New squirrel. Paralized back legs.

[sparkysmom]

We just got a new squirrel someone brought, she was up and eating and playing and now is paralized in her back legs. Help quick. Tell me what to do to start treating this. Thanks, I will be waiting.

[squirrelfriend]

How long have you had her, age, breed type? is she getting calcium whether it be in liquid form, leafy greens or Prime powder? Has she had any falls or trauma of any sort? If it is MBD put her on a heating pad to help soothe aches.

[sparkysmom]

I really don't know the age, she is weaned, I would say close to 3 months. She is not really a big veggie eater, she does eat green beans. We aren't really sure how she was raised , we believe someone may have raised and released too early, she walked up to a friend , climbed his leg and was looking for food. We really don't know a back ground. I am trying ensure as we speak

[sparkysmom]

Is this something that can be treated and reversed. Do we need to go get calcium drops tonight? Whatever it takes.

[Gabe]

I don't think MBD comes on suddenly, it is gradual, weakness, not moving around much because it is very painful. If she were active, then suddenly paralyzed I would consider an injury. Could she have fallen? Anti inflammatories would reduce the swelling in her back end. I would also consider a fractured pelvis. Does she have feeling in her toes? Any reaction when you pinch her feet?

[sparkysmom]

She moves her tail, she did try and pull it away a little. What would you give as an anti inflammatory.

[Gabe]

I usually use Dexamethasone, but there are others out there also. Unfortunately the first 24 hours are the most critical and it needs to be started as soon as possible. Do you have a vet? The squirrel definately needs to be seen by one.

[squirrelfriend]

Squirrelie had MBD early on without my knowing at first. All it took was for him to fall off of the toilet seat. He was fine right after then went down in his hind legs later on that day. I put him on heat and he loved that. I gave him calcium and a full spectrum lamp and he slowly but surely got better. He was weak in the back legs. He is still slightly weak in the back legs but gets around fine. He doesn't hold his tail over his back though.

His did come on suddenly but it wasn't until a few hours after the fall. I think he was already brittle before the fall. The fall is probably what just set it off. at least enough to that I noticed that he was in trouble.

It is very possible that this little guy might have hurt herself somehow. We just need more info.

Get the little guy some leafy greens right away for starters. Dandilion greens, kale and such. No iceburge lettuce. no nutrients in that.

[sparkysmom]

We are trying now to get in touch with someone that could possibly get this for us

[Gabe]

okay what squirlfriend said, but no heat as it will make the swelling worse.
Did he fall?

[sparkysmom]

We don't know. She was playing this morning and then this afternoon she was paralyzed

[Gabe]

Squirrelfriend, that's an interesting piece of knowledge with Squirrlie. Was he diagnosed with MBD by x-ray, or did he just fall, was injured and could have just slowly recovered from an injury as oppossed to MBD?

[squirrelfriend]

He wasn't diagnosed but all the descriptions of MBD matched completely. If his was an injury wouldn't he have hurt right away after the fall? Sunlight and calcium cured him. and as in most mbd cases he is not 100% back to his normal self. He can't jump as far as other squirrels do and does not hold his tail over his back but he gets around just fine. What do you think? Injury or mbd or a combo of both? I just assumed that he was already brittle from the mbd and the fall got it to the point to to where it hurt enough for me to notice.

[squirrelfriend]

oh, and after the fall he was moving fine. later that day he went weak in his hind end. nothing seemed to hurt in any certain area like a break would. he was just weak and seemed cranky because the achiness. He was so cranky that one time my husband was laying in bed reading, he had him on the other pillow and every time he so much and turned a page he would swear at him.

[Gabe]

This is how I seperate the two. In MBD they are generally not active, they are lethargic, no appetite and have brittle bones. If they were to fall, the bone would break and be evident immediately.
In an injury, they fall, are sore and have some soft tissue swelling that hurts as the day goes on. Just like when you jam your finger or twist an ankle, sometimes it hurts after you have sat down for a while then try to walk again.

In either case, rest and time makes them better. So, although you used the light, gave good food and allowed time to heal, which were you curing? An injury or MBD? Both would get better with time, and MBD would get better with time and the correct treatment. Without an x-ray there is no way to know for certain. A broken pelvis, hip, or other bone, not treated properly could lead to an unsteady walk and inability to hold the tail correctly. That is why there are times when a vet is necessary.

I just don't want sparkysmom to sit back and give calcium and light when the squirrel could have a broken pelvis. If he is in extreme pain he may start to chew on a leg during the night and she is treating him for MBD and that would be wrong.

