Paralyzed Pete now has a rash.

[dextersmom]

Peter has a rash that actually started 2 days ago. I noticed it after his bath. Last night I put some coconut cream on it. Today it spread. He cannot squat so he urinates,and lays in it. I change his bedding 5 times a day, I give him 3 lower body baths per day,,and in between I use baby wet wipes. Maybe the wet wipes is an irratant.I am going to try to post a pic that I took after his bath.It looks gross but remember he is wet from his bath,and the pic is upside down. Wondering if I can put a dab of 1% hydrocortisone cream on it.

[dextersmom]

I will try to get better pics.

[island rehabber]

The best cream for urine scald, IMHO, is Silvadene (silver sulfadiazine). It is by prescription only but maybe you have a connection -- a friend who is a vet tec, a vet, nurse or doc in the family who can give you some?

[dextersmom]

We are stuck in here in New York. Were in the midst of a blizzard,I wouldn't be able to obtain the meds at this time. Do you believe it to be safe if I used a dab of hydrocortesone cream today.

[CritterMom]

It won't help right now but if he is paralyzed you will be dealing with this again. Mountainside Medical sells 1% silver sulfadiazine by a number of vendors and in a number of sizes, all without a prescription.

https://www.mountainside-medical.com/pages/search-results-page?q=silver+sulfadiazine

[LR]

What kind of coconut cream did you put on it.? Hydrocortisone cream is normally used for inflammation and itchiness.

Wal-Mart and Walgreens carry this. Not as strong I expect but still works well for infection.https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/proxy/jPmU02-OyDAJ36S7klc7_fsQlXQAXWHgdfXVXUXKESIhYE-Wyzlsz_4jWcDsy8qPyAHM4AwdZhGFxLeI4uOPTKVkhF24LyXjb 4qoKdVTKfjTG_Kc6RJfAkuL3ZwOgBm-pFOTVS5lJxk8614pYk31tv9j-hyCKAyKZCcSl7B2xoXVVI77uXLU6AzrRMiFmTUOe-TRASQOa72_Ua-TU5n2=s1000-pd-e365-rw-pc0xffffff Its a silver gel made by Curad.

If it's not infected and your wanting to keep any urine off of his skin, maybe the white cream we put on a babies bottom when they have a rash or Vaseline may help just for now during the storm.

You are washing him a lot. If you are using just warm water that's good but soaps or shampoos can be very irritating to "delicate" skin areas as can scrubbing and rubbing when washing and drying them off.

[CritterMom]

What kind of coconut cream did you put on it.? Hydrocortisone cream is normally used for inflammation and itchiness.

Wal-Mart and Walgreens carry this. Not as strong I expect but still works well for infection.https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/proxy/jPmU02-OyDAJ36S7klc7_fsQlXQAXWHgdfXVXUXKESIhYE-Wyzlsz_4jWcDsy8qPyAHM4AwdZhGFxLeI4uOPTKVkhF24LyXjb 4qoKdVTKfjTG_Kc6RJfAkuL3ZwOgBm-pFOTVS5lJxk8614pYk31tv9j-hyCKAyKZCcSl7B2xoXVVI77uXLU6AzrRMiFmTUOe-TRASQOa72_Ua-TU5n2=s1000-pd-e365-rw-pc0xffffff Its a silver gel made by Curad.

If it's not infected and your wanting to keep any urine off of his skin, maybe the white cream we put on a babies bottom when they have a rash or Vaseline may help just for now during the storm.

You are washing him a lot. If you are using just warm water that's good but soaps or shampoos can be very irritating to "delicate" skin areas as can scrubbing and rubbing when washing and drying them off.

Yup. I would "dip and swish" - draw a nice big bowl of warm clear water, dip him in to the armpits and swish him around for a few seconds, and then out and into nice warm towels. Work with him slowly - he may end up being okay being held under a gentle running tap. Just plain water is the way to go for repeated bathings like he may need. Definitely get the silvadene I linked to though. It is anti-bacterial and good far any sort of skin or wound issue, and one of the nice side effects is that t almost immediately KILLS itching. I use it on my squirrel scratches - the ones that itch like crazy - and it is wonderful. You can share it with him!

