Grey Squirrel Has Fresh 1-1/4" Shoulder Wound, Would a Vet Treat IF I Capture?

[joejeweler]

Hi,...one of the approximately 25 adult Grey Squirrels I feed in my back yard daily had a fresh shoulder wound this morning, and my gut wrenched! He has about a 1-1/4" diameter flap of skin and fur dangling from his right shoulder. The wound is open, and a much smaller area near the center appears to have some muscle exposed,...about half a US Dime sized but doesn't appear to go very deep?

I have a pet carrier ready in the house, and have been attempting to safely capture the poor fella as outlined below,....but my question is in New York State (or anywhere, for that matter?), will a Vet treat the squirrel even if I'm willing to pay him? I want to give the little guy a fighting chance, and don't want them putting him down under some State regulation.

If a vet won't, and i can understand the issues with trying to manually handle a basically wild animal within a clinic, will an Iodine based salve ("Providine" 1% Iodine) stave off infection long enough for him to heal up,... if I'm able to capture him and tend to him for 3-4 weeks until he heals?

He came within a few feet of me this morning and I threw him a few Almonds. Once he ran off I laid out my large fish landing net on the ground (the green colored netting blends in well with my grass),..and when he came back I threw Almonds into the net, However, he only got 2 front and 1 rear leg over the net "frame",....so I never pulled it up as I doubt he'll give me more than one shot at this and was afraid he'll roll off the frame and away.

He came back 3 or 4 more times today also, but now that he's not as hungry after getting the first few Almonds, he won't come any closer than 5 feet or so. I'll try again later tonight.

Any advise would be most appreciated. :-)

Oh,...it was really irionic that while I had the net down, another one I call my "Big Boy" (because he has a lot of courage), sauntered right up to me as usual and took two Almonds from my hand, and another two that were showing in the net,...ALL the while walking into and standing FULLY inside the net frame for a full 3-5 seconds! Right net, wrong squirrel!,...geeze....!

He's always been a favorite of mine, and for a split second I thought out "it",....but I love this little guy and we've developed a trust over the last 3 years or so that I didn't want to lose. Last year I had TWO that would take nuts from my hand, and I can only the other guy moved on rather than passed on. :-( There are roads in front of my house that some squirrels have to cross to get to me, but traffic is fairly slow at 10-15 MPH, and rarely is a squirrel hit in the road, only 2-3 times over the last 10 years probably.

I always know my "Big Boy" is coming up to me too, because he sort of "saunters in" with a muscular shoulder stride unlike any of the others. He's confident and reminds me a how some human weightlifters sometimes look when walking. I bet he doesn't take any guff from my other furry friends! :-)

Any suggestions would be appreciated. If you've seen your backyard squirrels injured like this, what was the eventual outcome if left alone?

Thanks,
Joe T

[Mel1959]

Is he using his leg with the injury ok? Can he move fast to elude a predator? If the answer to these two questions is “yes” then you might want to reconsider putting him through the stress of catching him.

Squirrels are amazing healers. With that said, obviously the biggest concern is infection. It’s possible, but not very easy to dose antibiotics while they are in the wild. It’s success is dependent on them coming a couple of times a day and eating the nut that you’ve medicated....completely.

If you can catch him you are going to need some heavy gloves cause he’s gonna be mad and will bite the crap out of you. Cleaning the wound with diluted Betadine (20 drops in 1/4 cup of warm water) is what we recommend. If your going to treat to prevent infection you will need to check with family and friends to see what leftover antibiotics they might have. Someone on here can help you break it down and dose it.

Without seeing a picture it’s hard to determine how bad the injury is and the likelihood of infection or how quickly it might heal. You could always watch him for a couple days and see how the injury looks. Of course, I’d hate to have you do that and then have him stop coming and you not know how the healing process is coming along.

[Spanky]

Pictures always help experienced folks to assess... hard call about trapping wilds. They should not be trapped unless they are in desperate need of help since it stresses them so much, but sometimes it can be their only hope.

If you do trap him, be sure to have a plan and prepared ahead. You'll likely need a non-plastic cage to contain an adult as they can chew through things like plastic dog crates luckily. You'll want to place him in a dark, quiet place if you catch him... lots of fleece in the cage for him to hide under. Water, some food... watermelon, apple and the like will provide extra hydration. A plan is important since this is a holiday weekend and even if a vet is found, it might be a few days before they are able to look at him.

Are you experienced at handling squirrels? I ask because the povidine slave question is a bit ambitious if you have not handled wilds previously. But you may be able to irrigate the wound some with a povidine solution. Even experienced folks would want an extra set of hands to help. Also check to see if you have any sort of antibiotics on hand in case they are needed. Ask family and friends too.. tell us if you find something... the name and strength.. and someone will advise if it is squirrel safe and appropriate for a wound like this. He may benefit from antibiotics even you you cannot trap him successfully.

We may be able to find a vet or rahabber to help out but we'll need a better idea of the locale.. maybe the county?

[redwuff]

One of the few things that worry me about an open wound like that is fly strike. Having said that squirrels are amazing healers and we have seen some horrific wounds heal up in the wild. Guess I would medicate with Cipro on a pecan and see if that works first.:grouphug

You can bring him in if things look like they are going south.

[joejeweler]

Is he using his leg with the injury ok? Can he move fast to elude a predator? If the answer to these two questions is “yes” then you might want to reconsider putting him through the stress of catching him.

Squirrels are amazing healers. With that said, obviously the biggest concern is infection. It’s possible, but not very easy to dose antibiotics while they are in the wild. It’s success is dependent on them coming a couple of times a day and eating the nut that you’ve medicated....completely.

If you can catch him you are going to need some heavy gloves cause he’s gonna be mad and will bite the crap out of you. Cleaning the wound with diluted Betadine (20 drops in 1/4 cup of warm water) is what we recommend. If your going to treat to prevent infection you will need to check with family and friends to see what leftover antibiotics they might have. Someone on here can help you break it down and dose it.

Without seeing a picture it’s hard to determine how bad the injury is and the likelihood of infection or how quickly it might heal. You could always watch him for a couple days and see how the injury looks. Of course, I’d hate to have you do that and then have him stop coming and you not know how the healing process is coming along.

Hi,...thanks for your advice and I will watch for a few days,...at least until the holiday weekend is over so vet help might be possible.

The only direct handling I've had with my squirrels was a few months ago. One female was walking in circles for a few weeks, with head listing to one side from a head injury possibly, but I saw no outward signs of injury. I researched a bit online and thought it might possibly be Raccoon Roundworm perhaps, as I have seen Raccoons at night sometimes.

I also was pretty sure she was blind at this point, because she would be sitting quietly in my yard, and when I would throw nuts toward her she circled fairly fast and in expanding circles. This seemed her way to try to find something she couldn't actually see, ....but "knew" was out there because I have fed my backyard squirrels thrown nuts for years.

One day she was close enough I was able to net her, and although she was scared and struggled I got her into my pet carrier. It had plenty of material to hide in, supplied with water nuts, and some fruit, etc. She would move the nuts and bury them, and I left the carrier in a quiet place but "listened" for any sign of struggle regularly.

A day later I wanted to check on her, so I brought the carrier into a small bathroom to control the situation, and with gloved hand brought her out to look her over carefully. She made no attempt to bite either, and I put her on my lap and tried to feed her a piece of banana. However, she was unstable and although she tried she kept tipping over! I laid a towel on my lap and placed her on her back, and helped her steady the thick banana slice as she happily rolled it "across" her tooth. That was "strange", but there was only ONE tooth on the bottom and it was a bit long but not huge, so decided to wait on the tooth clipping.

