Removing Tar from opossum

[keetz1205]

This guy was hit by a car. Someone moved him under a tree thinking he would die but in the meantime told my friend who then called me when the finder got home from work and said he was still alive.

He has a gash in his tail which I cleaned up. He can walk as I found out when I went to get him. He drank a lot of water on his own and has been sleeping when I'm not messing with him trying to get him cleaned up and de-ticked.

His problem is his head. He has obvious road rash in some areas but I'm worried about his eye. It's either so covered in tar that I can't see it or it's gone. I've tried warm water and also tried oil to loosen it up. It's not budging. I've decided to let the poor guy rest right now till I figure something out. He's the sweetest guy. When he was drinking out of the bowl I held for him, he put his little paw in my hand and I was hooked. He's currently snoring.

[stepnstone]

This guy was hit by a car. Someone moved him under a tree thinking he would die but in the meantime told my friend who then called me when the finder got home from work and said he was still alive.

He has a gash in his tail which I cleaned up. He can walk as I found out when I went to get him. He drank a lot of water on his own and has been sleeping when I'm not messing with him trying to get him cleaned up and de-ticked.

His problem is his head. He has obvious road rash in some areas but I'm worried about his eye. It's either so covered in tar that I can't see it or it's gone. I've tried warm water and also tried oil to loosen it up. It's not budging. I've decided to let the poor guy rest right now till I figure something out. He's the sweetest guy. When he was drinking out of the bowl I held for him, he put his little paw in my hand and I was hooked. He's currently snoring.

I wouldn't know of anything safer to use then vegetable oil particularly since it involves the eye.
If possible I would suggest soaking gauze or a soft rag in vegetable oil and holding on the area for
at least 20 minutes to soften, then try to remove the surface of what would easily come off.
Then repeat as necessary, it will likely take several attempts.

[keetz1205]

I wouldn't know of anything safer to use then vegetable oil particularly since it involves the eye.
If possible I would suggest soaking gauze or a soft rag in vegetable oil and holding on the area for
at least 20 minutes to soften, then try to remove the surface of what would easily come off.
Then repeat as necessary, it will likely take several attempts.

Thanks, Step. I'll give that a whirl.

[Charley Chuckles]

Prayers to this sweet baby 🙏