Brevard FL - need help Paraplegic squirrel not sure of age

[Floridasquirrel]

I believe this is the same squirrel but not sure. A few days ago my dog chased a baby squirrel up a tree and it fell out of the tree into the neighbor's yard where they have a lab mix and a pit bull. The lab mix picked it up and it was screaming and I yelled at the dog and it dropped it and came to me, so I assumed it got away. Now my dog (he's small and doesn't hurt anything but lizards) yelped outside and he got bit by a baby squirrel in our yard and I took it and it's got no use of it's back legs. I've tried giving it sugar water which it took some and some baby formula I have. It wouldn't take the baby formula. IDK how old it is but it has all fur on the tail and eyes and ears are open. I'm scared to try to feed it because I know it must be in pain. I'd rather not take it to a rehab because I don't want it to get euthanized since it's just a little squirrel 😢
Please help

[Floridasquirrel]

Here is a pic of her, I am wearing men's XL gloves for comparison. Also we live in FL so I know the adult squirrels are a lot smaller than up north! Also I got it to take 3ML of baby formula and then she wanted to get away. I tried to make her pee but I didn't get it to work... Hopefully she is old enough to be peeing on her own. I'm not sure how to tell if she's in pain or just can't feel her legs anymore. She has bit me a few times but I'm wearing gloves. Also she has no visible bites of any kind

305356

[Spanky]

Where in Florida are you so we can see if there is an experienced member in the area that can help.

That squirrel is too small to be wandering from the nest, so I fear something happened to mom which is about the only reason why he'd leave the nest at that age. Please check around for other babies.

Here is a quick 6 page long primer on caring for a baby squirrel:
https://www.henryspets.com/1-basic-setup/

[Floridasquirrel]

Brevard county. Does it look old enough to be peeing on it's own? I looked on the internet about the tail fur so I exposed the bottom of the tail in the picture because I'm not sure

[Spanky]

Yes, it is old enough BUT it might have problems because of the paralysis.

[Spanky]

We are trying to find some help. It would be good if you could provide him something to drink via a syringe (he may or likely may not b able to drink from a shallow (very shallow) dish.

[Floridasquirrel]

Should I be trying more to get it to pee? It's very bony and it doesn't want me touching it really. I didn't find any other squirrels. I really think it's the squirrel from the other day since it seems so bony. If it had just fallen out I don't think it would be this bony... Maybe the mother was the one that got attacked the other day. I'm not sure I just thought I'd give the thing a chance to run off by calling that dog over.

I tried to give it the apple juice water to rehydrate but it just wanted to snuggle in the blanket. It did drink some but was definitely not interested... I don't have a heating pad but it's around 90 degrees out and we have the windows open in the living room so I've been keeping her there in a small dog carrier with a receiving blanket and a hamster water bottle but probably doesn't know how to use it yet.

[Spanky]

I tried to give it the apple juice water to rehydrate but it just wanted to snuggle in the blanket. It did drink some but was definitely not interested...

Did you warm up the watered down juice? They like it very warm at this age.

[Mel1959]

I’m in Brevard County. I can get this baby if you pm me where you’re located. I’m in Indian Harbour Beach.

[Floridasquirrel]

Did you warm up the watered down juice? They like it very warm at this age.


Yes I warmed it. I'm just leaving her to get warmed up maybe she's not warm enough. So I wrapped her up a bit in the blanket.

[Mel1959]

I have told finder I will take the baby and treat with prednisone. I also have tramadol and metacam. (I know Pred and met cant be used together) It’s the babies best shot at recovery. I have a little one about the same age that could use a buddy. :grin2

Of course Dr. E is only an hours drive away, too. :great

Finder has not responded to my offer.

Edit: I sent finder my phone number.

[Spanky]

:thankyou Mel, you rock! :bowdown

:thankyou Floridasquirrel for caring for this baby! I am so glad you found TSB. Mel is super terrific and Dr E is the best squirrel vet in the country! You've given this baby the best chance she can have at recovery!

