Fingers missing, patches of hair gone, eyes open 60 gram little girl

[Elise]

Just got this little girl tonight, she is MISSING FINGERS on all four paws. She just has little nubs where her fingers should be. Her eyes are open yet she weighs only exactly 60.0 grams :( she's a foxer but her tail is very short. It feels dead and hard on the end. I imagine it has been breaking off. Please see photos. She obviously has patches of hair missing as well. I'm about to feed her some rehydration formula. She is trembling in the corner of her box (heat on half) :( she also has stinky poop and what appears to be mites. Poor little thing :( I just want to help her.

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I am very concerned for her. Is euthanasia her only option? I haven't seen anything like this before. Please, please help. I will be up all night checking on her and checking this page.

[Elise]

Here are more pics, sorry the quality isn't great. I'm trying to disturb her as little as possible.

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[Elise]

She just ate, very slowly.

The only thing I can come up with is frostbite. But that's just a guess right now. We had cold temps and snow at night off and on last week. She was found on Thursday night by the finder so I guess it's possible she was outside for too long during those cold snaps and lost all her fingers, toes and most of her tail as a result... ?

[stepnstone]

Just got this little girl tonight, she is MISSING FINGERS on all four paws. She just has little nubs where her fingers should be. Her eyes are open yet she weighs only exactly 60.0 grams :( she's a foxer but her tail is very short. It feels dead and hard on the end. I imagine it has been breaking off. Please see photos. She obviously has patches of hair missing as well. I'm about to feed her some rehydration formula. She is trembling in the corner of her box (heat on half) :( she also has stinky poop and what appears to be mites. Poor little thing :( I just want to help her.
I am very concerned for her. Is euthanasia her only option? I haven't seen anything like this before. Please, please help. I will be up all night checking on her and checking this page.

Poor baby, what is her story, how was she found?
Does her missing fingers appear as a deformity or as they may have been cut / chewed off?
Sounds as if a rat may have gotten hold of her.
You can wipe her down with a damp cloth with liquid unscented dawn dish detergent to kill fleas,
squirrel fleas are different from cat/dog thats maybe what you are seeing. Do they appear dark in
color, white, or transparent?
The dark spot on her head, what is it?
You mention her in a box. Cardboard pulls moisture from these babies and aids in dehydration. It's best
if you can place her in something like a Sterilite/ plastic Container. Add some material she can burrow down
in to feel safe like fleece, old pillow case or sheet type material. No towels or anything with loops she can
get caught on.
What are you hydrating with and what are you using to feed her with?

With missing fingers she will be non- releasable. Euthanasia is not her only option, finding her a forever home
when that time comes is.

Just saw your above post. Frostbite possible I suppose but would think if cold enough to do that damage it would
have also shut her body down from the extreme cold.

[Elise]

Poor baby, what is her story, how was she found?
Does her missing fingers appear as a deformity or as they may have been cut / chewed off?
You can wipe her down with a damp cloth with liquid unscented dawn dish detergent to kill fleas,
squirrel fleas are different from cat/dog thats maybe what you are seeing. Do they appear dark in
color, white, or transparent?
The dark spot on her head, what is it?
You mention her in a box. Cardboard pulls moisture from these babies and aids in dehydration. It's best
if you can place her in something like a Sterilite/ plastic Container. Add some material she can burrow down
in to feel safe like fleece, old pillow case or sheet type material. No towels or anything with loops she can
get caught on.
What are you hydrating with and what are you using to feed her with?

With missing fingers she will be non- releasable. Euthanasia is not her only option, finding her a forever home
when that time comes is.

Thank you for responding!

The only info I have from the finders is they found her last Thursday night on the side walk in their trailer park. They've had her ever since. They told me she was "missing claws" which I didn't really understand until I got there to pick her up. I'm amazed she's alive honestly.

It appears to me to be a deformity, because the ends of the nubs are smooth- not scabbed over or jagged. But that's really my only clue so I'm not sure.

The "mites" are dark tiny specks. The finders had given her a few dawn baths over the weekend, so instead of immediately getting her into water tonight, I sprinkled some diatomaceous earth and rubbed it into her fur. I will give her another dawn bath tomorrow.