I didn't want to stress her any more right then,... and the banana chunk slowly disappeared. I gave her another chunk the same way (on her back),. and it too soon was mostly gone. Then she rolled back over and crawled up inside my light jacket, curling up into a ball at my side, and I zipped up the jacket part way to keep her supported a bit. I watched TV for a few hours this way, and she would shift positions slightly. Keep in mind I probably fed her in the yard hundreds of times,...so I was not totally strange to her and I believe to my soul she know I was trying to help her.

I changed her water bowl 2x daily, and at least once a day hand fed her watermelon or pear chunks,...and there were always nuts and brocolli in the cage as well. This went on for 4 days, and the last night she really seemed to enjoy the Avocado chunks on her back. I put her to bed in the cage,.....but the next morning she was unresponsive, and I noticed the cage was positioned at an "off" angle.

I believe she might have had a seizure of some sort over night and might have thrashed around and jarred the cage, and at first I thought she had already died as I saw no breathing but she was still warm. I tried stimulating her chest and lightly massaging her, and for a few minutes I noticed shallow breathing while I comforted he with my voice.

.....but sadly,... after about 10 minutes she almost sat up on my lap (eyes still closes), her body noticeably stiffened, and after 5-10 seconds she slowly dropped back down, went limp,.... and was away. I buried her in the yard, right over our beloved 12-1/2 year old Pug "Fancy" who died from DM last fall.

......I cried like a baby,....and as I write now am again. Amazing how attached we can get to out furry friends in such a short time.......

[joejeweler]

Pictures always help experienced folks to assess... hard call about trapping wilds. They should not be trapped unless they are in desperate need of help since it stresses them so much, but sometimes it can be their only hope.

If you do trap him, be sure to have a plan and prepared ahead. You'll likely need a non-plastic cage to contain an adult as they can chew through things like plastic dog crates luckily. You'll want to place him in a dark, quiet place if you catch him... lots of fleece in the cage for him to hide under. Water, some food... watermelon, apple and the like will provide extra hydration. A plan is important since this is a holiday weekend and even if a vet is found, it might be a few days before they are able to look at him.

Are you experienced at handling squirrels? I ask because the povidine slave question is a bit ambitious if you have not handled wilds previously. But you may be able to irrigate the wound some with a povidine solution. Even experienced folks would want an extra set of hands to help. Also check to see if you have any sort of antibiotics on hand in case they are needed. Ask family and friends too.. tell us if you find something... the name and strength.. and someone will advise if it is squirrel safe and appropriate for a wound like this. He may benefit from antibiotics even you you cannot trap him successfully.

We may be able to find a vet or rahabber to help out but we'll need a better idea of the locale.. maybe the county?




Hi,...I'm in upstate New York State, near Albany in the Colonie area. I will do further prepping but will wait a few days at least as most vets are out of town I'm sure. It was raining this morning but I will try to have a camera ready next time.

Is there an antibiotic that I would mix into some Avocado,...as the squirrels are used to the Almonds rubbed in it. (I make a layered "Squirrel Lasagna" using Almonds and Avocado, and the rubbed on Avocado was they ONLY way to get them to try it at first.

Now they LOVE it, by the way I currently mix in a little Brazil Coral Calcium supplement (made from living coral) because they don't eat enough Brocolli and other calcium containing veggies , and just a few nibble on the Mule Deer Shed Antler pieces I put out. I only use the Avocado smeared on Almond pieces now as I can mix 2 capsules of the coral calcium in it and know the majority of them will get at least some benefit. Most of the bidder Avocado chunks are untreated, but the ALL love the nuts,...even with the smeared on Avocado. :-).

[joejeweler]

One of the few things that worry me about an open wound like that is fly strike. Having said that squirrels are amazing healers and we have seen some horrific wounds heal up in the wild. Guess I would medicate with Cipro on a pecan and see if that works first.:grouphug

You can bring him in if things look like they are going south.

Where would I find Cipro without a prescription, and info on dosing? ....and as mentioned will keep an eye out first though the Holiday weekend.

Oh, @ Mel1959 , he seems alert and quick on his toes,...with no visible limping. And Yes, I have seen some lesser injuries heal on my little friends,...but this injury covered a larger area and so I thought it prudent to ask.

[Mel1959]

Check with family and free ends to see if they have any leftover antibiotics. You just need one pill. If you find something someone on here can help you dose it and determine if it’s an appropriate drug for the wound.

[redwuff]

Cipro/Baytril or augmentin/Clavamox, amoxicillin are some of the more likely antibiotics family or friends might have on hand. You would need only 1 pill. We would need strength of pill and we could dose it. Maybe a pic of the little squirrel would help so we could guesstimate wt.

[joejeweler]

Cipro/Baytril or augmentin/Clavamox, amoxicillin are some of the more likely antibiotics family or friends might have on hand. You would need only 1 pill. We would need strength of pill and we could dose it. Maybe a pic of the little squirrel would help so we could guesstimate wt.

I'm going to have a camera ready tomorrow morning when I feed them all (25 was the most I was able to count all at once several months ago.

But I believe he/she is a little smaller than some of the older squirrels that visit my yard daily, so may have been born early this spring. I've had an seriously injured and probably blind 500 gram grey squirrel in my hands and on a scale a few months ago after she died from a seizure I think (see post #5 in this thread for details I relayed), and this other one is definitely a little smaller so maybe 400 grams or so.

....let's hope I get a visit again tomorrow......

[Nancy in New York]

I have Clavamox and Cipro.
I'm also close to you.
Sending you a pm now.

[joejeweler]

I have Clavamox and Cipro.
I'm also close to you.
Sending you a pm now.

Oops,...sent you a response before I read this,....so yes, do what you suggested and I will pick it up once I have your address via PM.

I thank you,....and my little buddy thanks you! :hug

cheers,
Joe T

[joejeweler]

I was able to get some decent photos of the injury, to give those in the know a better idea....

This is back a bit to show squirrel size to scale with the dish,...which is 7-1/4" Long x 5-5/8" wide.

301643

....and a bit closer to get more detail of the injury...

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Another angle.....

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From the top....

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Closer view....

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Oh,...I couldn't tell before but.... Definitely a GIRL!
She took an nut into a bush, and was practicing her high wire act while eating!

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She came back for more once she reveiled her true identity,... 'cause she "Loves me dat Avocado!"

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All the previous photos were taken without flash, but tried a few with flash,...big mistake! Those eyes are saying.... "What you lookin at, tall boy!"

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After about 8 Avocado covered nuts,....she was off through the FAR end of the yard. I didn't blame her right now,...a bit gun shy for sure.

301651

She seems alert, quick and unhampered movements, and a good appetite, so I'm hopeful she'll recover. I'm going to try to dose her tonight if she comes back in the evening,...or tomorrow morning before she has the option of going to the bowl. Want to hand feed her the meds covered Pecan then, thanks to "Nancy In New York" and her hubby :hug!

[Nancy in New York]

She's a beauty Joe.
That wound looks bad.
Like someone said you have to watch for fly strike/maggots.
For anyone reading, I guesstimated the weight of 450 grams, thoughts?
I will call a vet in Schenectady tomorrow to see if they will look at
her if you want.
My vet is in Saratoga, but is out of town until the end
of the week. The only problem is that unless she know you
well, you have to drop off wildlife and when she gets a chance she will
see them. She's the vet for the NorthCountryWildCare, so as you can
imagine she needs to "fit these in" between her regular/paying clients.


