Squirrel always running into things.

[shllyrse]

Hello. I'm starting to get a little concerned about Thumbelina. She can definitely see, but whenever she runs around she always runs into things with her head. She hits her head pretty hard at least once a day and I'm worried something may be up with her vision. Is it normal that the pupils are a hazy gray color?

[Nancy in New York]

Hello. I'm starting to get a little concerned about Thumbelina. She can definitely see, but whenever she runs around she always runs into things with her head. She hits her head pretty hard at least once a day and I'm worried something may be up with her vision. Is it normal that the pupils are a hazy gray color?

What kind of squirrel is Thumbelina. No, hazy grey colored pupils is not normal. How old is she?

[shllyrse]

What kind of squirrel is Thumbelina. No, hazy grey colored pupils is not normal. How old is she?

She's a red squirrel, approximately 11-12 weeks old.

Here's a couple pictures. These are taken without a flash. That's how her pupil always looks.

[Nancy in New York]

OK I currently have 5 reds and their pupils don't look like that. Let me get some pictures, and I will post them.

[astra]

don't know if that is flash or the eyes, but that bluish tint is often in the eyes of blind squirrels...
Maybe, she is not totally blind, but does have vision problems, in which case she will most likely become non-releasable ("most likely" - just in case she gets better).
Sometimes, their vision does normalize... especially, if it is related to poor nutrition. But if it is some organic pathology, then, it is unlikely it will be 100%.
So, you may end up with a friend for life ;)

PS never mind - just re-read your post, so it is without a flash, then, she def. has vision problems.

I am sure some of the experts here will, probably, share more on this

[Nancy in New York]

OK I found one of Jeffrey....I will post more in a little while, I think like astra said, there is some loss of vision here.
http://i673.photobucket.com/albums/vv95/nancym518/Baby%20Jeffrey%202009-20011/IMG_9338-1.jpg

[shllyrse]

don't know if that is flash or the eyes, but that bluish tint is often in the eyes of blind squirrels...
Maybe, she is not totally blind, but does have vision problems, in which case she will most likely become non-releasable ("most likely" - just in case she gets better).
Sometimes, their vision does normalize... especially, if it is related to poor nutrition. But if it is some organic pathology, then, it is unlikely it will be 100%.
So, you may end up with a friend for life ;)

PS never mind - just re-read your post, so it is without a flash, then, she def. has vision problems.

I am sure some of the experts here will, probably, share more on this

I've had her for a little over 1 month now. I ordered FV and HHB right when I found her, but it took about a week to get here. She's been on that for at least 3 weeks now though, and fresh vegetables everyday, with 1 piece of fruit and a nut at night. I've followed the healthy pyramid as closely as possible. I hope it's nothing I did wrong to cause this. I've also been giving her pinecones and I just recently tried chicken, but she wouldn't eat it.

What would be my next step? What can I do for her? I feel so bad.

[shllyrse]

OK I found one of Jeffrey....I will post more in a little while, I think like astra said, there is some loss of vision here.
http://i673.photobucket.com/albums/vv95/nancym518/Baby%20Jeffrey%202009-20011/IMG_9338-1.jpg

Yeah, Thumbelina's eyes look nothing like that. They're always that cloudy colour in the middle. At first I thought cataracts, but then I thought she was too young. What should I do for this poor girl that runs into everything??

I feel so bad. I finally was thinking she was releasable (she was hairless when I found her, and finally grew hair last week), and now she may not be. I had high hopes for her to be a free squirrel climbing in the trees. Poor girl.:shakehead

[astra]

I've had her for a little over 1 month now. I ordered FV and HHB right when I found her, but it took about a week to get here. She's been on that for at least 3 weeks now though, and fresh vegetables everyday, with 1 piece of fruit and a nut at night. I've followed the healthy pyramid as closely as possible. I hope it's nothing I did wrong to cause this. I've also been giving her pinecones and I just recently tried chicken, but she wouldn't eat it.

