Injured adult squirrel - Help needed

[DixiesMom]

I need advise concerning a Female adult Gray Squirrel, 11 Months old, appears to have back leg injury.
She is a release from, 2 months ago, that has returned. I cannot confirm if she was attacked or fell. No visible injury or blood on her.
There is no help from wildlife services or vets where I am.
Should she be presumed attacked an be administered antibiotics?
We have antibiotics for a cat . Clamavox & Clavaseptin 50mg.
She is currently in her release cage with exits open.
Should she be kept isolated in the enclosure? I do not want to trap her in unless it is necessary.
Any advise concerning dosing or procedure would be greatly appreciated.
Bob

[Fireweed]

It's good she's in the release cage! I would personally just close that release cage up for a bit until you can be sure she's ok.
Is she limping? Is she holding the leg up? Is at a weird angle? Is she able to put weight on it? Any specific details would be helpful.
Can you post pics or video?
This will all help determine if meds are necessary and which meds to give...

Make sure she has easy access to water and healthy foods while you figure this out.

[DixiesMom]

Her age is actually 13 months, so I am concerned that she might have babies, so I didn't close the cage. She does not appear to be in it anymore, however there is a nest box that she might be in now. not sure. I gave her healthy food and water. She ate most of the food. She is able to climb the walls of the cage. If she is still inside, would be best to keep her in there?

[farrelli]

Does she have exposed nipples?

We usually recommend taking a wounded release back in. Tends to not be too traumatizing for them because they already know you.

[Fireweed]

Well, if you think she might have babies, no, I wouldn't keep her locked up - especially if she's climbing and somewhat using the foot/leg.
Why do you think the leg is injured? Is she limping or holding it up? A pic might help - video would be better.

Sounds like she's out and about and using her leg :thinking - hopefully that means she just needed a little rest. Sometimes when they injure their leg/foot in a fight or a fall, they will hold it up for one to two weeks. It doesn't necessarily mean they *can't* use it - they will run if they have to, for example - but they don't *want* to use it because it's sore. Hopefully this is what it is. Definitely keep an eye on her in case it's something more and you need to help her...

But again, if you can get pictures and/or video that would be most helpful. :thumbsup

[DixiesMom]

No nipples that I could see. She is not in the cage anymore, I went inside and checked the nest box. Should I keep the access to the release cage open? There a few cats that are always around here and I wouldn't want to put her in harms way.

[Fireweed]

No nipples that I could see. She is not in the cage anymore, I went inside and checked the nest box. Should I keep the access to the release cage open? There a few cats that are always around here and I wouldn't want to put her in harms way.
If she doesn't have exposed nipples and she goes back in to the release cage, I'd close it up for a bit to make sure she's ok. :thumbsup
Depending on how the leg is, you might keep her in there anywhere from an afternoon to a month. But get her in there to get a better look at the leg if you can.

[DixiesMom]

Her back left leg seemed to be limp and it looked like she is dragging it. As far as I was able to see there were no visible tears , blood or fur missing.

[Fireweed]

Her back left leg seemed to be limp and it looked like she is dragging it. As far as I was able to see there were no visible tears , blood or fur missing.
Maybe it's broken or sprained. Hard to say until you can get a better look. Does she go in the release cage often? If you put her favorite treats in there will that lure her back?

[DixiesMom]

Thank you very much for your advise. If she (Dixie) does come back I will keep her until I can further determine the extent of her injury. I will keep you posted with any updates. God Bless!

[Fireweed]

Thank you very much for your advise. If she (Dixie) does come back I will keep her until I can further determine the extent of her injury. I will keep you posted with any updates. God Bless!

Oh, good! If you can't post pictures very easily, you can email them to me and I'll post for you. Let me know if you want my email address!
Good luck - we'll be waiting for an update (we worry! :tilt).

C'mon, Dixie! Don't make Bob wait too long!

[DixiesMom]

This is the 1st time she ever came back. When we released her back in June she hung around for a couple of hours then left for the fields across our street. Honestly we thought something had happened to her since she never showed up again. When we saw her yesterday we were overjoyed but now we are back to worrying. She is really like a family member to us.

[Fireweed]

This is the 1st time she ever came back. When we released her back in June she hung around for a couple of hours then left for the fields across our street. Honestly we thought something had happened to her since she never showed up again. When we saw her yesterday we were overjoyed but now we are back to worrying. She is really like a family member to us.

Ah. Well, I'd definitely try to get her back in with some fave nuts or whatever else she likes.
Another thing you can do is cover the hole to the nest box you said she went in to (when she's in it) and then bring the whole box into the release cage and close up the cage, then uncover the hole to the box.

If you see her will she climb on you? Could you pick her up and put her in the cage? That's another idea...

I hope she comes back. We all understand how much they are like family - so we also understand how much you are worried about her. :grouphug

[DixiesMom]

Hi, Here is an update on Dixie. She has been coming everyday for food. I've also been supplying Filberts in the shell that she has been stashing. Her back leg does not seem to be improving and she falls when descending trees.
I am now trying to coax her back in the release cage. The cage is 7'x4'x7'.
If I get her back in.. how long, would you think, should I expect to keep her. She is skittish, so I think this will stress her. If anyone has any tips, to help with her convalescence, it would be greatly appreciated.

[Fireweed]

Hi, Here is an update on Dixie. She has been coming everyday for food. I've also been supplying Filberts in the shell that she has been stashing. Her back leg does not seem to be improving and she falls when descending trees.
I am now trying to coax her back in the release cage. The cage is 7'x4'x7'.
If I get her back in.. how long, would you think, should I expect to keep her. She is skittish, so I think this will stress her. If anyone has any tips, to help with her convalescence, it would be greatly appreciated.