For anyone reading, hubby dropped off Clavamox, Cipro and Clindmycin.
We are close enough so that if more of anything is needed Joe can come
here or I can go there.
Joe, if you have any questions, let me know.

[joejeweler]

Yes Nancy,...Rich stopped by,....swooped in like an Eagle and away.......I never knew he was here. :-)

PLEASE be sure to thank him profusely for me! I plucked your wonderful Care Package out of my mailbox about 12:30 PM,....so I must have just missed him.

I would have introduced him to my herd of munchkins, but after 2 hours the 3 bowls of "Brazil Coral Calcium Laced Avocado & Almond Squirrel Lasagna" was 95% gone,...so they must have taken a break to settle their full tummies. A few straggles around still though.....

I just put out 2 bowls of mighty fine and sweet Watermelon chunks, WITH the black seeds. I'm not real keen on serving genetically altered seedless watermelon chunks to "me babies"! Some have tried watermelon before,....but it's gonna take awhile before they see it as FOOD! (I confess,..I stole ONE bite for myself, and licked the Avocado remnants off the spoon earlier...and both were um um....GOOD!)

Yesterday their fresh veggie de jour were hand cut slices of fresh asparagus. Like little spoiled children, they mostly ignored them. They have to LEARN to eat the good stuff too, so I'm thinking of trying the cut asparagus sections wiped in Avocado might do the trick! Anybody have any other suggestions, ...like peanut butter perhaps?

Thanks again for all your help!

Joe T

[joejeweler]

Well,...yesterday (5-28-18) this injured girl didn't show up at all in my yard,....and I was ready to dose her as I stayed outside from 5:00 PM until 8:15 PM when it was getting pretty dim and all the other squirrels had stopped coming by and had bedded down for the night.

Anyway, I was hopeful the injured girl had not come around yesterday because she simply had eaten from a stash she had previously buried, or possible found another squirrels stash.

BUT this morning she appeared, and as I had held off putting out their usual Squirrel Lasagna she took one dosed Pecan I threw to her about 10 foot away. (she would not come closer as she had before)

She sniffed it for 4-5 seconds at first, and as she had not had them for awhile (last time maybe a month or so),.... I suspected she knew it smelled a bit different with the dried meds in the grooves. But could also have been partly because it had been a month?

She took the Pecan, and circled around me and grabbed a piece of Almond along the way one of the others had missed earlier. I had been hand tossing a few as the others would come around today.

She now had the dosed Pecan and an Almond in her mouth, and ran up a tree and she started to eat but was behind some branches so I couldn't tell IF she ate them both, or discarded the dosed one (due to her earlier hesitation?)

She came back around 10 minutes later and to be sure she had some meds, I broke about 1/3 of a dosed Pecan and threw it to her,...whereupon she sniffed at at and walked away and left it! So I'm not really sure she was dosed with the full almond she took earlier, and was simply eating the Almond? urghhh!

I was able to get a few pics though, and in some ways it looks a little better to me as it appears the flap of skin and fur has fallen off (or been chewed off maybe?)

One of the concerns I have is what appear like some "hair like" projections coming from the wound. Is this possibly the "fly strike" mentioned previously by redwuff?

301667

And a closer view:

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Some other photos today....

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A bit closer view...
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This is where she had maneuvered around me to also pick up the dang Almond, confusing the issue as to what she was eating from my obscured view in the tree limbs....
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Any thought on how the would looks, as this is a full 3 days since I first noticed what appeared to be a fresh wound?

The other squirrels occupied my time at least during that long stretch from 5:00 PM to 8:15 PM waiting for the "no show", as at least 120 times I handed out a 2-4 almond treat,.... of which I saw many were being buried in prep for their next breakfast appetizer.

My favorite "Big Boy" came strutting right in as confident as ever, taking 2 Almonds from my hand and another 2 dropped for him. He's the ONLY squirrel that currently take FOUR Almonds regularly,....and I really should start calling him "Quads"! :grin2

[TubeDriver]

I would dose orally with Capstar too (whether she is captured or in the wild). That will take care of any flies/maggots. That injury is pretty bad but not abscessed yet. She looks so healthy otherwise too. There is a chance she will just heal up nicely with treats and fresh water and meds as needed.

You can get Capstar online or at pet stores like Petsmart without a prescription, but it is fairly expensive.

I have had good success mixing med solutions into a small "pill" of peanut butter (given by itself or mushed into a pecan half). The peanut butter seems to mask the taste of bitter AB pretty well.

[joejeweler]

I would dose orally with Capstar too (whether she is captured or in the wild). That will take care of any flies/maggots. That injury is pretty bad but not abscessed yet. She looks so healthy otherwise too. There is a chance she will just heal up nicely with treats and fresh water and meds as needed.

You can get Capstar online or at pet stores like Petsmart without a prescription, but it is fairly expensive.

I have had good success mixing med solutions into a small "pill" of peanut butter (given by itself or mushed into a pecan half). The peanut butter seems to mask the taste of bitter AB pretty well.

Thanks TD,...I ordered a generic of Capstar off Amazon today. (PetArmor FastCaps "Nitenpyram") It's a much better price, and I'm not concerned over the quality as it's made in Switzerland and not Mexico or China. (link below if some of you need it)

https://www.amazon.com/PetArmor-FastCaps-nitenpyram-Control-Medication/dp/B00K0PZ0HI/ref=sr_1_5?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1527646706&sr=1-5&keywords=Capstar

There's 6 tablets for dogs and cats that weigh 2-25 pounds. At a estimated weight of the injured squirrel of 450 grams, divided by 28.349 and we get 15.87 ounces or just about 1 pound.
(28.349 grams = 1 Avoirdupois ounce equivalent)

It's just $10.61 for the 6 tablets and free shipping IF you can get your Amazon fulfilled item order over $25.00 I have lots of things I order regularly, so just added a few to get over the $25 level.

SO, do you think using 1/2 tablet is too much for a squirrel,...as I'm thinking maybe using 1/4 to 1/3 of a tablet might be better amount as a trial amount?

Anyone have experience in this medication for squirrels?

Thanks,
Joe T

[Spanky]

There's 6 tablets for dogs and cats that weigh 2-25 pounds. At a estimated weight of the injured squirrel of 450 grams, divided by 28.349 and we get 15.87 ounces or just about 1 pound.

SO, do you think using 1/2 tablet is too much for a squirrel,...as I'm thinking maybe using 1/4 to 1/3 of a tablet might be better amount as a trial amount?

Anyone have experience in this medication for squirrels?

Nitenpyram is a relatively safe medication, meaning the dose needed to be effective is low and a dose that would be "dangerous" is very large. That is demonstrated by the fact it is sold for critters weighing from 2 to 25 pounds; more than a 10 fold difference in weight!

A quarter tablet should be safe and effective... that is what we often use for smaller babies that come in with parasites.

Also, Nitenpyram can be used topically by crushing the tablets up and making a solution to that can be applied topically. Not sure that is needed or an option in this case, but I felt compelled to include this info for any future readers that may be researching similar situations! It is very quick acting when used topically and extremely effective.

[TubeDriver]

As Spanky said, it is fairly safe. A 1/4 tablet orally should do the trick. Good to know about the generic, I think I spent almost $50 for a 4-6 tablet pack of Capstar.

[joejeweler]

Nitenpyram is a relatively safe medication, meaning the dose needed to be effective is low and a dose that would be "dangerous" is very large. That is demonstrated by the fact it is sold for critters weighing from 2 to 25 pounds; more than a 10 fold difference in weight!

A quarter tablet should be safe and effective... that is what we often use for smaller babies that come in with parasites.