He needs to not be housed laying on the microfleece we normally use. He needs to be on something absorbent that wicks the moisture away from his fur - fleece is sort of waterproof and puddles up. Bedding is a pain but the Kaytee "Clean and Cozy" with no scent or anything - the plain white (https://www.chewy.com/kaytee-clean-cozy-small-animal/dp/123050?utm_source=google-product&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=f&utm_content=Kaytee&utm_term=&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI4PPF7Yu_2AIVDLnACh2-MA7NEAYYASABEgLMX_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds) is just fantastic for this. If you dump water in it and check it a few minutes later, the surface is already dry and the water is sitting in the newspaper cage liner... It also makes a mess. You can try laying a few layers of paper towel down over his fleece maybe - that may help a bit.

[Chickenlegs]

We are stuck in here in New York. Were in the midst of a blizzard,I wouldn't be able to obtain the meds at this time. Do you believe it to be safe if I used a dab of hydrocortesone cream today.

I have a boy—Scooter—three years old in the spring, paralyzed since he was four or five weeks old. Scooter is a healthy active very normal squirrel EXCEPT for drag sores and urine scald. He gets a salt water bath every other day. I fill a shallow bathtub with very warm salt water, put him in to scoot around for 4/5 minutes or until the water just begins to cool, drain water, plop a warm fluffy towel on him, burrito so I can inspect and treat his legs and boy parts. This is a routine that keeps his scald controlled—sort of. He gets Decitin on parts that get peed on but then Scooter doesn’t lick so I don’t need to worry about the zinc oxide. A&D ointment helps keep wet off skin too. Because he has no idea that he’s not normal, he still manages to scrape himself up. When he’s out of his cage he wears a “skute”—a kind of apron that velcros around his wasp waist. I have a tutorial I can send via email tho it may come in parts. I’ve had trouble sending the tutorial whole. I can make a skute for your baby but need his exact measurements. It has to be tight to not slip off his hips. Right now one of Scooter’s legs is bandaged because of a nasty drag sore (a small scratch can uncerate in a heartbeat. Urine doesn’t help) Silver Sulfadine is great stuff for irritation. Thing is, the very best way to keep scald under control is not to allow it to Happen. Way easier said than done. Scooter has absorbant flannel in his cube to wick wet away from him. Also, his cage bars are wrapped-sort of-to keep them from rubbing Scootman as he climbs. Massaging feet and legs helps with circulation. I’m pretty much convinced poor circulation plays a part in scald and sores that take a long time to heal. If you find a need to bandage, please holler. Bandaging a sore high up on a squirrels leg is crazy hard—the bandage just doesn’t want to stay up. I think I’ve got that figured out and am very happy to share should you need (hope not). My vet described Scooter as “delicate” which surely doesn’t describe his abilities or spirit but DOES describe caring for his paralyzed legs. Even in a storm you’ve likely got salt. After a bath, slather him in vasaline. That’s another staple most of us have around the house.

First two pictures are Scooter scooting on the porch. He can climb abd run in his skute. Just have to make sure it’s tight. Otherwise his penis creeps out and can take a beating
Scooter in his bath. Water is just about drained out. His whole lower body gets clean. Salt water is soothing and healing
Scoots with his leg bandaged. The Collasate Silver is what was prescribed for a particularly nasty drag sore.

[dextersmom]

He's adorable,and that was a brilliant idea. I see this is quite some undertaking..

[Chickenlegs]

He's adorable,and that was a brilliant idea. I see this is quite some undertaking..

Just have to keep on top of it. Let me know if Pete needs a skute. Sometimes I leave Scooter’s skute on when he’s in his cage but it has to fit tight so I don’t unnless he has a sore I need to keep ointment on for awhile. I guess you could line the skute with a panty liner or kleenex. I’ve never used a diaper for Scooter but have made diapers that were used for a squirrel. Our paralyzed guys can have a wonderful quality of life with a little help from their friends (us) Can Pete pull himself around with his front legs? Scooter looks like a weight lifter his front legs are so strong. Stay warm and safe in the storm.

[dextersmom]

I would love one. You are so kind,and giving. Thank you. I have a lot to learn from you. I will be in touch.

[Chickenlegs]

Do you have any whole Pete pictures?