acorniv
09-03-2013, 01:13 AM
When I get a new squirrel, I just give a cursery look over and let them settle in for about a day before the big inspection. Max gave me no reason to do more than that, except he has yet to poop, other than some dried bits he passed (with stimulation) after his first meal. That's happened with all my others, so I'm not worried, just watching it.
I''ve now had Max about 24 hours, and until his last feeding he fell asleep after each meal, and didn't wake up until I woke him to eat 4 hours later. This time he was up and rooting around, and stayed up kind of inspecting his surroundings afterwards, so I took the opportunity to inspect him too. I gave him my rehab massage, which he enjoyed, until I ran across a lump on his left side. (right side? - now I'm confused and I kow it matters! Left, I think) It is closer to his back than his front, and quite prominent when his leg is down, but when he sits so his knee moves up and covers his side, it hides behind his knee. There is no matching lump on the otehr side. It's a firm lump, round like a marble ( not that hard) and about the size of the tip of my forefinger. When I palpated it, he didn't jerk away, but did roll over on his other side.
Does this sound like it could be due to the fact that he has not passed any stool? If so, I'll give him a warm half bath ( It's been effective before, and the baby loved it). I will do so anyway in the morning. Otherwise, what do you think it might be?
My first thought was it might be an absess, but I got my magnifier out and looked him over very well, looking for the possibility of an injury, and found none - no wounds of any kind, no bruising and no swollen lymph nodes that would indicate an infection.
My daughter reminded me that our vet said he'd see squirrels if we ever had a problem. That's one option, but my car is in the shop with an expensive repair, and we just paid for college X 2, so it's rotten timing. Our former vet was wildlife certified and great to work with he never charged. He had me do the rehabbing, but gave us food and advice and medical care - said that was how it worked ( yeah in a perfect world!). but he retired, and while the practice continues to rehab, it's no longer a staff I'm comfortable with. I'd be expected to turn him over to them - which would be great, if I knew they'd do right by him. Once they roughed up my elderly and very sensitive cat, I've never trusted them.
Any thoughts would be appreciated. :thankyou
I''ve now had Max about 24 hours, and until his last feeding he fell asleep after each meal, and didn't wake up until I woke him to eat 4 hours later. This time he was up and rooting around, and stayed up kind of inspecting his surroundings afterwards, so I took the opportunity to inspect him too. I gave him my rehab massage, which he enjoyed, until I ran across a lump on his left side. (right side? - now I'm confused and I kow it matters! Left, I think) It is closer to his back than his front, and quite prominent when his leg is down, but when he sits so his knee moves up and covers his side, it hides behind his knee. There is no matching lump on the otehr side. It's a firm lump, round like a marble ( not that hard) and about the size of the tip of my forefinger. When I palpated it, he didn't jerk away, but did roll over on his other side.
Does this sound like it could be due to the fact that he has not passed any stool? If so, I'll give him a warm half bath ( It's been effective before, and the baby loved it). I will do so anyway in the morning. Otherwise, what do you think it might be?
My first thought was it might be an absess, but I got my magnifier out and looked him over very well, looking for the possibility of an injury, and found none - no wounds of any kind, no bruising and no swollen lymph nodes that would indicate an infection.
My daughter reminded me that our vet said he'd see squirrels if we ever had a problem. That's one option, but my car is in the shop with an expensive repair, and we just paid for college X 2, so it's rotten timing. Our former vet was wildlife certified and great to work with he never charged. He had me do the rehabbing, but gave us food and advice and medical care - said that was how it worked ( yeah in a perfect world!). but he retired, and while the practice continues to rehab, it's no longer a staff I'm comfortable with. I'd be expected to turn him over to them - which would be great, if I knew they'd do right by him. Once they roughed up my elderly and very sensitive cat, I've never trusted them.
Any thoughts would be appreciated. :thankyou