Head trauma

[Chickenlegs]

Billi was found by a fence, unmoving. She never struggled when she was picked up. She spent the night last night in a bin tucked in with rags and tshirts, some water close by, bit of squirrel favored birdseed and a space heater on. The people who found her care. They are good folks. This morning when the young man opened the door she was in her bin but when he reached in to check on her, out she went. Happy ending--or so they thought. The young woman looked out the window around noon and a squirrel was running in circles. She went to check on the squirrel and the squirrel stopped. When squirrel was picked up--bare handed--she tucked her head and snuggled in as if she was always hugged by a human. The only guess as to why she was injured is that she fell from an overhead cable and hit her head on the fence. I'd given "Anne", the young woman, the names of wildlife friendly vets and she took the squirrel--now named Billi--right to the vet clinic.

Tonight they brought Billi to me. She has Metacam and Sulfatrim on board. Billi is pretty much non responsive right now. She has a concussion tho x-rays showed nothing is fractured. I checked for nipples as this is baby season. Please look and tell me what you think. Pregnant? She could use some TSB prayers about now. The wonderful folks who found her are REALLY looking forward to bringing her home so she can run free where she lives.

Billi

[stepnstone]

Billi was found by a fence, unmoving. She never struggled when she was picked up. She spent the night last night in a bin tucked in with rags and tshirts, some water close by, bit of squirrel favored birdseed and a space heater on. The people who found her care. They are good folks. This morning when the young man opened the door she was in her bin but when he reached in to check on her, out she went. Happy ending--or so they thought. The young woman looked out the window around noon and a squirrel was running in circles. She went to check on the squirrel and the squirrel stopped. When squirrel was picked up--bare handed--she tucked her head and snuggled in as if she was always hugged by a human. The only guess as to why she was injured is that she fell from an overhead cable and hit her head on the fence. I'd given "Anne", the young woman, the names of wildlife friendly vets and she took the squirrel--now named Billi--right to the vet clinic.

Tonight they brought Billi to me. She has Metacam and Sulfatrim on board. Billi is pretty much non responsive right now. She has a concussion tho x-rays showed nothing is fractured. I checked for nipples as this is baby season. Please look and tell me what you think. Pregnant? She could use some TSB prayers about now. The wonderful folks who found her are REALLY looking forward to bringing her home so she can run free where she lives. Billi

Appears as though you have a wait and see on both accounts, I'm glad she's with you. :grouphug
I have to say my Annie's nibs look like that now maybe even a bit more pronounced and
I'm always being asked if she's had babies which is likely the year she was gone.

[Nancy in New York]

Oh this poor baby.
I'm really surprised the vet didn't give Dexamethasone for her. :thinking
I've even heard of lasix being discussed for HT.
I'm glad she is with you Pat, but I so wished she was on something stronger
for the swelling than Metacam. I know that has some anti-inflamatory properties,
but I would have brought out the "big guns".
I'm glad she has you!!!!!!!:hug

[Chickenlegs]

She moved at least. Thus far, no water tho she does have a water bottle, (where would she have learned to use it?) I'll dig out the ringers later and get some subQ fluids going. She refused a syringe with sweet water in it. Nothing on the sheet the vet sent about fluid therapy. If she's on meds she shouldn't be dehydrated. The cage I have her in is too small to leave a water bowl but we'll see how today goes. I do have Willi's travel cage. Just thought she'd be better off in a place she can't get crazy. Besides, I can get to her in this little cage. At least there's no injury to her little body--unlike sweet Grady who had head trauma--and trauma everywhere else. Did I say she weighs 45 kg? Not huge but a big squirrel girl. She doesn't look pregnant--leastwise she isn't plump, and no obvious movement inside. The guy who brought her is going to listen for babies in distress. I think a nursing mom's nipples would be kind of elongeated but what do I know?

[island rehabber]

CL, I always forget this when I get an adult injured, but when all else fails they will usually take pecan-flavored Ensure. That gets hydration and nutrients into them in one shot. :) If she is concussed, I'm thinking it wil take her a day or so to be back to 'herself'.

[Shewhosweptforest]

Pat she is precious :Love_Icon I sure hope she will recover fully...I wonder if she reinjuried herself when she got back out :thinking since she did become responsive...but is now nonresponsive :dono how wonderful she lives in a yard with such wonderful people :bowdown she's definitely been blessed so far....I hope that continues:Love_Icon

[Chickenlegs]

CL, I always forget this when I get an adult injured, but when all else fails they will usually take pecan-flavored Ensure. That gets hydration and nutrients into them in one shot. :) If she is concussed, I'm thinking it wil take her a day or so to be back to 'herself'.

I have strawberry but will get Pecan today. I can't wait till I get the snapsnap of her "fwosous" teefs! I thied some formula with honey in it last night. It dribbled out and left her sticky. She didn't seem to mind a warm cloth and that's not normal too.


