Baby's back legs not working

[Sucker4SavingBabies]

Hello all, new member on my 2nd rescue. The new baby (Sandy) who appears to be 10-12 days old is not using her back legs - at all! They are very floppy and almost seem rubbery with no movement or tension. She does not respond to warm or cold when I touch them. I am afraid she is paralyzed. My niece removed her from a dogs mouth 4 days ago without a scratch. No visible injuries. She is eating really well and seems strong, drags herself with her arms. Stimulation is not working but she is going (all over her legs) which is another reason I think she may be paralyzed...I refuse to put her down and I am prepared to care for her as long as I need to.
I am open to any advise, suggestions & especially hope that this sweet girl has a chance! Thank you.
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[CritterMom]

Do you have or can you get your hands on any prednisone? SOMETIMES paralysis like this is caused by internal swelling caused by the injury pressing on nerves it shouldn't be pressing on. The prednisone will rapidly decrease the swelling and help the situation if this is the case. Nothing will help actual spinal damage, but without the imaging ability to see, my personal first step would be to try prednisone. You have a short window to do this and have it work (if it is going to work).

It is used for humans frequently - for upper respiratory issues, muscle injuries, tendon injuries, etc, and is often prescribed in descending dose packs (you take 5 the first day, 4 the next, 3 the next, and so on.

If you can lay hands on prednisone, come back her with the total weight in grams for your squirrel, the size in milligrams of the prednisone you have been able to find, and someone can help you to dilute and dose. You will also need a 1cc syringe, which hopefully is what you are using to nurse the baby with...

[Sucker4SavingBabies]

I can ask around, I do not have any personally but may know someone who can help. I am using a 1cc so I have that part covered.

[Squirreleesi]

Definitely try to get Prednisone ASAP.. the sooner you can get her started on it the better.. i just wanted to add that Prednisone is a bit tough on the Kidneys so once she is on it, i suggest in between some feedings, giving her some warm water and keep an eye on her urine color.

[Sucker4SavingBabies]

Thank you, I have a few calls out just waiting on a response. I should know soon. If I am not able to locate any, does anybody have suggestions on how I can find some. The vets I contacted when I found my male were not willing to assist with a baby squirrel:/. Anyone in the Lake County Florida area that can help?

[Sucker4SavingBabies]

I found predizone! I have 2-10mg pills. The only scale I had immediate access to was a postage scale which showed her weight at 1.5 ounces...I am not sure how accurate this is, she was wiggling everywhere and just ate. Is this an average weight for her age or seem way off? Not sure I trust the scale and don't want give the wrong dosage.

[Sucker4SavingBabies]

Crap, after re-reading the thread I noticed the spelling differences...is there a difference between prednisone and predizione?? 😖😕

[Chickenlegs]

I hope your girl responds to the Prednisone. In the event she is actually paralyzed there are several of us on TSB with paralyzed squirrels. They are a challenge for sure but can live very happy lives with care and love. Keeping my fingers crossed for your sweetie:Love_Icon

[Spanky]

Are you certain about that spelling (predizione)? Can you describe the tablet (color, shape) and list any codes (numbers / letters) that may appear on the tablet? That will help confirm what the tablets are exactly.

Edit: And does the postage meter have the option to switch from measure in ozs to grams by chance? Weight in grams would be best.

[CritterMom]

OK, something is up. I just googled "predizione" and there is NO reference to meds - it means "prediction" in Italian... Is the label messed up so you can't read it correctly?

[Sucker4SavingBabies]

Omg, apparently I've had a longgg day...it IS Prednisone (my friend was texting the spelling wrong and I panicked thinking it was the wrong thing). It is white with 50 93 on it, I googled to make sure it was correct. I am not sure if the postage machine changes to grams, I will not have access to it again until tomorrow. 😕

[Sucker4SavingBabies]

Update on Sandy: Day 4 of Prednisone with no change or response to those cute little legs. Other than that she is doing really well, strong and eating like a champ. Her urine has a strong smell which I assume could be from the meds...it's not thick or odd in color. I've been giving her water in between feedings to help flush her kidneys.

