Anal Hemmorage

[sudosaid]

Hi all,

I've been taking care of a baby squirrel after I had found it abandoned in the middle of my yard a few weeks ago. I watched at a safe distance for the mother to return. Unfortunately she didn't. So I've done quite a lot of research to make the little one feel comfortable. Well a few days ago I noticed a red tube sticking out of what looks to be it's anus. At first I thought it may just be his penis, so I washed the area off with a moist paper towel and gently pushed it back inside telling him that he was a very pervy squirrel. ;) My question is whether it is indeed his penis, or is it more serious and is his anal tract prolapsing?

http://postimage.org/image/48lr76b75/

I appologize for the horribly blurry pictures. Also sometimes it's protruding much more than in these pictures which were taken


I've been keeping the area as clean as I can, but I'm worried that I can't do much else for it.

[sudosaid]

Sorry, forgot to link the pictures. :\

http://s16.postimage.org/ugwvwjvat/Photo022.jpg

[kastillo]

I can't tell much from the pic, but that much red does not look normal. The anus is below the base of the tail, and if it is a boy the penis would be in the mid stomach area just below the belly button. This looks very serious, can you get a less blurry picture. Hopefully experts will be on here soon to help.

[sudosaid]

I just picked the little one up to take another picture, but it's now back inside. Though I will be sure to take one the next time I see it. I'm very concerned about the little one, though it doesn't seem to be in any pain. She still runs around and jumps during playtime, and loves to sit on my shoulder and watch my work on my computer. =)

[sudosaid]

Here is a better picture.

http://s13.postimage.org/q6rvbx92f/DSCN0060.jpg

[kastillo]

That looks really bad. Is it possible he is self sucking?? How old is he? What are you feeding him, how much, and how often? Is he on heat?
Is he peeing and pooing regularly? Are you stimulating him to go to the bathroom?
How old is this baby? Can you get a picture of the whole animal too, so the experts can assess his overall health?
If this is indeed his penis, he's done some serious damage. You may want to cut off the top of an small old sock and put it around his mid section so he's not able to suck it. Keep it clean and maybe some neosporin also. Squirrels are very stoic and do not show pain until it's almost too late.
It's late, so a lot of the rehabbers are offline. By morning hopefully someone will be on soon to help.
The picture is still very blurry, it looks like it has a penis upward on the belly, so that is his anus?? Either way, this baby needs some expert help. Please be patient hopefully someone will answer soon.

[sudosaid]

I believe, she is about 6-8 weeks. She doesn't like the milk much anymore. I feed it small acorns that I find in the yard, and other unsalted nuts such as peanuts and sunflower seeds as well as fruits every other day or so. I'm not sure if it's self sucking, though I've read about it. Would that mean I'm not feeding it enough? =\ I will get a full body shot of the little one by the morning. I thank you for your help and I'm sure little Akiko appreciates it as well. =)

[sassysquirrel]

If she is only 6 weeks old - She still needs to be on formula - Fox Valley - and if this is a prolapse - This is very serious and needs immediate attention - She also needs to be put on a healthy diet

search this thread and read post #14 Rectal/? Internal ? life threatening Andi


I am not a expert - so maybe soon someone will be on to help - but I do know this is serious

[Jackie in Tampa]

:Welcome :wave123
cn you post a clearer pic from further away? I think you may be too close and that's why it's blurry..
how is the baby this AM?
Do you have a vet ?
what state are you in just in case we need to find some help for you two?
maybe someone can share supplies and help decide best avenue to treat whatever is going on.
I believe he may be a self sucker...he wants to nurse.
Please put the baby back on formula...
We recommend using 1 cc needless syringes...free from the pharmacist or vet. Also sold at any feed store.
What formula were you using?
If he continues to suck, this could become major serious, and it almost is now...
try to feed him often to interupt the cycle of him sucking himself.
You may need ABs soon if this continues and could lead to surgery.
Please give formula.
If you do not have any, there is a recipe for goatsmilk formula you can make at home until you order Fox Valley.

This is a sticky and good advise... thank you for helping the baby.