I said box, but I meant plastic Tupperware container that I use for all my babies. She's my fourth this year :) I've got the basics covered but the missing fingers/toes is completely new to me. She's been given the salt/sugar/h2o rehydration formula with a miracle nipple on a syringe.

The dark spot appears to be a mole? It's under her skin.

She has a forever home with me and my two other forever pet squirrels. I only went straight to the euthanasia subject because she is in such terrible shape, and I didn't know if she could recover. I will definitely fight with her if that's the most humane thing to do.

Thanks again for responding.

[stepnstone]

Thank you for responding!

The only info I have from the finders is they found her last Thursday night on the side walk in their trailer park. They've had her ever since. They told me she was "missing claws" which I didn't really understand until I got there to pick her up. I'm amazed she's alive honestly.

I said box, but I meant plastic Tupperware container that I use for all my babies. She's my fourth this year :) I've got the basics covered but the missing fingers/toes is completely new to me. She's been given the salt/sugar/h2o rehydration formula with a miracle nipple on a syringe.

The dark spot appears to be a mole? It's under her skin.

She has a forever home with me and my two other forever pets. I only went straight to the euthanasia subject because she is in such terrible shape, and I didn't know if she could recover. I will definitely fight with her if that's the most humane thing to do.

Thanks again for responding.
I did see your not a "newbie" after the fact, appears you have the basics covered. :great
She's obviously a fighter to have survived whatever it was she has been through,
now she is safe, warm, being fed and has an even better chance. Keep positive thoughts!
These babies are fragile as well as resilient, she's already proof of that.

We have another member with a squirrel found with missing digits like this. He's grown up
to be a happy healthy squirrel that never let his disability stop him from being a squirrel.
I will try and direct you to his forum if I can remember who the member is and find it.

And yes, fight for her! It's not just humane, it's the right thing to do. All life deserves a
chance to live, all life has value!

[Elise]

I will definitely fight for her. I would like to check out the thread of the other disabled squirrel, to see what I will need to do differently for her.

She will have a loving home with me :)

Thanks again for your help

[stepnstone]

I will definitely fight for her. I would like to check out the thread of the other disabled squirrel, to see what I will need to do differently for her.
She will have a loving home with me :)
Thanks again for your help
Good to hear! She has to get better, she has a future waiting...:grin2
Will search for that thread, if I can't find it I know who can.

Found it! This little guy should really give you encouragement...
https://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?40523-Baby-with-one-front-paw&highlight=squirrel+missing+feet

[LexisDad]

Don't put her down! Let her fight! These little ones have amazing healing powers if only given the opportunity. Get rid of the mites, then put her on a proper nutrition regimen to get her strength up.

[Elise]

Stepnstone, thank you for the link. I've been going back to the thread off and on when I had time today, and it's super encouraging. I'm so happy that she may be able to have a great quality of life even with her disabilities. She's doing better today. She's put on 3 grams since last night :)

I do have a few follow up questions:

1) hair loss- is this an effect of the mites? Is there anything I should be doing to encourage hair growth, besides have her on a nutritionally sound diet? Unless it's permanent? I believe I've gotten rid of most of the mites, I can't see any on her right now.

2) her tail- it is already very short (about 1/2 normal length) and the remaining end is hard and I believe it will fall off eventually. Is there a protocol for something like a dying tail?

3) smelly poop with odd coloring- I have baycox that I can give her, but im not positive that coccidia is what's the issue here. I seem to remember that baycox is relatively safe for squirrels, but I wanted to confirm that I'm ok to start her on a regimen of that if I'm not 100% sure that's the problem?

4)weight- what is the preferred weight gain supplement I can add to her diet? I think Henry's has one, but I don't know if it's preferred.

Finally, I wanted to clarify on her nubs- now that it's light out I can see more clearly, she actually does have healed up scabs/scars on the end of each little nub. So, perhaps it was a rat.

