Squirrel with Head Trauma and Possible Skin Issue?

[Beth]

Hey there, I'm new to the forum :) And also new to rehabbing! :w00t

Yesterday I got a call about a baby squirrel someone found. He has major head trauma. He keeps leaning to the right, and he'll straighten his head, but it will naturally lean to the right again, right away. He also has tremours and shakes when you hold him... Takes the syringe and eats great, and he made it through the night! I've got him on Clindamycin in the off chance it is an ear infection... But does anyone have similar experience with a squirrel that leans? Is there anything I can do to help the poor little guy? What's the prognosis?

He also seems to have a fur issue. Does anyone know what this could possible be? It isn't mange is it? I didn't see any fleas on him but gave him a Dawn dish soap bath in case it's the cause. Here's a pic

http://i59.tinypic.com/16bdg94.jpg

He just seems weirdly bald compared to my other squirrels, and his fur is so coarse and rough.

All my squirrels I've taken in so far have been "normal" compared to this guy, aside from dehydration and some URIs, so he's really confusing me and making me worry with his head issues plus the strange fur compared to the others :/

Any help will be appreciated! I've been stalking the forum for awhile learning as much as I can and it seems like a great community! :dance

[SammysMom]

:Welcometo TSB! The fur could be nutritional or it could be some sort of mite. If you can put 1 drop from a 1cc syringe of Revolution (vet only) it very well may help. Has there been any improvement in his movement since you got him in? Do you have access to prednisone by any chance?

[Beth]

Hey there, thanks for the quick response!

No improvement, but it hasn't gotten worse either! I'll see if I can get a video. I may have some prednisone, but it's in human pill form. I do have a pill crusher though, if it's okay to give him something from a human doctor. No scale yet to get his weight, but he's little.

Thanks for the advice, I'll look into getting some Revolution either tonight or tomorrow! :)

[SammysMom]

Where are you located in the country? Northeast by chance?

[Beth]

Here's some videos! I didn't want to stress him out too much, but basically he shakes like that all the time, even in the kennel :/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HINCbCkggGA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dwNV1DjQUc

[Nancy in New York]

Hey there, thanks for the quick response!

No improvement, but it hasn't gotten worse either! I'll see if I can get a video. I may have some prednisone, but it's in human pill form. I do have a pill crusher though, if it's okay to give him something from a human doctor. No scale yet to get his weight, but he's little.

Thanks for the advice, I'll look into getting some Revolution either tonight or tomorrow! :)

Yes the Prednisone can be the one used for humans.
You need to find a scale because we need an exact weight on him to dose the Prednisone.
Remember, if this is head trauma, the quicker we get a drug into him, the better.It will alleviate
the swelling.

If you have a Walmart near you, they would sell gram scales in the kitchen department.
Call ahead just to make sure.

[Beth]

Where are you located in the country? Northeast by chance?


Iowa, actually. I'm working under a licensed rehabber and on the path to get my license, but just started this simmer :)

[Nancy in New York]

Do you have his container on a heating pad set on low? (Half under his container and half off)
Geez, he IS tiny!

[Beth]

Do you have his container on a heating pad set on low? (Half under his container and half off)
Geez, he IS tiny!


Right! Poor thing :( And yes, he's on a heating pad and snuggled in blankies. I got him yesterday at around 1 PM. , so he's been in my care for about 30 hours now. The people that found him said he was at the base of the tree Friday night, they left him thinking mom would come back, and when he was still there in the morning, I got the call. I'll get a scale ASAP!

[Nancy in New York]

Right! Poor thing :( And yes, he's on a heating pad and snuggled in blankies. I got him yesterday at around 1 PM. , so he's been in my care for about 30 hours now. The people that found him said he was at the base of the tree Friday night, they left him thinking mom would come back, and when he was still there in the morning, I got the call. I'll get a scale ASAP!

Great honey! :hug We will dose the prednisone for you, once you get it.
This little one was lucky to have found his way to you, that's for sure! :glomp

What mg do you have.

[Beth]

I found a small scale in my kitchen. Little guy is 13 oz! The prednisone I have is 10 mg tablets that I can crush up :)

[California Squirrel Lover]

poor, sweet baby, i'll say a prayer. :( :grouphug

[Nancy in New York]

I found a small scale in my kitchen. Little guy is 13 oz! The prednisone I have is 10 mg tablets that I can crush up :)

I will dose this for you in a pm.
It will take me a couple of minutes to write it out. :thumbsup
WOW this is 368 grams, that seems too high for this little one. :dono
Anyone else think this seems high for his size?

Edit:
I just looked at the video again. The scale cannot be correct, this is WAY too high.
I will be leaving the board for a few minutes, I have little ones to feed, but I will keep
checking back periodically. :thumbsup

[SammysMom]

Oh...your scale is wrong. That baby is nowhere near 3/4 of a pound. Can you get a gram scale?

[Beth]

Sure! Sorry, this scale I found is probably 20 years old and maybe a little out of sync, lol! Making a trip to WalMart soon!

Thank you SO much guys for all the help!!!! :grouphug

[Beth]

Alright, let's try this again! 170 grams! Thanks for your patience, haha! He took another syringe too and still eating great! :dance

[SammysMom]

Gosh...he doesn't even look that big to me. Sorry I am feeding babies so am only on sporadically.

[Beth]

Totally understand! I'm going to weigh him again tomorrow morning just to be sure. He's little but long and eats like a piggie, but if I weigh him before breakfast maybe it'll be more accurate to his size. :grin

[Chickenlegs]

Where are you in Iowa? Just asking as I'm in Iowa for the next couple of months and would be happy to help if I can. He looks tiny for 170 grams.

[Rocky1]

Depending on how much time you have, and if he is one you can hold, perhaps consider letting him rest with his head on a room temperature or slightly cool sock full of cooked rice (again, a room temp one), while keeping his body warm against you or the heating pad. This will require supervision so maybe if you are working at your desk or something this could work. IMO, the tricky thing about babies with head trauma is keeping their little head cool so it doesn't swell, while keeping the body warm enough.

If no time, or unable to do that, the above suggestions are just fine.

[Beth]

Thanks, that's great advice! I'll try that and see how it goes. He's kinda squirmy but he tolerates being held :) Never would have thought of that!

@Chickenlegs -- Sent you a PM!

[Shewhosweptforest]

Thank you so much for helping this and other little ones :bowdown I sure hope he can get some relief with the pred :please :Love_Icon

In the pic where you're holding him in your hand...he does look a bit of a chunkster :grin3