Paralyzed Squirrel

[thanlon]

I have rehabbed quite a few squirrels over the last 10 years so I'm not a total newby. Friday a friend called me with a squirrel that fell from her tree during the storms we had come through. Eyes are open and has hair on his tail. I brought him home, got him warm, rehydrated him and then started feeding him. I was happy to see he was eating however when I started to help him do his business, I noticed he was not moving his back legs or tail. Not a bit at all. They just hang there. I have read posts on here about paralyzed squirrels and watched the video on how to express his urine. I am trying to get him to poop, however that is not going as well as I had hoped. I have gotten two tiny black poops so far. Am I expecting too much? Is there a special technique for this? He is alert, seems content and happy when fed. Can move himself around using his front legs. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. If I missed this information and it is on here, directions on how to find it would be appreciated as well. Thanks so much.

[Rhapsody]

I would keep him warm, feed and see how he does in two days after getting some good solid nutrition in him, we have to put food in to get it out. He also needs some Prednisone to help with the inflammation in his back / spine that is keeping him from being able to move atm..... this will help with pain as well.

[thanlon]

Thanks for the info. Where do I get the prednisone? A local vet? How much should he get? Would the vet know this?

Again thanks



I would keep him warm, feed and see how he does in two days after getting some good solid nutrition in him, we have to put food in to get it out. He also needs some Prednisone to help with the inflammation in his back / spine that is keeping him from being able to move atm..... this will help with pain as well.

[Spanky]

Thanks for the info. Where do I get the prednisone? A local vet? How much should he get? Would the vet know this?

Again thanks

Yes, a vet can provide some prednisone. If the vet does not know the dosing for squirrels, we can help with dosing. You might even want to double check with folks here about what the vet doses anyways, just because not a lot of vets deal with squirrels (but TSB does!).

If you cannot get to your vet today (it is Labor Day?) perhaps you can ask family and friends if anyone might have prednisone. You need only 1 tablet... the sooner the prednisone is started, the better his chances of recovery!

In order to dose the prednisone, we will need an accurate weight for the squirrel!

:thankyou for helping this injured boy!

[thanlon]

I weighed him and he weighs 3.5 oz. So how much should he get?

[Spanky]

If your scale also weighs in grams, that would be best and more precise. Can you tell me what strength prednisone you have? Assuming this is a tablet, we need to make a suspension out of the tablet to be able to measure out the dose and the strength of the tablet determines how much liquid id added.

[thanlon]

If your scale also weighs in grams, that would be best and more precise. Can you tell me what strength prednisone you have? Assuming this is a tablet, we need to make a suspension out of the tablet to be able to measure out the dose and the strength of the tablet determines how much liquid id added.

Thanks to all who responded. I'm new here so it meant a lot to have people give advice. Got him prednisone from the vet. He still seems about the same. Eats well, urinates using the method from here and he leaks a bit. Pooping as well. Legs and tail still just hang there. He moves around just fine and is quite alert. Any other advice for this little guy?