Open wound/ Front legs broken?

[HPDoodle]

We were called about a squirrel found. About a year old (teenager, maybe). We'll call him Steve.
Steve has a wound on his back behind his shoulders approx 1 inch on the right side. Also his front legs appear to be broken.
His breathing looks good and the finder said his attitude is better than last night (when they found him).
I suspect he was picked up (by a hawk, maybe - the wound) and then dropped (hence the legs broken).
He have him in a nice new cage (large and roomy) with a little blanket to snuggle with. We don't quite have a nest yet as we have just started... we'll get there.
Well, first things first. He's not accepting food or any water (we have syringes and the like). My concern is hydration first, then food but also to care for the wound. Is there anything to give for the pain as when he tried to move, he squeaked a lot and then settled. Also, does he need time to adjust to the environment (shock)? We have him in an upstairs room where it is quiet and undisturbed as well.
Recap:
Steve, Open wound behind right shoulder
Front legs broken?
not drinking
environment is quiet and "safe"
I'll try to post a pic:

The stuff on him is some meds the finder put on him.https://www.dropbox.com/s/86efmll640nplt4/IMG_0189.JPG

Any help is greatly appreciated.

[HPDoodle]

https://www.dropbox.com/s/86efmll640nplt4/IMG_0189.JPG

[ques96]

You may not have be able to post pictures yet. If you would like to email them to me I can post for you. bkques@aol.com

[HPDoodle]

Thank you ques! I emailed you the dropbox link.

[farrelli]

Dark is also good, as might be a heating pad set on low, partially under the cage so that he can get off of it if he doesn't like it.

[HPDoodle]

Dark is also good, as might be a heating pad set on low, partially under the cage so that he can get off of it if he doesn't like it.

We did the heating pad. In fact, we plugged it into my truck for the road trip and it is set to low. It is in a corner of a cage (pad is about 10x10 inches) and cage is wood shaves and about 1.5 foot x 2.5 foot.

[farrelli]

Good. Dark makes them feel safer, so turn out the lights or cover the cage.

[ques96]

Soft fleece or tshirts are better than the wood shavings. Some the the experts will hopefully reply soon. There are meds you can give for pain but you need a weight for dosing and I will leave the actual dosing to the experts on here.

[farrelli]

Btw, do you know of a vet? Would you take him to one if we could locate one? Beware that if you are in a state where keeping squirrels is illegal, they will often euthanize without permission, so you have to really play things safe.

[farrelli]

And make sure the shavings aren't cedar. It causes respiratory issues. But, as stated, fleece or shirts are best. Even polyfill.

[HPDoodle]

We are the registered animal rescue in the Texoma area in north TX, so, no worries about the legality. No vets in the area (50 mile drive) that will see them (we've asked before), so were kinda alone for the time being.

[ques96]

Here is the picture

202241

[HPDoodle]

Daughter was worried as Steve just sorta "flipped" over and is curled up in a corner now. He's still breathing; unfortunately, the only sign we have.

Oh! One question: can we give him aspirin (NOT Tylonol or Advil - we know it is poisonous to animals)? wondering if it would comfort him.

[CritterMom]

Infant Ibuprophen - it is a liquid - can be given every 4 hours for pain and is available at any drug store. Get the INFANT not the childrens. Can you get even close to a weight estimate?

If you rehab, do you have any antibiotics, or do you perhaps have some of yours that are left over. I sure would like to see that poor baby on some Baytril (animal) or Cipro (similar med for humans).

He desperately needs hydration - heat it and give by syringe. You can even use plain sugar water - put a couple teaspoons of sugar in a cup of water.

[HPDoodle]

Excellent! We have some Cipro and the baby Ibuprofin we'll get (our kids are teenagers). Hydrating is another issue, we have pippets and micro syringes. However, he's not wanting any of it. :dono

[farrelli]

Do you know how to dose both those things?

[HPDoodle]

Do you know how to dose both those things?

That's the next question, we have a small scale, so we can weigh him on that. However, I think he doesn't want to be disturbed that much. trying to learn squirrel moods is like understanding teenagers. lol

[CritterMom]

We will need a weight on the squirrel - please try to use a gram scale for accuracy and need the size in milligrams of the cipro tab.

You are going to have to insist on the hydration. I don't care if she wants it or not - she needs it and especially needs it if she is to be medicated. If you can get some in her mouth she may change her mind - nice and sweet and good.