Pat she is precious :Love_Icon I sure hope she will recover fully...I wonder if she reinjuried herself when she got back out :thinking since she did become responsive...but is now nonresponsive :dono how wonderful she lives in a yard with such wonderful people :bowdown she's definitely been blessed so far....I hope that continues:Love_Icon

She CAN move--just doesn't seem to want to. Poor thing likely has the headache of headaches. I think she's a pretty girl--big ol head, sweet eyes, soft fur. I'd love to see her scamming for nuts at her own house--sooner rather than later. And yeah, these are TSB people--kind, compassionate, and they took action rather than "tuttutting oh poor thing, well, too bad". I hope they become friends.

[Chickenlegs]

One of her eyes looks weepy. The other is clear but can't tell if the pupil is dialated without the aid of a flashlight and I just don't want to add more stress. She got the Sulfatrim this morning but she doesn't swallow that I can see tho the fluid could be trickling down her throat. She's been subQd and the ringers disappeared about as fast as it went in. She'll get stuck again this afternoon and tonight. I just want to hold her and stroke her head but good sense says "put that girl DOWN so she can rest". Good sense is lots smarter than I am.

Sorry the light level is low so not the best pic

[SammysMom]

Do you have any Pred on hand, Pat? Of course you can't use it with the Meticam until it has been 24 hours, but it would be my choice for sure. Dex is preferred, but I don't ever have access to it unless the vet decides it is the best course of action.
Prayers for her speedy recovery though...:grouphug

[Chickenlegs]

I do have Prednisone but hate to leave her with nothing for 24 hours. I have Tramadol but that doesn't do anything for inflamation. What do you think? I have the Metacam drawn up but if you think Pred is a better choice, I'll hold off.

[SammysMom]

I would go Tram and Prednisone. You might want to see what others weigh in with, but my Pendleton (I know everyone is probably sick of me using his case) was a head trauma case who couldn't even walk when he got here and with Pred and time, he did extremely well. There is no anti inflammatory better than Prednisone or Dex.

[Chickenlegs]

I went to give her meds and LOOK! She is responsive, wary of me, eating, tho I haven't seen her drink yet. She did get subQ fluids earlier. Her squinchy eye is still weepy and red around the outside but she sees out of it just fine. Chalk up another for TSB prayers.

Check THIS out! :bliss

[Fireweed]

WOW! I was afraid to look! So good to see her up and eating and alert. :hug
Good job, CL !!!!! :grouphug

[HRT4SQRLS]

The princess has awakened. :grin2 Fabulous!

[SammysMom]

This is awesome, Pat!!! Good job!!! :Love_Icon

[Nancy in New York]

:fireworks :fireworks SLEEPING BEAUTY IS AWAKE AND UP!!!!!!!!!!! :fireworks :fireworks

WOW she looks like a completely different squirrel!
Nice job as ALWAYS! :bowdown

[Chickenlegs]

So I got her out, gave her meds and was going to gently wipe that bad eye with some warm water on a cotton ball. She almost shot off my lap. Guess that eye HURTS! What can I do to make her eye feel better. Can I give her some Tramadol to make it less painful and maybe clean it some? (She weighs 45 kg.) i'll go get some saline eye drops tonight. Poor baby. She was all perky till I messed with that eye.

[karriemed]

If it's that tender I would get the eye gel too. Flush it with the saline and then put the gel in there. It will keep the eye lid from irritating it more.

[farm mom]

Hi Pat,
Your girls nips look like she was in heat instead of pregnant. Maybe got pushed or knocked off by a male trying to breed. I would subQ her again until you see her drink by herself. For the eye I would use Antibiotic eye ointment to keep it moist and tramadol or Metacam for pain. KV Vet supply on line has the eye oint.http://www.kvsupply.com/terramycin-ophthalmic-ointment-18-oz no Rx needed. When you come to the gathering I have an extra vial of Dex that I'll give you. It never hurts to have that on board for any head trauma. She looks so much better though :dance

[Shewhosweptforest]

Oh Pat :grin3 yay! Great news! She sure is a pretty little thing...if it wasn't for her kind neighbor's...and her healing angel....she'd be gone :sadness so sad that sometimes all they need is a little time to heal...in nature they rarely get it :( I'm thinking the eye injury was already there...might even be why she fell :donoso this fall may have been a blessing in disguise :Love_Icon now she'll be a 100% when she hits the trees :w00t

[stepnstone]

I was just about to come on here and speak of concussion and read this baby has responded, very good to see indeed! http://www.sherv.net/cm/emo/happy/raise-the-roof-smiley-emoticon.gif

As for concussion, if you've ever suffered a "bad" one you'd understand the last thing you'd want to do is move! The pain
on the outside from whatever caused it is nothing compared to the dizziness, confusion and nausea that's going on in the
inside. It's a different pain, like jello on a bed of nails! It really is awful, the slightest movement excels it!