time I have handled her.
I was hoping that someone here could give some advice. I am more than happy to hand her off to a much more experienced squirrel rehab person, but fear calling the game commission here as they have a reputation for just putting the animals down, not really taking them to a rehab center. I am, unfortunately, not in a financial situation that allows me to afford expensive visits to specialty vets (the only vet I know of in the area who would see her charges $300 for exotics, that's just to look at them), so I am trying to do the best I can for her. If I had not taken her, she would have been taken out to the back woods of the neighbor and dumped, so I assumed it was in her best interest to take her even though I can't afford the vet visit. I do hope that no one here will bash me for not taking her to a vet as I honestly cannot afford to do so. Which is why I am willing to hand her off to someone who can and will if you can point me in the right direction, or, do what I can to help her on my own.
Any and all help/advice is appreciated.
Thank you,
Nhewyt
http://www.nhewyt.com/aberrantbehavior/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/SQUIRREL1.jpg
http://www.nhewyt.com/aberrantbehavior/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/SQUIRREL3.jpg