In light of the recent problems rehabbers have been experiencing with Esbilac formula, it has been decided that the best alternative is Fox Valley 32/40.
http://foxvalleynutrition.com/prod/d...p?CID=1&PLID=1 (http://foxvalleynutrition.com/prod/details.asp?CID=1&PLID=1)
Nicholas P. Vlamis, President (Nick)
(800) 679-4666
If you call in your order and tell him you need it quickly he'll be happy to oblige. He can ship to you regular post 3-5 days and overnight. He's very nice and very easy to work with.
In the meantime you will need to feed your baby a home-made formula, but please for the sake of the baby, do not feed this for more than 4-7 days. It's a great temporary replacer milk but it lacks certain vitamins and minerals that the babies need to thrive. This recipe will ensure that your baby will be well nourished until your order from Fox Valley arrives.

Jackie (Jackie in Tampa) has graciously offered her temporary replacement formula recipe.
Jackie's Goat Milk Recipe
1 cup goats milk
1/3 cup heavy cream
1/3 cup dannon all natural vanilla yogurt

Mix well and keep in a covered plastic or glass container in the refrigerator. Replace after 48 hours.
Please note, this website has several links that still mention Esbilac and we need to keep these links active as they do contain excellent information so please keep in mind that Fox Valley is now the formula of choice for raising baby squirrels.

[sage4dylan]

I am no expert but it doesn't look like the penis to me. The penis is usually farther up and that looks like it's coming out of the anus. It looks really bad. this one looks like it needs to see a vet for sure.

[kastillo]

Any news on the baby this am?? Jackie is the expert. Please follow her advice to help this little one. And where are you located, because if you can't get a vet to see it, maybe there is someone on here close to you that can help you with meds, or give it a look. Thanks for helping this baby. Oh yea, and it def. needs to be on formula if it is that young, and Fox Valley is the best. Temp. goats milk formula until then. Keep us updated!

[sudosaid]

She is doing fine I think. She's slightly less active then the past few days, but not noticeably so. I went and picked up a small bottle of Epsilac. She was overjoyed. =) I read the Warning sticky about Epsilac, though I'm afraid it is all I can do in such a short period of time. I am about to place an order for Fox Valley, though which type of formula should I get? I will get a better picture. I'll get a full body shot and another shot of the area from a distance. Also I live near Nashville, TN. I am planning on taking her to the vet very, very soon if it doesn't improve. Thank you guys SO much! Quick question, if surgery is needed will that reduce her chances of making it back to the wild? If it's needed it's needed and whatever is best for the little one is what I'm going to do. Though I would feel very bad if I messed up her chances of being the wild squirrel that she is. =\ Though again, thank you guys very much! =)

[Lisaaaroo]

You really should stop the Esbilac and switch to the temporary goats milk formula.
1 cup goats milk
1/3 cup full fat vanilla yogurt preferably organic like stoneyfield or yobaby makes one that is good.

Once she settles on that you can even add heavy whipping cream but even those two ingredients would work until the fox valley arrives then do a gradual switch. 25% fv 75%gm for a few feedings then 50%gm 50%fv for a few more feedings, then 25%gm and 75%fv for a few until reaching 100% fv. The yogurt will help put good flora in the babies intestines. Esbilac can actually make squirrels sick hopefully thats not what caused this problem. That does not look good or normal at all! Has the baby had any diarrhea and are you stimulating him/her to go to the bathroom? How much does the baby weigh? They sell all the supplies at Walmart; goats milk (fresh in a carton), stoneyfield organic full fat vanilla yogurt and a digital kitchen scale.

[Lisaaaroo]

Oh and also no more nuts and fruits as the staples! The staple of their diet should be a quality rodent block (petco sells kaytee mouse and rat diet in a blue bag which will work just have to give more daily) but the best come from henryshealthypets.com (henrys healthy growth blocks) and they also sell the formula and rehab supplies there too! The next staple being healthy veggies (ex. broccoli stems, cauliflower, arugula, chayote squash, etc. *They list more in the squirrel nutrition forum!* Nuts and fruits are only to be given as a treat, my Sandy gets ONE little thumb size piece of fruit every other day probably could go everyday but she isnt a big fruit eater and just ONE nut at night time after she has eaten all her other healthy stuff!