Also, Nitenpyram can be used topically by crushing the tablets up and making a solution to that can be applied topically. Not sure that is needed or an option in this case, but I felt compelled to include this info for any future readers that may be researching similar situations! It is very quick acting when used topically and extremely effective.


Thanks for the dosing recommendation. That's kind of what I thought, given the large body weight range a full tablet could be used for cats and dogs. I'll keep the topical use in mind if needed also.

Cheers,
Joe T



As Spanky said, it is fairly safe. A 1/4 tablet orally should do the trick. Good to know about the generic, I think I spent almost $50 for a 4-6 tablet pack of Capstar.

Thanks for the dosing,... and would that be crushed up and fed in any particularly good carrier, like peanut butter or Avocado pasted up?

And yep,...it took awhile to find a generic that I trusted where it was produced that was nicely priced. Switzerland is known for super high quality manufacture of fine watches like Patek Philippe, Rolex, and others that can cost as much as a small house! I figure they can get this right also. :w00t

Walmart had Advantix brand and another house brands of the same med,...but is was $32 and up for 6 tablets as I recall. I'd rather spend the $21 difference on Food for the herd, which lately has grown as has their food budget. Seems like $110 a week is the minimum I go though these days, but then there are lots of birds and others to take care of also but the gray squirrels constitute at least half of that because of their numbers,..... and desire to bury their stashes! :gigg

[joejeweler]

Hi folks,...well, for the last 2 days I hadn't seen this nature abused young lady at all,.... and was getting worried she had succumbed to her wound. Best I could hope for she was laying low and resting, as it was hot and humid yesterday and rest would do her good I figured,...as I hoped she did too.

I got ate up pretty good by the skeeters that are out more after some rain, but was able to spend a few hours out in the yard in both the morning, and again at night leading up to dark. She most likely came around sometime during the hours I wasn't there, at least for fresh water that is always out as well as all the goodies I put out......

....because TODAY she graced me with her presence! HA! :serene


I tried to give here a medication dosed Pecan too, which she kindly accepted,...and promptly trotted off to BURY in the ground! urghhh... :tap

I'm not sure if she was trying to tell me something,...but in all fairness I've noticed lots of squirrels bury their first nut or two,....prepping for the lean times I suppose,....before they actually start to eat when the food is plentiful.

I was able to get some photos and to my eye appears she seems to be healing pretty well after just 6 days.....

301837

...closer view. No signs of oozing puss or infection that I can see either. Pretty amazing creatures......

301838

301839

301840

...closer view...

301841

Seems alert and frisky... and I love that dark streak across her chin.

301842

....and after a few more nuts buried and a drink,....she was away,....off through the branches and trees. Photo is blurry because she was "moving" pretty fast! But no signs of slowing down is GOOD! I'll try again to dose her tomorrow morning, as she might dig up the buried one later today and eat it.

301843

Mod,...if you feel this can be moved to non life threatening,...fine with me.

[Toddy]

I agree, she is looking good! Such a pretty girl :Love_Icon
Thank you for helping her and fingers crossed that she eats one of the medicated nuts :blowkiss

[Chickenlegs]

Hi folks,...well, for the last 2 days I hadn't seen this nature abused young lady at all,.... and was getting worried she had succumbed to her wound. Best I could hope for she was laying low and resting, as it was hot and humid yesterday and rest would do her good I figured,...as I hoped she did too.

I got ate up pretty good by the skeeters that are out more after some rain, but was able to spend a few hours out in the yard in both the morning, and again at night leading up to dark. She most likely came around sometime during the hours I wasn't there, at least for fresh water that is always out as well as all the goodies I put out......

....because TODAY she graced me with her presence! HA! :serene


I tried to give here a medication dosed Pecan too, which she kindly accepted,...and promptly trotted off to BURY in the ground! urghhh... :tap

I'm not sure if she was trying to tell me something,...but in all fairness I've noticed lots of squirrels bury their first nut or two,....prepping for the lean times I suppose,....before they actually start to eat when the food is plentiful.

I was able to get some photos and to my eye appears she seems to be healing pretty well after just 6 days.....

301837

...closer view. No signs of oozing puss or infection that I can see either. Pretty amazing creatures......

301838

301839

301840

...closer view...

301841

Seems alert and frisky... and I love that dark streak across her chin.

301842

....and after a few more nuts buried and a drink,....she was away,....off through the branches and trees. Photo is blurry because she was "moving" pretty fast! But no signs of slowing down is GOOD! I'll try again to dose her tomorrow morning, as she might dig up the buried one later today and eat it.

301843

Mod,...if you feel this can be moved to non life threatening,...fine with me.

That wound looks great. I always worry about maggots but then I’m from the sunny maggoty south. Seems she’s kept herself clean and looks to be on her way to good health and a happy life.

[joejeweler]

Hi all,... I had some pleasant surprises on Day 7 since her injury on 5-27-18, and the little wounded lady came by several times this morning.

She was quick when in close, and it was tough to get close up photos. Most of these photos are cropped from a distance of at least 7 to 20 feet, and she again was alert, quick on her feet, ...and OH so CUTE as you will see! :hug

I gave her a few Almonds at first this time, and as expected she promptly buried them! On her third trip back,... I tossed her a dosed Pecan, but this time I had covered the grooves holding the meds with a little peanut butter to mask the smell,....and she ate it! :dance Nothing wrong with a little insurance on keeping infection at bay!

I had some pleasant surprises on Day 7 also, and i'm encouraged because she hung around for about an hour this morning, .....and even "chilled out" in the tree at the front of the house as you will see.

Some photos of the wound....and looking good to me with just the expected (and shrinking) scabbed over areas. This lady has a good shot at recovery I think..... :bliss

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A bit closer...

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And now for some of my favorite shots this morning.....

Sometimes there's "magic" hidden within a shot, and this photo was the raw shot taken in the front yard tree where I noticed she was taking a breather. Another squirrel had been right on her tail as she tried to bury a few Almonds, and after about 5 minutes she gave up, dropped one,... and ate the other before climbing this tree to chill!

This doesn't look like much right now I know,....

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....but with a little adjustment we can clearly see she is a bit Camera Shy,....like "Come on,...I haven't even paw washed my face yet and you want close ups!"

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......"OK, I think I'm ready for my photo shoot,....be sure to take them from my 'good side'!"

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....."Fire away,....I'm ready and 'Cute',....as you always tell me".....

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"I learned this one from Madonna,.... 'Vogue' away....."
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"OK,....now where's that NUT you promised me,... here I come...."
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"Thank's Dad....for the Two-fer!"
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[TubeDriver]

She looks well on her way to recovery! As bad as that injury looked, overall she looked so healthy that I am not surprised she is healing. Squirrels have INCREDIBLE healing powers! Your treats and meds certainly helped too!:great

[Toddy]

Great job watching over this girl and getting her to eat the medicated nut! That wound looks like it is healing up very nicely :dance
And great pictures by the way!

[Mel1959]

She looks amazing! I’m sure she will be completely healed in no time! Thank you for noticing and helping her! :grouphug

[joejeweler]

Thanks all,...and seeing her two days in a row, with even a slight improvement over yesterday,..... i'm feeling a lot less worried tonight! Twice when she didn't show for a few days in a row at her usual times were stressful.

Also, I'm wondering if the Avocado has a something to do with it also, and after reading the link below as regards human intake of it and ALL the health benefits,...I think it might be a good protocol for a seriously injured squirrel.