Off topic: I noticed her bottom incisors have already come through when she tries to nurse on my chin, cutest thing ever! :Love_Icon

I told myself I would not get attached (again) but of course, I'm in love! :Love_Icon

[CritterMom]

Well, it WILL take a bit if it is going to work - this was always a hail mary pass though...

You said she pees freely. You need to be really vigilant about keeping her clean - they will develop a painful rash we call urine scald otherwise.

Does she have any appearance of feeling? Have you tried pinching toes and tail tip to see if she moves them at all?

[Chickenlegs]

What is your end game in the event her legs never function? My sweetie Scooter is in the same boat your baby is in and I'm learning a whoooooooooole lot about caring for him thanks to the wonderful folks right here on TSB. Please let me know if I can help--maybe spare you--and her--some pitfalls. She's beautiful! :blowkiss

[Sucker4SavingBabies]

I have not been able to get her to pee or poop by stimulation, even massaging her belly after she eats doesn't make her go. I try for several minutes without success. She is going on her own so I hold her long enough to know for a fact that she went - I wipe her down & dry her off after every feeding. Plus I check her every hour on the hour to make sure she is clean and dry. She had runny stools for a day and she made quite the mess which had me being overly careful about keeping her clean - now its become a habit. I have wiggled her legs & toes while she was sleeping, dripped cold water on them, I am even able to wipe her down from the waist without her waking...once I touch above her waist she wakes up looking to feed. They do not move at all, she drags them. Sometimes I have to pull them out from under her because they look so twisted.

[Sucker4SavingBabies]

I will do everything I can to care for her properly. She deserves a chance at a long life and I hope I can provide that for her. My male, Cass is a healthy active boy who keeps me on my toes but does not require the constant care she will....I have no idea what to expect with her so I am sure I will be reaching out for assistance!

[Sinful]

4.5 years ago I rescued two babies squirrels, 3 weeks old that had fallen 30 feet from their nest. Their sibling didn't survive the fall. They appeared to be in good shape but there was a long way to go before I knew the true extent of their injuries. Fiona grew up suffering severe seizures and she walks in circles. She cannot ever be released. Phoebe suffered a spinal injury that left her unable to walk. She could however, move her back legs, climb up and down her cage walls (primarily with her front legs) and she never had bowel or bladder issues. She was happy and loving! I did tho have to separate the two because Fiona often walked all over Pheobe which didn't make Pheobe too happy!

Phoebe lived for a little over 2 years as a perfectly happy, healthy squirrel minus the use of her back legs. I miss her every single day. Fiona is 4.5 years old, and still continues having her seizures but is cared for, loved and as healthy as can be. I'm giving her a life she wouldn't otherwise have had.

[Sucker4SavingBabies]

Bless you for giving them the best life they could have! It's so sad to see little Sandy dragging her limp legs around. She does not appear to be in any pain. She's even taken to nursing on her toes, apparently she doesn't realize they are hers!:grin2 She seems to be strong and healthy otherwise so I hope she lives a long happy life. :thumbsup

[Sucker4SavingBabies]

No noticed change in movement or feeling. Her legs are starting to scissor. :sadness She is still active and quite the little piglet. I worry about her every second of every day. I know she can have a long happy life with her "handicap", it just breaks my heart to see her this way.

I have read threads, Googled my heart out looking for information and filled my brain with trauma and worrisome situations. (NEVER Google an illness, symptoms or diagnosis unless you are prepared for critical results) Question I am hoping someone can assist me with: What are the chances (none, little, high) that she would need to have her legs amputated?? Obviously I DO NOT want that to happen if its not necessary but they seem so "dead", I am terrified they are just going wither away on her little body. I understand every situation is different and it depends on so many factors...just looking for personal experiences. Am I being overly dramatic about it?? :embar262165262164262163

[CritterMom]

No, you aren't being overly dramatic. It is a legitimate question.

