St.Petersburg Florida, Baby Squirrel with limp back legs

[Skwerly]

Hello,
It's been awhile since I posted on the Forum.Thank the Lord I have'nt had any emergencies lately,but my Son just called me and told me he has a baby Squirrel that he found.He said the back legs are limp and it is dragging himself around.I asked about the general condition and he told me he thought it was "good",in that it was biting him,so it was at least able to defend itself.He thought that because the back legs are limp he had 2 broken legs but it may also indicate a spine injury.

Can anyone direct me to someone that may be able to help this Squirrel?I'm in the St.Petersburg Florida area.

Thanks for any help

[Nancy in New York]

Hello,
It's been awhile since I posted on the Forum.Thank the Lord I have'nt had any emergencies lately,but my Son just called me and told me he has a baby Squirrel that he found.He said the back legs are limp and it is dragging himself around.I asked about the general condition and he told me he thought it was "good",in that it was biting him,so it was at least able to defend itself.He thought that because the back legs are limp he had 2 broken legs but it may also indicate a spine injury.

Can anyone direct me to someone that may be able to help this Squirrel?I'm in the St.Petersburg Florida area.

Thanks for any help

Is this squirrel inside now?
I changed the title to draw more attention to it.

EDIT:

Reach out to Delo729 via pm, she is in that area, and may know
of someone that can help.

[Skwerly]

Hi yes he is inside and with my Son.He said the Squirrel looked to be maybe a few months old,that there did'nt appear to be any exterior damage so I'm suspecting a spinal injury.

[Skwerly]

Thanks I will try and contact Delo729

[Nancy in New York]

Hi yes he is inside and with my Son.He said the Squirrel looked to be maybe a few months old,that there did'nt appear to be any exterior damage so I'm suspecting a spinal injury.

Just a "refresher" if you want to pass this along to your son.

http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?51708-4skwerlz-Baby-Squirrel-Care

[Skwerly]

Thanks!I sent a PM to Delo729.

[Skwerly]

Here are some pics my Son sent to me.277805277806277807

I told him to put a towel under the Squirrel

[Skwerly]

I'm not sure why the photos are upside down,they were rightside up when I uploaded them

[cava]

Oh my! He looks pitiful (and YOUNG!)

I sure hope you are able to find someone quickly. Yeah, give him a blanky to hide under, for sure!:Love_Icon

[Skwerly]

Thanks,yes he has a towel in there now

[Nancy in New York]

Thanks,yes he has a towel in there now

Please tell your son, to put something in with no loops.
They can easily catch their nails on towels, and we don't want
something more happening to this little one.
Even old t shirts are fine, and something he can crawl under.
Has he offered him hydration?

[Skwerly]

OK will do,yes he put a water bowl in with him

[SammysMom]

This little sweetheart is on his way to Nana3...as always she rocks the rehab world! Thank-you Nana3 for always being there when we need you for one of these precious babies.:Love_Icon

[Skwerly]

Just want to give an update on the "patient".I just returned from Nana3's place.She and her husband are AWESOME:dance!Nana3 did a prelim inspection and thinks that she(Squirrel is a girl) has a broken leg.Please pray everyone that this is "all" it is,and there is no spinal damage for this precious little girl.She is very thin and very dehydrated,and Nana3 immediately started giving her some pediolyte,and is taking her to the Vet tomorrow.I stayed a few minutes and met their Squirrels,all very sweet and beautiful.I will post updates when possible.

Thanks to all for the help,as usual all here are so helpful and so AWESOME!:thankyou:applause


Please feel free to move this thread from "Life threatening".I believe that this story will have a happy ending:bliss

[Nancy in New York]

Just want to give an update on the "patient".I just returned from Nana3's place.She and her husband are AWESOME:dance!Nana3 did a prelim inspection and thinks that she(Squirrel is a girl) has a broken leg.Please pray everyone that this is "all" it is,and there is no spinal damage for this precious little girl.She is very thin and very dehydrated,and Nana3 immediately started giving her some pediolyte,and is taking her to the Vet tomorrow.I stayed a few minutes and met their Squirrels,all very sweet and beautiful.I will post updates when possible.

Thanks to all for the help,as usual all here are so helpful and so AWESOME!:thankyou:applause


Please feel free to move this thread from "Life threatening".I believe that this story will have a happy ending:bliss

What a great update!
Thank you for helping this little one.
A HUGE shout out to Nana3 for ALWAYS helping out in a crisis. :bowdown
Thank you from the bottom of my heart, she couldn't be in better hands! :Love_Icon

[Skwerly]

What a great update!
Thank you for helping this little one.
A HUGE shout out to Nana3 for ALWAYS helping out in a crisis. :bowdown
Thank you from the bottom of my heart, she couldn't be in better hands! :Love_Icon



I agree 150%,Nana3 and her Hubby are the best,as are the Squirrel peeps here!

[Nana3]

Well, not so good news. She has an injured spine that may or may not heal. We are giving her 48 hours to see if the swelling goes down before any decisions will be made. She has feeling in both hind legs and can move them, nice warm feet, can splay her toes but you know she is in pain. Sub qed 5 cc's of fluid and now we wait. I hate this part because you just grow more attached every second you care for them. Dr. Clark is not very hopeful but said he has seen worse turn around and live a good life. Dr. Clark also thought she had a broken leg until further exam then we all agreed an x-ray was in order to be 100% sure.
We have named her Stevie after her finder. Praying for a great outcome for this little sweetie, she has already stolen my heart.

