brain injury

[Pennyorf]

i havent been here in awhile. so i will give some history. I have two 4yr old adult happy healthy non release squirrels at home. Sunday i found an injured adult female on the side of the road in my gated community. I thought she was dead and was going to do the respectful thing for her by getting her off the road when i realized she was alive. I cannot see any injuries on her body but she is most definitely critically injured. Sunday she had her eyes closed and was in a coma like state. her breathing is normal and not labored. no wheezing or clicking sounds. Sunday i spent time trying to keep her hydrated and in a dark warm place. Monday she opened her eyes and will eat from a dropper. she will not walk but will turn in spins. This morning she seems a little more alert and not as stiff feeling but she will not use her hands to hold anything and will not walk but she does use her limbs when she spins. I believe she has head trauma. I was wondering if anyone on this board with more experience then me would be willing to take her. i would love to see her get vet care but our vets down here in fort myers florida won't have anything to do with squirrels. I have tried to introduce baby food today with very little success. I need suggestions on what to feed her through the dropper. Please. Any help would be appreciated.

[CritterMom]

As far as food is concerned, get some Ensure - the meal replacement shakes - any flavor. It is sweet and has a lot of nutrients packed into it. It will be a short term fix. If it looks like she is going to stay for a while, make a trip to your local chain pet store or to Tractor Supply and purchase a can of the DRIED Esbilac Puppy formula. You will have to probably mix the two - lots of times these little guys just LOVE the ensure and when you give them formula they refuse it, so blending the two together and slowly, over some days, increasing the amount of the formula and decreasing the ensure would probably be best. You may end up continuing to add some ensure but it is pretty high in sugars and really shouldn't be ALL she eats.

If you buy from Henrys, you can also order a bag of the Fox Valley 20/50. It should be fine for an adult squirrel and I suspect it tastes better - it sure SMELLS better!

[pixiepoo]

Do you have any Metacam to mix up for her? That could be very helpful in reducing swelling. I think it helped my little Neuro boy and have had success with some of my other guys (adults and a few concrete fall babies). :) I would offer to take her but if she can't be released, I can't be stuck with another squirrel!!!

I can mail you some metacam too if you would like. One pill should last quite a while.

Fingers crossed for this little one. At least she is licking stuff. My Ned had to be tubed for a bit since he couldn't coordinate his movements to swallow.

[Pennyorf]

Do you have any Metacam to mix up for her? That could be very helpful in reducing swelling. I think it helped my little Neuro boy and have had success with some of my other guys (adults and a few concrete fall babies). :) I would offer to take her but if she can't be released, I can't be stuck with another squirrel!!!

I can mail you some metacam too if you would like. One pill should last quite a while.

Fingers crossed for this little one. At least she is licking stuff. My Ned had to be tubed for a bit since he couldn't coordinate his movements to swallow.

i do not have any metacam. Is it an anti inflammatory? can you pm me so i can give you my address? many thanks.

[Pennyorf]

As far as food is concerned, get some Ensure - the meal replacement shakes - any flavor. It is sweet and has a lot of nutrients packed into it. It will be a short term fix. If it looks like she is going to stay for a while, make a trip to your local chain pet store or to Tractor Supply and purchase a can of the DRIED Esbilac Puppy formula. You will have to probably mix the two - lots of times these little guys just LOVE the ensure and when you give them formula they refuse it, so blending the two together and slowly, over some days, increasing the amount of the formula and decreasing the ensure would probably be best. You may end up continuing to add some ensure but it is pretty high in sugars and really shouldn't be ALL she eats.

If you buy from Henrys, you can also order a bag of the Fox Valley 20/50. It should be fine for an adult squirrel and I suspect it tastes better - it sure SMELLS better!

right now i am giving her coconut milk mixed with organic baby food. this worked very well for her 2nd morning feeding today and she was eager to eat it. She will not eat the baby food by itself. I was lucky to get two licks in. added together the nutrients should be:

fat 14g
sat fat 12g
trans fat 0g
cholesterol 0g
sodium 35mg
total carb 3g
fiber 1g
sugar 3g
protein 2g
A-25%
C-45%
E-25%
calcium 6%
iron 10%
zinc 25%

i have some calcium here that i can add to that if you think i should. Is this sufficient for now?

[Pennyorf]

Do you have any Metacam to mix up for her? That could be very helpful in reducing swelling. I think it helped my little Neuro boy and have had success with some of my other guys (adults and a few concrete fall babies). :) I would offer to take her but if she can't be released, I can't be stuck with another squirrel!!!

I can mail you some metacam too if you would like. One pill should last quite a while.

Fingers crossed for this little one. At least she is licking stuff. My Ned had to be tubed for a bit since he couldn't coordinate his movements to swallow.

so does she sound neuro to you too? she won't lift her head either but she did use one of her paws against the side of the dropper this morning.

[Spanky]

so does she sound neuro to you too? she won't lift her head either but she did use one of her paws against the side of the dropper this morning.

