Hurt paw

[Kms52682]

My baby we have had since the beginning of November got his paw hung in his cage tonight. It looks as though he may have ripped his nail off of what I would call a finger. It's not bleeding much but it is bleeding and the nail is just hanging there. He wants to chew on it and I don't know what to do. Can you guys give me any pointers so that this heals and doesn't get infected?

[CritterMom]

Oh, ow. Do make sure you go over the cage so this doesn't reoccur.

My method of choice is to keep it clean and disinfected in such a way as to not stress him too much. Go to the drug store into the wound care section and pick up a bottle of 10% Povidone Iodine. The brand name is "Betadyne" but feel free to save some $$ and buy the store brand sitting next to it. Mix 1/4 cup water with about 20 drops of the iodine - this is the solution you want to use on the squirrel. You can make up smaller amounts too - you are looking for a mixture the color of fairly strong tea. You and dip his paw in it, you can soak a cotton ball and use that to dab at the wound - what you are trying to do is saturate it with the iodine/water mix. Just leave it wet to dry on it's own. It doesn't sting and even if he licks it the mixture won't hurt him. It is a powerful antibacterial and antifungal.

While at the drug store, pick up a bottle of INFANT IBUPROPHEN - again, you don't have to pay for the motrin - buy the store brand. It is a liquid and is sweet and a lot of squirrels love the taste! If you can give us his weight we can tell you how much to give him. It will help to settle the pain for him.

You will have to monitor the wound to make sure it is healing well.

[cava]

Hi there. Well if it is just hanging there, it needs to come off. I imagine it's what he's trying to do and you can't watch him 24/7. How does it look this morning?

You should flush it out with saline or room temp water and can try to apply a dab of triple antibiotic ointment, although he may lick it off.

It should heal on it's own as long as it is kept clean, he is getting proper nutrition (what is his diet?) and his environment is clean and dry.

Also, consider fixing the place on the cage where he got hung up, or figure out ways to avoid the same accident in the future.

Keep a very close eye on it and if it isn't healing or seems to be getting worse we can help with oral antibiotics, if needed.

Hope he feels better quickly!

[Kms52682]

297623It is just hanging there I soaked it in warm water last night and sprayed first aid antiseptic spray on it main ingredient benzalkonium chloride.13% and put neosporin on it he slept curled up in my shirt all night which meant I didn’t sleep at all.his diet consists of formula apples carrots sweet potatoes pecans but I read somewhere not to give him a lot of them so I limit it to a half every other day someone told me to give him almonds but have not done that yet he likes broccoli though. I'm back from the drug store got a scale to weigh him infant ibuprofen and hydrogen peroxide I have made the solution a dipped his paw is there a way to wrap it in gauze or something he keeps getting it hung and yelps squeaks in pain y'all my heart is breaking the one thing that is supposed to keep him safe is what hurt him . He weights 10.6 oz

[LR]

Can you post a better close up picture? Whether you need to remove it or not may be important for it to heal correctly without getting infected..

[Kms52682]

I'll try again in a few min he's guarding it and won't sit still so it blurs each time

[Kms52682]

I'm so frustrated with the vets in this town they will treat rats and snakes but will only euthanize the squirrel makes me so sad they said it's illegal for them to treat them! How can it be illegal to help something that's a living breathing creature?

[LR]

I second that opinion.

[Kms52682]

Ok tried again to get better pictures he has finally calmed down again and snuggled up to me

[Nancy in New York]

297623It is just hanging there I soaked it in warm water last night and sprayed first aid antiseptic spray on it main ingredient benzalkonium chloride.13% and put neosporin on it he slept curled up in my shirt all night which meant I didn’t sleep at all.his diet consists of formula apples carrots sweet potatoes pecans but I read somewhere not to give him a lot of them so I limit it to a half every other day someone told me to give him almonds but have not done that yet he likes broccoli though. I'm back from the drug store got a scale to weigh him infant ibuprofen and hydrogen peroxide I have made the solution a dipped his paw is there a way to wrap it in gauze or something he keeps getting it hung and yelps squeaks in pain y'all my heart is breaking the one thing that is supposed to keep him safe is what hurt him . He weights 10.6 oz


Be careful what you spray on squirrels. I'm not sure about what you used
but they will most likely lick it off, and we don't want anything toxic to squirrels.

DO NOT use peroxide, that will kill the tissue.
This is what CritterMom wrote:



My method of choice is to keep it clean and disinfected in such a way as to not stress him too much. Go to the drug store into the wound care section and pick up a bottle of 10% Povidone Iodine. The brand name is "Betadyne" but feel free to save some $$ and buy the store brand sitting next to it. Mix 1/4 cup water with about 20 drops of the iodine - this is the solution you want to use on the squirrel. You can make up smaller amounts too - you are looking for a mixture the color of fairly strong tea. You and dip his paw in it, you can soak a cotton ball and use that to dab at the wound - what you are trying to do is saturate it with the iodine/water mix. Just leave it wet to dry on it's own. It doesn't sting and even if he licks it the mixture won't hurt him. It is a powerful antibacterial and antifungal.


His diet needs tweaking. Follow this chart below and you can't go wrong.
You can feed freely from groups 1 and 2.

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-WBwrFLT/0/98b5eed6/O/i-WBwrFLT.jpg

Get a good quality squirrel block.
Henry's sells ones specifically made for squirrels.
I get the ones for picky eaters. They only eat 2 a day,
along with their healthy veggies.

https://www.henryspets.com/squirrel-diet/

I will send dosing for infant ibuprofen via pm.

Edit: Dosing sent. Any questions, feel free to ask.

[Kms52682]

I also got the iodine tincture but all they had was 100% but it says 2% iodine

[Kms52682]

Sorry for taking so long to update. Lil bit seems to be doing well only slowed her down for a couple days she's back up and climbing on all the things her favorite being ME! All over my head and when ready to rest down my shirt curled up. I tied a old cut up baby blanket the kind the hospital sends you home with in small strips aroun the corners of the cage to keep this from happening again but I have to replace them every couple days she just chews them up.i have broadened what I'm feeding her she really likes Brussels sprouts and lettuce romain more than regular. She still hates the cage and it's a fight to get her back in it after she comes out to play and snuggle. We have had her since the second week of November she was just starting to open her eyes so I say she's about 15 weeks old maybe give or take... it's been so cold here and snow and ice on the ground for a couple weeks so I have been setting her cage in front of a window with the blinds open since it's too cold to go outside. Attached is a picture of the almost healed paw. I wanted to thank all of you that gave me advice as I was panicking and had no clue what to do.

[Kms52682]

Favorite place to climb