The link is below, but on the off chance it someday is removed I've copied the text below the link. I do realize that these stated benefits are regarding human consumption, BUT expensive research and blind trials are NOT apt to be done for Squirrels and other animals. There simply is NO economic benefit for spending the serious money to research this in those areas.

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/270406.php


12 health benefits of avocado
Last updated Tue 12 September 2017 By Megan Ware RDN LD Reviewed by Natalie Olsen, RD, LD, ACSM EP-C
Benefits Diet Risks
Avocados are a stone fruit with a creamy texture that grow in warm climates. Their potential health benefits include improving digestion, decreasing risk of depression, and protection against cancer.
Also known as an alligator pear or butter fruit, the versatile avocado is the only fruit that provides a substantial amount of healthy monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA). Avocados are a naturally nutrient-dense food and contain nearly 20 vitamins and minerals.

This MNT Knowledge Center feature is part of a collection of articles on the health benefits of popular foods. In the article, we take an in-depth look at the possible health benefits of eating avocados as well as a nutritional breakdown. To maintain balance, we will also look at the possible health risks of consuming avocados.

Benefits
Eating a diet that contains plenty of fruits and vegetables of all kinds has long been associated with a reduced risk of many lifestyle-related health conditions. Numerous studies have found that a predominantly plant-based diet that includes foods such as avocados can help to decrease the risk of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and overall mortality while promoting a healthy complexion and hair, increased energy, and overall lower weight.

1. Avocados are nutrient rich
Avocado stoned and destoned
Avocados are rich in vitamins and minerals.
According to the USDA National Nutrient Database, one serving (one-fifth of an avocado, approximately 40 grams) contains:

64 calories
almost 6 grams of fat
3.4 grams of carbohydrate
less than a gram of sugar
almost 3 grams of fiber
Avocados are a great source of vitamins C, E, K, and B-6, as well as riboflavin, niacin, folate, pantothenic acid, magnesium, and potassium. They also provide lutein, beta-carotene, and omega-3 fatty acids.

Although most of the calories in an avocado come from fat, don't shy away! Avocados are full of healthy, beneficial fats that help to keep you full and satiated. When you consume fat, your brain receives a signal to turn off your appetite. Eating fat slows the breakdown of carbohydrates, which helps to keep sugar levels in the blood stable.

Fat is essential for every single cell in the body. Eating healthy fats supports skin health, enhances the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients, and may even help boost the immune system.

2. Healthy for the heart
Avocados contain 25 milligrams per ounce of a natural plant sterol called beta-sitosterol. Regular consumption of beta-sitosterol and other plant sterols has been seen to help maintain healthy cholesterol levels.

3. Great for vision
Avocados contain lutein and zeaxanthin, two phytochemicals that are especially concentrated in the tissues in the eyes where they provide antioxidant protection to help minimize damage, including from ultraviolet light.

As the monounsaturated fatty acids in avocados also support the absorption of other beneficial fat-soluble antioxidants, such as beta-carotene, adding avocados to your diet may help to reduce the risk of developing age-related macular degeneration.

4. Osteoporosis prevention
Man with knee pain
Vitamin K is essential for bone health.
Half of an avocado provides approximately 25 percent of the daily recommended intake of vitamin K.

This nutrient is often overlooked, but is essential for bone health.

Vitamin K is often overshadowed by calcium and vitamin D when thinking of nutrients important for maintaining healthy bones, however, eating a diet with adequate vitamin K can support bone health by increasing calcium absorption and reducing urinary excretion of calcium.

5. Cancer
Adequate intake of folate from food has shown promise in protecting against colon, stomach, pancreatic, and cervical cancers.

Although the mechanism behind this apparent reduction in risk is currently unknown, researchers believe that folate protects against undesirable mutations in DNA and RNA during cell division.

Avocados may even have a role to play in cancer treatment, with some research finding that phytochemicals extracted from avocado can selectively inhibit the growth of precancerous and cancerous cells and cause the death of cancer cells, while encouraging the proliferation of immune system cells called lymphocytes.

These phytochemicals have also been shown to decrease chromosomal damage caused by cyclophosphamide, a chemotherapy drug.

6. Healthy babies
baby breast-feeding
Folate is also known as folic acid.
Folate is extremely important for a healthy pregnancy.

Adequate intake reduces the risk of miscarriage and neural tube defects.

Recent research from McGill University found a 30 percent higher incidence of a variety of birth defects in baby mice conceived using sperm from mice with a folate deficiency compared with mice conceived using sperm from mice with adequate folate levels.

7. Lower risk of depression
Foods containing high levels of folate may help to decrease the risk of depression because folate helps to prevent the build-up of homocysteine, a substance that can impair circulation and delivery of nutrients to the brain.

Excess homocysteine can also interfere with the production of serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine, which regulate mood, sleep, and appetite.

8. Improved digestion
Despite its creamy texture, an avocado is actually high in fiber with approximately 6-7 grams per half fruit.

Eating foods with natural fiber can help prevent constipation, maintain a healthy digestive tract, and lower the risk of colon cancer.

9. Natural detoxification
Adequate fiber promotes regular bowel movements, which are crucial for the daily excretion of toxins through the bile and stool.

Recent studies have shown that dietary fiber may also play a role in regulating the immune system and inflammation.

10. Osteoporosis treatment
Substances called saponins, found in avocados, soy and some other plant foods, are associated with relief of symptoms in knee osteoarthritis, with further research planned to determine the long-term effects of isolated extracts.

11. Antimicrobial action
Avocados contain substances that have antimicrobial activity, particularly against Escherichia coli, a leading cause of food poisoning.

12. Protection from chronic disease
According to the Department of Internal Medicine and Nutritional Sciences Program of the University of Kentucky, high fiber intakes are associated with significantly lower risks of developing coronary heart disease, stroke, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and certain gastrointestinal diseases. Increased fiber intake has also been shown to lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels, improve insulin sensitivity, and enhance weight loss for obese individuals.

Avocado seed husk may help to treat heart disease, cancer
Avocado seed husk may help to treat heart disease, cancer
Researchers found that avocado seed husks contain compounds that could help to kill viruses, combat heart problems, and treat cancer.

READ NOW
Diet: Avocado sandwich

Avocado can be mashed and spread on toast instead of butter, or sliced and added to a sandwich or salad.

You can tell how ripe an avocado is by gently pressing into the skin. If the avocado is firm and does not budge, you will need to let it ripen for a few days before consuming. Soft avocados make great guacamole or dip, while firmer avocados are great for slicing and adding to a salad or a sandwich. To speed up the ripening process, place an avocado in a paper bag with a banana.

Quick tips:

Spread avocado on toast in the morning instead of butter.
Use avocado instead of mayonnaise in chicken or egg salad, or as a spread on a sandwich.
The soft, creamy texture of an avocado and its mild taste make it a perfect first food for babies.
Try these healthy and delicious recipes using avocado:

Coconut kale smoothie
Roasted Brussels sprouts with toasted pecans and avocado
Poblano chilaquiles
Chipotle mango guacamole.

Avocado can be used in a number of different forms, many of which are available to purchase online, including avocado oil. Avocado oil may be used for cooking, or for moisturizing the skin or hair, so check the product information before purchasing.

As well as incorporating avocado into the diet, using avocado products on the skin is an option. Avocado is a popular ingredient in moisturizing products, such as face masks, available to purchase online.

Risks
It is the total diet or overall eating pattern that is most important in disease prevention and for achieving good health. It is better to eat a diet with variety than to concentrate on individual foods as the key to good health.

If you are taking blood-thinners, such as Coumadin (warfarin), it is important that you do not suddenly begin to eat more or less foods containing vitamin K, which plays a large role in blood clotting.