[Nancy in New York]

Well, not so good news. She has an injured spine that may or may not heal. We are giving her 48 hours to see if the swelling goes down before any decisions will be made. She has feeling in both hind legs and can move them, nice warm feet, can splay her toes but you know she is in pain. Sub qed 5 cc's of fluid and now we wait. I hate this part because you just grow more attached every second you care for them. Dr. Clark is not very hopeful but said he has seen worse turn around and live a good life. Dr. Clark also thought she had a broken leg until further exam then we all agreed an x-ray was in order to be 100% sure.
We have named her Stevie after her finder. Praying for a great outcome for this little sweetie, she has already stolen my heart.

Thank you so much for the update Nana3 and for giving her some time.
These are the real heartbreaking decisions we have to make.
Is she on Prednisone or anything else for the swelling?
I KNOW they take your heart.
Thank you for allowing this little girl in, and risking it
breaking one more time.
Many prayers being sent.
Thank you, you're the best! :bowdown :Love_Icon
:Love_Icon Stevie :Love_Icon

[Charley Chuckles]

:thankyou EVERYONE :w00t
I am hopeful:hug after all, my Charley Chuckles had a major 'back end issue' the only thing he didn't ever do was to hang upside down like a bat :grin3 he was able to climb and get around as fast as any squirrel without issues :woot
I bet you will see much improvement in this little girl STEVIE in a few short days :grouphug
Hang in there Stevie you will be someones blessing :glomp

[Skwerly]

Thanks for the update Judy and for all the prayers everyone,I'm still believing and praying for a happy ending!

[Nana3]

Thank you so much for the update Nana3 and for giving her some time.
These are the real heartbreaking decisions we have to make.
Is she on Prednisone or anything else for the swelling?
I KNOW they take your heart.
Thank you for allowing this little girl in, and risking it
breaking one more time.
Many prayers being sent.
Thank you, you're the best! :bowdown :Love_Icon
:Love_Icon Stevie :Love_Icon

Stevie is on Metacam only, the vet's around here will not give preds at all. This is the fourth one I've seen (not for this squirrel) and asked about it and none of them recommend or give it. I just recently had a 6 wk old male come in that could not move his front legs well at all, had the symptoms of "drunken sailor" or Cerebellar Hypoplasia/Cerebellar Abiotrophy. It was suggested that I put him on preds by another rehabber but when I was at Blue Pearl seeing Dr. Helmer with another squirrel, Duncan was with me. I asked him to take a look at Duncan and we did the same thing...Metacam for 48 hours. Took him to see Dr. Zellner 72 hours later and he had made great improvement. We kept him on Metacam for 5 days then stopped. He is going to his forever home tomorrow and does everything a normal squirrel can do BUT jump and he may never do that but he can sit up like a big boy and eat he's block. :grin3

[Nancy in New York]

Stevie is on Metacam only, the vet's around here will not give preds at all. This is the fourth one I've seen (not for this squirrel) and asked about it and none of them recommend or give it. I just recently had a 6 wk old male come in that could not move his front legs well at all, had the symptoms of "drunken sailor" or Cerebellar Hypoplasia/Cerebellar Abiotrophy. It was suggested that I put him on preds by another rehabber but when I was at Blue Pearl seeing Dr. Helmer with another squirrel, Duncan was with me. I asked him to take a look at Duncan and we did the same thing...Metacam for 48 hours. Took him to see Dr. Zellner 72 hours later and he had made great improvement. We kept him on Metacam for 5 days then stopped. He is going to his forever home tomorrow and does everything a normal squirrel can do BUT jump and he may never do that but he can sit up like a big boy and eat he's block. :grin3

Very interesting, thank you!

I got in a little boy about 2 weeks ago. Took him to my vet the following day, as he had
no use of his front arms.

She took x rays and found no fractures.
She put him on Gabapentin, and Metacam.
I asked her why not Prednisone, and she said there were less side effects.
He has completely recovered.

We've had great success with Prednisone but I wonder if
Metacam would be the way to go, IF the finder has that option. :thinking
Typically they have someone they know that has Prednisone but
not Metacam. :dono

[Skwerly]

Just a quick update,Stevie still is'nt using her back legs but there is improvement in her condition.She is eating,going to the bathroom,moving around,and Judi reported that she moved her tail!Please all continue praying that she will regain use of her legs!

[island rehabber]

What a wonderful thread this is. Skwerly, Nana3 and everyone involved: you are my heroes. Little Stevie has the best chance in the world for a good life.

[Skwerly]

What a wonderful thread this is. Skwerly, Nana3 and everyone involved: you are my heroes. Little Stevie has the best chance in the world for a good life.

Thanks,it was a TEAM effort and I want to thank everyone here for the assistance and prayers,which BTW have been answered!:thankyou

Here is a video Judi posted on Youtube showing Stevie using her hind legs!YESSSS!:bliss Stevie is the larger Squirrel shown right at the beginning.


https://youtu.be/YzZJwUCYYTw

Stevie is starting to regain some use of her hind legs,but still needs to begin eating block,which I'm sure will happen soon...