Sick juvenile squirrel, still with mom (lives on my balcony) Detroit area. Help!

[Riggic]

Hello,
I am reaching out for help. A momma squirrel and baby live on my balcony (they live within a planter filled with cushion stuffing). Her baby appears to be around 10 weeks old. Today i noticed it to have some eye discharge and mouth breathing, seems to be a bit listless. Mom is around and is quite used to me coming out on the balcony (there is some level of trust). The baby doesn’t look good and I dont want to to separate it from mom. I want to help but have had no luck with rehabs or vets. Does anyone know of any local vets in the Detroit area willing to help with a wildlife issue? I would be willing to administer antibiotics (i have been able to safely pick up the squirrel without issue).


Thank you in advance

[RockyPops]

Thanks for helping this baby!

I'm no pro but others here are and will answer soon.

Meanwhile....

Do you have ab's available?

If so what? What strength? If not, see if you can round some up from friends or family. Usually one or two pills are all that's needed.

Also a weight of baby will be needed. If you can't get weight, a good photo for guesstimate would help.

You said you can pick baby up? Can you hold her for a little while if need be?

[Mel1959]

These are the vets I know of that at on time saw squirrels in Michigan:

Parkway Small Animal and Exotic Hospital
39321 Garfield
Clinton Township
586-416-8800

St. Francis Animal Hospital
Dr. Marilyn Kedzierski
45505 Garfield
Macomb
586-228-8387

I don’t know if either of these hospitals see squirrels now.

Can you locate some antibiotics for humans? You’ll just need one pill. Call family and friends. Once you locate something and post it with the strength of the medicine someone on here will be able to tell you if it will work and how to dose it.

We will also need a weight of the squirrel or at least a picture to guesstimate the weight.

Are the symptoms the little guy has a runny nose and weepy eyes?

[Riggic]

Thanks for helping this baby!

I'm no pro but others here are and will answer soon.

Meanwhile....

Do you have ab's available?

If so what? What strength? If not, see if you can round some up from friends or family. Usually one or two pills are all that's needed.

Also a weight of baby will be needed. If you can't get weight, a good photo for guesstimate would help.

You said you can pick baby up? Can you hold her for a little while if need be?


I only have expired Baytril (mixed for domestic cat). Oral suspension, expired July 2018 :(. Not sure of the concentration as a lot of the label wiped off.
I was able to pick baby up today and held it for about 30 seconds (mom was uneasy about it and baby cried a bit). I could probably get a weight, but am uneasy about separating it from mom to take it in. Poor thing stresses so much.

[Riggic]

These are the vets I know of that at on time saw squirrels in Michigan:

Parkway Small Animal and Exotic Hospital
39321 Garfield
Clinton Township
586-416-8800

St. Francis Animal Hospital
Dr. Marilyn Kedzierski
45505 Garfield
Macomb
586-228-8387

I don’t know if either of these hospitals see squirrels now.

Can you locate some antibiotics for humans? You’ll just need one pill. Call family and friends. Once you locate something and post it with the strength of the medicine someone on here will be able to tell you if it will work and how to dose it.

We will also need a weight of the squirrel or at least a picture to guesstimate the weight.

Are the symptoms the little guy has a runny nose and weepy eyes?


Thank you! I will try those clinics in the morning!

I could probably weigh the squirrel, just hate to cause him and momma so much stress. I will try in the morning.
The only thing i have on hand is expired Baytril (expired 2018) formulated for domestic cat. Not sure of the concentration as most of the label has wiped off. I will ask around for antibiotics - just not sure which ones are safe for squirrels. My fiance is a physician and I am a nurse so we do have a medical background...really wishing we knew a DVM right now!

Attached is the picture of the little guy. Sorry about the orientation..everything is difficult on a phone. If you look closely, you can see the white discharge around his eyes. I also have a video of his breathing if there's a way to upload that?
Can't really assess whether or not he has a runny nose. He was attempting to drink water tonight out of a small bowl, but was having difficulty. I really hope he makes it through the night.