[squirrelfriend]

Oh, I am not saying to NOT go to the vet. Not at all. When this happened to Squirrelie I did not have a vet. I called a few and was told it was illeagal to have one etc. I did not happen to get one until the time that Weebles was sick. I was just suggesting the calcium and lamp because it was something that she could do right away while trying to find a vet. What if she didn't find one? At least this might help and couldn't hurt the situation. I agree a vet is always the best option if someone has the means to pay for it. Vets are not easy to find.

As for Squirrelie, I wonder if it was a break then. There was however no swelling, cuts or bruising of any sort. He can hold his tail up half way. It is not paralised just weak. He is fine now anyhow. This was way before I found this board. I didn't even know that rehabbers existed for squirrels. I thought those were just for endangered species. I have learned a lot over the last year and a half. Oh, there are new Tilty pictures posted. I just thought that I would let you know since you helped him out. He is doing very well.

Sorry for the side track Sparkysmom. How is the little guy? DId you get a vet?

[sparkysmom]

We are still waiting on her to call us back. She seems to have a good bit of movement in her tail. She is eating and drinking and I have given her ensure for calcium. Just letting her rest at this point and do what she feels like doing, not holding or bothering her.

[Squirlgirl]

I am not here to argue...BUT..if the squirrel has MBD and is brought into a new situation, fight or flight prevails. Wild animals try their best to NOT show weakness.
I would TRULY treat as an MBD case...along with whatever else , others, seem fit.
:grouphug

[StringTheory]

, or other bone, not treated properly could lead to an unsteady walk and inability to hold the tail correctly. That is why there are times when a vet is necessary.


Just wanted to add here that an 'Exotics Vet' may be better equipped
to deal with XRays for squirrels. We recently brought in a guy with an
injured leg. The first vet, who specialized more in dogs and cats, could
not see much detail in the XRay. Subsequently, we took him to an
Exotics Vet who used high-resolution film to pinpoint the exact problem.

Having seen both XRays, the difference was noticeable even to an
unpracticed eye. He said that the film is similar to that used for
mammograms, and is much better suited to the small bones in squirrels,
birds, etc. Completely different prognosis, and I'm glad that we took
him to the specialist.

The Exotics Vet was also up to speed on anesthesia for small animals,
and on medicine dosage; both of which may not be common turf for
the average vet.

I'm new here so I don't know this: Does SquirrelBoard have a list of
exotics vet for different locales? It would seem a good idea. The
specialist that we saw in NYC was Dr. Pilny, who is now at the
Lennox Hill Veterinary Hospital:

http://www.avianexoticpetvet.com/

Animal Medical Center, also in NYC, is more hit-or-miss in my own
experience. It's a huge hospital, and they have some world-class
exotics vets but visitors are often told that they will not see squirrels.
That seems to depend on who is at the front desk.

Here is also a link to Association of Exotic Mammal Veterinarians:
http://www.aemv.org/
with a list of vets: http://www.aemv.org/vetlist.cfm

I am not sure how we could evaluate the vets in that list though,
unless tsb'ers can post references to vets that they have seen.

[StringTheory]

This is how I seperate the two. In MBD they are generally not active, they are lethargic, no appetite and have brittle bones.

Gabe (and others): I have experience with MBD relating to reptiles.
It's quite common in lizards that do not get the required wavelengths
of UV light (UVB) or are on the wrong diet. In that case, it is usually
very easy to spot. The lizards develop a 'Popeye-looking' muscle/bone
structure. Quite often the owners will say "Look at how muscular his
legs are", not knowing that it is caused by MBD.

Have you ever noticed equivalent physical symptoms in the squirrels
that you have seen?

[Apple Corps]

Someone mentioned dandelion greens - aren't they a big no no for squirrels??

[TexanSquirrel]

Good luck!!!

[sparkysmom]

No real change this morning, we have been giving her the ensure along with getting some tums in her. She really doesn't want any solid food other than pecans, which I am not giving her. Just trying to get as much ensure in her as we can.

[rippie-n-lilgirlsmom]

SparkysMom it may take a good couple of days to begin to see results, I have all my info put away right now...but within 2 weeks you should see much larger results.

[Abacat]

Someone mentioned dandelion greens - aren't they a big no no for squirrels??
Not sure about that...I think it's like chicory, which I think is okay...found this list:
TOXIC PLANT LIST *
*Following is a partial list of plants that pets should not eat. This list is a compilation of lists from various sources.