Poor Dixie.

First thing is first: get her in to the release cage so you can get a better idea of what is wrong with her leg. Is it broken? Is there an open wound? Is it abscessed? Is there infection? Did a break heal at an odd angle? THEN depending on what is going on, we'll help you make it more comfortable for her as she heals or figure out what is the next step. You might only keep her for a day if it's a wound you think can heal with a bit of medication and you can continue to give that to her when she's out. You might have to keep her for a month if it's a break or an infection that needs more time to heal. Right now you just want to get her in there and close the door so you can get a better look at her leg. You haven't been able to get a good look yet and you're worried which is why I think you need to lure her back in.

When you do get her in the cage, get some pics of the leg (and her whole body) from different angles and post them here. If you need help with that, we'll try to help once you've taken some pics and/or video.

Does she have a comfy place to sleep in the cage? A cube or nest box? Make sure she has a place to hide out if she is skittish. Make sure she has good food and water available near her comfy/hiding/sleeping spot. Sometimes when they are hurt, they really welcome the rest that the cage provides. She *might* settle down once she knows she is safe in there, and resting for a few days *might* be all she needs. You won't know until you get her in there.

Oh, is your release cage out in the open? Or is it up against a house or other building? If it's in the open, you might want to cover two or three sides of it to give her the feeling that she is protected. This helps them feel more at ease, and they tend to rest better that way. Make sure her sleeping spot is farthest from the area that is open. This will help, too.

:grouphug

[DixiesMom]

The release cage is against the house. Judging from the last few days, her wound might be older than I first suspected. There is definitely no open wound, blood, or scabs. The back left leg is limp and she manages to climb and get around on her other 3 legs. She cannot use the leg to descend and sometimes falls when she does. I have made a 4" square opening at the bottom of the cage and I constantly check to see if she is inside. When she finally does, I hope I will have enough time to get to the cage and close the door. I put cut branches from our hedge, food, water and several places for her to hide. There is another squirrel that also sometimes chases her away not to mention some feral cats in the neighborhood. I am in the suburbs outside of Montreal, if I manage to get her in the cage I would travel to get her looked at. I have tried in vain to get help from vets and wildlife services. If anyone knows of a vet, that can help, please give me the contact information. Thanks again for your help!

[Fireweed]

The release cage is against the house. Judging from the last few days, her wound might be older than I first suspected. There is definitely no open wound, blood, or scabs. The back left leg is limp and she manages to climb and get around on her other 3 legs. She cannot use the leg to descend and sometimes falls when she does. I have made a 4" square opening at the bottom of the cage and I constantly check to see if she is inside. When she finally does, I hope I will have enough time to get to the cage and close the door. I put cut branches from our hedge, food, water and several places for her to hide. There is another squirrel that also sometimes chases her away not to mention some feral cats in the neighborhood. I am in the suburbs outside of Montreal, if I manage to get her in the cage I would travel to get her looked at. I have tried in vain to get help from vets and wildlife services. If anyone knows of a vet, that can help, please give me the contact information. Thanks again for your help!

It sounds like she might have broken her leg a while ago? Here's another idea, as it seems like she just isn't going into the release cage on her own: Could you get a hav-a-hart humane trap big enough for her and trap her? Put the trap under the tree she nests in, with her favourite treats in there. Or under a tree you see her come down on. Only set it when you can watch it so no squirrel is in there for longer than 5 minutes. Then you can transfer that to the release cage and let her out.
The other option might be to trap her in a nest box she uses. Just climb a ladder quietly when she is in it sleeping and close up the hole by screwing a piece of wood on to it, then take the whole thing down to the release cage.

Whatever you do, hope you can get her soon. :grouphug

I am going to contact someone in Montreal and see if they can possibly hook you up with some vet care. :thumbsup

[DixiesMom]

I'll try and find a humane trap. She did enter the cage about an hour ago but she just went in the opening and came back out. I didn't have time to get to the door. There are now 3 cats that seem to have their eye on the area that I have been shooing away. I'll keep this thread updated with any developments.

[TubeDriver]

Another thing you can do is trap and release the cats somewhere else if they are wild, feral cats?


A picture (or video) of her leg would really help us to evaluate her injury.

[DixiesMom]

I have purchased a trap and it is set up. I have my fingers crossed now. If she is trapped... should I cover the trap with a blanket to reduce stress? I also hope that there will be a vet somewhere that will see her. As far as I know there are no laws here governing rehabbers, so it makes finding help difficult since no one is registered. Again I ask for any information regarding wild life vets. Thanks for the advice and words of encouragement!

[farrelli]

Yes, cover it. I see one of out Montreal people viewing htis thread now. Perhaps she or one of the others can help. I don;t know if they have vet access.

[Scooterzmom]

Bob and I just spoke over the phone. He has a humane trap set up; I advised him to cover it with branches and leaves to make it less conspicuous as a "trap", put some inside also, and place some nuts inside as well. He says he still has some material left from building the release cage so he'll make her a small, lwer cage so she won't have to climb and can let that injury rest.

I also gave him the name and number of the only vet I know who will see a squirrel.

Keep praying folks… and you might as well keep your fingers crossed too, it can't hurt.

[Fireweed]

Thank you so much, Scooterz! :thankyou Good idea about the lower cage. :thumbsup

Hoping for the best for Dixie and Bob. :grouphug

[sandycheeks]

When my girl Sandy came home with a broken front leg we let her in and closed the door on her. She tried to chew her way out for 2-3 days. Then she was okay with being back inside. Her leg healed on it's own. All we did was provide comfort and healthy food.
I doubt you'll find a vet that will see her. Be careful some vets will seize and euthanize her.