What else do you have in the way of meds? Metacam? Do you by any chance have some prednisone? I am wondering if perhaps the legs are not broken but are having paralysis issues from nerve damage - prednisone might help that (it cannot be mixed with the ibuprophen though). Have you been able to do any kind of examination to determine whether the legs are actually broken?

[farrelli]

CrM, you know how to dose, right? I have the info if you don't, for both Cipro and Ibu. I'm going out in 5 min though.

[Loopy Squirrel]

At work & on lunch so I don't have a lot of time...the legs may not be broken. There is a nerve that runs down near where his wound is. If it is injured it can cause paralysis in one or both front legs. You will need to feel each leg from the shoulder to the wrist to determine if there are any actual breaks. The shoulder blade will be difficult to feel for w/ all of the swelling. Watch his breathing as being grabbed in that area can puncture a lung. Get him on the AB's ASAP as raptor wounds can cause huge infections if that is what got him. Will check back later. Good luck w/ the little guy.

[CritterMom]

CrM, you know how to dose, right? I have the info if you don't, for both Cipro and Ibu. I'm going out in 5 min though.


Cipro no - I will need some JIT help for that but yes on the Ibuprophen.

[Loopy Squirrel]

CM and I were typing at the same time. Good call CM!

[farrelli]

CrM, I just emailed you the instructions for Cipro as given to me from Nancy. I've got to go out now. Thanks.

[CritterMom]

CrM, I just emailed you the instructions for Cipro as given to me from Nancy. I've got to go out now. Thanks.


PM it farelli - I am at work

[farrelli]

Can you PM attachments?

[CritterMom]

Can you PM attachments?


I guess so! got it.

[HPDoodle]

That was weird... Password didn't work, had to reset.
OK... Sugar Water was a hit. He's drank some. Pipet... he tries to chew it. So, we used a syringe and even had a spare water bottle (daughter has a chinchilla).
I don't think his front legs are necessarily paralyzed... He is moving them. I think maybe dislocated as the movement seemed weak.

[HPDoodle]

YES!!! Got his weight... 362 grams. Going to get the Baby Ibuprofin.

[CritterMom]

YES!!! Got his weight... 362 grams. Going to get the Baby Ibuprofin.

Give her .09cc of ibuprophen and you can redo every 4 hours. Continue with the hydration, too - it is really the key to good health.

What do you have to feed this little one? Do you have any formula by any chance? If not, while you are out, pick up some goats milk, a container of vanilla yogurt, and a little carton of heavy cream and we can help you make up a formula to feed. Now that she knows good stuff comes from a syringe it may make feeding her easier.

Get a 1cc syringe from the pharmacist - tell him you need it to nurse a kitten. You will need it to dose the ibuprophen and also for the cipro.

Also need the size in mgs of the cipro.

[HPDoodle]

Perfect! We also got ahold of a vet that is looking to getting us some baytril. However, he needs to see him first, so working that at the moment.

[farrelli]

If you have Cipro, it's just the human form of Baytril. If you tell us the dose of the pill, we can break it down.

[HPDoodle]

Don't have any, hence, we have to go get baytril. :(
Also, we do have a week old can of formula that I thought I read was bad for squirrels as posted in a sticky. Am I right?

[HPDoodle]

Post about esbelac:
http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=29903

[CritterMom]

I wouldn't use the esbilac.

3 parts goats milk
1 part vanilla yogurt (love the Stoneyfield Yobaby)
1 part heavy whipping cream

[farrelli]

Esbilac can cause GI upset and may not be absorbed properly. Older squirrels handle it better, and apparently it's OK if somehow mixed with multi milk and yogurt. Fox Valley is best, and goat milk is a good substitute if you don't have that. We can give a recipe for the concoction if you want.

[HPDoodle]

Ok. Will get the ingredients. Goin to see the vet who is willing to help.

[CritterMom]

Ok. Will get the ingredients. Goin to see the vet who is willing to help.


:thumbsup

The goats milk is available as regular milk in a carton, and also dried and evaporated in a can. The dry and evaporated need to be reconstituted before feeding according t the package directions, then mixed up into the recipe.

[HPDoodle]

Well, the Vet will do an exam Pro-Bono but will charge for the Baytril. What does that stuff usually cost... A little short on the funds to spend a ton.