What would be my next step? What can I do for her? I feel so bad.
sounds like her diet is in order.
Then, it is not diet-related...
i don't know much about it, that's why i hope some of the experts here will advice
I just know that in some situations vision improved, in others - it didn't.
Some squirrels are 100% blind, and others - just visually impaired...
It could be from a fall, or whatever injury she might have sustained before she got to you:grouphug :grouphug

[astra]

if she was hairless when you found her ,then, she might be having some health issues that manifested themselves through her impaired vision.

THe fact that her fur grew is great! It means there is some improvement in her little system.

Right now I can think of only one squirrel here (but there were more, just don't remember) who is 100% blind - in the UK, and what her human did for her.
She manages amazingly well, but she is a squirrel - they are very adaptable.

For now just make sure there are no hard objects that she can injure herself if she bumps into them.
Also, try not to change things around much - she will get used to her environment and will remember where things are and will be bumping less. If possible, create her own space (room corner etc, or entire room, but squirrel-proof it first).

If it is only in the middle, it might be a partial vision loss, because in blind squirrels the entire eye is blue like that.
But again, my knowledge here is limited.:grouphug

[astra]

i found some posts : http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=33364

http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=34092

you can always send a private message to these members with squirrels with vision problems and ask them questions

[KathleenNYC]

My Little Gray Guy is blind in one eye and it is that same blue/gray, Like a cataract.
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He took a really far fall to the sidewalk from a tall tree when we found him (about two weeks old), His entire right side was badly bruised (he had no hair). Don't know if it was the fall that damaged his eye, lack of nutrition (not sure how long he was even there) or if momma threw him out because of it? :dono
But Wort is now about 10 months and it has improved some.:) he too, will run into things on his right and even fall off the couch once in a while; we have the only squirrel afraid of heights...lol He ran up the curtains once and froze at the top and never tried it again!:rotfl
If your baby has some vision, she can still be very happy and active with a little baby-proofing.
Wort's cage is about 80inches tall, but we have divided it to three levels, with a hammock below each hole, so when he does stumble he cant go/fall very far and lots of cross branches and ropes so he can catch himself when he runs and jumps.
I do believe he has created a mental map of the living room and he will run, jump and play. But like Astra said don't move things around too much. :nonoAnd stay close when she tries to venture to new heights.
Be patient, you will get used to the angles that she will use to tilt her head to see things and I also think strange sounds and sudden noises are especially alarming to them because of the poor vision. Wort usually responds quickly to a soothing cuddle when that happens (which is pretty often here in the city) and then he is off again. The upside is I think he responds to the no-no's a little more easily.
If you look at these bottom pictures you can see how lots of love and good nutrition has helped clear it up a bit!
OH and don't get upset if she growls and soft chatters at you once in a while; Wort does it sometimes if you come up on his cage too fast; once he realizes who it is he is right back to his lovable self; remember if she cant see well, she will get frightened until she knows it you!
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[shllyrse]

My Little Gray Guy is blind in one eye and it is that same blue/gray, Like a cataract.
176051 176052
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He took a really far fall to the sidewalk from a tall tree when we found him (about two weeks old), His entire right side was badly bruised (he had no hair). Don't know if it was the fall that damaged his eye, lack of nutrition (not sure how long he was even there) or if momma threw him out because of it? :dono
But Wort is now about 10 months and it has improved some.:) he too, will run into things on his right and even fall off the couch once in a while; we have the only squirrel afraid of heights...lol He ran up the curtains once and froze at the top and never tried it again!:rotfl
If your baby has some vision, she can still be very happy and active with a little baby-proofing.
Wort's cage is about 80inches tall, but we have divided it to three levels, with a hammock below each hole, so when he does stumble he cant go/fall very far and lots of cross branches and ropes so he can catch himself when he runs and jumps.
I do believe he has created a mental map of the living room and he will run, jump and play. But like Astra said don't move things around too much. :nonoAnd stay close when she tries to venture to new heights.
Be patient, you will get used to the angles that she will use to tilt her head to see things and I also think strange sounds and sudden noises are especially alarming to them because of the poor vision. Wort usually responds quickly to a soothing cuddle when that happens (which is pretty often here in the city) and then he is off again. The upside is I think he responds to the no-no's a little more easily.
If you look at these bottom pictures you can see how lots of love and good nutrition has helped clear it up a bit!
OH and don't get upset if she growls and soft chatters at you once in a while; Wort does it sometimes if you come up on his cage too fast; once he realizes who it is he is right back to his lovable self; remember if she cant see well, she will get frightened until she knows it you!
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So sorry I never responded, I just saw this now. Wort is adorable!! So cute :D
Thumbelina seems to be doing well. The bluish-gray area has changed a bit. It's pretty weird actually. It's not as apparent as it used to be, but it seems to show more when her pupils are dilated... like the gray area is behind the pupil if that makes sense. She still runs into things, but the eye looks better. I'm kind of confused by it actually. :thinking