Where available, the parts of the plants to be avoided are included enclosed in parentheses.
The exclusion of a specific plant from this list does not indicate that the plant is safe.
Plants commonly known by more than one name may occur multiple times in the list.
If you suspect your pet has ingested an unsafe plant, please call your vet and/or your local poison control center or the National Animal Poison Control Center at 1-888-426-4435 (credit card charge).
A
Agave (leaves)
Almond
Aloe
Amaryllis (bulbs)
Andromeda Anemone
Angel's Trumpet
Apple (seeds)
Apricot (all parts except fruit) Asian Lilly
Asparagus Fern
Australian Nut
Autumn Crocus
Avacado (leaves)
Azalea (leaves)
B
Balsam pear (seeds, outer rind of fruit)
Baneberry (berries, roots)
Barbados Lilly
Begonia
Betel-nut Palm
Bird of Paradise (seeds)
Bitter Cherry (seeds)
Bittersweet (American & European) Black Nightshade
Black Walnut (hulls)
Bloodroot
Bluebonnet
Boston Ivy
Buddhist Pine
Busy Lizzie
Buttercup (leaves)
Black Locust (seeds,bark, sprouts, foliage) Blue-green algae (some forms toxic)
Bloodroot
Boxwood (leaves,twigs)
Bracken fern
Branching Ivy
Buckeye (seeds)
Buckthorn (berries, fruit, bark)
Bull Nettle
Buttercup (sap, bulbs)
C
Cactus Thorn
Caladium
Calendula
Calico Bush
Calla Lilly (rhizome, leaves)
Caladiur (leaves)
Carnation
Carolina Jessamine
Castor Bean (seed, leaves - castor oil)
Celastrus
Ceriman
Chalice vine (all parts) Cherry tree (bark, twig, leaves, pits)
China Doll
Chinaberry tree
Chinese Bellflower
Chinese Lantern
Chinese Evergreen
Choke Cherry (seeds)
Christmas Candle (sap)
Christmas Rose
Chrysanthemum
Cineraria
Clematis
Climbing Nightshade Coffee Bean
Cone Flower
Coral plant (seeds)
Cordatum
Corn Plant
Cowbane
Cowslip
Crown of Thorns
Cuban Laurel
Cuckoopint (all parts)
Cutleaf Philodendron
Cycads
Cyclamen
D
Daffodil (bulbs)
Daisy
Daphne (berries, bark)
Datura (berries)
Day Lily Deadly Amanita (all parts)
Deadly Nightshade
Death Camas (all parts)
Delphinium (all parts)
Devil's Ivy Dieffenbachia (leaves)
Dogbane
Dracaena
Dumb Cane
Dutchman's Breeches
E
Easter Lilly
Eggplant (all but fruit) Elderberry (unripe berries, roots, stems)
Elephant Ear (leaves, stem)
Emerald Feather English Laurel
English Ivy (berries, leaves)
Eucalyptus
F
False Hellebore
False Henbane (all parts)
False Parsley Fiddle Leaf Fig
Fireweed
Flamingo Plant Florida Beauty
Flowering Maple
Flowering Tobacco
Foxglove (leaves, seeds)
G
Garden Sorrel
Geranium
German Ivy
Ghostweed (all parts) Giant Touch-me-not
Glacier Ivy
Gladiola
Glory Lilly Gold Dust
Golden Chain (all parts)
Golden Pothos
Green Gold
H
Hahn's Ivy
Hart Ivy
Hawaiian Ti
Heartleaf Philodendron
Heavenly Bamboo Hemlock, Poison (all parts)
Hemlock, Water (all parts)
Henbane (seeds)
Hogwart
Holly (berries)
Horse Chestnut (nuts, twigs) Horsehead Philodendron
Horsetail Reed
Hurricane Plant
Hyacinth (bulbs)
Hydrangea
I
Impatiens
Indian Hemp
Indian Rubber Indian Turnip (all parts)
Indigo
Inkberry Iris (bulbs)
Ivy, Boston & English (berries, leaves)
J
Jack-in-the-Pulpit (all parts)
Japanese Euonymus
Japanese Show Lily
Japanese Yew
Jasmine Java Bean (uncooked bean)
Jerusalem Cherry (berries)
Jessamine
Jimson Weed (leaves, seeds) Johnson Grass
Jonquil
Juniper (needles, stems, berries)
L
Laburnum (all parts)
Lace Fern
Lacy Tree Philodendron
Lady Slipper Lantana (immature berries)
Larkspur (all parts)
Laurel (all parts)
Laurel Cherry
Lily of the Valley (all parts) Lima Bean (uncooked bean)
Lobelia (all parts)
Locoweed (all parts)
Lords and Ladies (all parts)
Lupine
M
Macadamia Nut
Madagascar Dragon Tree
Manchineel Tree
Marbel Queen
Marijuana (leaves)
Marsh Marigold
Mauna Loa Peace Lily
Mayapple (all parts except fruit) Meadow Saffron
Medicine Plant
Mesquite
Mexican Breadfruit
Mescal Bean (seeds)
Milk Bush
Milkweed
Mistletoe (berries) Mock Orange (fruit)
Monkshood (leaves, roots)
Moonflower
Morning Glory (all parts)
Mother-in-law
Mountain Laurel
Mushrooms (some)
Mustard (root)
N
Nandina
Narcissus (bulbs) Needlepoint Ivy
Nephtytis
Nicotiana Nightshades (berries, leaves)
Nutmeg
O
Oak (acorns, foliage) Oleander (leaves, branches, nectar) Oxalis
P
Panda
Parlor Ivy
Parsnip
Patience Plant
Peace Lily
Peach (leaves, twigs, seeds)
Pear (seeds)
Pencil Cactus
Peony Periwinkle
Peyote
Philodendron (leaves, stem)
Plum (seeds)
Plumosa Fern
Poinsettia (leaves, flowers)
Poison Hemlock
Poison Ivy
Poison Oak
Poison sumac Pokeweed
Poppy
Potato (eyes & new shoots, green parts)
Precatory Bean
Primrose
Primula
Privet (all parts)
Purple Thornapple
Q
Queensland Nut
R
Ranunculus
Red Emerald
Red Lily Red Princess
Rhododendron (all parts)
Rhubarb (leaves) Ribbon Plant
Ripple Ivy
Rosary Pea (seeds)
Rubrum Lily
S
Sago Palm
Schefflera
Self-branching Ivy
Sennabean
Shamrock Plant
Silver Pothos
Skunk Cabbage (all parts) Snake Palm
Snowdrop (all parts)
Snow-on-the-Mountain (all parts)
Solomon's Seal
Spindleberry
Split Leaf Philodendron Star of Bethlehem
Stinkweed
String of Pearls
Sweet Pea (seeds and fruit)
Sweet Potato
Sweetheart Ivy
Swiss Cheese Plant
T
Tansy
Taro Vine
Thornapple Tiger Lily
Toadstools
Tobacco (leaves) Tomato (leaves, vines)
Tree Philodendron
Tulip (bulb)
U
Umbrella Plant
V
Vinca Violet (seeds) Virginia Creeper (berries, sap)
W
Walnuts (hulls, green shells)
Water Hemlock
Weeping Fig Western Lily
Wild Carrots
Wild Cucumber
Wild Parsnip Wild Peas
Wisteria (all parts)
Wood Lily
Wood-rose
Y
Yam Bean (roots, immature pods) Yellow Jasmine Yew (needles, seeds, berries)
Yucca

