PDA

View Full Version : I found a squirrel lying in the middle of the street, I need help.


gui531
07-19-2015, 07:54 AM
About 60 hours ago, I found this adult grey squirrel, lying on the middle of a passing street. At first I thought he had been hit by a car, that he was probably already dead. But then he made eye contact with me, and started moving his back legs . So I parked my car and brought him home to help him. When I found him, he was lying on his side, drooling, with his eyes opened. When I grabbed him to take him in my car, he didn't react much, no resistance at all. I put him on the front seat and he was just lying there like a corpse drooling on my seat (the drool wasn't foamy or anything is was more like regular saliva).

Then I put him in a room alone (I have 4 cats and a dog), in a box with clothing. There are no marks on him, no blood, he doesn't seem to be injured, but yet, he's not able to stand on his four legs or move normally. At first I prepared an hydrating solution(water salt and sugar ) I gave it to him via a q tip, he would drink off of it actively. He pooped and after a few hours he puked a lot of violet stuff, seriously there was so much violet stuff. Then I went to buy a syringe and bought baby food (apple and banana), He eats a bit via the syringe, he also drinks via the syringe. Other than that, he doesn't move much. Two times we found him out of the box, he's able to move his back legs but I'm not sure if he's able to move his arms, he doesn't seem coordinated and when he moves it's in spurs and out of panic. He pees and poops regularly by now,

He also makes some sort of sound ala marge simpson ''hmmmmm'' when we touch him, which i'm sure is a normal sound for a scared squirrel. What do you guys think happened to him? Poisoning, head trauma.. back injury? His eyes aren't shaky, he eats a little and drinks too (only when i feed him myself, i left some food and water but he doesn't seem to be able to stand at all when he moves it's more like he's crawling from his side). He did eat a few nut that I fed him. But all in all, after 60 hours, he's still not able to stand normally, move normally , he just lies there on his side with his eyes opened. So what do you guys think happened to him? Do you think he will ever be able to recover?

Thanks for any help or suggestion. This forum is great and filled with kind people.
Milo's Mom
07-19-2015, 08:47 AM
Keep pushing the hydration. Try juicy foods like watermelon and grapes (cut the grapes in half).

The violet colored vomit is concerning.
island rehabber
07-19-2015, 09:47 AM
Yes, right now treat for shock (Dark, Warm & Quiet) as you're doing, and push fluids (as Milo'sMom said above). He either ate a LOT of berries, hence the violet vomit, or he ate something truly bad for him. Either way he needs to get replacement fluids every hour or so -- let him have all he wants. Hopefully he won't vomit again; repeated vomiting in squirrels is NEVER a good thing.

Hang in there, you're doing great!
squirrelfriend
07-19-2015, 10:29 AM
Seeing that his back legs work I would think that it's not a broken back. Just a guess but I'm thinking possible toxins? Is there any blood in the eye itself? If so that could signify a concussion. Though it is not necessary to see that for there to be one.

Give him him lots of fluids to help wash the possible toxins out of his system.

If Need be i can take him if you need placement. I am in ontario though. We do have some members in Montreal.
gui531
07-19-2015, 10:41 AM
Seeing that his back legs work I would think that it's not a broken back. Just a guess but I'm thinking possible toxins? Is there any blood in the eye itself? If so that could signify a concussion. Though it is not necessary to see that for there to be one.

Give him him lots of fluids to help wash the possible toxins out of his system.

If Need be i can take him if you need placement. I am in ontario though. We do have some members in Montreal.

There is no blood in his eyes. I give him fuids every hour or two.. he's eating a bit too, he only vomited once, and that was 2 days ago.. since then he peed and pooped but no vomit. I can keep him for as long as he needs to recuperate. Thanks for the offer though, unless you think it's better for him if I place him (if he has access to a vet or simply more competent people )

Thank you everyone for your answers.
squirrelfriend
07-21-2015, 11:27 AM
I don't have access to a vet but have lots of experience with Wobblies. If you want to keep him that's fine. We will always be here for advice if you need it. If he's brain damaged you may have a permanent resident there. If you find it is too much for you to handle for any reason my offer will always stand. If you just want advice don't ever feel afraid to ask.

One thing came to mind. You said he was drooling. Some animals will do that if they eat something that didn't taste good. I know cats do. One time my cat ate a piece of my sushi. unfortunately sushi has wasabi in it. He drooled like crazy for a while then he was ok. So his drooling makes my guess on what happen to him lean towards toxins of some sort.

Hows he doing today?
Scooterzmom
07-21-2015, 10:10 PM
There is no blood in his eyes. I give him fuids every hour or two.. he's eating a bit too, he only vomited once, and that was 2 days ago.. since then he peed and pooped but no vomit. I can keep him for as long as he needs to recuperate. Thanks for the offer though, unless you think it's better for him if I place him (if he has access to a vet or simply more competent people )

Thank you everyone for your answers.

I cannot send a private message but I'm in the Montreal area. Are you on Facebook? If so maybe I can contact you there.