Squirrel with electrical injuries

[mcfccc]

We have an adult male squirrel that was brought in to our animal hospital by Animal Control with the description that he had been electrocuted. His right front paw is missing two toes and one toenail on the remaining toe is missing as well. An xray showed that his back and spinal cord are not damaged, yet there is no movement in his rear legs. He cannot urinate without being expressed. We are doing antibiotics and changing the bandage every two days under sedation. He eats sporadically - fruits, avacado and he loves Henry's Rodent Block. We do SQ fluids each time the bandage is changed as well as syringe him water. He wants to destroy the water dish, so the syringe keeps the bandage dry. He attacks the bandage every second day. Does anyone know if this is reflective of his being injured. Also, we question the lack of mobility and inability to urinate, is this also due to the nature of his injuries. We believe the burns must have been on the missing toes, and that he probably did some serious chewing on them. We are in NH. We appreciate any input you can give us. An RN suggested that he might have tingling in his paw and that's why he goes after the bandage.

[farrelli]

Until someone more experienced shows up, I would wonder if his spinal cord is inflamed and being compressed. Obviously electrical injuries are very, very difficult to diagnose and treat, and at least in humans, they're pretty unpredictable. Maybe some steroids or anti-inflammatories would be in order?

Watch that paw because squirrels will self-mutilate. You may have to give him something for the zaps, and maybe even have to do an e-collar or a bandage around the mid-section to control his chewing. The bandage solution is found on this page:

http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=40232&page=2&highlight=e-collar

[stepnstone]

We have an adult male squirrel that was brought in to our animal hospital by Animal Control with the description that he had been electrocuted. His right front paw is missing two toes and one toenail on the remaining toe is missing as well. An xray showed that his back and spinal cord are not damaged, yet there is no movement in his rear legs. He cannot urinate without being expressed. We are doing antibiotics and changing the bandage every two days under sedation. He eats sporadically - fruits, avacado and he loves Henry's Rodent Block. We do SQ fluids each time the bandage is changed as well as syringe him water. He wants to destroy the water dish, so the syringe keeps the bandage dry. He attacks the bandage every second day. Does anyone know if this is reflective of his being injured. Also, we question the lack of mobility and inability to urinate, is this also due to the nature of his injuries. We believe the burns must have been on the missing toes, and that he probably did some serious chewing on them. We are in NH. We appreciate any input you can give us. An RN suggested that he might have tingling in his paw and that's why he goes after the bandage.

My personal opinion, it's all related.
Paralysis is not that uncommon with electrical shock which would explain both the lack of mobility and inability to urinate.
Recovery is possible of course depending on extent of damage . Unfortunately, all too often with electrical shock/burns the full extent of trauma may not even be seen for the first two-three weeks. You may see (other) liaisons suddenly appear during this time.

Were there any burns present in the mouth? On the gums, cheeks, tongue?
Are you giving any pain management like an analgesic, anti-inflammatory
such as Meloxicam?

[mcfccc]

There was no sign of trauma except to the right front paw. He can push up, has attitude when he wants to posess his food, can turn himself into a circle position. He has had buprenorphine, but shows no ongoing signs of pain. He was given dex when he was admitted to the hospital as well as the buprenorphine. We've given him two additional injections of the buprenorphine.

[Nancy in New York]

There was no sign of trauma except to the right front paw. He can push up, has attitude when he wants to posess his food, can turn himself into a circle position. He has had buprenorphine, but shows no ongoing signs of pain. He was given dex when he was admitted to the hospital as well as the buprenorphine. We've given him two additional injections of the buprenorphine.

I will alert Jackie in Tampa to this thread. She has probably seen and healed more squirrels than anyone of this board.
And she knows her stuff!

[stepnstone]

Buprenorphine serves to block pain, there is no anti inflammatory properties about it.
Personally I would not use a semi synthetic opioid (also addictive) that can be hard on
the kidneys and liver on a squirrel and certainly not one that is already debilitated.
Just my opinion...

[Jackie in Tampa]

squirrel electricution, hmmm...
either they are on a pole and get zapped, or they generally bite a power supply, usually cord...
Electrical shock will cook tissue... and will leave an exit wound...

I am not reading anything here that makes me think electrical shock...
an injured paw and no pics...:thinking :dono

have you checked inside his mouth?

[mcfccc]

We can take pictures at the next bandage change. It was reported to us that it was a electrical injury by he ACO. What is the thinking on using metacam instead of meloxicam? He chewed the two toes off of his foot before he was brought to us, so we never saw the original injury, just the damage he self inflicted. There is no sign of mouth damage or injury.