[joejeweler]

Hi all,...it's Day 8 since she received her wound, and she graced me with her presence again in mid afternoon about 2:45 PM today. I usually see her in the morning,... perhaps she slept in late today?

I thought that since I have the opportunity, I will continue to try to post an update every day that I see her close enough to get a clear photo or more. I can see down the road others coming across a wild squirrel that's been seriously wounded and what to expect if, hopefully, the animal can heal completely.

Today it looks like most of the scabbing fell off over the last day, and at first I didn't expect it to look so different. But I've scabs fall off off after a week or so from cuts and abrasions, so I calmed down once I thought about it as it always looks pinker when that happens.

For those of you who may have gone through something similar, please add you experience so that others can learn what to expect.

She spotted me from across the yard about 50-60 feet away (point and shoot camera was on max telephoto), and got up on her hind legs to make sure it was me I suppose. She was still for me to get a sharp photo,...of one of my favorite Squirrel poses that we all see a lot...

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A pose that cute deserves a close up...
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She's on her way and at an energetic clip too,... 'cause she missed breakfast, silly girl!
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The central deeper area of the wound still concerns me the most... and with the the scabbing off looks a lot more pink than from just yesterday...

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Closer for detail....

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I've started tossing nuts in the direction that will put her wound at a good angle to photograph, and tossing them into the grass and about 2-3 feet away from her gives me time to focus and frame while she searches the grass for the nuts. (for those of you who may be wondering?)

Another shot....
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Detail close...
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Another...
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Closer...
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From the top...
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Anyway,...I'm hoping this is all normal and expected, considering this has only been 8 days.

[joejeweler]

I had already added the max 10 photos in the last post, but here is a close up of the last one...
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[TubeDriver]

That looks fantastic! I have had a couple with similar injuries and it takes a while to heal. But that is a nice pinkish (nice and vascular) healing injury. No real sign of infection (reddness, swelling, discharge etc). The new hair growth on the outlines is a good indicator of the healing process. Once I see new hair growth during healing, I breath a sigh of relief. She is not completely out of the woods yet but I think she will be fine.

[TubeDriver]

Here is a squirrel with a similar injury, you can see how it looks as it healed. It took a long time before it really healed up.

https://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?50723-Brutus-is-terribly-injured&highlight=brutus

[joejeweler]

Here is a squirrel with a similar injury, you can see how it looks as it healed. It took a long time before it really healed up.

https://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?50723-Brutus-is-terribly-injured&highlight=brutus

Thanks for the link to your Brutus and his journey to recovery. I feel much better now after seeing all of that and i'll be reading all through that thread over the next few days as I have the time. There's a lot of pages!

WOW,...that wound was horrific! It looked to be about 2-3x the surface area of my girl and probably deeper! That was one mighty tough and lucky squirrel, as you had the disadvantage of catching him much later when infection and maggots had already taken hold.

Was he an earlier release, and how did you you capture him safely? If I ever need to capture her, I think the net I used previously will work, but would only do that if infection rears it's ugly head and she's having serious issues.

Thanks again....:great

[TubeDriver]

Brutus was a wild squirrel, the yard Alpha squirrel. He was so weak and sick that he was desperatly trying to get treats from me and I used a large Hav-a-Hart trap triggered manually with a string. His wound was crawling with maggots.

I have had good results using a manually triggered Hav-a-Hart.



Thanks for the link to your Brutus and his journey to recovery. I feel much better now after seeing all of that and i'll be reading all through that thread over the next few days as I have the time. There's a lot of pages!

WOW,...that wound was horrific! It looked to be about 2-3x the surface area of my girl and probably deeper! That was one mighty tough and lucky squirrel, as you had the disadvantage of catching him much later when infection and maggots had already taken hold.

Was he an earlier release, and how did you you capture him safely? If I ever need to capture her, I think the net I used previously will work, but would only do that if infection rears it's ugly head and she's having serious issues.

Thanks again....:great

[redwuff]

She looks great!:grouphug

[joejeweler]

Thanks TD,...I ordered a generic of Capstar off Amazon today. (PetArmor FastCaps "Nitenpyram") It's a much better price, and I'm not concerned over the quality as it's made in Switzerland and not Mexico or China. (link below if some of you need it)

https://www.amazon.com/PetArmor-FastCaps-nitenpyram-Control-Medication/dp/B00K0PZ0HI/ref=sr_1_5?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1527646706&sr=1-5&keywords=Capstar

There's 6 tablets for dogs and cats that weigh 2-25 pounds. At a estimated weight of the injured squirrel of 450 grams, divided by 28.349 and we get 15.87 ounces or just about 1 pound.
(28.349 grams = 1 Avoirdupois ounce equivalent)

It's just $10.61 for the 6 tablets and free shipping IF you can get your Amazon fulfilled item order over $25.00 I have lots of things I order regularly, so just added a few to get over the $25 level.

SO, do you think using 1/2 tablet is too much for a squirrel,...as I'm thinking maybe using 1/4 to 1/3 of a tablet might be better amount as a trial amount?

Anyone have experience in this medication for squirrels?

Thanks,
Joe T

My Amazon order for the generic brand of Capstar arrived today, and I quoted my previous post again in case others are looking for a more economical choice at just $10.61 for 6 Tablets suitable for 2-25 pound weights. Free shipping too if your meet the $25 minimum order fulfilled by Amazon.

This is less than 1/3 the price of Capstar at Walmart, and manufactured in Switzerland so the quality should be good.

So OK,...so how do I go about getting a dose into her while in the wild, and is a masking flavor needed? :grin3

TubeDriver had said:
...I have had good success mixing med solutions into a small "pill" of peanut butter (given by itself or mushed into a pecan half). The peanut butter seems to mask the taste of bitter AB pretty well.....

But is the Nitenpyram (Capstar ingredient) crushed into a powder and mixed into the peanut butter? And HOW do you get a squirrel in the wild to walk off with a wad or peanut butter? lol

And a 1/4 Tablet dose as recommended by Spanky here:


Nitenpyram is a relatively safe medication, meaning the dose needed to be effective is low and a dose that would be "dangerous" is very large. That is demonstrated by the fact it is sold for critters weighing from 2 to 25 pounds; more than a 10 fold difference in weight!

A quarter tablet should be safe and effective... that is what we often use for smaller babies that come in with parasites.

Also, Nitenpyram can be used topically by crushing the tablets up and making a solution to that can be applied topically. Not sure that is needed or an option in this case, but I felt compelled to include this info for any future readers that may be researching similar situations! It is very quick acting when used topically and extremely effective.

[TubeDriver]

Try the peanutbutter method and see if it works. Grind a 1/4 tablet up to powder, mix completely with a marble sized hunk of peanut butter.




My Amazon order for the generic brand of Capstar arrived today, and I quoted my previous post again in case others are looking for a more economical choice at just $10.61 for 6 Tablets suitable for 2-25 pound weights. Free shipping too if your meet the $25 minimum order fulfilled by Amazon.

This is less than 1/3 the price of Capstar at Walmart, and manufactured in Switzerland so the quality should be good.

So OK,...so how do I go about getting a dose into her while in the wild, and is a masking flavor needed? :grin3

TubeDriver had said:

But is the Nitenpyram (Capstar ingredient) crushed into a powder and mixed into the peanut butter? And HOW do you get a squirrel in the wild to walk off with a wad or peanut butter? lol

And a 1/4 Tablet dose as recommended by Spanky here:

[joejeweler]

Thanks TubeDriver,..I picked up a small jar of "Chunky" peanut butter today to give it a bit more "body" to stay together, and will try the 1/4 tablet dose of generic Capstar tomorrow morning.

