What to do with paralyzed squirrel

[Kathy1898]

Hi everyone,

I am new here...I am sure this has been discussed before.

I volunteer and rehab wildlife, mainly squirrels. Squirrels have always been my spirit animal....I usually foster them at home and have started to care for them until they are ready for release etc.

I have a paralyzed boy who cannot use his back legs. I have him and his siblings and they are almost ready for their outdoor inclosure which is the last step before release. I am torn at what to do. The sanctuary will put him down, they have done it before. He has gone to 3 osteopath appts and has regained some movement in one leg and his arms are very strong...he can hold his own, but he is 100% un-releasable.

I debated keeping him....giving him more time to see if he does get movement back etc. He is a soul, a life, he's not in any pain, he eats and plays....as a vegan (and even if I wasn't)...I cannot imagine ending his life.

What do I do!?

[SophieSquirrel]

KEEP HIM! If you cannot devote the time find someone through the "underground" that will take him and give him a forever home. I have two very happy and healthy paras at present. There is plenty of good advice on The Squirrel Board about keeping NR paras and as long as you watch his diet he will be healthy: https://www.henryspets.com/healthy-diet-for-pet-squirrels/

As far as the law goes - unless you are expecting a warrant-less search tell no one and he will be fine.

My beautiful para "Lady". She came in cold, dehydrated and zero mobility. After proper care she is about 60% now. Not releasable but happy, healthy and ALIVE!

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[SophieSquirrel]

I have posted this before. It's the story of Karamel the Non-Releasable squirrel with no front arms! This squirrel is happy and makes a para (hind leg paralysis) squirrel look easy. There are members on here who will make you a "skute" to avoid drag sores with a built in pad to absorb urine. A para squirrel should NEVER be released as they need all four legs to climb and escape predators.

Don't think you can do it? Watch this...

"Karamel" the miracle squirrel


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abcOw2lHorI

[cava]

If he is happy and healthy otherwise, make a great, safe life for him indoors with you or someone who can/will give him a long, healthy life with lots of enrichment, like SS said.

Thank you for helping them!

[Kathy1898]

KEEP HIM! If you cannot devote the time find someone through the "underground" that will take him and give him a forever home. I have two very happy and healthy paras at present. There is plenty of good advice on The Squirrel Board about keeping NR paras and as long as you watch his diet he will be healthy: https://www.henryspets.com/healthy-diet-for-pet-squirrels/

As far as the law goes - unless you are expecting a warrant-less search tell no one and he will be fine.

My beautiful para "Lady". She came in cold, dehydrated and zero mobility. After proper care she is about 60% now. Not releasable but happy, healthy and ALIVE!

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Thank you so much for your reply!!! I know they are not legal to own but I cannot end his life. Tonight, I have separated him from his 3 siblings who were put in the outdoor cage. He is alone...and I feel so badly. He is about 7 weeks.

So I should get the Henry's blocks? I will check if they ship to Canada.

Thanks !!!

[Kathy1898]

Ok I am ordering the Henrys.

Yes, a skute. His legs drag behind him. He will get sores?

[Chickenlegs]

I’m SO glad you’ve saved him. Seven weeks is young to be in an outdoor cage. Are the babies still on formula? Your little paralized baby needs to bond with you. Love that baby as much as you can. He needs family and you’re it! I have a boy paralyzed when he was five weeks old. Scooter lives large and has no idea he isn’t a normal squirrel. He IS normal in his world. A paralyzed squirrel needs some care and reading through threads about paralyzed babies will give you insight into potential problems, care, solutions and tips on keeping them healthy. Ask if you have questions. We’re family!

[SophieSquirrel]

I know they are not legal to own but I cannot end his life

Keep him on formula until he "self-weans". You can also order these as his base diet: https://www.amazon.com/Envigo-Formerly-Harlan-Teklad-GROWTH/dp/B00N0EPSJQ

Chickenlegs is your "go-to" expert on Skutes!

[SophieSquirrel]

Thanks again for saving him!