[Floridasquirrel]

Mel came and got her. Hopefully her paralysis is healed and if not she has a good care taker

[TubeDriver]

She is in good hands! You gave this little one a fighting chance! :great


Mel came and got her. Hopefully her paralysis is healed and if not she has a good care taker

[Mel1959]

Thank you Floridasquirrel for keeping this little one safe and reaching out for help. :hug

This Little one is 122gr. She took 2ml of hydration fluid and is snuggled in bed. My plan was to continue offering hydration fluid every hour or so and see if she will pee. While stimulating her she did poop one dark pellet. No pee could be because she’s dehydrated. Floridasquirrel did say she saw her lift her tail once, so that’s a good sign.

I have texted Dr. E asking her recommendation for treatment, but it is her day off so I don’t know when she’ll see my message or respond. So....these are the meds I have: metacam suspension 1.5mg/ml, prednisolone liquid 15mg/5ml and tramadol 50mg pill. If someone can let me know the dosing for the prednisolone that would be great.

[Floridasquirrel]

Thanks for keeping her. Like I said she may have been out there several days, I'm not really sure if she's the squirrel that got attacked a few days ago or a different one. Hoping you find the right dose of Prednisone to give and for her healing

[Sottinger]

Thank you Floridasquirrel for keeping this little one safe and reaching out for help. :hug

This Little one is 122gr. She took 2ml of hydration fluid and is snuggled in bed. My plan was to continue offering hydration fluid every hour or so and see if she will pee. While stimulating her she did poop one dark pellet. No pee could be because she’s dehydrated. Floridasquirrel did say she saw her lift her tail once, so that’s a good sign.

I have texted Dr. E asking her recommendation for treatment, but it is her day off so I don’t know when she’ll see my message or respond. So....these are the meds I have: metacam suspension 1.5mg/ml, prednisolone liquid 15mg/5ml and tramadol 50mg pill. If someone can let me know the dosing for the prednisolone that would be great.

I purchased the Wild Baby Mammals book that has all the dosing info in it. Send me a pm with your cell or email and I’ll send a pic of the page if you like.

[Chickenlegs]

:bowdown:bowdown:bowdown:bowdown:bowdown:bowdown:b owdown:bowdown

THANK YOU MEL!

And thank you Floridasquirrel for giving this baby a chance!

[Mel1959]

I have pred dosing from Dr. E. I will begin dosing once she’s hydrated a little more.

[Mel1959]

She took 2.5 ml of hydration and pee’d. :dance I gave her the first dose of pred. She’s now sleeping. I am going to offer some diluted formula next time, unless someone thinks she needs more hydration.

[stepnstone]

11:47 am - 2:44 pm Just a few minutes shy of 3 hours from orignal post
to get this baby into experienced hands to get it the help it needs.
How cool is that! :dance

Thank you Floridasquirrel and thank you Mel! :bowdown:bowdown

[Mel1959]

I just fed her about 3cc diluted formula and 2cc rehydration fluid. When I stimulated her the urine she produced has a pinkish tint to it. Is this because of dehydration or could she have a uti or something else?

I need advice on how I should treat or if I should treat. I have all the meds...Baytril, Clindamycin, Clavamox, smz-tmp and maybe doxy that would have an exp. date of 9/30/2018.

She also produced a couple more pellets.

[Mel1959]

Also, I have not given any pain meds. I see no white tears and she doesn’t complain when handled other than some sounds like she’s scared.

This is all new territory for me so I’m open to suggestions and guidance. :grin2

[HRT4SQRLS]

I wouldn't jump to antibiotics right now. When she's fully hydrated it will probably clear up.

[redwuff]

She might have some bruising to her bladder. She probably is a shake injury victim.

Thank you so much for taking in this poor baby.:grouphug

[Mel1959]

Little ones update: The pink tint to her urine has subsided and she is peeing copious amounts. :dance. She is still passing dark pellets and is a little more enthusiastic about her formula. She took 4ml at 7:00 and 4.5ml at 10:00. When I stimulated and cleaned her at 10:00 her legs didn’t seem quite as limp. It seemed like she had them bent the way squirrels do when you stimulate them. I hope this is the beginning of recovery. :clap. She has had two doses of prednisone so far.