I would physically work her little legs. Roll the muscles gently between your fingers, place her little feet on the ground, and holding her body, raise and lower her so she is doing little squats. It would be nice if the legs do not atrophy in an bad position. You also will need to make sure she does not begin to chew them. Sometimes there is some slight nerve sensation left and it causes them to do that.

The thought of losing YOUR legs is just horrifying to you and you assume would be for a squirrel as well. If she ends up having difficulty with her legs, having the dead things gone would likely be a blessing. We have a number of three legged squirrels on the board and every one of them can leave their human in the DUST is they want to.

You are going to have to give a lot of thought to housing for her. I strongly suggest that you build something using 1/2 x 1/2 inch hardware cloth (wire mesh). Bars are dangerous for squirrels with legs they can't control - they can slide out through the bars and get stuck and injured badly. You want something that is safe so she doesn't fall, but you also need to provide her with some things that will satisfy her desire to climb. Wide, shallow ramps covered with fleece are an idea.

She won't ever be able to climb high so you want to compensate for that with her cage placement. NEVER on the floor. It wants to be up as high as you can have it - if she can spend most of her time at or just below your eye level, that would be good. Having humans LOOM over them in a cage on the floor is very scary for them.

Drag sores and urine scald from laying in pee will be something you need to keep a close watch for. It is messy, but I highly recommend this bedding: http://www.kaytee.com/products/clean-cozy.php I use this for my little mouse, but have often thought that if I had a disabled animal that had no bladder control, I would figure out how to bed it in this stuff. It is very soft and fluffy - not hard and granular like the Carefresh, and I have never seen anything wick moisture away like this stuff. The drag sores can be helped by covering everything with that soft microfleece so the friction is reduced .

It is a lot to think about, I know. She is really beautiful, poor baby.

[Chickenlegs]

I've been right where you are. I've despaired that my boy's legs were scissoring and losing muscle tone. I've agonized about quality of life issues. Here's where I am now. I hope it gives you not only comfort, but assurance that your darling will live a full happy life if you're willing. Scooter's legs have scissored and atrophy has reared it's ugly head BUT he tears around as fast as my big girl squirrel Willimina. He climbs and (:eek) he JUMPS! He was barely five weeks old when he was injured. He pees on himself so I have to be careful of urine scald but he moves so much, any residual pee is wiped off. He smells sometimes but is veeeeery seldom scalded. He doesn't know he's broken--therefore, HE ISN'T. Even intensive PT won't prevent your baby's legs from atrophying and likely scissoring. There isn't any need to even consider amputation unless injury or infection kicks in and that's just not likely. Just gotta be uber careful of caging, surfaces, things with rough or jagged edges. Scooter scratched himself on the inside of a leg on a stick and that little scratch became a big raw abrasion. It's STILL healing. MY FAULT! He's older and has adapted but I still worry about him hanging up on things like the bars of cages, places his legs drop into--anything that can catch and hold his useless legs. His cage was a black plastic trash can for months. Can't catch anything on the sides of a trash can. Her front legs will "buff" up--the Incredible Hulk look--because she drags herself. Her fur will get sparce where she drags. I've been working on a "drag bag" for Scooter but so far it's a big FAIL. He actually uses those legs for ballast and balance. If I didn't already have a head full of gray hair he'd a turned it gray since he arrived in April. I can't define Scooter--and you can't define your little girl. She will grow up healthy with her mama's love--or grow up to be handicapped. Scooter is healthy--crazy, funny, off the wall healthy. He COULD hurt himself. So could I. When the time comes for your baby to branch out into adulthood, I hope I can ease the way for you--only because Scooter is leading me down HIS path. Scooter is the loveingist squirrel I've ever known. He trusts me and I trust him. Even when I need to care for him in ways he HATES (bath, bandaging his leg) he fusses but knows I will never hurt him. I trust him. He is the only squirrel I have ever let kiss me full on the mouth. You will have that sort of relationship with your darling. Cherish your little blessing. She was placed in your hands because of all the people she might have found, YOU are the chosen one.