Thank you Stepnstone for all your help :)

Here are some pics of her today. She has stolen my heart :)

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[stepnstone]

Stepnstone, thank you for the link. I've been going back to the thread off and on when I had time today, and it's super encouraging. I'm so happy that she may be able to have a great quality of life even with her disabilities. She's doing better today. She's put on 3 grams since last night :)
Amazing little fella isn't he...:grin2 It's good she's already gaining.
I do have a few follow up questions:

1) hair loss- is this an effect of the mites? Is there anything I should be doing to encourage hair growth, besides have her on a nutritionally sound diet? Unless it's permanent? I believe I've gotten rid of most of the mites, I can't see any on her right now.
I'm inclined to think what you were seeing with the black dots were flea eggs. If mites remain a concern I'd purchase Revolution for puppies and kittens and apply just a drop or two from the pipette, that would definitely take care of mites. I'm really thinking whatever had hold of her caused the hair loss on her head, that is not a usual pattern one sees from mite damage. It should grow back with time, having good nutrition will help.

2) her tail- it is already very short (about 1/2 normal length) and the remaining end is hard and I believe it will fall off eventually. Is there a protocol for something like a dying tail?
Your correct, it will fall off eventually, it's best to just let it do it's thing. There is no protocol for a dying tail unless it were to become infected or they were chewing on it.

3) smelly poop with odd coloring- I have baycox that I can give her, but im not positive that coccidia is what's the issue here. I seem to remember that baycox is relatively safe for squirrels, but I wanted to confirm that I'm ok to start her on a regimen of that if I'm not 100% sure that's the problem?
Baycox is safe for use dosed correctly. Personally I'd be inclined to give a little time to see if being on a good diet will straighten her out before I'd jump on coccidia. But that's just me, it's your call.

4)weight- what is the preferred weight gain supplement I can add to her diet? I think Henry's has one, but I don't know if it's preferred.
I wouldn't be rushing her with supplements or adding to her formula as long as her weight is going in the right direction. Obviously she has some catching up to do, give her time. Her formula should be adequate as it stands and you do need to get her bowels stable before pushing too much too soon on her little system.
I have never had to use supplements on my babies outside my mbd squirrel. Others would have to advise you on that and what they have used if you go in that direction.

Finally, I wanted to clarify on her nubs- now that it's light out I can see more clearly, she actually does have healed up scabs/scars on the end of each little nub. So, perhaps it was a rat.
I really do think something had hold of her...
Keep a close eye on her nubs/scabs for any infection. Hopefully she's past that now.

Thank you Stepnstone for all your help :)
Glad to help...

Here are some pics of her today. She has stolen my heart :)
And her little world just got a whole lot better... :grouphug


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She is precious. :Love_Icon

[cava]

Oh, those little crispy ears. Sweet gal, she's lucky to have you.:hug

[stepnstone]

Oh, those little crispy ears. Sweet gal, she's lucky to have you.:hug

Elise, are her ears "just" folded or are they crusty around the edges?
How does inside the ear appear, clean or dirty?

[Nancy in New York]

Here are some pics of her today. She has stolen my heart :)

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Oh dear, she has stolen my heart as well. :klunk
You are getting excellent advice.
This little one is SO lucky to have found her way to you!

[lukaslolamaus]

Precious baby :klunk:Love_Icon sending prayers :hug

[Elise]

Elise, are her ears "just" folded or are they crusty around the edges?
How does inside the ear appear, clean or dirty?

I just inspected them and they are crusty near the inner ear. What should I do?

I have been puzzled about her ears still being pinned back even though she's older than when they usually pop out. Why would this be?

Thank you so much again for your help, baby and I both really appreciate your advice :)

Thank you so much, everyone, for your kind words and thoughts :hug

[Chickenlegs]

I have a little dwarf named Punkin. She is very old now and has lost much of her fur. Your baby's head shape looks so much like Punkins--and her stubby little body is "dwarfish". Punkin had one wonky ear when I got her over two years ago. That ear looks like your sweetie's ear. Punkin also has huge limpid eyes--like your baby. It will be interesting to watch her grow--and I really hope she grows BIG and strong. She is beautiful--and one lucky little girl!

[stepnstone]

I just inspected them and they are crusty near the inner ear. What should I do?
I'd just use a dampen q tip to clean it out, you could use a little baby oil or the like to soften any crusties.
I was more concerned about the rim of the outer ear, generally when you see them scabby and crusty it is mites.
From what I thought I was seeing in the pictures her ears especially, did remind me of a dwarf's.



