View Full Version : Repost ear puss/jaw disfigured/eye glazed head tilt
ablissful1
09-08-2012, 09:47 PM
Hi all, Today I was given 3 4-6wk olds by my local rehabber that I volunteer for. I am able to give them more attention and will be releasing them when time. One guy, who I saw Thurs and didn't see this, now has a tilt and goes in circles. His eye looks cloudy and jaw appears caved in. When he was with another group (7 total in a cage) he was fiesty and seemed fine. he may have been in the crush of squirrels to get a syringe. Anyway today his ear appeared completely crusted over, so I warm soaked the crust off, small white puss balls cleaned out. ear looks abnormal, very large and pinned flat against his head. When he walks his head tilts to the good side big time now, bad side up. He climbs well. He had an abnormal suck so I took him so I could spend more time to feed him. The ear seems to have closed back up again. He is on 1 drop of clindomycin 2x with acidopholis in the formula. poor baby is comfortable sleeping with his mates so I hate to keep waking him up to look at the ear, but should I be cleaning it every hour, should I be using any peroxide on the cotton ball or other? Thank you! I have emailed the rehabber but haven't heard back yet. he didn't appear disfiured when I saw him Thurs and I think she would have told me if she had noticed.
Thank you
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island rehabber
09-09-2012, 01:14 AM
The ear seems to have closed back up again. He is on 1 drop of clindomycin 2x with acidopholis in the formula. poor baby is comfortable sleeping with his mates so I hate to keep waking him up to look at the ear, but should I be cleaning it every hour, should I be using any peroxide on the cotton ball or other? Thank you! I have emailed the rehabber but haven't heard back yet. he didn't appear disfiured when I saw him Thurs and I think she would have told me if she had noticed.
Thank you
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:nono FIRST, STOP THE CLINDOMYCIN!
According to Wild Mammal Babies, the First 48 Hrs -- my rehabbing Bible -- clindomycin should NOT be given to rodents!
SMZ-TMP (Sulfatrim) and Baytril are the best for infections of this type.
This baby was obviously in some kind of accident -- perhaps he was stepped on? Hard to believe a 200-gram squirrel could do that kind of damage, even in a rush for the syringe. Can you post a pic?
Mochi&Mocha
09-09-2012, 01:19 AM
My squirrel Mocha had this same exact problem! We used Batril Otic and Gentisol. He needs to see a vet very soon. This can lead to sever neurological issues. He also may need a cream for her eye. He most likely scratched it due to her head tilt.
Mrs Skul
09-09-2012, 03:12 AM
:wave123 Hi ablissful1
Could you start from the beginning and tell us what has happened, where and How they were found?
Did they have Fly eggs / Maggots on them at all? If you see any Fly eggs on them, You dose with CapStar to Kill the one that are already in the ear Canal and Nose. :shakehead
Can you Post some Individual Pictures of the ones you are having Problems with? If you can get a close up of the Ear it would be nice.
PS
Was the Ears and eyes already opened on this baby?
ablissful1
09-09-2012, 02:22 PM
Sorry guys, taking time to feed her makes me not stop to type. hard to get a pic, she favors hiding the side when hold her, she seems to sleep in a straight up position, not laying on either side, she tilts her head all the way to the bad side to get the syringe, can climb around on the cage, but walks sideways. Still very inquisitive and seems to appreciate the extra time for her. I feed her till she stops, she rests a bit (5 minutes) then feed her again until she gets at least 15cc s in so it takes awhile. She is very thin. Don't know anything about her. She apparently "seemed fine" when she was with the rehabber. I think it was a slow progression as she is growing, the malformities are showing. Plus she was in with 6 other squirrels and maybe the other volunteers weren't paying attention? Who knows,all I know is I have her and want to give her a chance.The ear is cleaned up and now starting to stand up. She coughs, or snorts every few breaths. I will try to get pics up by tonight, sorry I wasn't as prepared as I could have been. I was given the other anti biotic (clin)because my rehabber told be the baytril had not been working well with the squirrels as it usually had and she thought the dosage would wreck her kidneys. I was calling her "him" before, it's a girl. No fly eggs, no maggots,and she is about 5-6 weeks old. Could be older if not for her size- eyes and ears open, can make unhappy sounds (if I try to dab her nose with a qtip to clean it and look at it. She was with others that were being weened to food/formula mix on fv formula-doesn't seem like she can eat but sounds like she is grinding her teeth. want to try a cheerio in formula to see if she'll eat. will hold off on antibiotic till I hear from you or rehabber.