No noticed change in movement or feeling. Her legs are starting to scissor. :sadness She is still active and quite the little piglet. I worry about her every second of every day. I know she can have a long happy life with her "handicap", it just breaks my heart to see her this way.

I have read threads, Googled my heart out looking for information and filled my brain with trauma and worrisome situations. (NEVER Google an illness, symptoms or diagnosis unless you are prepared for critical results) Question I am hoping someone can assist me with: What are the chances (none, little, high) that she would need to have her legs amputated?? Obviously I DO NOT want that to happen if its not necessary but they seem so "dead", I am terrified they are just going wither away on her little body. I understand every situation is different and it depends on so many factors...just looking for personal experiences. Am I being overly dramatic about it?? :embar262165262164262163

[Sara in NW MS]

:goodpost:goodpost:goodpost

[Nancy in New York]

I've been right where you are. I've despaired that my boy's legs were scissoring and losing muscle tone. I've agonized about quality of life issues. Here's where I am now. I hope it gives you not only comfort, but assurance that your darling will live a full happy life if you're willing. Scooter's legs have scissored and atrophy has reared it's ugly head BUT he tears around as fast as my big girl squirrel Willimina. He climbs and (:eek) he JUMPS! He was barely five weeks old when he was injured. He pees on himself so I have to be careful of urine scald but he moves so much, any residual pee is wiped off. He smells sometimes but is veeeeery seldom scalded. He doesn't know he's broken--therefore, HE ISN'T. Even intensive PT won't prevent your baby's legs from atrophying and likely scissoring. There isn't any need to even consider amputation unless injury or infection kicks in and that's just not likely. Just gotta be uber careful of caging, surfaces, things with rough or jagged edges. Scooter scratched himself on the inside of a leg on a stick and that little scratch became a big raw abrasion. It's STILL healing. MY FAULT! He's older and has adapted but I still worry about him hanging up on things like the bars of cages, places his legs drop into--anything that can catch and hold his useless legs. His cage was a black plastic trash can for months. Can't catch anything on the sides of a trash can. Her front legs will "buff" up--the Incredible Hulk look--because she drags herself. Her fur will get sparce where she drags. I've been working on a "drag bag" for Scooter but so far it's a big FAIL. He actually uses those legs for ballast and balance. If I didn't already have a head full of gray hair he'd a turned it gray since he arrived in April. I can't define Scooter--and you can't define your little girl. She will grow up healthy with her mama's love--or grow up to be handicapped. Scooter is healthy--crazy, funny, off the wall healthy. He COULD hurt himself. So could I. When the time comes for your baby to branch out into adulthood, I hope I can ease the way for you--only because Scooter is leading me down HIS path. Scooter is the loveingist squirrel I've ever known. He trusts me and I trust him. Even when I need to care for him in ways he HATES (bath, bandaging his leg) he fusses but knows I will never hurt him. I trust him. He is the only squirrel I have ever let kiss me full on the mouth. You will have that sort of relationship with your darling. Cherish your little blessing. She was placed in your hands because of all the people she might have found, YOU are the chosen one.