[redwuff]

Thank you so much for your reply!!! I know they are not legal to own but I cannot end his life. Tonight, I have separated him from his 3 siblings who were put in the outdoor cage. He is alone...and I feel so badly. He is about 7 weeks.

So I should get the Henry's blocks? I will check if they ship to Canada.

Thanks !!!

Seven week old babies need to still be on formula. They are just getting their molars. They don't have the experience to eat hard foods and just getting the ability to eat solid food at this age. In the wild, this age baby would not have left the nest yet or been introduced to solid foods. Most rehabbers are still feeding their babies formula at least till ten weeks


Good luck with your sweet baby. We would love to see pictures of him.

[Scooterzmom]

I have a lilttle para boy - almost 6 yrs old now - and he's a love bug. He has never let his handicap stop his enthusiasm for life. His "arms" are really strong and he climbs very well but, of course, we make sure that in case of a fall he'd land on something soft. His cage has plump pads in the bottom and on his shelves and we've arranged it so he can move around and have fun. He also climbs a cat tree like a pro, and a gentleman we helped rescuing a squirrel of his own made our boy a lilttle buggy. :D

As for avoiding sores on his joints, there are ways. For us, with the thick fleece pads and his buggy, Victor has never developed that problem. Those are things you can work on easily enough to prevent.

Yes, Henry's does deliver to Canada. However, I prefer making our own blocks with Henry's Vita-Mins at least in the summer because sometimes customs will hold the stuff quite long and since there are no preservatives I've had some that arrived mouldy.

You can also order the Harlan Teklad 2018, or even higher in protein the 2019 from Flowertown Chinchilla. They're in Ontario, close to you if I recall.

This is our boy Victor with his buggy. Not his prettiest time of the year, he was moulting :D
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[Kathy1898]

Seven week old babies need to still be on formula. They are just getting their molars. They don't have the experience to eat hard foods and just getting the ability to eat solid food at this age. In the wild, this age baby would not have left the nest yet or been introduced to solid foods. Most rehabbers are still feeding their babies formula at least till ten weeks


Good luck with your sweet baby. We would love to see pictures of him.

Sorry, I think I have the ages mixed up. Let me try and figure out how to share pictures....

They have been weaned for about a week.

[Kathy1898]

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Currently

[Kathy1898]

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Siblings

[Kathy1898]

I have a lilttle para boy - almost 6 yrs old now - and he's a love bug. He has never let his handicap stop his enthusiasm for life. His "arms" are really strong and he climbs very well but, of course, we make sure that in case of a fall he'd land on something soft. His cage has plump pads in the bottom and on his shelves and we've arranged it so he can move around and have fun. He also climbs a cat tree like a pro, and a gentleman we helped rescuing a squirrel of his own made our boy a lilttle buggy. :D

As for avoiding sores on his joints, there are ways. For us, with the thick fleece pads and his buggy, Victor has never developed that problem. Those are things you can work on easily enough to prevent.

Yes, Henry's does deliver to Canada. However, I prefer making our own blocks with Henry's Vita-Mins at least in the summer because sometimes customs will hold the stuff quite long and since there are no preservatives I've had some that arrived mouldy.

You can also order the Harlan Teklad 2018, or even higher in protein the 2019 from Flowertown Chinchilla. They're in Ontario, close to you if I recall.

This is our boy Victor with his buggy. Not his prettiest time of the year, he was moulting :D
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What a precious boy!! Very much like Perry.

Iordered the Henrys!! ugh, heres hoping. I have the other blocks but he doesn't care for them. Buying arugula and some avocado today.

[redwuff]

Beautiful baby. How lucky. This board is a wealth of information and experience.

[kcassidy]

What a precious boy!! Very much like Perry.

Iordered the Henrys!! ugh, heres hoping. I have the other blocks but he doesn't care for them. Buying arugula and some avocado today.

I don’t feed arugula here is what I’d buy at the store immediately

Box of Spring Mix
Sugar Snap Peas
Cauliflower
Yellow summer squash
Sweet apple
Avocado

All of the above are devoured by my rehab squirrels. I always have this in the house.

Good luck 😁