Help needed!

[Momof3furries]

Hi! I have an 8 week old female that I need antibiotics for. She has an ear infection. I live in a state where the vets will not treat her. I’ve been a nurse for humans for over 20 years. Is there a human antibiotic I can dose to her weight for the ear infection? If not, where can I get squirrel friendly meds without a script?

[HRT4SQRLS]

Welcome to TheSquirrelBoard

What are her symptoms? It’s pretty rare for us to get posts about ear infections in baby squirrels.
Are you sure there isn’t something in her ear?

Yes, you can use human antibiotics. We dose them all the time.

[Momof3furries]

She has thick purulent drainage coming from the ear. She keeps that ear flattened to her head and the eye on that side is slightly closed. I can’t find a vet to help me. The last one suggested euthanasia.

[island rehabber]

Ear infections do happen in baby and adult squirrels. One particularly difficult case I remember here resulted in clindamycin working, after many other things were tried.

[Momof3furries]

Ear infections do happen in baby and adult squirrels. One particularly difficult case I remember here resulted in clindamycin working, after many other things were tried.
Do you have any info on how to dose the Clindamycin?

[SamtheSquirrel2018]

Welcome to TheSquirrelBoard

What are her symptoms? It’s pretty rare for us to get posts about ear infections in baby squirrels.
Are you sure there isn’t something in her ear?

Yes, you can use human antibiotics. We dose them all the time.

What most of us think of as an "ear infection" is usually a middle ear infection. For your little one to have a middle ear infection, the ear drum would have had to burst to allow drainage of pus from behind it. This can certainly happen but as HRT4SQRLS pointed out, the pus may really be originating from the ear canal itself and not from behind the ear drum. A foreign body is always a possibility. This can cause an irritation or wound in the canal and set up an infection. Also the little Squirrel may have been poked in the ear by a branch or other object. Even insects can find their way into an ear canal and can cause considerable damage to the skin and result in an infection. If an insect was the cause of the infection it may still be present in the canal and if so, would then need to be carefully removed. It is definitely too bad that you live in State where a veterinarian would feel obligated to euthanize the Squirrel. Perhaps there is a rehabber near you or maybe someone on TSB would know of a rehabber who could look at your Squirrel on a very urgent basis. As a caution, even some "rehabbers" will opt to euthanize and it would be best if at all possible to have your Little One seen by someone recommended by one of TSB members or be one the members. To actually visualize into the canal requires very gentle and precise removal of enough of the pus and whatever else might be blocking the canal and use of an instrument called an otoscope to actually look inside the canal. Irrigation of the canal should ordinarily be done only by someone trained in this procedure and the potential risks associated with it. The risk of washing out the canal is that there may actually be a ruptured ear drum and the water used to irrigate the canal will get pushed back into the middle ear which could make the situation worse. Also, even if the ear drum is not already ruptured, forceful and improper irrigation could damage rupture a normal ear drum.My suggestion especially if no help is available, is to start your Squirrel on an antibiotic now and reassess the Squirrels status frequently. Usually it takes only one human pill to provide all doses for your Squirrel's treatment. Do you have any antibiotics available? If so, what are they and what are the particular strengths of the antibiotics. Also, it is essential that an accurate weight of the the Squirrel is obtained. HRT4SQRLS who has already commented in your thread and has lots of experience with this or any of TSB Administrators could then calculate a dosing plan for you.

[SamtheSquirrel2018]

Another way to possibly remove some of the material in the ear canal of your Squirrel that can usually be done safely by someone with little or no experience is to twist a small piece of cotton into a thin "rope" that is an inch or maybe longer in length(not critical) and twist it small enough in width that it can be gently placed into the ear canal. It is usually best to turn the piece of cotton slowly while placing it into the canal. This twisted cotton can act as a wick and will help remove liquid material from the ear canal and possibly permit better visualization into the canal to check for a foreign body. This procedure should be repeated several times before you decide it's not working. Sometimes the material in the canal seems to be drying out and you can moisten the twisted cotton and place it gently into the canal and turn it slowly to help loosen dried material. If you want to try this be very careful and never force the cotton into the canal. Just place it into the opening of the canal and not beyond. Again, this acts as a wick to help remove material from the canal. Never let go of the cotton and never push it into the canal beyond the opening you can see. If a foreign body is visible, it is best for a trained person to attempt removal unless gravity will do it for you by turning the Squirrel so the affected ear is placed downward. Oftentimes, even an FB that seems as if it would be easy to "get a-hold of" will actually be pushed further into the canal during attempts at removal.
Regards,
SamtheSquirrel