Keep the prayers coming. :Love_Icon

[TubeDriver]

:please

[Mel1959]

Little One (Lonnie) update: I have noticed a couple of very small changes over the last couple of days. I’m not sure how significant they are because this is unfamiliar territory for me, so maybe others with experience with paralyzed squirrels will chime in.

Lonnie is incontinent. Her belly is always soaked with urine. I don’t think that’s unusual, but the change is that when I stimulate her now she is able to push out a steady stream of urine instead of just drops. While being stimulated I have noticed that she can curl her lower portion in relation to the stimulation. Her legs do not hang limp when she’s being stimulated. She can pull them up at the hips and I am pretty sure I saw some slight toe movement in her right foot. I am optimistic that the prednisone is working and these are all good signs. :w00t

I have washed her belly, without her freaking out too much, to really clean off the urine, and I wipe her with a warm washcloth at every feeding. I’ve applied a very thin coat of Desitin or Silvadene ointment to keep her from getting urine scald. I’ve even been thinking of how to make a little diaper. It seems like it would be possible to do with those special bed pads made for humans. :dono

She is eating well and her poop has been perfect. She weighed 137gr this morning and took 10cc of formula.

On the negative side she is still very scared. She no longer growls at me but I am very careful when I pick her up or hold her and use a blanket. She likes having her eyes covered when she’s out and will burrow into the bedding as soon as I put her in the bin. Her teeth work! :shark1

I sure hope she recovers because if she doesn’t get over her fear I think she will have a miserable life as a NR paralyzed squirrel. :sniff

[Mel1959]

I forgot to attach the picture of her this morning.

[cava]

Mel, I'm just seeing this thread. I remember learning you don't want to let them "dangle" too much while healing especially if you don't know the exact injury, but I think it looks like she is flexing her right rear foot so that's great! If you think it's mid to low spinal injury, rest her bottom when you stimulate to avoid over extension of it.

Just my two cents and experience, I'm no expert and you're doing a great job. Thanks for taking her!:Love_Icon

[Mel1959]

Mel, I'm just seeing this thread. I remember learning you don't want to let them "dangle" too much while healing especially if you don't know the exact injury, but I think it looks like she is flexing her right rear foot so that's great! If you think it's mid to low spinal injury, rest her bottom when you stimulate to avoid over extension of it.

Just my two cents and experience, I'm no expert and you're doing a great job. Thanks for taking her!:Love_Icon

Thank you for the insight, Cava. I don’t let her dangle she’s resting on the palm of my hand. I will pay close attention to be sure I support her back even when I stimulate her. I usually hold her leaning back with her feet up against my stomach....and her back and head covered with fleece. She doesn’t like seeing anyone. :nono:nono

[cava]

I know you know what you're doing and I was just thinking how lucky she is to land in your care. You stick with them through to the end. :hug

Also, I give her a week before she's in love with you, her new foster Momma.

[Spanky]

I agree those are all positive signs of improvement, hopefully giving her some time will see a full recovery.

Did Dr. E suggest any adjustments to the Pred therapy depending on the rate of recovery? I know at times we've seen the taper get adjusted to add additional days to the steps if recovery is happening by occurring more slowly. I'd really be interested in Dr E's guidance on this issue....

You are doing a great job.. Lonnie is lucky to have landed in your care! :grouphug

[Mel1959]

I agree those are all positive signs of improvement, hopefully giving her some time will see a full recovery.

Did Dr. E suggest any adjustments to the Pred therapy depending on the rate of recovery? I know at times we've seen the taper get adjusted to add additional days to the steps if recovery is happening by occurring more slowly. I'd really be interested in Dr E's guidance on this issue....

You are doing a great job.. Lonnie is lucky to have landed in your care! :grouphug


When I treated Joey and May with prednisone Dr. E told me if I was seeing improvement to continue giving the prednisone. Both were on it twice a day for many weeks because I could see they were getting better. When they seemed completely recovered I began the tapering off process. That is what I intend to do with Lonnie.