Mochi&Mocha
09-09-2012, 02:49 PM
Sorry guys, taking time to feed her makes me not stop to type. hard to get a pic, she favors hiding the side when hold her, she seems to sleep in a straight up position, not laying on either side, she tilts her head all the way to the bad side to get the syringe, can climb around on the cage, but walks sideways. Still very inquisitive and seems to appreciate the extra time for her. I feed her till she stops, she rests a bit (5 minutes) then feed her again until she gets at least 15cc s in so it takes awhile. She is very thin. Don't know anything about her. She apparently "seemed fine" when she was with the rehabber. I think it was a slow progression as she is growing, the malformities are showing. Plus she was in with 6 other squirrels and maybe the other volunteers weren't paying attention? Who knows,all I know is I have her and want to give her a chance.The ear is cleaned up and now starting to stand up. She coughs, or snorts every few breaths. I will try to get pics up by tonight, sorry I wasn't as prepared as I could have been. I was given the other anti biotic (clin)because my rehabber told be the baytril had not been working well with the squirrels as it usually had and she thought the dosage would wreck her kidneys. I was calling her "him" before, it's a girl. No fly eggs, no maggots,and she is about 5-6 weeks old. Could be older if not for her size- eyes and ears open, can make unhappy sounds (if I try to dab her nose with a qtip to clean it and look at it. She was with others that were being weened to food/formula mix on fv formula-doesn't seem like she can eat but sounds like she is grinding her teeth. want to try a cheerio in formula to see if she'll eat. will hold off on antibiotic till I hear from you or rehabber.
Do you have a squirrel friendly vet you can go to?
ablissful1
09-09-2012, 08:25 PM
This is a bummer, I got good pics but had to email to self to download and taking very long-. And they are too big. How do I resize?
island rehabber
09-09-2012, 08:40 PM
The rehabber is correct that Baytril is not working the way it used to.....but clindo is not the solution. Sulfatrim, Bactrim, SMZ-TMP, chloro.....all good.
ablissful1
09-11-2012, 02:22 PM
Thank you all, today bad. new ab but now not eating/VERY little and now clicking on each breath, very rapid, prostates self and doesn't want to stay with other squirrels. She had adjusted her eating very well finding a comfortable way to get formula without aspirating (unless it was silent asp -I know work with asp in humans), and having good little poops and pee. Spoke with vet office that takes wildlife, they said it's probably too late. infection came fast and hard. She can barely stay up right.Took her outside to feel grass and sunshine. have her sitting on my heart. Seems unfair to have her in pain and not be able to provide relief. want to give her pain relief (childrens but she won't take any liquid. any other suggestions to make her comfortable? She could rally and I will keep treating her like she will but reality is probably not. I'd rather it happen here being held and loved.
pappy1264
09-11-2012, 02:34 PM
Trying to catch up to speed on this. So this is an ear infection? Can you post a pic? What ab did vet give you now? What are you feeding? Can you see if she will take any ensure? They sell a pecan flavor. Is she dehydrated? Possibly giving sub-q's, if dehydrated, as it will cause loss of appetite.
ablissful1
09-11-2012, 03:50 PM
Trying to catch up to speed on this. So this is an ear infection? Can you post a pic? What ab did vet give you now? What are you feeding? Can you see if she will take any ensure? They sell a pecan flavor. Is she dehydrated? Possibly giving sub-q's, if dehydrated, as it will cause loss of appetite.
Now diarrhea has set in. switched over yesterday to baytril and now to pedialyte, takes 2 sips the stops, I don't even think she's swallowing. Looks like an abscess behind jaw/before ear, small amount of puss from ear, eye looks horrible, she has seperated herself from the other squirrels, whole body moves when breathing. got a pm with a rehabber that I am trying to contact now.
Mochi&Mocha
09-11-2012, 04:19 PM
Now diarrhea has set in. switched over yesterday to baytril and now to pedialyte, takes 2 sips the stops, I don't even think she's swallowing. Looks like an abscess behind jaw/before ear, small amount of puss from ear, eye looks horrible, she has seperated herself from the other squirrels, whole body moves when breathing. got a pm with a rehabber that I am trying to contact now.
Especially with the puss coming out of the ear it sounds like an ear infection...
Squirrel Girls Mom
09-11-2012, 04:54 PM
BUMP
ablissful1
09-11-2012, 05:47 PM
I've seen that, what does "Bump" mean? My little girl was becoming increasingly and horribly uncomfortable then started squealing. I called the rehabber I had been working with and we both agreed, this was getting worse. So the decision was made, she needed to be out of pain, and she wasn't going to recover. I drove her to the wildlife vet who would decide yes rehab or no, it's time. As I got to the front door, she passed. I understand the passing, but to me the worst is seeing something you love in pain. You can't drive fast enough and you can't wait for meds to kick in fast enough. I only had her for 36 hours but she made me smile for that time. I still have the other 2 who are fine so I will be lurking on the whole fall thing. Thanks for all who tried to help. Typing I'm fine but open my mouth to talk and I just cry.
astra
09-11-2012, 06:10 PM
:grouphug sorry your little one passed...:grouphug
but even though she was struggling, she knew she was loved and cared for...
"bump" means to bump the thread to the top of the forum list for faster attention
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