Dobby got into a fight

[Dobby]

So I am new to the forum but have been posting about my two new 5 week old charges in another thread..

Last Sept my husband brought him a little squirrel and we named him Dobby. He was already eating solid food but seemed imprinted on people... have no idea where he was before we got him. Anyway we kept him safe as he grew and moved him outside and eventually released him into the back yard. Now even tho he is 100% free he would still come down to see us and play. I can call to him and he would come down.. visit and then go back to the trees.
He would only come down for us and if a stranger was visiting he was no where to be found until our company left.
Now he is a full male squirrel and his balls have swollen big. We also noticed a bit more nippy and aggressive attitude from him figured it was some kind of rut because of breeding season. For the most part we leave him alone but he will still come visit and come down to see us.

Saturday we saw him and it looked like he was in a fight. He has an injury to his armpit and another on his back. Today I saw him again and his back injury looks like its getting infected . It was swollen more and had puss in the center.

I really wish I could scoop him up and treat his wounds but how he has been acting lately and now hurt I would not dare to. Instead I mixed some oral antibiotic (Baytril) in some peanut butter and he ate it all. I wanted to spray some topical antiseptic on his back wound but he wouldn't let me.

He ate at the feeder so he has an appetite and is getting around like normal.. but I hate to see him hurt because he is a very special squirrel to us.

[Daisey007]

Hi Dobby,

Sorry to head about him... they can get into a lot out there especially during mating season!

Does it look like it might be a bot fly? It's that time of year.

[SammysMom]

So sorry to hear that Dobby isn't feeling well. It is certainly possible to dose antibiotics in the wold, but how did you dose it? What strength Baytril do you have and we would need to guesstimate a weight on him.

[Spanky]

Does it look like it might be a bot fly? It's that time of year.


It is certainly possible to dose antibiotics in the wild, but how did you dose it? What strength Baytril do you have and we would need to guesstimate a weight on him.

:yeahthat and :yeahthat

[Dobby]

2.5% baytril.

I have a pic but I don't know how to post it.

[Spanky]

If you send the pic to squirrelhelp@uysinc.com I will post them for you...

[Dobby]

If you send the pic to squirrelhelp@uysinc.com I will post them for you...

Ok I just sent them

[Spanky]

http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=275729&stc=1
http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=275730&stc=1http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=275731&stc=1
http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=275732&stc=1

[Dobby]

Thanks for posting the pics

I just watched a video on bot flies and squirrels. It's definitely in the same areas mentioned in the video.. back and chest. :-/

Oh and I think the strands coming off his back are bits of Spanish moss

[Spanky]

It looks to me as if Dobby has maybe been impaled and may still have the stick that puncture him protruding? :dono

Hopefully some of the more sophisticated trauma folks will be along soon... My initial reaction is he needs to be captured, his wound addressed and treated... then decide if he seems okay to re-release or keep inside for further recovery / treatment.

[Spanky]

Thanks for posting the pics

I just watched a video on bot flies and squirrels. It's definitely in the same areas mentioned in the video.. back and chest. :-/

Oh and I think the strands coming off his back are bits of Spanish moss

Right area for bot but I am confident this is not bots. It seems more like he has been impaled by a stick, and the strands may be plant material like roots attached to the stick that impaled him? My initial thoughts are that whatever has punctured him need to be removed and then assess...

[Dobby]

When we saw him Saturday it looked like a raw sore spot on hisback, the strands where not there. Didn't see him again until today and the strands where there and the sore spot is definitely more swollen...and puss is there. That's why I feel like its becoming infected

[redwuff]

Any chance of trapping him and bringing him to get his wounds taken care of. Very scary time to have open wounds during prime fly time.

Trysh

[Spanky]

When we saw him Saturday it looked like a raw sore spot on hisback, the strands where not there. Didn't see him again until today and the strands where there and the sore spot is definitely more swollen...and puss is there. That's why I feel like its becoming infected

It would be great if you could get fresh pics in the morning is possible? And maybe start preparing to capture and treat him if necessary... at least then you will be prepared and have a plan. Minimally, you'll probably want to treat him in the wild unless new pics show some improvement!

[Dobby]

It definitely has gotten worse in 2 days. I can try trapping him, I am sure I can . He will be difficult to work with once I do

[lennysmom]

Poor little guy - it looks painful to say the least.:(
Do you perhaps have a vet you could take him to if you are able to trap for treatment?

[redwuff]

There are many experienced squirrelly folks in that area that could possibly help you out. Is that something that you would like. The wound does not look severe now from the picture, but it definitely would help this squirrel to get it cleaned out and on a regular course of antibiotics.

Trysh

[Dobby]

I saw him this morning and it looked the same. I tried to spray some antibiotics on him but he knew I was up to something.

He usually is a friendly guy when he is not full of testosterone.

I could probably trap him and confine him to his outdoor enclosure. I don't feel like he would let me clean the wounds but I could give him some oral antibiotics.

I have a friend who is a vet I can consult for a treatment.

I agree it not too severe at the moment but I don't want the infection to spread and get worse. Right now he is eating and moving around like normal so that is good

[HRT4SQRLS]

If you can get either Clavamox or SMX-TMP from your vet friend we could help you dose it by weight. I know the Clavamox can be dosed in the ridges of a pecan. It doesn't have a horrible taste so they will readily eat it. I'm pretty sure the SMZ-TMP can be dosed the same way. When the antibiotic concentration of the solution is acceptable, the dose volume is minimal so it fits nicely in the pecan ridges.

I find this to the best way to dose a wild squirrel.