Oh!! Daughter just said he is eating alittle! YAY!!!! :multi

[farrelli]

Vets often rip you off on drugs. It can vary wildly. If he wants to charge something obscene (it happens), you might get a script and shop it around. Walmarts, for example, sometimes fill pet scripts for far less.

Are you the one with Cipro on hand (hard to remember which thread is which). If so, you don't need the Baytril. You just need to tell us the strength you have on hand.

[CritterMom]

Good news. Don't know the cost - up to the vet, but hopefully since he will see the little one free he isn't going to try to ream you too hard on the meds cost.

If you are taking him to the vet TODAY, hold off on the ibuprophen until after. If he thinks steroids - likely dexamethazone - is a good idea to reduce swelling and possibly help fix the leg issue, he won't be able to give it right away if the squirrel has had the ibuprophen (or any NSAIDS). ASK him specifically about using steroids to reduce swelling.

[farrelli]

My guess is the opposite. I think that he may not legally be able to charge you for the visit if squirrels aren't legal there and will make up the cost on the meds.

[CritterMom]

Sorry - still thinking here. Get some Silvadene cream for the wound - it is probably what he would give you anyway.

DON'T LET THE VET EUTHANIZE. They will do this to wildlife if there is anything at all wrong with them and these little guys are tough and will fight to live if given half a chance. Unless he shows you an x-ray showing a severed spine or something, don't let him do it. If this little baby can't return to the wild he can find a home.

[CritterMom]

My guess is the opposite. I think that he may not legally be able to charge you for the visit if squirrels aren't legal there and will make up the cost on the meds.

Cynic.:D

Not legal where I am and it sure doesn't stop my vet from charging three figures to walk in there...

[HPDoodle]

Well, the vet is the only one in the area that will do "exotics." So, that's good. He did recommend a med for pain and the cream as well as baytril. He's going to get a cost first and is thinking X-ray (no cost). However, if the leg is broken, there really won't be anything he can do that is reasonable. However, I picture Steve with a front riding scooter... Hehe.
Will keep you updated!

[CritterMom]

If you can keep them nice and quiet, those bones hear really fast.:thumbsup

[MollyBear361]

Poor baby. That is an awful wound. I hope he pulls through. Good luck to you guys!! :grouphug :grouphug :grouphug :grouphug

[CritterMom]

Poor baby. That is an awful wound. I hope he pulls through. Good luck to you guys!! :grouphug :grouphug :grouphug :grouphug

I'd like to see that get the insulin trick.

Ask your vet if he is familiar with mixing silvadene cream with insulin for use in wound healing. We have a member who got this info from her vet and has had simply amazing results. Googling will bring up many medical papers written about it.

[SammysMom]

I was just going to write about the insulin + silvadene (sp) trick. It is an awesome solution for a wound like that!!!

[HPDoodle]

Update from vet:

Got the anti-inflammatory, baytril and the wash for the wound that works with the baytril. She's doing ok as far as fluid (downed about 20 cc's a bit ago).

Bad news: head trauma (hence the nose bleed) and nerve damage (right arm reduced movement. Also, the left upper arm is broken. Unless we want to pay for expensive surgery, it really only makes her suffer to have the operation.

Oh, yes, I said HER. Steve is now STEVIE!!!! I'm not up on my squirrel physiology. Lol!

[farrelli]

So what are you going to do? She might need a forever home now. I hope that you're not thinking of putting her down. If you don't want to keep her now, let us know and maybe we can find someone to care for her and maybe pay for the operation.

[HPDoodle]

Sorry all for the late reply... I work nights so I was up for about 23 hours.
In my sleep, Stevie finally, under pain relief, passed away at approx 4:30 pm. :(
We will miss here as she was very receptive and seemed sweet when we held here.
We suspect the head trauma was worse than we thought. We felt she was going to turn around as she was taking in water, started to eat.
Again, thank you for all of your help. It definitely gives us the tools we need for the next one... and now that the vet is aware that we are the rescue in this area, we're sure to get more calls for these little creatures.

[farrelli]

I'm very sorry. :( Thank you for trying.

[Jackie in Tampa]

Rest in Peace Sweet Stevie:Love_Icon
thank you HPD for giving her the comfort of love.

[Nancy in New York]

I am so very sorry.

Rest in Peace
Precious Stevie 202329