I have been puzzled about her ears still being pinned back even though she's older than when they usually pop out. Why would this be?
Chickenlegs knows the signs of dwarfism first hand, I agree it will be interesting to see if that is what you have.
If you do it could answer some questions and at least you'll have a darn good reference to turn to with CL. :great

[Elise]

That would be an amazing gift if she truly is a dwarf :Love_Icon

She has a very healthy appetite, which is encouraging. She is perky and alert, and is becoming less and less scared of me.

One of the things about her I feel is notable is that she doesn't really nurse. She doesn't attach to the nipple at all, she licks from the tip of the nipple like a grown squirrel does... which I find strange.

[Chickenlegs]

IF she's a dwarf she may be older than she looks. A dwarf squirrel frequently has issues with a nipple. They have tongues that are as clumsy as they are and can have issues swallowing. They aspirate really easily so sometimes a nipple doesn't do well for them. Maybe a mini nipple. If she licks the end of the syringe--super. They're really clumsey and have a hard time holding things--and that's with all their digits. Punkin holks things more with her wrists than her fingers.

[Elise]

Hello everyone, just wanted to give a little update on my baby girl. She had an awesome appetite, up until this morning. I woke up to feed her and she barely took 2 cc's. She didn't show much interest in eating and was letting the formula drip out of her little mouth, which she hasn't done before. She also lost 2 grams since yesterday :( so, I am getting more and more concerned.

Anything special I should/can give her to increase her appetite? Any suggestions?

Thank you in advance :)

[Nancy in New York]

Hello everyone, just wanted to give a little update on my baby girl. She had an awesome appetite, up until this morning. I woke up to feed her and she barely took 2 cc's. She didn't show much interest in eating and was letting the formula drip out of her little mouth, which she hasn't done before. She also lost 2 grams since yesterday :( so, I am getting more and more concerned.

Anything special I should/can give her to increase her appetite? Any suggestions?

Thank you in advance :)

Has this little one aspirated? Can you hear a wheezing or clicking when she breathes?
How often are you feeding and what amount.
It's never a good sign when they loose weight.
Are you feeding the powdered puppy esbilac?
How are her poops?

[Elise]

Has this little one aspirated? Can you hear a wheezing or clicking when she breathes?
How often are you feeding and what amount.
It's never a good sign when they loose weight.
Are you feeding the powdered puppy esbilac?
How are her poops?


It seems that she's gotten her appetite back since this morning. She's eaten with gusto the last 2 feedings, eating 7% at each feeding :)

I will go ahead and answer your questions though,

She's never aspirated (with me). There's no sound when she breathes. She gets formula every four hours, I offer her 7% and she usually eats it all. I will weigh her in a couple of hours, she just ate and I always weigh her when she's not full of formula. Yes, powered esbilac with pre and pro biotics. Her poops are more normal looking now and they are beginning to smell less and less. So I'm actually thinking she may be on the right track and this morning was just a fluke (hoping).

Here's a short 2 minute video I just shot of her https://youtu.be/x6cbGNrDw0M

Oh, and I decided on a name today: Dot. It fits her so well, I think. She's so dainty and delicate. I love when she touches me with her little nubs :Love_Icon

[Elise]

Hello everyone. I wanted to give a quick update.

Little Dot is doing well. She has gained about 6 grams in the week I've had her. Her gaining is going slower than I'd like, but at least she's going in the right direction. She is still getting used to me. She does't like to be held during feedings, so I feed her from her container. I tend to spook her when I approach her container, but she's slowing getting less and less spooked.

I got an email yesterday from Dot's finder. I wanted to share it as it may give clues to how Dot ended up like she did. I thought it was very interesting:

"It's been a week now. Hence, I figured we'd check with you how the little girl is getting along. We ended up finding "big" brother in our yard as well. Hannah witnessed the mama squirrel giving him a very violent boot out of the nest. The mom appears to be very unhealthy (one eye missing, tattered tail) and is most likely extremely stressed. I really hope she won't have any more babies. "Big" brother - and, yes, he is considerably bigger than his little sister - was bloody and beat up. I ended up taking him to the Pet Emergency Center in Missoula the very same afternoon he landed in our yard where he was picked up by a vet from Alberton the next day. He is definitely releasable and we very much suspect that he is the reason why our girl was so small."


... I am concerned for the momma squirrel. She sounds like she's in bad shape and may need some intervention. I am debating setting up a trap near the nest for the momma. The only thing is I'm not sure of how I should go about trying to rehab her if I am able to trap her.

