View Full Version : Arm or shoulder injury
JoeysMom
08-14-2016, 05:52 PM
Hi, I'm new to the forum but have rehabbed squirrels in the past but none with injuries. Joey was found a few days ago on the 11th beneath a tree in the park right behind my back fence line. After carefully checking him over I put him in a box back under the tree for a couple of hours. At the time of putting him back he was warm, hydrated and had no obvious injuries. The drop from the drey was approx 20 feet. Mom never came for him so I took him in. The next day slight swelling began and increased over time. It seems more concerning now as I type this. His weight is at 95 grams, he eats well, urinated real well for me a couple hours ago during feeding and has pooped a couple of times. I have been giving him ibuprofen but only a drop once every 4 hours due to his weight and size. The following photo shows the bruising and swelling, the bruising has traveled to his chest today whereas it wasn't bruised yesterday. I could use help with the proper dosage of ibuprofen 160 mg per 5ml for his weight of 95 grams. His ears and eyes are still closed so I'm guessing he's between 2 and 3 weeks old. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.
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HRT4SQRLS
08-14-2016, 09:55 PM
Are you sure those aren't ant bites? It looks like inflammation associated with the 2 red spots. ... bites maybe?
Welcome to TheSquirrelBoard
JoeysMom
08-14-2016, 11:18 PM
Are you sure those aren't ant bites? It looks like inflammation associated with the 2 red spots. ... bites maybe?
Welcome to TheSquirrelBoard
I am almost 100% certain those aren't ant bites. The fall was from pretty high up and I literally watched it happen. The poor little guy fell at the feet of 2 little girls playing in the park under the tree. He wasn't on the ground long enough for ants to get to him. I jumped the fence when they said they thought it was a baby squirrel. The injured arm/shoulder was the side he was lying on when I got to him.
stepnstone
08-15-2016, 12:51 PM
How is the little guy doing this morning?
I know you are giving Ib, does his arm appear to have any
reduction in swelling?
JoeysMom
08-17-2016, 02:25 PM
Joey is doing fine in all aspects of eating, body functions and weight gain. I'm still concerned about his arm though. The following photos are a progression with the first being the first taken when I found him on 8/11 and the last was taken today 8/17. I still have him on Ibuprofen every 4 hours but further guidance would be appreciated. How long too should I keep him or should he be kept on the Ibuprofen?
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DaSquirrelMom
08-17-2016, 02:49 PM
That appears to be a hematoma from a fractured elbow.
Distal humerus fracture
http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/figures/A00513F04.jpg
http://static1.squarespace.com/static/51cae394e4b00280d0e24f7f/t/53de6e4ce4b0c9befecc4b92/1407086221419/complications+with+an+olecranon+fracture
TubeDriver
08-17-2016, 02:56 PM
You may be right but he could have been bitten by something before he fell (the bites and possible infection lead to the visible injury on his arm and caused the fall)?
I am almost 100% certain those aren't ant bites. The fall was from pretty high up and I literally watched it happen. The poor little guy fell at the feet of 2 little girls playing in the park under the tree. He wasn't on the ground long enough for ants to get to him. I jumped the fence when they said they thought it was a baby squirrel. The injured arm/shoulder was the side he was lying on when I got to him.
stepnstone
08-17-2016, 03:29 PM
I've asked for another opinion but think this baby should be on ab's.
Nancy in New York
08-17-2016, 04:09 PM
I've asked for another opinion but think this baby should be on ab's.
Yeah, that's a lot of swelling going on in 6 days! :eek
JoeysMom
08-17-2016, 06:04 PM
That appears to be a hematoma from a fractured elbow.
Distal humerus fracture
http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/figures/A00513F04.jpg
http://static1.squarespace.com/static/51cae394e4b00280d0e24f7f/t/53de6e4ce4b0c9befecc4b92/1407086221419/complications+with+an+olecranon+fracture IF this is the case, will it heal on it's own? He's not very active at the moment.
JoeysMom
08-17-2016, 06:04 PM
I've asked for another opinion but think this baby should be on ab's.
You are a blessing to me, thank you and thank you for all of your help!
JoeysMom
08-17-2016, 06:58 PM
This video was from the 15th, while it doesn't show the inside of his arm it does show the movement of it and his toes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ju8WTws3yS8
TubeDriver
08-17-2016, 07:12 PM
My guess is an infection of some sort. Is the area still reddish looking?
JoeysMom
08-17-2016, 07:32 PM
My guess is an infection of some sort. Is the area still reddish looking?
The redness is decreasing, the dark almost black looking bruising on his chest (first photo, bruising to the right half of his chest) is gone but there is the lump. See with him having movement with it scooting around his blankets and attempts to grab the syringe, I question if it is broken or not but man oh man this lump makes me sad.
stepnstone
08-17-2016, 08:20 PM
What available ab's can you get your hands on?