Your words are so inspiring, uplifting and always straight from the heart.
These little creatures are just amazing. :Love_Icon

[Shewhosweptforest]

:grouphug Thank you for taking on this sweet baby :Love_Icon I have a special place in my heart for these little ones:klunk Only time will tell you how her legs will end up...she's very young still....so I would continue working her little legs....play with her while doing it....make it a game :grin3 I didn't get my little paralyzed girl, Poppy :Love_Icon, till she was a juvie.....so it's been a wild ride :eek Poppy, and another squirrel I raised 30 odd years ago, both pull/pulled themselves along on their knees...this kept them from scissoring or sliding around on their haunches....which I think causes more trouble from abrasions to urine scald. I hope your sweet girl will fall into this category :thumbsup (using knees) Critter's Mom was spot on with her advice on cages....I do use a cage....but it's a Ferret Nation....just like a Critter Nation only the bars are vertical...with 3 horizontal braces spaced out. If you have the reverse, horizontal bars with vertical braces, she could easily snap a leg :sadness So that's going to be a must...I've had Poppy for over a year...and she flies around her cage....her legs slide easily out of the bars when they slip in :dono the only problem with the metal wire fabric is it is rough...a 4 legged squirrel will climb all over.....but your girl :thinking needs a name:grin3 will drag her lower half all over the wire...cuz she is going to climb and jump as she gets older :eek I have padding and hanging ramps (Chickenlegs helped me with:Love_Icon) and she looks like a regular acrobat zooming through her cage :bliss I will try and film it for you:thumbsup She also runs loose for hours everyday....and I have to put buffers all over the floor, around the furniture....because she will leap off onto the floor :facepalm that's my biggest fear, that she'll break a leg...that happened to one of our board squirrels with terrible results.....so I'm hyper vigilant about that....hmmm sorry this is so long.....but there is a lot of info you need...oh and another thing Critter's mom brought up...the bedding... I'd like to try some of that:thumbsup What's been working for us is tissues :great I give her a small box of tissues...she has a ball playing with them...and lining her cube with them:thumbsup When I pull them out of her cube they are usually stinky from urine....and I give her a new box and the fun starts all over again :grin3 She pees on her own, too:great

Oh well....too much info all at once :facepalm just love on her, cuddle her...handle her as much as you can...that way as she grows she will be use to it, that will make it much easier to handle her when she's older....well, hopefully, they do have mind if their own :tap :Love_Icon

Here's a pic of her cage :Love_Icon

[Sucker4SavingBabies]

Thank you so much to each and everyone of you for your kind words & advise. My heart bleeds for this sweet little girl and I know we will be the best of friends! I do believe she found me for a reason, Chickenlegs your comment was perfect. I have read your threads about Scooter and the image of him kicked back on the pillow living the good life makes me smile. Sandy has me wrapped around her little finger already and I would do just about anything to make her happy.

I have been working with her legs after every feeding. We have massage time & "aerobics". I'm pretty sure she thinks I am nuts when I sing Eye of the Tiger during her workout.:grin2 She does suck on her toes on occasion but I stop her as soon as I notice. I'm sure we will run into situations overtime - thankful to have somewhere to run when I am being dramatic :panic

I have 3 cages: a 3ft tall bird cage with vertical bars on a stand, a 3ftX2ft critter cage (horizontal bars) and a homemade 7ftx5ft hardware cloth cage. I can make any and all adjustments necessary to any of them in order to accommodate her but my boyfriend and I have discussed building her a new one...every princess deserves her own castle. For now she is in a bin lined with receiving blankets, fleece/flannel bedding & her monkey (changed out 3x a day to prevent urine scald & stinky baby)


I will definitely look into the bedding. Even though she pees on her own, I am expressing her bladder after feedings in the attempt to keep her clean and dry...I have found the fleece isn't as absorbent as I would like it to be (sits on top). Flannel and receiving blankets have been great. She enjoys her bath for now but I'm sure that will change.

Shew - I love Poppy's fleece set up! My boy (Cass) loves tissues too...he yanks them out of the box in seconds and spends the rest of the day stuffing them in his cozy cube to get his bed "just right". I have fleece up to my ears, hopefully Sandy will love her set up as much as Poppy does.:grin2:grin2

Thank you again to all of you! Sandy appreciates anything to help her momma out. :thankyou

[Sucker4SavingBabies]

WE HAVE EYEBALLS!! :clap:grin
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