Any suggestions/thoughts?

[CritterMom]

IF you can trap her and get her to chill sufficiently in a cage (provide LOTS of cover), she may just need good food, rest, a hit of some revolution, and rest and more rest. She may be all babied out - I would push the calcium - if she has had several litters they can nurse themselves right into MBD. Sometimes they just need to come in and not have to compete and rest for a bit.

It would be nice if they could somehow block her nest while she is with you so it won't be taken over.

You never know. Sometimes they come around really fast and seem to understand that you are helping them.

[Chickenlegs]

I an absolutely smitten with your Dot. Gaaaaaaa! She is precious--and TINY! If she IS a dwarf, then brother would be lots bigger. I hope you can help her mama.

[Elise]

Just wanted to give a brief update on Dot. She is doing GREAT! As of today, she weighs 112 grams! Almost doubling in size since I got her on 10/1. She is perky and spends most of her time sleeping.

She is also a professional paw tucker:
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[cava]

:Love_Icon:Love_Icon:Love_Icon Awww, Dot! What a darling gal.:Love_Icon:Love_Icon:Love_Icon

[Chickenlegs]

Aaaaaaaaaaaah! DOOOOOOOOOOOT!!!!!! You are one kayooooot little girl. I'm glad Dot is feeling good. She's just a precious little squirrelette! And I LOVE her double paw tuck. :Love_Icon:Love_Icon:Love_Icon:Love_Icon

[Elise]

A big clue into the mystery of Dot fell into my lap yesterday. So, as you may have read earlier in the thread, Dot’s finders also found one of Dot’s siblings a few days after they found Dot. A little boy. Well, actually a big boy. Compared to Dot at least.

I visited the finders with Dottie yesterday. I hadn’t realized they had pictures of the brother!:

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So!

Since the brother has a very similar finger/toe situation going on as Dot, does this mean this is definitely a genetic disfigurement? Or could something (rat?) could have attacked both babies? And, because the brother was so much bigger than Dot was at the same time (a few days) does that also point to Dot being a dwarf?

I would love others’ input! Thank you in advance.

[Elise]

Bump!

[Jen413]

With Momma being in such bad shape and both babies it seems more likely that something attacked them and Momma fought it? Just a guess though. Glad both of the babies are safe. Any luck trying to get the Momma?

[CritterMom]

Boy, I still lean toward something eating their toes. I hate to say it but it could also have been mom... As far as being a dwarf, I say watch and wait - little one is clearly the runt because the boy got all the chow. She may always be small but as far as the other signs, you need to watch how "squirrely" she gets to decide if she is what everyone refers to as "Downs" babies.

[Elise]

With Momma being in such bad shape and both babies it seems more likely that something attacked them and Momma fought it? Just a guess though. Glad both of the babies are safe. Any luck trying to get the Momma?


I've left out a live trap for the momma. The finders are keeping an eye out for her.

[Elise]

Boy, I still lean toward something eating their toes. I hate to say it but it could also have been mom... As far as being a dwarf, I say watch and wait - little one is clearly the runt because the boy got all the chow. She may always be small but as far as the other signs, you need to watch how "squirrely" she gets to decide if she is what everyone refers to as "Downs" babies.

I also believe that it was the mother who did it. She booted the brother out of the nest quite violently, so she's shown aggression towards them before...

[Elise]

During the visit with Dot’s finders this week, they took some great photos of her. I wanted to share a few of my favorites:

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[Jen413]

:Love_Icon She's precious!

[Chickenlegs]

Watch for behavioral signs as well as physical. Is Dot heart meltingly clumsey? How about eating? Does she hold her food normally? A dwarf is tiny. Features are soft. They can be crazy hard to feed and some only want formula. They can be high functioning and VERY squirrley or low functioning--docile little buggers who want to live their short blessed lives in someones arms. As CM said, watch and wait. Personally, I hope you have a mini squirrel who will give you many years of joy without dwarfish issues.

[Chippergray]

Is she still alive? It’s been nearly a year.

[Elise]

Is she still alive? It’s been nearly a year.

Yes, Dot is still alive :) She is fully grown and completely healthy, I'm happy to say :serene She is definitely on the small size for a foxer. I kept a close eye on her fingers and toes while she was young and still had scabs, she never developed any infection, thankfully. Dottie does have 1 finger on her front right paw and 1 toe on each of her feet. For this reason, she's not the best climber.

