Benjamin came home with nystagmus!

[prowkerssld]

I'm a budding squirrel rehabilitator. My latest rescue,"Benjamin" is about 4 months old, a client from my office brought him to me as a pinky when her dog picked him up in the yard after a winter storm. He's been doing well, he eats breakfast at home, goes out in our woods for the day and returns early evening for dinner. Today when he came home for dinner he had a slight head tilt when he was eating and I noticed nystagmus. I'm thinking he might have an ear problem (he scratches at the ear that tilts) or possible head trama. I need some suggetions on what to do. Can Squirrels take pred? Help!

[stepnstone]

I'm a budding squirrel rehabilitator. My latest rescue,"Benjamin" is about 4 months old, a client from my office brought him to me as a pinky when her dog picked him up in the yard after a winter storm. He's been doing well, he eats breakfast at home, goes out in our woods for the day and returns early evening for dinner. Today when he came home for dinner he had a slight head tilt when he was eating and I noticed nystagmus. I'm thinking he might have an ear problem (he scratches at the ear that tilts) or possible head trama. I need some suggetions on what to do. Can Squirrels take pred? Help!
You do need to rule in or out the ear but yes, squirrels can take Pred.
You will need the weight of squee and the strength of Pred to properly dose.

[prowkerssld]

He weighs about 430 grams as near as I can figure. He's pretty wiggly and the scale is small. I have 5mg Prenisolone tabs here. His nystagmus did improve after he ate and I brought him inside and he settled down but head tilit is still present.

[Nancy in New York]

He weighs about 430 grams as near as I can figure. He's pretty wiggly and the scale is small. I have 5mg Prenisolone tabs here. His nystagmus did improve after he ate and I brought him inside and he settled down but head tilit is still present.

I will send you dosing instructions through a pm.
How long has he been released?

[prowkerssld]

He's been in his outside cage for about 6 weeks and has been able to come and go for about 4 weeks.

[Nancy in New York]

He's been in his outside cage for about 6 weeks and has been able to come and go for about 4 weeks.

He was a little young to be released,
and definitely too young to be put out in the release cage,
especially being a single.
Typically there Mom's don't even let them touch the ground
before 10 weeks.
Was he fully weaned when you put him in the
release cage?
I sent you the dosing instructions, let us know how
he does.
You are keeping him inside during his recuperation, correct?

[prowkerssld]

He's been in his outside cage for about 6 weeks and has been able to come and go for about 4 weeks.

[Nancy in New York]

He's been in his outside cage for about 6 weeks and has been able to come and go for about 4 weeks.

10 weeks is way too young in my opinion to go into
a release cage. AND 12 weeks is too young for release.
There is so much competition/dangers out there and the longer
they are kept, they gain more awareness, become stronger,smarter,
and faster.
A 10 or 12 week old would still be with his mom.

[Spanky]

....My latest rescue,"Benjamin" is about 4 months old....


He's been in his outside cage for about 6 weeks and has been able to come and go for about 4 weeks.

So Benjamin the singleton would have been placed into the RC at about 10 weeks old?

Edit: Okay, I am catching up to Nancy... and I would agree with her that 10 weeks is but too young.

[prowkerssld]

Sorry Ladies my computer died during our conversation last night. First, thank you for your quick response and advice. The closest wildlife vet is an hour away and being the weekend vet offices are closed. Benjamin was brought to me as a pinky the first week of Feb. I figured he was 1-2 weeks old since his umbilcal was gone. I did not start giving him time in the outside cage until late April doing so gradually and depending on the weather. It was probably early May before he spent days and nights in the outside cage in his nestbox which I moved from his inside cage to his outside cage, trying to gradually give him more exposer to the ouside surroundings but still keeping something familiar for comfort. When I did let him out ,again I did so gradually. I have been leaving his door open during the day for the past 3-4 weeks so he can come and go but he mostly stays close to home. He has been on solid food for quite some time and was offered milk until he started refusing it about 2-3 weeks ago. About 2 weeks ago he started interacting with 2 other squirrels about his size. They interact in the early mornings and early evening. He was spending the nights in his nest box but has spent a few nights out only to return for breakfast. I realize this was probably not the best method but I have done the best I can, honestly I was surprised he survived at all.
As far as his head tilit and nystagmus, he improved overnight, I could only see a slight tilt this am and it was after he was playing. He ate this am well and seems to feel better. I haven't started the pred yet as he seems to be improving without it and I was concerned that if he had an infection that the steriod could make it harder for his immune system to repond.
Thank you again for your help and advice I'll keep you posted

[SammysMom]

If he is improving dramatically, not giving the pred is a good choice. Just be sure to keep him in for a good amount of time to totally heal. If there is any neurological damage you don't want it to appear while he is 50 feet in the air. He is young and will do okay in a cage for a while.