View Full Version : OH EM GEE PLEASE HELP!!!!!!!
mstiffc8
09-07-2012, 03:33 PM
I was outside in my garage reading.. No different from any other day and I always set up a mass amount of toys and stuff for my squirrel to climb on. Sometimes we stay out there for hours then I bring him back in and he never ever runs away.. idk why but he just doesn't. ANYWAY, all of a sudden I hear him SCREAMING.. I look to my horror that he was climbing on my bike like usual only this time he had his tail caught in something.... he was freaking out so badly that by the time i was able to get over to him he was flailing back and forth trying to get free. In a split second in trying to figure out how to help him without getting bit he whole half of his tail pulled off!!!!!!!!! NOW HE HAS HALF HIS TAIL AND THE REST IS HIS SPINAL CHORD!!!!!!. I am totally freaking out at the moment.. he is wrapped in a blanket in my lap now and I'm disgusted. Will this heal? I know A VET cannot re-attach it.. help please please any suggestions? he is so sad and docile right now!
mstiffc8
09-07-2012, 03:41 PM
oh god I am freaking out... MY BABY!!!!
stosh2010
09-07-2012, 03:47 PM
I was outside in my garage reading.. No different from any other day and I always set up a mass amount of toys and stuff for my squirrel to climb on. Sometimes we stay out there for hours then I bring him back in and he never ever runs away.. idk why but he just doesn't. ANYWAY, all of a sudden I hear him SCREAMING.. I look to my horror that he was climbing on my bike like usual only this time he had his tail caught in something.... he was freaking out so badly that by the time i was able to get over to him he was flailing back and forth trying to get free. In a split second in trying to figure out how to help him without getting bit he whole half of his tail pulled off!!!!!!!!! NOW HE HAS HALF HIS TAIL AND THE REST IS HIS SPINAL CHORD!!!!!!. I am totally freaking out at the moment.. he is wrapped in a blanket in my lap now and I'm disgusted. Will this heal? I know A VET cannot re-attach it.. help please please any suggestions? he is so sad and docile right now!
I am not an expert...but this has happened to many members. It is not life threatening ( to the squirrel) You are the one who needs to stay calm. Your fuzz-head will definitely pick-up on your anxiety and it will only upset him more. Keep him calm, inside, dark and quiet...very quiet. The tail will eventually die off at that point of fur-loss and just break off. Squirrels will do just fine with half a tail. You --on the other hand--with beat yourself up --for weeks to come...Try not to do that. Especially in the next 48 hours. Act natural, keep to routines, talk to him, and keep him safe , warm and calm. I think OTC antibiotic cream will control any local infection.
stepnstone
09-07-2012, 03:47 PM
Calm down... You can give infant ibuprofen for pain. (need to know weight for dosing). The bone will dry up and fall off, your going to have a squirrel with a short tail. Watch for infection on the break but they do heal up fine if no complications.
Edit:
Good post Stosh!
Milo's Mom
09-07-2012, 03:52 PM
As others have already said, this happens. Squirrels tails are made to do this as a form of defense (if a predator grabs their tail, they can still run away to safety).
The bone will dry up and fall off after some time. The squirrel will be able to function normally.
It is an open wound, so you do want to keep an eye on it to make sure it does not get infected.
If the squirrel is upset and agitated a little Rescue Remedy may help to calm him (and you too).
stosh2010
09-07-2012, 03:57 PM
Is this Scrat>>> from last year ???
Do you know his weight.??
CritterMom
09-07-2012, 04:00 PM
Been there, done that. If you have any Rescue Remedy, first, spray about 8 shots under YOUR tongue! Then, spray some on your fingers and rub it onto the bottoms of his big back feet. Let us know his approximate weight and get him some infant ibuprophen to help with the pain.
He will likely chew it off to where the fur starts and that is normal. But you want to watch at that point and make sure he doesn't mess with it. If he keeps fussing with it and opening the wound you will need to come up with a way to prevent him from getting it until it heals (e collar). You normally do NOT have to do this though.
Use some neosporin or silvadene cream on the open wound.
mstiffc8
09-07-2012, 04:12 PM
Is this Scrat>>> from last year ???
Do you know his weight.??
YES! this is Scrat! He has been just a blessing in my life we are inseparable. You guys are so much help and I thank you sooooo much from the bottom of my heart. I was on the phone with a vet and they wanted to put him under and amputate the tail. I'm So happy to know that I DON'T have to do that. He weighs about 2.5lbs. He doesnt seem to mind that his tail is partially missing cuz he is back to his old self jumping around in this office like he always has. It just looks awful because that spinal chord is just hanging out and its covered in blood
Foamy the squirrel
09-07-2012, 04:30 PM
wow I fell soooooooo bad for you :( .. id be freaking to .. ok so I know in case of emergency for my girl.. can u rince cut with proxcitde? and use basintrason on wounds?
please keep us updated
CritterMom
09-07-2012, 04:31 PM
Can you take a pic or tell us how long the bare part of the tail is?
