HELP!!! Squirrel chewing hole through self, re-injuring wound. HELP!!!

[SquiggsMom]

My husband and I rescued our squirrel almost 5 years ago and he has been part of our family ever since. My husband came home from work one day and heard a squealing type noise, he see's a cat running across our driveway with something in it's mouth and stomps his foot. The cat drops the item and runs off. My husband then scooped up the little creature and brought it inside to me. I was terrified at first, lol. Mostly because we couldnt tell what in the heck it was...was it a baby possum, rat, mouse, squirrel? He couldnt have been more than a couple of days old, was pink- no hair, eyes closed and so so tiny. Thankfully after several google searches we were able to determine that he was a newborn squirrel and began to read up on anything and everything on how to keep him alive and well. I never dreamed on having a squirrel as a pet and intended to nurse him to health and then release him. Yeah, no one mentions how quickly you become attached to these sweet little beings. So anyways that is just some back story. He has had no health issues and has been a happy boy, very much spoiled and he knows it.

Up until recently he has gone through life with no issues what so ever, so with the problem that is currently happening I am absolutely crushed and need some quidance ASAP.

Okay, so a couple of weeks ago Squigg got himself tangled in his bedding (hasnt happened once out of the 5 years until now). He rubbed a couple of spots on his belly raw, but other than that seemed fine. My husband and I cleaned the area and put a little bit of neosporin on it and 2 out of the 3 spots cleared up quickly. The third one was taking a little longer to heal. Well, we soon figured out why. He has been constantly messing with it and everytime it would scab over to heal he would chew the scab off and re-injure the spot. I thought it was bad when he was doing that, but now he has taken it to a whole new level. He has now chewed a hole there. He wont STOP chewing it and is just making it bigger and worse looking by the day. I dont know what in the heck to do and it's tearing me apart because he is my baby and I cant lose him. I dont understand why he wont leave it alone? He steadily is chewing away at it and causing something that wasnt that big of a deal to become a major life threatening problem.

PLEASE someone help. My husband seems to think that creating some type of "cone" to put around his head to keep him from chewing himself so that it will heal is the answer...I just dont know. I have tried googling things but have come up with nothing and as I cannot call a vet, this is my last resort.

[Jackie in Tampa]

where are you in SC?
I will send PM with my number.
IT's going to be ok...:grouphug

[Jackie in Tampa]

either you have requested no Private messages or you have not been approved thru the system..

[lilidukes]

Where in SC are you!

A number of SC members with meds advice and vet willing to help!

[island rehabber]

OK I approved this member so she should be able to get PM's and post pix!

[CritterMom]

www.henryspets.com sells a very nice, pre-made e-collar that is designed for rats but would work on squirrels. It looks like Jackie is trying to hook you up with local help :alright.gif but if that fails, the collar is an option.

Part of the problem is that as wounds heal they also itch and it causes animals to keep tearing them open. If the itching is bad enough, a combo of the collar physically preventing him from being able to get to the wound and some short term treatment with weight appropriate doses of children's benadryl to stop the itching until it is completely healed can help.

[Jackie in Tampa]

there is a thread with instructions on how to make e collar
{elizabethian collar} somewhere on this forum...
can we find that?
LILidukes :alright.gif

LOOKS LIKE SHE IS off line!

[lilidukes]

Let me know if I can help.

I can get the fixins you used with Chef if it's that bad.

[Jackie in Tampa]

Let me know if I can help.

I can get the fixins you used with Chef if it's that bad.
Lilidukes.....can you get insulin?
Thank you for helping..I am swamped..
she needs a ecollar and sports wrap otherwise...
a picture would help..
betedine flush using a large syringe to start..
good luck, I am here if I can help.:Love_Icon

[pappy1264]

Do you have a vet you can use? There is a possibility this is more then just a scab he keeps going after. Many times, pain will make an animal literally eat themselves. You may want to have him checked for something internal he is trying to get at, too. But def. get the collar on him, and perhaps some pain meds, as well. Hopefully you and Jackie can connect, she will help you!

[Jackie in Tampa]

Vet wrap...sports tape...clean wounds first...
Don't give up yet.

http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=22196&d=1200436736

[lilidukes]

We have squirrel vets around the state. Just need to know the area!