Daisey007
08-17-2016, 08:33 PM
I know this is not commonly known (or even accepted) BUT.... Squirrels have developed the amazing ability to create a 'calcium cast' around broken bones. I actually became aware of this when I took my Daisy to the vet as a baby with a big, hard lump in the middle of her thigh. I asked if she had a broken leg and the vet responded "yes, and she's already developed a calcium cast!". She said that the calcium will eventually reabsorb back into the body and disappear, and it did. This was recently confirmed when Daisy, now 9 years old, had a full body x-ray for MBD, and the current vet pointed to the leg on the x-ray and said "this looks like an old break". Since that time I've had 3 other babies with broken legs and one with a broken arm and each developed that same familiar hard lump, and then they disappeared as expected. Most of the babies that I've raised have been found during cleanup of a tree that's been cut down, and broken bones are fairly common. :klunk
There is at least one squirrel expert that doesn't feel that it's ever necessary to treat a broken bone in a squirrel... although, I'm not sure they are familiar with the "calcium cast".
JoeysMom
08-17-2016, 09:08 PM
What available ab's can you get your hands on?
amoxicillin 500 mg capsules
amox-clav 500-125 mg tablets
naproxen 500 mg tablets
ibuprofen 600 mg tablets (prescription strength)
ibuprofen infant drops, this is what I have him on according to your instructions.
JoeysMom
08-17-2016, 09:11 PM
I know this is not commonly known (or even accepted) BUT.... Squirrels have developed the amazing ability to create a 'calcium cast' around broken bones. I actually became aware of this when I took my Daisy to the vet as a baby with a big, hard lump in the middle of her thigh. I asked if she had a broken leg and the vet responded "yes, and she's already developed a calcium cast!". She said that the calcium will eventually reabsorb back into the body and disappear, and it did. This was recently confirmed when Daisy, now 9 years old, had a full body x-ray for MBD, and the current vet pointed to the leg on the x-ray and said "this looks like an old break". Since that time I've had 3 other babies with broken legs and one with a broken arm and each developed that same familiar hard lump, and then they disappeared as expected. Most of the babies that I've raised have been found during cleanup of a tree that's been cut down, and broken bones are fairly common. :klunk
There is at least one squirrel expert that doesn't feel that it's ever necessary to treat a broken bone in a squirrel... although, I'm not sure they are familiar with the "calcium cast".
I did read your above posts on other threads and I am hoping for this outcome, it's amazing how nature at times can take care of it's own. With all of your babies with breaks did they resume normal mobility/function of their arms or legs?
stepnstone
08-17-2016, 09:48 PM
amoxicillin 500 mg capsules
amox-clav 500-125 mg tablets
naproxen 500 mg tablets
ibuprofen 600 mg tablets (prescription strength)
ibuprofen infant drops, this is what I have him on according to your instructions.
Sending pm... as soon as I get it pecked out. :grin2
DaSquirrelMom
08-17-2016, 10:00 PM
IF this is the case, will it heal on it's own? He's not very active at the moment.
Almost all fractures will heal with time, BUT it's unknown if it will heal to where he will regain all motion especially if it isn't x-rayed/put in a cast. In humans, the ulnar nerve is very close to where his swelling is located. In humans, when the ulnar nerve is damaged (can be damaged by prolonged swelling), the 4th and 5th fingers become numb, tingly, and painful. The hand can be permanently numb. I don't know where the ulnar nerve is located in squirrels.
Keeping a cast on an animal, the elderly, or children has risk as they may not be able to tell you that their circulation is impaired by the cast. One must frequently check the area distal to the break for discoloration, warmth and motion because the cast may be cutting off blood circulation and needs to be loosened/removed.
DaSquirrelMom
08-17-2016, 10:35 PM
I made my husband (a physician) look at this baby's photo. He says it also might be Olecranon bursitis which is common when someone has fallen hard and hit their elbow, but baby squirrel's swelling appears a few mm above his elbow joint. Look at these photos.
http://noelhenley.com/elbow-bursitis/
JoeysMom
08-17-2016, 10:52 PM
I made my husband (a physician) look at this baby's photo. He says it also might be Olecranon bursitis which is common when someone has fallen hard and hit their elbow, but baby squirrel's swelling appears a few mm above his elbow joint. Look at these photos.
http://noelhenley.com/elbow-bursitis/.
I was searching through info on line just in general about hematomas and arm fractures and did see a photo just like the one you posted and my first thought was that lookssimilar to Joey's arm and elbow area shown in the last photo. Thanks for having your husband look and give an opinion. I'm going to start him on antibiotics as advised.
Daisey007
08-18-2016, 12:41 AM
I did read your above posts on other threads and I am hoping for this outcome, it's amazing how nature at times can take care of it's own. With all of your babies with breaks did they resume normal mobility/function of their arms or legs?
YES!!! I KNOW it's hard to believe, or 'accept', whatever the case may be but I've seen it. Squirrels are exceptional.
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