Diagnosed with nerve paralysis--questions!

[pepina]

I just took an 8-10 week old that I found limping around and apparently abandoned yesterday to the vet, assuming it was a broken leg. Turns out there's no break but the vet diagnosed nerve paralysis (said he found "radial nerve damage") and that it would likely get better with time.

1. Does anyone have experience of a squirrel with this sort of condition that ended up getting well enough to be releasable?
2. What steps can I take to help make it better? The vet suggested "massage therapy" but I'm not sure how seriously to take that. Thanks!

[stepnstone]

I just took an 8-10 week old that I found limping around and apparently abandoned yesterday to the vet, assuming it was a broken leg. Turns out there's no break but the vet diagnosed nerve paralysis (said he found "radial nerve damage") and that it would likely get better with time.
1. Does anyone have experience of a squirrel with this sort of condition that ended up getting well enough to be releasable?
2. What steps can I take to help make it better? The vet suggested "massage therapy" but I'm not sure how seriously to take that. Thanks!
He most likely took a fall on that leg that caused the injury, a radial nerve injury can heal.
Massaging as well as physical therapy to build and maintain muscle strength is advisable for this type injury.
I'm kind of surprised the vet didn't suggest an anti-inflammatory med to help relieve the pain which would also
help the injury heal faster. Often with radial nerve injury a steroid is also used.
We've had quite a few babies with limb paralysis that do regain full use after a course of Prednisone.

[Nancy in New York]

I would incorporate Gabapentin along with the Prednisone.

[Diggie's Friend]

Vitamin B-12 is the vitamin that is crucial to support nerve function, and reduce pain in back, joint, and head injuries.

https://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?62239-VITAL-NUTRIENTS-Do-More-than-Supply-the-Body-s-Nutritional-Requirements&p=1288010#post1288010 (See Post #1 and following)

https://www.amazon.com/Trace-Minerals-Liquid-Ionic-Supplement/dp/B01MCYXPDB

1 needle drop of Ionic B-12 from a ml 1cc needle syringe.

Though the lowest measure in a needle 1cc ml needle syringe, this measure is not an arbitrary amount,

but what has been factored from the the HT Envigo Rat diet for a rodent (tree squirrel) of higher weight.

As to the optimum therapeutic dosage for this source, I leave that to others that work with meds to say to raise it or not.

[pepina]

Thank you for the advice, everyone! I talked to the vet and he did not recommend an anti-inflammatory because he says in both human and animals there is no clinical evidence that anti-inflammatories heal nerve damage. He was optimistic it would improve naturally with massage therapy/physical therapy. We're having the squirrel run on a rotating log and he seems to be using his paw more frequently.

As for the B-12, I will look into that, very intriguing! :grin2

[stepnstone]

Thank you for the advice, everyone! I talked to the vet and he did not recommend an anti-inflammatory because he says in both human and animals there is no clinical evidence that anti-inflammatories heal nerve damage. He was optimistic it would improve naturally with massage therapy/physical therapy. We're having the squirrel run on a rotating log and he seems to be using his paw more frequently.
As for the B-12, I will look into that, very intriguing! :grin2

No one said anti-inflammatories heal nerve damage...
Anti-inflammatories reduce inflammation which it turn reduces pain,
reducing pain aids in healing and that is a medically proven fact!