Well,.... Day 9 today and she came by in the morning at about 8:15 AM, and I was able to get some decent photos though out the day. It looks like a little grass has (lightly?) stuck to the wound area,...but I'm not really concerned at this point.

The wound doesn't look like it's oozing or infected to my eye,.....and she gets pretty close so I'd think after 9 days I would smell something if there was any infection brewing. (I do have a fine nose and can often smell things others cannot)

Also,...she was as sharp and nimble as ever,.....and she gave me very little time to focus and get a sharp photo between treats.

It rained several times yesterday, and on and off today also,....so it's not unreasonable to conclude she picked up a few wet grass blades that dried on overnight, perhaps? I had mowed the lawn 3 days ago and use a mulching blade, so all the clippings stay on the lawn and a few stuck on. I suspect they will be gone shortly.

Here's some photos....
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Closeup...
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Closer...
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Closer...
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From the top...
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Closer...
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I always like to add a little fun stuff each night so that it's not all serious,...so here are some I picked out...

This is another daily visitor,...and I've always been impressed with the wonderful fullness and color of his tail. This pose also made me chuckle, as it reminds me of the stance a Squirrel Blocker might take on the line, but instead of a football the "goal" is to keep the opposing teammates OFF your back until you can "score",...ie finish eating the Almond!.

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To give you an idea how quick these little fuzzballs can be, (and why it is sometimes very frustrating to try to get a sharp photo!),this pic shows the same fella spinning away, BUT the only part of his body that hadn't started to move yet was that small area on his back! (the fairly "sharp" spot)

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Another,...
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[Scooterzmom]

One method that worked for me was to make a shandwich with 2 walnuts - or even to spread the PB on a walnut. Since some of them do turn their noses up at peanut butter the walnut serves as an additional bribe and usually helps to convince them :)

[joejeweler]

June 6, 2018 was day 10 since her wounding....

Thanks for the tip Scooterzmom,... she ate this combo and has been dosed for flees & tics, and I got another dose of Cipro into her from Nancy In New York's care package from over a week ago. (thanks again Nancy! :clap )

I never saw her in the morning but I may have missed her as I had some things to take care of mid afternoon. She came around about 3:15, and again several times for the last 2 hours before dusk, as she was burying a few stashes probably for breakfast on her schedule. She was looking good physically, quick on her feet, and I think she's still healing nicely.

Some photos...

Some of the stuck on grass from the rainy weather yesterday and the day before has fallen away,... and more hair is coming in I think...
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Appears alert here, and waiting for me to stop fiddling with the camera and give her a treat.
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Here she's burying an Almond right in front of me. I guess she's smart enough to know the guy that tosses her treats is not likely to come around later and steal them,.... like her KIN do! :tap
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....looking better and better.....
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On one of her later trips back from burying Almonds before the night was over in the neighbors yard, I had moved and she was looking for me. What a cutie....
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....and then not long before she left for the night, she paused here for maybe half a minute,... allowing me to take a nice silhouette of her. She was probably trying to decide "if" she had enough stashed for breakfast! :w00t
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....sleep well me lady.....:hug

[TubeDriver]

:great She looks great and is lucky to have you as her friend!:w00t

[cava]

That wound looks great! Nice job.

[joejeweler]

:great She looks great and is lucky to have you as her friend!:w00t

I sort of feel the same way,..... but that I am the lucky one to have her trust me as much as she does, considering "something" tried to take a big chunk out of her eleven days ago! :tap

I forgot to mention it in yesterday's post, but I was at the computer checking for orders in the early evening,.... and I heard the Gray sentry in charge barking the familiar "Warning" sign. So I went out to check all around for one of the local stray cats, or a Raccoon but I general only see them at night when all my firballs are in bed.

Nope,..."nothing to see here",........until,... I thought to look UP at the far end of the yard about 60 feet away and made eye contact with a fair sized Hawk! :eek


That's when the Hawk decided it wasn't going to be easy pickins on my turf,....and I stayed out the last hour and a half to keep an eye open for a return visit from danger up high.

I have come to the window thrice in the last few years to see a similar Hawk dining on the occasional large Pigeon that sometimes come around. I'd watch for awhile and morn for the Pigeon, but then I'd morn for a starving Hawk also and they gotta eat too.

Circle of live and all,...but sometimes we can change the MAIN course of what's on the menu tonight! I thought it was possible this or another Hawk had made a grab with their talons, but me lady had gotten lucky and scooted away with her life.

The strangest part of the Hawk being engaged in his Pigeon de Jour, was that it wasn't long before the Grays would come OUT and forage for any left offers they had missed earlier,....or on the new items I had recently put out.

I think instinctively they understand the Hawk is busy dining and is no longer interested in any of them. But I still worry the Hawk may desire a little variety THAT night,....but so far the Squirrels have been OK.

[joejeweler]

Well,...I didn't have time yesterday to go through all the photos I took during Day 11 since her wounding, and crop and correct for any exposure issues to arrive at some that were sharp enough to discern the healing process on this Gray Lady. They move so quick it can be very frustrating at times!

So when I was processing yesterdays photos today, I saw a few where it looked like some maggots were on the wound, and it shocked me as she had not shown any up to then.

Here's what I found...

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I wasn't panicked as I didn't see many maggot-like shapes,... and couldn't really be sure that's what I was seeing. I also wondered if she had picked them up in her bedding, as I suppose initially a fresh wound 11 days ago had drained blood and fluids into her bedding, and it was therefore possible eggs were deposited into that and now a few maggots had transferred onto her during the night? (if that's even possible?)

I was definitely interested it how she looked today, and thankfully I didn't see them at ALL today! :bliss

Day 12 info since her wounding (6-8-18)....

She had been around throughout today, and I was able to get a good look at her, as well as snap photos on at least 5 different periods.

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Closer....
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Closer...
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SO it looks like she was able to clean it up this morning,...or had some help possibly from a friend? (not sure if they groom each other at times?) Hopefully this will not be an issue down the line, as I really don't want to stress her with a capture.

With the necessary photos out of the way,.... here are some more lighthearted photos to brighten your day of this young lady....

I'm showing off for Dad with some Jumping Jacks...
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...and a one arm Push Up to balance out my daily workout....
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After that workout I need a break,...and a snack! I'm also a good at multitasking, but a bit shy so don't peek! (I'm making use of my "Squatty Potty")
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...she's getting there.... :w00t

[joejeweler]

Day 13 since her wounding...

I never saw her in the morning,....but I was only out for about 90 minutes and had some errands to do so she might have been by while I was gone. I have to stay out at least that amount of time, to make sure the Grays get their "Squirrel Lasagna", fortified on the top layer with the Brazil Coral Calcium I mix into the Avocado paste spread onto Almonds. Their fur looks great, and they have lots of energy and I believe it's been helping to heal my wounded bur ball along with the meds.

If I don't hang around, THIS big guy will eat a good bit of it, as well as the bowls of shelled Sunflower Chips I put out most days. He has a HUGE appetite and drains the larger water bowl too! (another member of the Squirrel Family)
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Anyway, she finally stopped by for a few hours in the evening, and I got one dose of the Cipro into her, and she ate a chunk of Avocado and a few Almonds smeared with the Avocado & Calcium mix I had saved in the fridge for her. (as she hasn't always appeared in the morning)

I must say it seems the wound looks different every day, and I think her skin is replacing itself and what was there yesterday had more gray hair and less pink color?