[Jackie in Tampa]

We can take pictures at the next bandage change. It was reported to us that it was a electrical injury by he ACO. What is the thinking on using metacam instead of meloxicam? He chewed the two toes off of his foot before he was brought to us, so we never saw the original injury, just the damage he self inflicted. There is no sign of mouth damage or injury.metacam is meloxicam...NSAID
for sq use it is dosed at 0.2mg/kg SID
and can be dosed as high as 0.3mg/kg SID

sqs are self mutilators, as wild animals they will remove anything that shows vunerability to prey...
they can and will remove a limb in record speed...
if the sq seems coheriant and with all his facilities and is hydrated well, you can add tramadol to the treatment to cover any excess pain...
sqs tolerate this combo well.
no steroids with NSAIDS ...
Sqs tend to hate being bandaged, a small cone, e collar may be needed if he continues to chew...
I would add a antibiotic as well, do not use metronidazole{or any antifungals} until the bupernex has cleared his system..
I would use baytril for it's wide margins.

Usually any electricutions should be monitored for a few weeks to keep an eye on any heart damage...

I am only typing general info from the input you have given,
a pic says alot.:poke

TSB is da bombdiggity!...glad to have you with us!!:wave123

[island rehabber]

Metacam and meloxicam are one and the same: metacam is the brand name for meloxicam. :)
As an anti-inflammatory it could be very useful here. It's good that the squirrel is taking a lot of fluids to flush his system. stepnstone is right in saying that lesions may pop up elsewhere even weeks from now. Job one, at this point, is to prevent any further self-mutilation while he heals - an e-collar might be necessary. If there is nerve damage, both movement in his back legs and urination may return in a few days...slowly.

EDIT: Jackie beat me to it, and in better detail. :bowdown:thumbsup

[mcfccc]

Thank you. We will start metacam today. He is already on baytril injectable twice a day. Is an e collar for squirrels self made? You are right about the bandage..he is so not happy about it. As of this morning he was able to push himself up with his front legs. The vet did examine his mouth at time of initial sedation and treatment. There was no damage at all...thank goodness or I am sure eating would be an issue as well. Thanks for all your help.

[Jackie in Tampa]

one more quicky.... injectable baytril can be given orally to avoid ulceration at injection site... it's common in sqs. ugh.
10mg/kg SID for baytril , ben bac or another probiotic is recommended.
thanks for all you are doing!!!

[mcfccc]

Just did oral baytril for mbd squirrel with uti. Doing injectable for this guy to maximize dose temporarily. Switching injection site each time. Plan to give natural yogurt to keep good bacteria in gut healthy.
Thanks again

[Jackie in Tampa]

convenia can be stacked with baytril, however the on board is only thought to be 5 days if you think you need additional ABs for fast action against sepsis...

[farrelli]

You can buy e-collars or make your own. On page one of the following thread are instructions for the e-collar, and on page two are instructions for another way to limit their ability to self mutilate, at least on the lower body.

http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=40232

[mcfccc]

Our squirrel has a diminished appetite. Still giving metacam, foot shows good granulation as well as good blood vessels. He's been better about trying to get at his foot. His attitude is more aggressive, but he won't drink from a dish, preferring to dump it, and he won't take more than a few cc's from the syringe. we're doing the bandage changes at home to minimize stress from transport, and are doing every third day to minimize sedation. Any suggestions. He still can't pee on his own although it does look like some bladder control is returning. He moves his tail and his rear legs a little when he is expressed. Poor little guy!

[farrelli]

Have you tried using a weighted dish like a ramekin or putting stones in the bottom so that it can't tip? If you're concerned about dehydration (I assume you know how to test for that) you could see if he'll eat watermelon, which is almost all water.

[Jackie in Tampa]

meclazine OTC or reglan Rx (metoclopramide)
may help stimulate appetite...
or dip the syringe in syrup, sometimes a wee bit of sugar will make their tummy growl and they realize they are hungry.
glad he is still with us:bowdown
thank you for update...

* if you are going to continue pain management using the metacam, I would back off the high dose, and reduce to 0.2mg/kg. The higher dose is to maximize the inflammation properties within those first 5 days.
If he is not drinking enough, I would remove all pain meds:grouphug

[Wonkawillie]

the missing toes is textbook exit wound of electricution. The electricity enters the body and it has to come out to complete its circut. Very often will blast off some toes. I think supportive care is what needs to be done. Antiinflamitory meds and good hydration and food. Warmth and lots of rest too. Hopfully he can heal himself.

[mcfccc]

thank you everyone. We reduced meds and have added trips to the screened in porch with an assortment of branches in his cage. Foot is starting to show signs of healing, finally starting to dry. Hard not to make moist environment on something kept bandaged . We alternate between scarlet red bandage, neosporin and betadine. He has been happier outside, deciding to at least chew on branches. We did SQ fluids last night when we changed the bandage. Will try sweet on the syringe. Thank you all so very much.

[SammysMom]

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