Hurt squrriel, hind legs. What should I do?

[Suma]

Suma about 15 wks. old, found abandoned at campground, about 5 wks. and wind knocked out of her at bottom of 100ft. pinetree. Since I've brought her home, have taken her outside to get use to sounds, smells, etc. of the outdoors. She was sleeping last night outside in a maple tree by the poarch. This morning called her to come down, she looked sleepy and waited awhile. Then noticed her crossing a board that leads to our poarch. When I picked her up, just seemed tired. Held her awhile before I noticed she wined when I moved her a certain way, and had a very small openning or cut on right leg. Not bleeding, but is injuried her hind legs, don't know if they're broken, see no bones exposed. Just letting her rest and she's eating and drinking, but wobbles. Not sure what to do?

[Twi_prime]

Hello. I'll post a link to your thread in the Life Threatening forum, partly because small wounds can come from cats and cats can pass very nasty germs on to squirrels; and partly because that'll draw a little more attention to her situation. Also, the fact that she seems sleepy makes me think she could be sick or could have fallen again. Don't give up on getting some guidance; an expert should be around in a couple of hours, if not before. Have you brought her inside? Is she in a container that's halfway on and halfway off a heating pad on low? If you have a heating pad, without the auto-shut-off, it's a good idea to put half of her container on it, with the pad set on low. That way she can move off the heat if even low is too hot for her. Sorry if I'm telling you something you already know.

Am I understanding correctly that you found her at 5 weeks old, brought her home and since then she has gone to spend time on her own outside? I'm not sure this is a good or bad thing for your particular squirrel or if I'm getting the gist of her situation--just asking. Again, don't get discouraged. Somebody will see your post. Best of luck.

[astra]

could you post more details about her history? that will help our experts make suggestions:

1. What formula did you feed her when she was a baby?
2. For how long was she taking the formula?
3. What rodent block was she eating? How many per day?
4. Please describe her daily menu in detail.
5. When did you start bringing her outside?

Please post a photo of that small cut.

If she has not been eating rodent blocks regularly as 80% of her diet, this might be an MBD case. This is very common at about this age, especially, since most people are not aware of the very specific nutritional requirements of squirrels.
So, start the Emergency MBD Treatment - if this is MBD, it will save her, if it isn't, it won't hurt her.

Emergency Treatment for MBD

Get calcium into the squirrel IMMEDIATELY, not later, not tomorrow, NOW.
Delaying treatment can cause death or permanent paralysis.

You will need:

-Tums, rolaids, or calcium supplement (any kind)
-a syringe or spoon

Crush one pill and add a little water or fruit juice to make a paste. Use the syringe or spoon to force-feed the mixture, a little at a time, until it is all gone. The first day, give a total of 600-800 mg of calcium, spread throughout the day/night to maintain blood calcium levels.

Important!

1. Any kind of calcium pill is okay for the initial dose. But you must use PLAIN calcium pills (without Vit D) from then on.
2. Try to give many small doses of calcium throughout the day/night to keep blood calcium levels as steady as possible.
3. If seizures or paralysis worsen or return, give another emergency dose, and make sure you check back in to TSB for help as relapses can be very serious.

The acute symptoms (weakness, lethargy, seizures, paralysis) will usually improve within a few hours, but this does not mean the squirrel is cured. It will take many months to rebuild the calcium in the bones.

More Tips
MBD causes brittle bones that break easily. Try to keep your squirrel confined to a small cage and away from high places, where he might jump and break a bone.

Heat is very soothing for a squirrel with MBD. A heating pad turned to low and placed so they cannot chew the pad or cord, or a rice buddy (a sock filled with dry rice/beans and microwaved for about 20 seconds) will work.rk.


Keep her in a low cage where she cannot climb so that she does not re-injure herself.
Put a no-auto shut off heating pad under half of her cage on low- heat can be very soothing.
If she is in pain, you can give her INFANT ibuprofen/motrin, depending on her weight:

100 grams - .025cc
150 grams - .037cc
200 grams - .05cc
250 grams - .062cc
300 grams - .075cc
400 grams - .1cc
500 grams - .12cc
700 grams - .17cc
1000 grams - .25cc

You can give this every 4 hours.

Make a rice buddy: fill up a sock with rice, tie tightly, microwave for about 20 sec or so (varies with microwaves) - till it's very, very warm. NOT burning hot, so that it does not burn her, but very, very warm.
Squash the "buddy" to distribute rice evenly and break possible hot spots.
Put the "buddy' with her to snuggle.

[astra]

Do you have any antibiotics?...
Do you have a squirrel-safe trustworthy vet?...

the small wound could also be a cat inflicted wound. if it is cat, she will need antibiotics because cat wounds are fatal if not treated.

If you have antibiotics, please post the name, the strength, the form (pill, liquid etc) and the weight of your squirrel for the experts to dose it for you.

If you do not have antibiotics, ask your friends who have pets.
Also, look for human antibiotics, again, just give the name, the strength, the form - all the info.

Also, give the location where you are (if you feel unsafe, at least give a county, nearby towns/cities) - we might have members nearby who could help.

[Twi_prime]

Do you have any antibiotics?...
Do you have a squirrel-safe trustworthy vet?...

the small wound could also be a cat inflicted wound. if it is cat, she will need antibiotics because cat wounds are fatal if not treated.

If you have antibiotics, please post the name, the strength, the form (pill, liquid etc) and the weight of your squirrel for the experts to dose it for you.

