Cloudy eyes in baby squirrel

[thekimboslicer]

Hi! I’m new here!! I have 2 babies that I have been rehabbing for a little over a week. Baby A opened one of his eyes this morning!! It is very cloudy in the middle almost like a cataract? He did fall about 20-30 feet out of a tree and had what almost looked like a scab over the slit of that eye. I even said to my husband I bet he will be blind in that eye. However, I have read a couple places that it could be an infection or even malnutrition? Help!! I’ve never come across this before! I would insert I photo but I’m not sure how to do that!!

[island rehabber]

Stay calm :). This does occur once in awhile and it often corrects itself when it happens at such a young age. I had a little boy squirrel two years ago who I could tell apart from his brothers by his one cloudy eye. Suddenly one day I had no idea which one was him -- the eye was perfect! Good nutrition, now that the baby is with you, may help -- or just time and healing.

[thekimboslicer]

Stay calm :). This does occur once in awhile and it often corrects itself when it happens at such a young age. I had a little boy squirrel two years ago who I could tell apart from his brothers by his one cloudy eye. Suddenly one day I had no idea which one was him -- the eye was perfect! Good nutrition, now that the baby is with you, may help -- or just time and healing.

Okay, I feel like I just took my first breath in 4 hours. I am really hoping this is the case!! He still has not opened the other one and I’m really crossing my fingers it’s clear!! Not really cool with realeasing a half blind squirrel but definitely not wanting to release a blind one!! I’m hoping having his brother around is a help!

[HRT4SQRLS]

Here is a information guide for raising baby squirrels. It is 6 pages long.
https://www.henryspets.com/baby-squirrel-care/

What formula are you feeding the babies? We like to ask because some find bad information on the internet.
Not all formulas are created equal. :tilt

[thekimboslicer]

Here is a information guide for raising baby squirrels. It is 6 pages long.
https://www.henryspets.com/baby-squirrel-care/

What formula are you feeding the babies? We like to ask because some find bad information on the internet.
Not all formulas are created equal. :tilt

Esbilac. This isn’t my first rodeo. Just my first time ever encountering cloudy eyes!!

[Lamh9798]

Esbilac. This isn’t my first rodeo. Just my first time ever encountering cloudy eyes!!

Hey, I have. squirrel 6 1/2 weeks old or sonia, that apparently fell from a tree a week ago—eyes opened Attacked by a crow same day and closed eyes tight for a couple of days. Today, the sun caught the eye,” just right” and there is a cloudy white spot.

Did your squirrel continue to be okay? I have never rehabbed a squirrel before. Woukd not have tried it if he was much younger.

[SamtheSquirrel2018]

Hey, I have. squirrel 6 1/2 weeks old or sonia, that apparently fell from a tree a week ago—eyes opened Attacked by a crow same day and closed eyes tight for a couple of days. Today, the sun caught the eye,” just right” and there is a cloudy white spot.

Did your squirrel continue to be okay? I have never rehabbed a squirrel before. Woukd not have tried it if he was much younger.

Hi Lamh9798: Thank you for finding The Squirrel Board! I'm so sorry about your little Squirrel. It appears that you are not experienced in Squirrel Care. Is that the case? Please let me refer you to Henry's Pets Website for their excellent and concise 6 page Guide for the care of a Baby Squirrel;

https://www.henryspets.com/1-baby-squirrel-care-guide/

It would be very advantageous if you could post photos of what you are seeing in the right eye and also a comparison photo of the eye that appears normal. Ideally, this Squirrel should be seen immediately by a Veterinary Ophthalmologist (an animal eye specialist) as depending on what this is, blindness is a possible disastrous outcome! This may very well be impossible however. Another oprtion would be to have your Squirrel seen by a Veterinarian who has experience with Eye Conditions and can properly examine your Squirrels eyes and also utilize a particular "stain" called fluoresceine that is picked up by an scratched cornea (the cornea is the clear part of the eye) or an injury/infection such as a corneal ulcer. The fluorescein highlights these condition by glowing in a dark room when a Black Light is shined upon the cornea.

Being seen immediately by an experienced Vet or preferably the Veterinary Ophthalmologist would be ideal but if that is not possible or there is a wait for your Squirrel to get in, treating yourself may be the way to go, at least until the Veterinarian sees the Squirrel! Do you have any Eye antibiotics. This sounds like it may be a corneal ulcer and treatment should be started immediately. Please check you own "stash" and also as friends and family.

One final comment; you have posted in a Thread that is almost 4 years old and the poster may no longer be associated with the The Squirrel Board! I would like to suggest that you begin your own thread for your Squirrel. If one of the Admins are available, they may be able to move your post (along with my response and any other responses that may show up) to your new thread.

Regards,
SamtheSquirrel