[kastillo]

It's important to get a kitchen scale and get a weight on her in grams. At this age she should still be eating formula every 4-6 hours, and how much depending on her weight: (5-7% of her body weight per feeding)
For example
At 75 grams, she should eat 3.75 - 5.25 cc/ml per feeding
At 100 grams, she should eat 5-7 cc's / ml per feeding
At 150 grams, 7.5 - 10.5 cc/ml
And so on....
So you'll need a needleless syringe that measures cc/ml.
How's she doing, have you got a pic yet?

[Jackie in Tampa]

update please...

[kastillo]

You should get the Fox Valley 32/40 Day One. How's the baby doing?

[sudosaid]

I would like to apologize to those following about the lack of updates for the past few days. It's been a very physically and emotionally demanding week for me, so I couldn't imaging how much stress little Akiko has had to endure. I DID take her to the vet where I'm sure they will take very good care of her. I am awaiting word from them to let me know what type of action is going to happen; either they will send her to a refuge in Jolton, TN(hopefully), or they will have to put her down. ='(

I would like to thank everyone for their support and advice in this situation. And at the end of this post I will post a pic or two of Akiko to show how beautiful she is. =)

But first I would like to give some advice to those who are thinking of taking care of a squirrel(or any wild animal) with the intention of releasing back into the wild. Of course I'm sure there is a ton of info on these forums and on the web that it's not needed, though maybe I could shed some light for those who have never attempted something like this.

Firstly, a little back story. I am 22 years old and I've loved animals for as long as I can remember. I've had dogs, cats, mice, gerbils, hamsters, birds, lizards, rabbits, ferrets, frogs, turtles, etc. Though never have I tried to rehabilitate a wild animal, and I will admit I feel like it was out of my league. I thought that after my past raising animals, especially small rodents such as gerbils, hamsters and mice/rats, that I would be able to take care of this wild animal and release it back into it's natural habitat. My heart sank when I found her and I felt like I needed to do something about it. What I should have done in the first place was take her to the vet. At the time of finding her I was afraid that they would immediately put her down, but because of this fear, and my actions because of it, this is now a bigger possibility than ever. If I were to have taken her straight to the vet despite the fear of them putting her down then Akiko may have been on her way to someone with much more experience with wild animals and would have had a much greater chance of being released into the wild. I say this because as of my ridiculous mistake Akiko will NEVER be able to be released into the wild. I have completely stripped her chances clean, though this was NEVER my intention.

So to those out there who by chance are reading this and have found a sweet bundle of fluffy joy that looks to be abandoned then please, PLEASE find someone who is experienced and/or qualified with wildlife to take care of it. I know it seems like it would be an easy job, especially if you have a lot of experience with pets. But squirrels aren't pets, they are wild animals and the differences between them could be very harmful if you don't take necessary precautions.

So please use better judgement than I did if you are ever in this situation. It could be a life or death situation.

Though I am very curious as to what might have caused this type of prolapse. Could it have been caused by me misjudging her age and feeding her solids too quickly?

Again, I would like to thank everyone for their help and support and I apologize from the bottom of my heart for all the trouble I have caused my little friend Akiko.

http://s18.postimage.org/q394gfyfd/DSCN0004.jpg
My little autumn child. I'm sorry sweetheart. =(

[kastillo]

I'm so sorry. I wish we could have found someone on here close to you that could take her. From what I've read on this board, most of these folks do not consider euthanasia but a very very last resort. I hope the vet you took her to will help her and send her to the refuge. Most vets do not have the facilities or the time for wildlife and will euthanize over the smallest thing if they are deemed unreleasable. Your heart was in the right place, thank you for helping this little one.

[Mrs Skul]

Poor Poor Little Boy. :shakehead
Starving ,Hungary for Formula. He has sucked his Penis completely out.
He is so under weight looking. :Cry

[sudosaid]

Well actually, it wasn't a penis. It was prolapse. The vet told me that it was probably developing before I found her. :(

[kastillo]

Did you find out if she was sent to the refuge??