You may have more luck with a syringe that you can push a little food in her mouth, let her swallow, push a little more into her mouth and so forth. I have luck doing this in the spring with 2 different car hit squirrels that needed to be fed like this for many days. I used mixed baby food (sweet taters and the blueberry/apple were the ones I had best luck but I mixed Esbilac). I also provided Ensure this way (via syringe). After a few days they started eagerly eating from the syringe; wrapping in fleece and covering their eyes also helps them relax and be more willing to eat.

[Pennyorf]

You may have more luck with a syringe that you can push a little food in her mouth, let her swallow, push a little more into her mouth and so forth. I have luck doing this in the spring with 2 different car hit squirrels that needed to be fed like this for many days. I used mixed baby food (sweet taters and the blueberry/apple were the ones I had best luck but I mixed Esbilac). I also provided Ensure this way (via syringe). After a few days they started eagerly eating from the syringe; wrapping in fleece and covering their eyes also helps them relax and be more willing to eat.

good idea about covering the eyes. I'm already doing the fleece blanket thing. I will get the espilac syringes and ensure soon. did you see much improvement of their ability to walk and lift their heads? I would really love to see her go to qualified squammy who has the room. I'm a nervous wreck about her but hopeful. My 4yr old squirrels are upset that she is here and that is making things difficult for me. My sweetest most loving squirrel snipped at me earlier because she could smell her on me. So i am changing shirts often.

[Spanky]

I was able to release both earlier this year. I there paralysis started improving within 48 hours. It was remarkable; while I was always optimistic with the first guy, the second little girl I honestly did not believe would recover. Although it took longer she did fully recover.

[Pennyorf]

I was able to release both earlier this year. I there paralysis started improving within 48 hours. It was remarkable; while I was always optimistic with the first guy, the second little girl I honestly did not believe would recover. Although it took longer she did fully recover.

Awesome news!!!

[Chickenlegs]

Poor sweetie. I hope she responds soon and that she's getting the time she needs to heal. I've had only one grievously injured squirrel (Grady) and tho his saga didn't turn out as I would have hoped he still makes me laugh and cry. I loved him. He taught me a huge amount about what an injured squirrel needs--and what one doesn't need. I would take your girl but I'm in Iowa right now and home is Virginia. Florida is a LOOOOONG way from Virginia. I think the long trip would be crazy stressing for her. I hope she gets the hekp she needs soon. Prayers for a good outcome :Love_Icon

[crazy4squirrels]

She could use some dex also, that will help inflamation. I have a HBC girl and she does not use her front paws to hold but that was because she had severe seizures and continued for a while and that did the perm damage for her.
I would take her but I am a couple hours north of you and work so I can not drive down. She needs dex now for it to really work

[Pennyorf]

Poor sweetie. I hope she responds soon and that she's getting the time she needs to heal. I've had only one grievously injured squirrel (Grady) and tho his saga didn't turn out as I would have hoped he still makes me laugh and cry. I loved him. He taught me a huge amount about what an injured squirrel needs--and what one doesn't need. I would take your girl but I'm in Iowa right now and home is Virginia. Florida is a LOOOOONG way from Virginia. I think the long trip would be crazy stressing for her. I hope she gets the hekp she needs soon. Prayers for a good outcome :Love_Icon

please fill me with your knowledge. i am stressing because i don't feel like i know what she needs and what she doesn't need. I'm not even sure how often to feed her. my healthy squirrels eat when they show signs of being hungry. since she is not a baby i don't think she needs to eat every 2 or 3 hrs but that is what i've been doing and i allow her to take as much as she will but i don't overly force her. how many teaspoons of food should she have in one day? how many times should i give water? I am trying to handle her every 2 to 3 hrs so she gets her much needed rest.

[Rocky1]

With head injuries, the potential for brain swelling is a major issue, and heat contributes to swelling. Ideally, the head would remain reasonably cool, not cold, and the body warm. This can be difficult or impossible to accomplish 100% of the time, but it is ideal. If you ever have time, one excellent method is to use a room temperature or very slightly cool rice buddy under the head, with the squirrel's body resting on your body (hence the head stays cool and the body stays warm). I believe that keeping the head cool, can reduce seizures as well if they are due to head trauma.

Of course, as you probably already know, be VERY gentle with that head. Even the tiniest movement of the head after a concussion can be painful and miserable, causing dizziness, nausea, etc. And head trauma can cause extra sensitivity to noise.

[Pennyorf]

With head injuries, the potential for brain swelling is a major issue, and heat contributes to swelling. Ideally, the head would remain reasonably cool, not cold, and the body warm. This can be difficult or impossible to accomplish 100% of the time, but it is ideal. If you ever have time, one excellent method is to use a room temperature or very slightly cool rice buddy under the head, with the squirrel's body resting on your body (hence the head stays cool and the body stays warm). I believe that keeping the head cool, can reduce seizures as well if they are due to head trauma.

Of course, as you probably already know, be VERY gentle with that head. Even the tiniest movement of the head after a concussion can be painful and miserable, causing dizziness, nausea, etc. And head trauma can cause extra sensitivity to noise.

i am doing the rice buddy which helped her to become less stiff. She had some swelling in one eye but that seems all gone now. Both eyes are open and bright but i'm not so sure she can see well. We are keeping it quiet for her. Each day so far their has been good improvement so i'm happy with that. I just have a lot of feeding questions.