2.5 pounds is pretty big. Is this a foxer or a BIG gray?
mstiffc8
09-07-2012, 04:43 PM
He is just a regular gray squirrel? I do admit I spoil him with all kinds of food. He eats his lab blocks but he also likes a wild range of vegetables and cereals. Multi-grain is his favorite. I cant get him to sit very still for a picture but the exposed part is about a good 3-4 inches.
CritterMom
09-07-2012, 04:51 PM
He is just a regular gray squirrel? I do admit I spoil him with all kinds of food. He eats his lab blocks but he also likes a wild range of vegetables and cereals. Multi-grain is his favorite. I cant get him to sit very still for a picture but the exposed part is about a good 3-4 inches.
OK, if 2.5 is pretty close, he can have 0.3cc of Infant Ibuprophen every 4 hours as needed.
I stepped on my boy's tail and he lost about 2" of it with no problems. The amputation would clean it up quickly, but he will probably be fine without it.
BTW, it will turn black and look pretty nasty - the bone dies, then falls off.
stepnstone
09-07-2012, 04:52 PM
YES! this is Scrat! He has been just a blessing in my life we are inseparable. You guys are so much help and I thank you sooooo much from the bottom of my heart. I was on the phone with a vet and they wanted to put him under and amputate the tail. I'm So happy to know that I DON'T have to do that. He weighs about 2.5lbs. He doesnt seem to mind that his tail is partially missing cuz he is back to his old self jumping around in this office like he always has. It just looks awful because that spinal chord is just hanging out and its covered in blood
(Just) a bone that runs through his tail, not a spiinal chord... if it were I'd be freaking out! :D
BTW... Throw a sheet or blanket over that bike. :sanp3
ALittleNutty
09-07-2012, 04:55 PM
Hugs to you and Scrat!
mstiffc8
09-07-2012, 04:57 PM
Well thank you all so much.. I am much more clam now than I was. I think I may stay the night in his room though tonight. My poor lil Scrat Jinju. He sends his thanks as well and I am going to upload a picture of him when he feels a little better. THANK YOU ALL SO VERY MUCH AND I WILL KEEP YOU UPDATED! :thankyou
CrazySquirrelLady
09-07-2012, 05:33 PM
So sorry to hear about the tail.. OUCH
I am new here, and don't know as much as ya'll about squirrels. So I hafta ask lots of questionss... just in case....
Why is it better to let the tail drop off rather than having the vet cut it off?
Won't it increase chance of infection? (I am an RN, guess that is all we think about).
Hugs & Get well soon!
CSL
jbtartell
09-07-2012, 05:38 PM
ohh noo do you have pain meds and atibiotics.. you need to clean the area. what do you have? do you have a vet.. he probably should go.. poor baby they cn survive with half a tail but we dont want infection to get in..
CritterMom
09-07-2012, 06:00 PM
As I said, amputation would be the quick way. It is the anesthesia that I get "squirrely" about. It can be risky and you never know WHEN that is going to happen.
I would really like to see a pic of the thing if possible. Too much of the tail and it probably would be a good thing to hae it nipped off.
BamaHam
09-07-2012, 06:47 PM
This happened to one of my gerbils. At the time I didn't know that could happen so yea...I FREAKED. I know this is awful but glad to know squirrels do it also. I put Neosporin on his tail and kept him separated from the others (gerbils) so they will not bite him or gnaw on his tail. Poor baby...poor YOU...both traumatized. Watch for flies ....don't need germs or maggots. Keep inside clean and safe and quite until it heals.:grouphug
stosh2010
09-07-2012, 07:14 PM
Yes PLEASE take a current "CLEAR" photo of the tail injury--so the rehabbers can diagnose properly...
Take 10 pictures, and maybe one will be nice and clear
Glad to hear Scrat is oblivious to the Tail Thing ....
Also--- take a photo next to a soda can--for size reference--We don't want to improperly dose the meds --if his weight isn't 2 1/2 lbs.
that's a BIG BOY !!!
CrazySquirrelLady
09-07-2012, 08:08 PM
I told my boyfriend who is a vet about your squirrel.
He recommended you just put on some Neosporin type antibiotic gel and leave it alone.
:D
CSL
Powered by vBulletin® Version 4.2.2 Copyright © 2025 vBulletin Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved.