Young Black Squirrel not using Hind legs

[sant237]

Hello all!!

So I recently found a young black Squirrel hovering over the body of what I assume was the mother. She was deceased. Young squirrel runs up to me so I relocated it to the other side of the street so it wouldn't get hit, real friendly little guy. Next day squirrel is waiting for me at my front porch, no longer using it's hind legs. I'm not sure if his legs may be broken or what. He seems to pull them with his back if they're in his way . No reaction if I pinch them or move them so he doesn't twist them awkwardly.

I'm not sure what to do! He seems old enough to eat solid foods as he was eating squirrel feed out of my neighbor's yard. Is there any way I can help this little guy? I know the vets in my area would just put him down. But it seems his legs don't bother him at all! He hops around like it's no big deal.

Any help is greatly appreciated!

[Chirps]

Yikes, poor baby! Do you have him now? If so, what is he in?

[sant237]

Yikes, poor baby! Do you have him now?

I sure do! Once I saw that he was injured I immediately set up a little space for him. He's eating well, drinking just fine, and is able to relieve himself as needed.

[Chirps]

Okay. I'm not an expert, but hopefully one of them will see this and chime in. I hope he's in a container of some kind? A plastic storage bin or cat carrier for now. A piece of fleece to hide in. He may be eating solid foods, but almost surely is not weaned yet. At the bottom of my post is a link to Henry's Healthy Pets. It's the 101 of baby squirrel care. To go to the next page click the upper right corner where it says "Next".

If you have to handle/pick up the baby be very careful to support his back end. He may have a spinal cord injury or who knows but the more careful you are the less chance of making an injury worse, even if he seems to be moving fairly well. The less you twist/stretch/move him the better until you learn what's what.

You will need formula, as per the directions you read from the link.

[sant237]

Yes ! He's is an old pet carrier I have. I filled it with some fleece so he's comfortable and nothing catches his nails.

I will look at that right away!

[Chirps]

If he is drinking from a bowl you lucked out a bit. Even though he still needs formula you can measure the amount when you get to that part and let him drink it (a little at a time) from a bowl. But first things first . . .

[Chirps]

Also if you can post a pic it will help the experts age him. I know I just said not to move him but if he needs medication they will dose it by weight. There are medications that can help with swelling etc that can turn around some dicey situations. Do you have a gram scale?

[sant237]

Yes! He feeds and will drink on his own.

Unfortunately for some reason it won't let me post a picture. But I can provide photos if you send me an email! kennedie8@gmail.com

[Chirps]

That's okay, it can wait. I'm no tech wiz so couldn't do it myself. There is a "How do I . . ." thread that may help you figure it out, or someone will pop in who can help.

As for food, I bet he's eating birdseed? It will be hard but he needs to stop. Even better to be a little hungry. That stuff is no good, despite how much squirrels love it.

Did you see the recipe for the temporary goat's milk formula? Will you be able to get the ingredients for that tomorrow?

If you have a Walmart near you they seem to always have the ingredients.

[sant237]

I have been feeding him an assortment of unsalted nut clusters as that's all I had on short notice. And yes I should!
https://ibb.co/d4JS4kr
Here is a link to a photo of him

[Chirps]

Heh, I'm impressed by your skills! Oh he's a big boy. So perky and handsome. It's better to see how full the tail is, but he looks like 8 weeks to this nonexpert. Maybe 9? I think the Henry's site has pics of the various ages? How does he compare in your opinion?

[Chirps]

I have been feeding him an assortment of unsalted nut clusters as that's all I had on short notice. And yes I should!
https://ibb.co/d4JS4kr
Here is a link to a photo of him

Sorry but nuts also should be extremely limited. So no more, hard as that will be. He'll be hungry but he won't starve. Can you order any of the blocks they sell at Henry's site? Others will have ideas what you can feed him until it arrives, and even which block they'd recommend. Do you have a feed store near you? If so you can probably get Mazuri Rat and Mouse Diet. It looks like a giant pellet and is complete nutrition designed for lab rats. He probably won't like it since he's already gotten the taste of junk food, but oh well. There's also Envigo Harlan Teklad 2018, which may taste better but I think you have to order online. First things first though, if you can get the temporary goat's milk formula that will tide you over until you can get the rest.

[sant237]

Alright no more nuts. Got it. And yes he looks to be about 7 weeks

[Chirps]

Okay, so he would only have just started eating solid food recently. That's good. Formula will still be his main nourishment. It's kind of easier because if you have the right formula you know he's getting what he needs. It's the transitioning that gives human squirrel parents grey hair.

What's SUPPOSED to happen is you introduce whichever brand of block as his first solid food for him to shred and turn into crumbs and learn how to eat, then after he's eating that well start introducing veggies, then fruits. . . . There's a squirrel food pyramid somewhere on the board.

Maybe check the stickies in the "Squirrel Nutrition" forum?

Anyway you have other issues, like will your little man get his legs back. Are you in a position to take care of him forever or would you like someone to look into finding someone to take him?

[sant237]

Okay! I for sure will get him the proper food and such tomorrow morning bright and early

And yes! I can give him a forever home

[Chirps]

You rock! I'll say goodnight, so you can get some sleep and get your baby what he needs. Check back here in the morning, in case someone will have added anything important you might need to know, like the heavy whipping cream is in the dairy aisle near the half and half, that sort of thing.

Cheers!

[stepnstone]

Do you have any way or from anyone you could acquire some Prednisone?
You would only need a pill or two.
It is the best med for spinal injury that may help him recover use of legs.

[sant237]

You rock! I'll say goodnight, so you can get some sleep and get your baby what he needs. Check back here in the morning, in case someone will have added anything important you might need to know, like the heavy whipping cream is in the dairy aisle near the half and half, that sort of thing.

Cheers!

Haha thanks so much! Im going to do my best to make sure he recovers!

[CritterMom]

Do you have any way or from anyone you could acquire some Prednisone?
You would only need a pill or two.
It is the best med for spinal injury that may help him recover use of legs.

Sant, did you see this? Prednisone or prednisolone - it is a human steroidal anti-inflammatory that is prescribed for all sorts of things. Call friends and family, go on Facebook, etc.

[sant237]

Sant, did you see this? Prednisone or prednisolone - it is a human steroidal anti-inflammatory that is prescribed for all sorts of things. Call friends and family, go on Facebook, etc.

Yes I did! I have some :) !! Do I just mix it with his formula/ water?

[stepnstone]

Yes I did! I have some :) !! Do I just mix it with his formula/ water?

No not "just" mix, it has to be properly mixed according to milligram.
What is the milligram of the pred you have?
Meds are dosed by body weight, do you have a weight on your baby?

[Diggie's Friend]

methylcobalamin-a-potential-breakthrough-in-neurological-disease-2-11594

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20045411

Methylcobalamin Adenocobalamin are bio identical sources of Vitamin B 12. These forms have been found to heal nerve damage in rats, ot the cyanocobalamin unnatural form found in most rodent block and cheaper vitamins.

https://www.amazon.com/VeganSafe-B-12-Methylcobalamin-Adenosylcobalamin-Supplement/dp/B07JPZJYMD/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=vitamin+b12+liquid+global+health&qid=1587492113&s=books&sr=8-1

Give one 1 needle drop from (1 cc.) needle syringe onto food daily. (do not use dropper that comes with the bottle)


https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5087825/

[stepnstone]

No not "just" mix, it has to be properly mixed according to milligram.
What is the milligram of the pred you have?
Meds are dosed by body weight, do you have a weight on your baby?

Have not seen you back on since above posting and it's important that you see this
and understand that meds have to be diluted and broken down to treat these babies by
their weight for their systems so as not to overdose.
I also want to add when treating paralysis with prednisone the sooner one starts the
treatment the better the results are going to be if it's going to work.

[sant237]

Have not seen you back on since above posting and it's important that you see this
and understand that meds have to be diluted and broken down to treat these babies by
their weight for their systems so as not to overdose.
I also want to add when treating paralysis with prednisone the sooner one starts the
treatment the better the results are going to be if it's going to work.

Yes! I talked to a few other posters and I am well aware of the fact that his meds have to be diluted and to distribute it by weight.

[Chirps]

Wondering how your little one is doing. Have you been able to learn more about the extent of his injury(ies)? Dare I hope there was even some improvement since yesterday? Has he told you his name yet?

[sant237]

Oh! Of course! He is doing great! I have been doing water therapy for his legs and it's going good! He can now move his legs much more freely than he was! He even flexes his toes every now and again when I rub the right spot haha. He has really perked up! He can stand on all 4 legs for a short period of time so I'm going to keep doing what I've been doing and hopefully he can make a full recovery!

Still no use of his tail besides flicking the base of it, but i'm thinking he will be alright!

[sant237]

Wondering how your little one is doing. Have you been able to learn more about the extent of his injury(ies)? Dare I hope there was even some improvement since yesterday? Has he told you his name yet?

We have also decided to name him Like!

[Chirps]

Wow, that's great! I wonder how much is due to prednisone. He's on that too? Water therapy :thumbsup

So glad to read he's on the mend. If you can, videos would be lovely! I think most people put them on YouTube and post the link here.

[sant237]

Wow, that's great! I wonder how much is due to prednisone. He's on that too? Water therapy :thumbsup

So glad to read he's on the mend. If you can, videos would be lovely! I think most people put them on YouTube and post the link here.

I figured warm water would help with the circulation in his legs! Since I wasn't sure what was initially broken, I thought water therapy would be a good start. His toes were starting to lose a bit of color but now they're just fine! I will surely post some videos !
Between the meds and water therapy I honestly don't have a clue. But they seem to work great together!

[RockyPops]

We love good news!

Keep us posted please.

[Diggie's Friend]

"Like", because you took a lichen to him! :grin3