Her disposition is not super friendly, unfortunately. I wish I would have found her when she was much younger, but since she was eyes open, she never ended up bonding with me. I mean, she appreciates me because I feed her and talk to her (I think), but she doesn't like to get any loving like my other forever squirrels do.

I feel very bad about this. I wanted to give her the best life, but I don't think I'm living up to that. I truly want the very best for her. It is for this reason I have arranged to drive her from my home here in Bozeman, MT to The Squirrel Refuge, outside of Portland, OR, so she can live in their HUGE outdoor enclosure they have specifically for handicapped squirrels. I will be taking her on this 12 hour journey on October 1st, along with my only baby I rehabbed this year, Gertie. I have released my babies at The Squirrel Refuge every year for the last 3 years. They are so wonderful and I am so thankful that they do what they do and they are willing to release for me (I don't currently have a soft release location).

Thanks for asking about Dot.

[Chippergray]

Yes, Dot is still alive :) She is fully grown and completely healthy, I'm happy to say :serene She is definitely on the small size for a foxer. I kept a close eye on her fingers and toes while she was young and still had scabs, she never developed any infection, thankfully. Dottie does have 1 finger on her front right paw and 1 toe on each of her feet. For this reason, she's not the best climber.

Her disposition is not super friendly, unfortunately. I wish I would have found her when she was much younger, but since she was eyes open, she never ended up bonding with me. I mean, she appreciates me because I feed her and talk to her (I think), but she doesn't like to get any loving like my other forever squirrels do.

I feel very bad about this. I wanted to give her the best life, but I don't think I'm living up to that. I truly want the very best for her. It is for this reason I have arranged to drive her from my home here in Bozeman, MT to The Squirrel Refuge, outside of Portland, OR, so she can live in their HUGE outdoor enclosure they have specifically for handicapped squirrels. I will be taking her on this 12 hour journey on October 1st, along with my only baby I rehabbed this year, Gertie. I have released my babies at The Squirrel Refuge every year for the last 3 years. They are so wonderful and I am so thankful that they do what they do and they are willing to release for me (I don't currently have a soft release location).

Thanks for asking about Dot.

I’m glad! :dance My female squirrel is like that too. I guess it’s all about the personality.

[stepnstone]

Yes, Dot is still alive :) She is fully grown and completely healthy, I'm happy to say :serene She is definitely on the small size for a foxer. I kept a close eye on her fingers and toes while she was young and still had scabs, she never developed any infection, thankfully. Dottie does have 1 finger on her front right paw and 1 toe on each of her feet. For this reason, she's not the best climber.
Her disposition is not super friendly, unfortunately. I wish I would have found her when she was much younger, but since she was eyes open, she never ended up bonding with me. I mean, she appreciates me because I feed her and talk to her (I think), but she doesn't like to get any loving like my other forever squirrels do.

I feel very bad about this. I wanted to give her the best life, but I don't think I'm living up to that. I truly want the very best for her. It is for this reason I have arranged to drive her from my home here in Bozeman, MT to The Squirrel Refuge, outside of Portland, OR, so she can live in their HUGE outdoor enclosure they have specifically for handicapped squirrels. I will be taking her on this 12 hour journey on October 1st, along with my only baby I rehabbed this year, Gertie. I have released my babies at The Squirrel Refuge every year for the last 3 years. They are so wonderful and I am so thankful that they do what they do and they are willing to release for me (I don't currently have a soft release location).
Thanks for asking about Dot.

You gave her LIFE, now your going to give her the best life in as natural environment as possible.
She will be back in her world (with added protection) to be a squirrel and live her life without the
challenge of predators. Sounds to me like she's going to have a pretty good life... because of you! :bowdown:grouphug

:poke I hope we'll see a parting picture before she begins her next adventure. :grin3

[Sottinger]

You gave her LIFE, now your going to give her the best life in as natural environment as possible.
She will be back in her world (with added protection) to be a squirrel and live her life without the
challenge of predators. Sounds to me like she's going to have a pretty good life... because of you! :bowdown:grouphug

:poke I hope we'll see a parting picture before she begins her next adventure. :grin3

Ditto! ❤️