[Jackie in Tampa]

http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=22175&stc=1&d=1200424951

[lilidukes]

Love the naughty squirrel title:flash3

[Jackie in Tampa]

Make Your Own: Elizabethan Collars for Rats

In case you've missed this: Debbie Ducommun has some great suggestions for rat restraint in her Rat Health Care (http://www.ratfanclub.org/) booklet - it's cheap and worth every penny. But perhaps you haven't ordered that yet so here's a pattern for a rat e-collar:
What you'll need:
http://ratballs.com/images/dot.gif Sturdy, but flexible, plastic or cardboard (plastic is better, obviously, as it will last).
Traipsing through the house should help you find the plastic you need: Be creative!
Some suggestions include: http://ratballs.com/images/dot.gif Those little flimsy plastic mats you use to chop vegetables, roll dough on, etc
http://ratballs.com/images/dot.gif Lids from larger containers like margarine tubs, cottage cheese, etc.
http://ratballs.com/images/dot.gif Bases from disposable storage containers like those made by Glad and Ziploc
http://ratballs.com/images/dot.gif Gallon Milk Containershttp://ratballs.com/images/dot.gifScissors
http://ratballs.com/images/dot.gifA knife (XActo, Matte Board cutter, plane ol' sharp kitchen knife)
http://ratballs.com/images/dot.gifNail File or Sand Paper
http://ratballs.com/images/dot.gifFabric Scraps or Trim
http://ratballs.com/images/dot.gifNeedle and Thread or Stapler or Functional Glue
http://ratballs.com/images/dot.gifSelf-Stick Velcro (Fabric Store sells this by the yard)

Step 1: Print out the pattern (tip: click the image below to view the image by itself and use the back arrow on your browser to return to this page after printing):
http://ratballs.com/images/Collar-Pattern.gif (http://ratballs.com/images/Collar-Pattern.gif)
The height and length if the circle should be approx. 3 3/4 inches.
http://ratballs.com/images/Collar-01.jpg
Step 2: Cut out the black areas of the pattern (but save the line for later - easier to manipulate the plastic when it's whole)
Step 3: Trace the pattern onto your piece of chose plastic or cardboard.
Step 4: With the scissors, cut around the edges of your larger circle.
Step 5: With the knife (or scissors, of you prefer) cut out the center.
(tip: If your plastic is flexible enough, you can fold the larger circle in half to easily make a hole in the center)
Step 6: With the sand paper or nail file, soften the edges of the plastic, particularly the outside edges. Rub your fingers around all edges to make sure it is smooth and not sharp.
Step 7: Cut the line out (where you will be later putting the velcro).
Step 8: Cut out a strip of fabric: About 5 inches long (4 1/2 inches should be the exact length but you can always trim off excess later) and half an inch wide.
Step 9: Fold the fabric in half width-ways and attach to the inside of the collar either by sewing, gluing, or stapling. Obviously sewing would be the most secure and safest option but it will also take the most time. If you use staples, make sure no sharp edges are sticking out.
Step 10: Apply a 1" to 2" square of self-stick velcro to one end of the collar. Fold the other end of the collar to match and stick. Precision isn't necessary - just trim off the excess.
http://ratballs.com/images/Collar-02.jpg
That's it! Keep in mind this is a one-size-fits-all type thing so you won't necessarily need to match the velcro when wrapping around your rat's neck - after all, you don't want to make them all puffy and blue!

[Jackie in Tampa]

OK gotta run, call me if I can help .....

[Jackie in Tampa]

Love the naughty squirrel title:flash3
Leigh's ....
old thread....leave it to Leigh:D

[Jackie in Tampa]

I have recieved an email from Squiggsmom..
she will be on later today and sends her thanks to all who responded so fast!:)

[Jackie in Tampa]

Wish we could get an update..
:Love_Icon
has anyone heard back yet?

[Margie]

You might try a chew deterrent as a short term treatment until you can get to the vet or make an e collar. Campho phenique is one that has been recommended by vets for years since it is non toxic in small amounts, non irritating to the wound and tastes terrible.You can use red pepper around the wound, but I wouldn't put it on the wound. You could put it on top of the Neosporin. There is an aloe vera suntan burn product that contains lidocaine that might help. The lidocaine numbs the pain and itching while the aloe vera aids in healing. Use very sparingly though, if ingested, too much lidocaine can interfere with heart function. Just a dab with a Q tip would suffice. Even with an e collar the use of such a product would help keep him comfortable while the wound heals. There are many commercial anti chew products available, but make sure that it can be used on the animal and not just on objects. I would advise a vet visit if at all possible. There may be an underlying cause for the wound like a foreign body. An e collar could be a toilet paper tube cut short enough to fit around the neck and tight enough not to be pulled over the head. Place adhesive or duck tape along the edges for padding and to prevent rubbing the hair and skin and use another piece of tape to fasten the collar on. You want it just long enough to keep the squirrel from being able to bend his head down to the wound easily enough to chew at it. Remember while wearing the collar he won't be able to groom properly and might need some help with that.

[Scooterzmom]

Please ... do NOT use red pepper: it is painful, it burns their tongue and if they rub themselves trying to get rid of it they can have some on their paws and then rub their eyes. Please... keep in mind that their sense of smell is AT LEAST hundreds of times more acute than ours. If red pepper stings us, just imaginne what it can do to them.