[Rocky1]

Maybe not the most ingenious advice, but I use to provide support to the squirrels living on my deck, water in a pet dish (which it looks like you are doing - staying hydrated helps mammals recover), extra nutrition (I did raw slices of sweet potato and a healthy henry's block), and this may be arguable, but I put a heating pad under a floor mat on extremely cold nights (under which the squirrels had a large nest, part under heating pad, part not which is ideal so they can choose their temperature) to help them stay warm. The later is arguable because some people might be concerned with the possibility of them chewing an electric cord, but I was around to watch for that. The others might be able to provide more advanced advice.

[Diggie's Friend]

Electrical cords can be lethal if they are bitten into. Putting the cord it into PVC pipe and sealing it up might help to prevent that from happening; then if they begin to chew on that you could at least see it.

[Riggic]

Electrical cords can be lethal if they are bitten into. Putting the cord it into PVC pipe and sealing it up might help to prevent that from happening; then if they begin to chew on that you could at least see it.

That electrical cord hasn’t been plugged in for years, when we noticed squirrels frequently coming up to the balcony.

[Mel1959]

Did the little guy make it through the night? White tears in the eyes is a sign of pain. Clearly something is going on. The Baytril you have would still be usable even though it’s expired. Maybe you could call the vets office that prescribed it and have them check their records for the strength. My guess is it’s 22.7mg if it was for a cat.

Someone should see this thread this morning and guide you on dosing and estimating his weight.

[Riggic]

Did the little guy make it through the night? White tears in the eyes is a sign of pain. Clearly something is going on. The Baytril you have would still be usable even though it’s expired. Maybe you could call the vets office that prescribed it and have them check their records for the strength. My guess is it’s 22.7mg if it was for a cat.

Someone should see this thread this morning and guide you on dosing and estimating his weight.

He was out on the balcony drinking water this morning, but noticed me and went back into the planter. Mom has been in and out. Hoping to see him come out again soon.

[TubeDriver]

Have you been able to get a look at his teeth? Tooth issues can often be seen in the symptoms you describe. Can he crack open a nut with his teeth?

[RockyPops]

If you have a video or get one then upload it to youtube and copy and paste the link here.

If you can catch him near a soda can etc., a size and weight may be determined by reference.

[Riggic]

Update on the little one:
I've been watching him for the past few days...he comes out of the planter and just kinda sun bathes, drinks a bit of water and then goes back in. Not nearly the amount of activity that he had last week (before noticing him a little sick). However, today I picked him up, wrapped him up and looked at his face. His nose was completely occluded so I cleared it. His teeth (as someone asked): he has 2 little bottom ones and only one on top so far. He hadn't really been interested in solid food this week...but today I noticed he ate a bit of a small tomato. So I guess we have some progress. I ordered some Baytril (10% - formulated for birds, no Rx required) to have on hand for the future.

I have another question...the mom has a really bad case of mange. Looks painful (reddened, scaly, and constantly itching). What can I do to help the poor thing? Anything?

[Riggic]

correction: ordered 2.5% Baytril for easy dosing.

[island rehabber]

U
I have another question...the mom has a really bad case of mange. Looks painful (reddened, scaly, and constantly itching). What can I do to help the poor thing? Anything?

we do have a section about it: https://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?162-Mange

[Mel1959]

If you can actually hold this little guy and had no problem catching him then is it possible for you to get him to a vet? When is your Baytril supposed to arrive?

[Riggic]

If you can actually hold this little guy and had no problem catching him then is it possible for you to get him to a vet? When is your Baytril supposed to arrive?

I’m too apprehensive about separating it from
Mom. When I pick it up, she’s watching me. It’s the only baby she had this litter...she doesn’t leave for more than 10 minutes and is always close enough to come running back.

[Mel1959]

I’m too apprehensive about separating it from
Mom. When I pick it up, she’s watching me. It’s the only baby she had this litter...she doesn’t leave for more than 10 minutes and is always close enough to come running back.

I hope your Baytril arrives before the baby succumbs to its illness.

[Riggic]

I hope your Baytril arrives before the baby succumbs to its illness.

He’s out and about jumping and climbing today. On the upswing it seems.