[island rehabber]

Thumbelina's vision may improve with time and the good diet you have her on. :thumbsup Kathleen it looks as if Wort's is improving too, judging by those two pix.
In the meantime you've gotten great advice on how to keep her safe in her environment. I have not raised a vision-impaired squirrel, but I do have two vision-impaired cats here. One has a cloudy blue eye just like Wort's and Thumbelina's, but she has the added issue of glaucoma in that eye and it will always be totally blind. I try not to sneak up on her blind side or startle her too much, because she will turn quickly and run right into a piece of furniture...:(

[shllyrse]

Thumbelina's vision may improve with time and the good diet you have her on. :thumbsup Kathleen it looks as if Wort's is improving too, judging by those two pix.
In the meantime you've gotten great advice on how to keep her safe in her environment. I have not raised a vision-impaired squirrel, but I do have two vision-impaired cats here. One has a cloudy blue eye just like Wort's and Thumbelina's, but she has the added issue of glaucoma in that eye and it will always be totally blind. I try not to sneak up on her blind side or startle her too much, because she will turn quickly and run right into a piece of furniture...:(


Aww, poor cat :(
Yes, Thumbs definitely gets startled at times. If I slowly reach to pet her, before she knows it's me, she'll give a little jump. I've made sure to keep everything the same around my room so that when I let her out, she knows what's where. We only run into problems when she gets so excited that she tears off running around like a bat outta hell. She also got stuck on top of the blinds once. She climbed up the window trim and perched on top of the blind and wouldn't come down. I found her up there and gave the assist ;)
Her eyes actually do appear to be a little better. It's weird though, because it now looks like the bluish-gray is behind the pupil. Like when the pupil dilates you can see more gray than when it's not dilated. Is that possible? I'm so worried that I'm keeping her if she should be released, or that I'd be releasing her when she should not be... The eyes "look" kind of better, but she still doesn't act like they're better. The other day she came running up a level in her cage (it was set up differently before I got Jackie's amazing cage gear) and came jumping at the front side of the cage from the back wall, not noticing I had the doors open. She flew through the open doors, passed my torso, and tried grabbing onto my arm for dear life (I have the gouges to prove it). It was a sad site :(

[KathleenNYC]

She is adorable!!! I think from all I have read that a good diet helps it improve.
Oh boy it sure sounds like she is going to be afraid of heights too!!!
I think noises are especially frightening, Wort will run up me and put his butt in my neck and his bad eye to the side of my head when he is scared.
Patrick has this little click click sound he makes every time he walks past his cage (told him he better watch out he will be doing that to his children some day) and never gets a growl. I move around so much and do his morning feeding that I am the only one that gets the growls...lol
But I am also the one who gets most of the cuddles. 178053
OK Patrick does too...178054 but mine are better.
This is Wort's bad eye as of today... 178052
It looks better and I think he has adapted well, but he still CAN NOT see out of it. If you didn't know what to look for, you wouldn't notice... If he drops his food to the right it gone, if he moves too fast on the counter its off the edge... But they are so smart, he has learned not to jump too far when he is startled now... and we have learned when and where he needs the most supervision.

But I have to say he is a spoiled and happy "Gypsy Thief," he sure can see well enough to steal what ever he can get his hands on.
Everyday I just look at him and say I cant believe this squirrel owns us....lol

I have found that believe it or not chap stick on the scratches really speeds up the healing process.
Oh yea, I bought these pet grooming gloves for play time... 178055
he loves them and it saves me a lot of wear and tear on the hands.