Today the wound still looks like it's improving (and no maggots that I was worried about two days ago),...but lots of pink now and a lot less gray hair.

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Her left leg is lifted so the wound area is "wrinkling" up, but as the previous photo showed it's fairly flat when her feet are down.
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Closer...
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She is sharp and energetic, as shown when I first saw her this afternoon. She came running in to greet me, :hug I guess she did sleep in this morning! She paused briefly a few feet out, allowing me to get a sharp photo. :clap

By the way, does anyone know how much hair might grow back on a wound like this,....as our winters can get bitter in Upstate New York?

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On one of her Almond burying trips, she rose and curled her left paw into a weird position. You would think we'd be seeing the hair covered tops of her paw here? Maybe her version of Stuart's "Look what I can do!" What a show off! :grin3

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A few fun shots of another one of my regulars, with a very full and fluffy tail. The sun sets the highlights off nicely in this photo. The sun set those wonderful red highlights off nicely, with a bit of a Halo thing going on.... :great

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....another day gone and looking good to me. :serene

[TubeDriver]

The hair will grow back almost completely, to the point that you will not be able to notice a former injury.

[joejeweler]

Been awhile I know,...but I had to stand watch for awhile as I finally realized I had more to deal with than just one injured squirrel!

Post #46 in this thread is of "another" injured squirrel, and I'll touch on that in a following post. I just missed it earlier, .... concentrating so much on getting into position for a clear photo I guess, and tossing nuts in the right place to get her into position.....

I think a medium sized Hawk was the attacker on this girl, as I've seen him on on a tree perch a few times over the last 4 days.

Her wound is up high and near centered, as a bird would likely do as least chance to miss as that area is the LAST to move when a squirrel pivots. The photo below shows her spinning away from the bowl, and the top center area of her main body mass is still fairly sharp (right where her wound is!),....so I believe that's the area prey birds target first.

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A different squirrel but the same phenomenon plain to see...
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The Hawk I saw looked like a youngster, so was inexperienced for now and why this girl had a chance to get free.

One problem with having an abundance of fur balls around, is that birds of prey take notice! So I'm standing guard more in the mornings and early evenings to try to discourage the hawk from hanging around regularly.

Photo's from 6-10-18, day 14 since her wounding....

Looks like a scab pealed back here and is hanging on a bit.....
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I didn't see her for a few days, but she came around this morning (6-14-18, Day 18 since her wounding), and it looks much better....
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[joejeweler]

OK,...as I mentioned in my last post the photos on post #46 on this thread are of another injured squirrel, wound up high near the neck and to the left of center a bit.

I believe that squirrel (shown in post #46 above) is the same squirrel in these photos, and just assumed it had gotten tangled up in something sticky and and had paper stuck to him/her? I thought there would be hair loss, and that would grow back....

Photos from 6-1-18
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From 6-1-18
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From 6-2-18 , and it's a young boy!
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From 6-5-18
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From 6-9-18 , that mess of suck on's off!
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From 6-13-18 healing nicely...

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....more to follow

[joejeweler]

....just a few more photos from yesterday 6-13-18 , as overall it looks to be healing....

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.....but soon after on same day (6-13-18) a few hours later I noticed a little green pus appeared in one area. I think a small abscess broke open,...a good thing I think to help it drain in that small area.

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I'll keep an eye on him for the next few days,.... and try to get him to take a dosed Pecan too but I don't see him every day. (some of the semi-regulars cross over the road from the neighboring yards)

This little guy's been through a lot! I'm wondering if he got caught up in some sticky baits put out for rats maybe?
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[TubeDriver]

You older injured one looks great, about 95+% of the way healed!


Not sure what is going on with the one with the sticky paper on it? I see what looks like a bit of pus in one of those photos, although overall it looks to be healing nicely.

[joejeweler]

The two wounded haven't shown up much while I was out with the rest of the "family", but I am now pretty sure the original wounded squirrel shown in the beginning of this thread is out of danger from her wound.

This is from 4 days ago, 6-16-18 and Day 20 since her wounding:
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...and looking great just 4 days later,this morning 6-20-18, and Day 24 since her wounding. Amazing how much hair has grown back, considering the large and gaping original wound!

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She is attentive and with sharp movements, as I especially noticed this morning when the other wounded squirrel (a boy) was chasing her out of the area defending "his" feeding station! I'll forgive him for now, ....as he needs a bit more help,......BUT I did wag my finger at him, along with a mild scolding! :tap

Here she is before being chased off temporarily, and I took care of her soon afterwards. Those eyes,...or those eyes, as if to say "Trust,....BUT Verify!" ,...obviously a Ronald Reagan fan! :gigg
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However, the sticky material wounded boy is not out of the woods yet,....as I noticed what appeared to be a full puss line along his neck crease back on 6-16-18. Much of that could very well have been drainage "running down",... originating from a much smaller area than what it appears here...

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I'm thinking the crease of the neck is a tough spot to heal, since head movement is critical for a squirrel to catch dangers before they hurt or kill them. Just yesterday I came back to the house after being out to mail some packages and grab a bite, and a small hawk was finishing up eating a Pigeon and flew off as I got out of the car. Feathers were everywhere, and my heart always sinks as I never know early on if the hawk caught a bird or a fur buddy. So far it's only been a Pigeon (3 in the last few months, and 1 last year),....but you never know....

A day later (6-17-18) his sticky material wound was looking better...

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Notice a little bald spot is starting to appear higher on the head....

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...and then this morning, 6-20-18 a much larger bald spot on the head and at base of left ear, ....and I don't like the black color of the wound either....

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Losing the hair in a spreading pattern seems to indicate to me he is fighting a spreading infection, yet he won't eat medicated nuts and generally runs off and buries what I give him.

He is still energetic, and as mentioned earlier chased off competition for handouts,..... but I'm not sure if I should plan to try to capture him to get some meds into him for a week or so? Quiet time in a cage wouldn't hurt either I think to help him heal???

.... any thoughts would be most appreciated.

[TubeDriver]

That spreading hair loss is a sign of an underlying infection. It looks like it closed up and became worse since it could not drain. If you have a suitable cage and Antibiotics (Clavamox would be my first choice) then you certainly could trap him and treat. He could probably use ~2 weeks inside to heal up. He might heal on his own but since it is starting to look worse I would probably bring him in (especially since he does not cooperate with outside treatment).

[joejeweler]

That spreading hair loss is a sign of an underlying infection. It looks like it closed up and became worse since it could not drain. If you have a suitable cage and Antibiotics (Clavamox would be my first choice) then you certainly could trap him and treat. He could probably use ~2 weeks inside to heal up. He might heal on his own but since it is starting to look worse I would probably bring him in (especially since he does not cooperate with outside treatment).

Thanks,...that kinda how I was leaning. If it doesn't look any better in the morning, I'll plan on trying to catch him when he (usually) comes in much closer before he's had breakfast. If it looks better, I'll wait a day longer,.....as I sure hate to break his trust in me if I can help it.

[joejeweler]

Hi all,...on 6-21-18 the wound on the neck looked better (from the original white stuck on material?), as I think all the drainage helped a lot over night. So I decided to hold off on trying to trap him and possibly ruin the trust I'd built up.

Yesterday, on 6-24-18 confirms that he is healing really well. He is sharp eyed and quick on his feet, and as these photos show the wound has a nice pink "healing" look and the once ongoing hair loss do to underlying infection has stopped,... so I'm hopeful he's well on the way to full recovery. :glomp

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I also got a few clear photos of the young lady originating this thread,.... so Day 28 on 6-24-18 since her wounding and she is near fully healed. The transformation still amazes me.....

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