Fred's foot isn't healing.

[skarabrae]

One of my babies, Fred, comes to visit me every day for a snack and some lovin'... a couples weeks ago, he came and his left paw hung limp. He still uses it somewhat when he climbs and runs, but only uses one hand to eat.

I wasn't concerned enough to catch him because he seems as speedy and agile as he's always been, but since it's been a few weeks already and I'm not seeing improvement, I'm looking for some advice.

I've been giving him pieces of cheese instead of nuts, hoping to help him get some extra calcium. I don't know how easily absorbed the calcium from dairy is with squirrels though. :dono

[jbtartell]

I had one who hurt is wrist but could not use it at all it turned out to be broken. if he is using it somewhat then it may just be sprang.. just watch him and if you see swelling try to catch him and take him to the vet. can you coax him to give him medicam? it will help with pain and swelling..

[skarabrae]

There's no vet anywhere near here that will take wild animals. The best I can do is baby motrin, and even that will be interesting. I'm still debating whether I should bench him for a while.... I don't know, he seems to be doing just fine without the use of the hand. I'm just not sure why it's not healing as fast as I'd expect. :thinking

[CritterMom]

Please don't give pain meds to a squirrel in the wild. It seems mean, but the pain of using the foot will also keep him from using it and injuring it further. If you take the pain away he will not understand that he needs to favor it.

If this is one of your babies, I would bring him back in, give him pain meds (in the cage), super good, healthy food and let him rest and heal without having to try to compete and fight the elements.

[skarabrae]

I wouldn't be able to give it to him unless he was caged... which is what I implied in my previous post.

I think I'll give him a few more days, and if he still hasn't improved I'll catch him. Fred and Wilma are bunking together in the same nest right now (in a maple in my neighbor's yard) and I don't want to separate them unless I have to.

Do you think the calcium in the cheese would be helpful? I've heard squirrels don't normally like cheese, but mine LOVE it. It's their crack, apparently. They would take a nut over it any day, don't get me wrong, but it's the next best thing. (Tried giving them block soaked/nuked with peanut butter, they won't even touch it...)