Adult squirrel hit by car but alert

[katieCLT]

Hi there. Yesterday evening I found an adult squirrel that I assume had been clipped by a car. I thought it was dead but when I approached it tried to scurry away dragging itself with its front legs. I decided to take it in so it didn't get hit again or eaten by another animal overnight.

I kept it overnight in a crate at my house and it's still alive and alert this morning but I assume in a lot of pain. I've contacted wildlife rescues in my area (Charlotte NC) and all suggest euthanasia. I'm just curious if there are not possibly other options or if there's anything else I should do first.

I'm very willing to help but I also don't want to prolong suffering and make things worse. Any suggestions?

Thanks for your help,
Katie

[ALittleNutty]

Hi there. Yesterday evening I found an adult squirrel that I assume had been clipped by a car. I thought it was dead but when I approached it tried to scurry away dragging itself with its front legs. I decided to take it in so it didn't get hit again or eaten by another animal overnight.

I kept it overnight in a crate at my house and it's still alive and alert this morning but I assume in a lot of pain. I've contacted wildlife rescues in my area (Charlotte NC) and all suggest euthanasia. I'm just curious if there are not possibly other options or if there's anything else I should do first.

I'm very willing to help but I also don't want to prolong suffering and make things worse. Any suggestions?

Thanks for your help,
Katie

Oh so sorry for this squirrel. There are meds that can help with this and other members can advise on type and dosage. Right now I would just have lots of fleece for this one to snuggle down in to feel safer. A dim, quiet room is also better to keep stress levels down. It sounds like a spinal injury and xrays could confirm that if there is a vet in your area that would see it. Sometimes it is just temporary spinal swelling that can be resolved with meds and time. A shallow dish of water should be added as well as some greens and veggies.

[TubeDriver]

Thank you for helping this little one!


Can you see any movement of the rear legs and tail?

[katieCLT]

Thank you for responding! The squirrel is comfortably resting on a towel with access to some berries (and has eaten one so I hope that's a good sign). Good news: In the few minutes since I posted this I have finally located a local vet who is willing to examine the squirrel and assess what to do next. This is the first person who didn't immediately recommend euthanasia and she rehabilitates 500 wild animals/year on her own time outside her practice so I'm hopeful. The squirrel and I are headed there now. I'll keep everyone updated. Appreciate it!

Edited to add: Forgot to mention there is no visible movement in the back legs or tail from what I've seen.

[HRT4SQRLS]

You're the best Katie. :Love_Icon Thank you for helping this little injured soul. I love your heart of compassion.
I wish the world was full a people like you. :grouphug

[katieCLT]

Hi everyone. Just wanted to update you on this little guy...

We found a vet willing to work with squirrels and so far have GREAT news. She actually doesn't think he broke any bones (this is amazing to me) but is severely dehydrated (probably from laying in the road for a long time) and a little scraped up. She has him on fluids now and cleaned up his belly scrapes. He'll stay there overnight and I'll check back in tomorrow. I'm hoping he continues to improve.

Katie

277427

[Spanky]

What good news! :thankyou Katie for helping him (I was going to ask if this might be a nursing mother until I saw the gender mentioned in the update!). :clap

[ALittleNutty]

What great news!!! :grouphug for the him to have a wonderful recovery! So glad you were able to find a vet and get him seen so quickly.

[HRT4SQRLS]

Perfect! Wow. :grin2

[Mel1959]

You're awesome, Katie! :bowdown. This little guy is so lucky to have been found by someone like you. :thankyou:thankyou

[Ekorre]

Hi everyone. Just wanted to update you on this little guy...

We found a vet willing to work with squirrels and so far have GREAT news. She actually doesn't think he broke any bones (this is amazing to me) but is severely dehydrated (probably from laying in the road for a long time) and a little scraped up. She has him on fluids now and cleaned up his belly scrapes. He'll stay there overnight and I'll check back in tomorrow. I'm hoping he continues to improve.

Katie

277427

What great news! :Love_Icon http://www.sherv.net/cm/emo/word/you-rock-smiley-emoticon.gif :Love_Icon

[TubeDriver]

:serene

[lilidukes]

Hi there. Yesterday evening I found an adult squirrel that I assume had been clipped by a car. I thought it was dead but when I approached it tried to scurry away dragging itself with its front legs. I decided to take it in so it didn't get hit again or eaten by another animal overnight.

I kept it overnight in a crate at my house and it's still alive and alert this morning but I assume in a lot of pain. I've contacted wildlife rescues in my area (Charlotte NC) and all suggest euthanasia. I'm just curious if there are not possibly other options or if there's anything else I should do first.

I'm very willing to help but I also don't want to prolong suffering and make things worse. Any suggestions?

Thanks for your help,
Katie


Atrium animal hospital
Charlotte
Dr Laura will help if you can afford
a vet visit

[lilidukes]

was trying to post from my phone
earlier and i see you have already
found a vet
oops:gigg

[Daisey007]

Hi there. Yesterday evening I found an adult squirrel that I assume had been clipped by a car. I thought it was dead but when I approached it tried to scurry away dragging itself with its front legs. I decided to take it in so it didn't get hit again or eaten by another animal overnight.

I kept it overnight in a crate at my house and it's still alive and alert this morning but I assume in a lot of pain. I've contacted wildlife rescues in my area (Charlotte NC) and all suggest euthanasia. I'm just curious if there are not possibly other options or if there's anything else I should do first.

I'm very willing to help but I also don't want to prolong suffering and make things worse. Any suggestions?

Thanks for your help,
Katie

Thank you for rescuing the squirrel, and being so caring as to check all alternatives before euthanasia.
This world could certainly use more people like you. :Love_Icon

[cava]

I agree. You're awesome Katie!!

[Shewhosweptforest]

:hug Katie....you are amazing:blowkiss as everyone has said :great you stopped to check...you took him in :Love_Icon you searched and searched till you found help...not immediate death :Love_Icon this little fellow now has a chance...you're his guardian angel...he'd be dead if not for you....he was very close :sadness you must never forget this vet....this would be my vet....vets like this deserve our business and loyalty :Love_Icon :bowdown

:thankyou Katie :hug :blowkiss

[macattack1214]

:serene

[Rocky1]

Hi everyone. Just wanted to update you on this little guy...

We found a vet willing to work with squirrels and so far have GREAT news. She actually doesn't think he broke any bones (this is amazing to me) but is severely dehydrated (probably from laying in the road for a long time) and a little scraped up. She has him on fluids now and cleaned up his belly scrapes. He'll stay there overnight and I'll check back in tomorrow. I'm hoping he continues to improve.

Katie

277427

Thank you for caring for this precious cutie in the picture. Looking forward to seeing him once he returns from the vet. Reading this, I feel optimistic, and hopefully he will slowly and surely recover. It's great to see stories like - what I suspect this will be*, where a squirrel goes from very bad shape to a full recovery.

*The caveat here, IMO, is the dragging of back legs. That's the one sign that concerns me most. Hoping for no broken bones and fully functioning organs.

[SugarBugFerret]

Any more news on this guy?