mgeorge
03-03-2018, 04:52 PM
Hi all!
Here is the beginning of my journey with Chunky Charles:
Link to original thread when I first found him: https://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?59544-Injured-adult-squirrel-possible-head-injury-and-or-internal-injury
Video of his condition when first found: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ag-QDoijICc
I found Chunky Charles on 1/10/18. Actually, my dogs found him after he fell out of the tree. It turned out he had already taken a greater fall at some point. He was not in good shape. With help from this forum (huge shoutout to sophiesquirrel), I took him to a vet and got him on some meds (bactrim & metacam). A rehabber friend I took him to right when I found him gave him a steroid injection so the vet said another one wasn't necessary.
Fast forward to his current condition:
Video 1: https://youtu.be/a5NjS_GicnE
Video 2: https://youtu.be/0TeZzzXsmpI
The videos are the best way to show his behavior. He can climb and hold food and run around like a normal squirrel. His issue is balance. He cannot stand upright holding food without falling over.
I know that Chunkers isn't ready for release in his current state. However, I have treated him as a wild squirrel to avoid imprinting in hopes that he will recover. It has been almost 2 months for Chunkers and I am curious to hear from everyone with experience, especially neuro experience. I've been told different things by several different rehabbers (mainly either that he needs more time, he needs to be euthanized, or he should be considered NR and transitioned to pet life).
I understand that neuro damage is tricky and can take time and that there is really no one size fits all solution. However, I do not want to start treating Chunkers as a pet and robbing him of his chance to be wild again (if there is a chance). I also do not want to continue treating him as wild if he won't improve enough to become releasable. I know that nobody can really be sure what will happen and he may be an outlier who recovers completely. I really just want as many opinions as possible from those with experience so I can make the best decision for Chunkers' continued care. I have a feeling that the best answer is that "only time will tell," but if that's the case, how much time is reasonable?
Current diet: Henry's Blocks (even though he has stopped eating them) and a wide variety of lettuces & greens, vegetables, fruits, nuts, etc. (nuts and fruits more limited as treats)
Also, fast forward and assume he is NR and needs to transition to pet life. Is it possible for him to live a good life in a home with 5 dogs with a high prey drive? Or should I be looking for a way to get him to someone who can give him an environment without dogs?
Thank you all!
Here is the beginning of my journey with Chunky Charles:
Link to original thread when I first found him: https://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?59544-Injured-adult-squirrel-possible-head-injury-and-or-internal-injury
Video of his condition when first found: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ag-QDoijICc
I found Chunky Charles on 1/10/18. Actually, my dogs found him after he fell out of the tree. It turned out he had already taken a greater fall at some point. He was not in good shape. With help from this forum (huge shoutout to sophiesquirrel), I took him to a vet and got him on some meds (bactrim & metacam). A rehabber friend I took him to right when I found him gave him a steroid injection so the vet said another one wasn't necessary.
Fast forward to his current condition:
Video 1: https://youtu.be/a5NjS_GicnE
Video 2: https://youtu.be/0TeZzzXsmpI
The videos are the best way to show his behavior. He can climb and hold food and run around like a normal squirrel. His issue is balance. He cannot stand upright holding food without falling over.
I know that Chunkers isn't ready for release in his current state. However, I have treated him as a wild squirrel to avoid imprinting in hopes that he will recover. It has been almost 2 months for Chunkers and I am curious to hear from everyone with experience, especially neuro experience. I've been told different things by several different rehabbers (mainly either that he needs more time, he needs to be euthanized, or he should be considered NR and transitioned to pet life).
I understand that neuro damage is tricky and can take time and that there is really no one size fits all solution. However, I do not want to start treating Chunkers as a pet and robbing him of his chance to be wild again (if there is a chance). I also do not want to continue treating him as wild if he won't improve enough to become releasable. I know that nobody can really be sure what will happen and he may be an outlier who recovers completely. I really just want as many opinions as possible from those with experience so I can make the best decision for Chunkers' continued care. I have a feeling that the best answer is that "only time will tell," but if that's the case, how much time is reasonable?
Current diet: Henry's Blocks (even though he has stopped eating them) and a wide variety of lettuces & greens, vegetables, fruits, nuts, etc. (nuts and fruits more limited as treats)
Also, fast forward and assume he is NR and needs to transition to pet life. Is it possible for him to live a good life in a home with 5 dogs with a high prey drive? Or should I be looking for a way to get him to someone who can give him an environment without dogs?
Thank you all!