If you do not have antibiotics, ask your friends who have pets.
Also, look for human antibiotics, again, just give the name, the strength, the form - all the info.

Also, give the location where you are (if you feel unsafe, at least give a county, nearby towns/cities) - we might have members nearby who could help.

I hope Suma's not gone for good. I tried to pm or e-mail her, but I think she wasn't approved just yet. tinfoil

[mpetys]

Hey Suma. You have gotten great advice here. Please post an update as folks here will worry about your squirrel until we know she is okay. St. Clair County I am very familiar with. I have family in Ragland and Shoal Creek Valley!

When I get a squirrel in that has a wound or scratch of unknown origin, I always assume it is from a cat and get the squirrel on anti-biotics. Do you have a vet that will treat the squirrel for you? I don't think it is legal for you to have the squirrel, even though you are just trying to help and as such, vets may not be willing to treat. Call around first and ask to make sure the squirrel will not be confiscated and euthanized. If you can get a vet to see the squirrel, you can get anti-iotics that you administer orally or the vet may do convenia which is given as an injection, once every 2 weeks.

Please do as others have asked and provide the information they requested. It just makes it easier for us to try to help you. Since you have had this squirrel since she was 5 weeks old, please also post what her diet has been. If you need to keep her confined while she is getting anti-biotic treatment, it would be a good idea to make sure she is on a healthy diet as well.

If you have anti-biotics on hand or can get from family or friends (human use or animal), please post what you have and all information, strength etc. And others here can tell you if those can be used and dose it for you.

Thank you for caring for this squirrel. And please do post back and let us know how the squirrel is doing!

[island rehabber]

I've moved this thread to Emergency Life-Threatening.....good job in the wee hours of the morning, you TSB night-owls. :thumbsup When we get a little more info on this squirrel's background I think we will truly be able to help her...

[Suma]

Hi, just wanted to update on Suma, she's recovering very well. Big difference in last Tuesday. Starting to get very active again. Wanting to play, but playing with her in a small area where she's not moving alot, her left leg is not quite back yet and don't want her to reinjurer and right leg with wound seems fine. Getting alot of attention, she pulls my finger to her body in a gentle way, would like for me to stay by her 24/24. Setting up and cleaning herself, using the litter box again (pine bedding-all natural kiln dried softwood), taking her tums once a day( no vit.D). Staying inside in a cat travel cage, we only have fish inside and two Rex rabbits outside. Question,I purchased Timothy Bits, are they ok for 16wk. old grey squirrel and products for rabbits, hamters, small animals are they?
P.S. thanks for the wonderful advice,
Dolores

[Twi_prime]

Hi, just wanted to update on Suma, she's recovering very well. Big difference in last Tuesday. Starting to get very active again. Wanting to play, but playing with her in a small area where she's not moving alot, her left leg is not quite back yet and don't want her to reinjurer and right leg with wound seems fine. Getting alot of attention, she pulls my finger to her body in a gentle way, would like for me to stay by her 24/24. Setting up and cleaning herself, using the litter box again (pine bedding-all natural kiln dried softwood), taking her tums once a day( no vit.D). Staying inside in a cat travel cage, we only have fish inside and two Rex rabbits outside. Question,I purchased Timothy Bits, are they ok for 16wk. old grey squirrel and products for rabbits, hamters, small animals are they?
P.S. thanks for the wonderful advice,
Dolores

Hi Dolores, I'm glad Suma's doing well. You've probably visited this thread (http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=31501)already? Also, I found this thread (http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=31797), in which another member recently got some advice on alternative calcium sources. That one, you'll notice, is posted in the Squirrel Nutrition forum. I looked around for info on Timothy Bits for your squirrel, but haven't found anything so far. I did see that someone fed Timothy hay to their Richardsons ground squirrel. Somebody's bound to have an answer for you. :)

[patjones]

Glad she is improving I wonder if you would consider keeping her inside for the rest of the winter even after she has recovered. It is pretty late in the year and she is still pretty young. By spring she would have a lot better chance of surviving in the wild.

[Jackie in Tampa]

Sqs do not digest hay well, no hay:shakehead
Glad to hear better news:Love_Icon

[Suma]

Went out and bought Suma sweet potatoes, cabbage, bell pepper...she loves and keeping her inside for winter. New to site, but do you need to keep her on Life Threatening page?
Thanks,
Dolores

[island rehabber]

I will move the thread to Non Life-threatening; thanks for the update. Other good foods she may love are sugar snap pea pods, radicchio, escarole, endive, chickory, dandelion greens and brussels sprouts. :thumbsup

[Suma]

Hi, got a small problem... Suma was outside today in her cage on the porch, and when I brought her in looks like she may have picked up tiny,tiny fleas. Can I put flea powder on a squirrel?

[Nancy in New York]

Hi, got a small problem... Suma was outside today in her cage on the porch, and when I brought her in looks like she may have picked up tiny,tiny fleas. Can I put flea powder on a squirrel?

Yes, a lot of people like Zodia flea spray for cats and kittens. Spray on a damp cloth and wipe Suma down, then dispose of the cloth.

[Suma]

Thanks so much, I will pick this up now. Really appreciate the QUICK response.
Have a good day,
Dolores

[Suma]

Hi everyone, not sure where to post this, but thanks for sending a Happy Birthday to Suma! She doesn't come too close any more, still see her in the yard every once in awhile.
Now Dancy has been staying indoors on real cold nights, then released in the morning. They are both doing great, thanks to all of your help!mjs