For more information...
University of Illinois Toxic Plants Database
ASPCA Poison Control Center
San Diego chapter of HRS Poisonous Plants Page


Sorry Sparkysmom for the sidetrack, Good Luck with the sick one.

[Abacat]

P.S. to last post..From Lianne McLeod,
Your Guide to Exotic Pets.
FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now!
Dandelion Greens
Many exotic pets can benefit from a snack of dandelion greens, as long as they are harvested in a pesticide free area. For that matter, dandelion greens make a nutritious addition to our diets too! About's Guide to Landscaping, David Beaulieu, explains how harvesting dandelions is a great way to control these weeds in your yard in Dandelion Greens. This is especially true if you have exotic pets that could benefit from the nutrition contained in dandelion greens, including rabbits, guinea pigs, rodents, birds, many turtles, and herbivourous lizards.

[TexanSquirrel]

I would advise against feeding any animal dandelions because there is a plant that looks exactly like them that is toxic.

[squirrelfriend]

I just wanted to add that the dandilion greens that I get are from the grocery store. not picked from outside.

[Gabe]

I would advise against feeding any animal dandelions because there is a plant that looks exactly like them that is toxic.

Do you know the name of that plant?

[TexanSquirrel]

Hypochaeris radicans

aka

Cat's Ear
Flatweed
False Dandelion

It damages the nerves when ingested.

[StringTheory]

We just got a new squirrel someone brought, she was up and eating and playing and now is paralized in her back legs. Help quick. Tell me what to do to start treating this.
I believe you had the right idea here: Try to get help as soon as possible.
If this came on suddenly, I believe there is a significant chance that she
was injured physically. Were you unable to contact a vet?