New baby with severe broken arm

[Notatreerat]

I need help. I was messaged about a baby squirrel and my first question was “Is the squirrel injured?” I was told no so I accepted it but now that he’s here I see he has a severely broken front arm. It looks broken at the shoulder and at the elbow. I can also smell blood on him but can’t find any. He is 127 grams. He is warming up on the heating pad now so I can start pedialyte once he’s warmed. I have experience with 6 healthy squirrels and one that currently is dealing with an abscess but I have to clue what to do with broken bones. Does anyone in the southeast know how to splint broken bones? And can someone give me the dosage he’ll need for Children’s Motrin? I want to help relieve his pain ASAP.

[Notatreerat]

I can’t figure this site out. How do I subscribe to my post so I’ll get notifications? And did I post this in the correct place? No one has seen it so I’m thinking I didn’t.

[SamtheSquirrel2018]

Hi Notatreerat:
You posted this in the right place. My response will "bump" your thread again. Hopefully someone will respond who knows who in Alabama may be able to help you with splinting. It may be that no one reading currently can provide a contact for you (at least so far) and that is why there have been no responses so far. What makes you suspect your little Squirrel has a fracture. Is the limb not in alignment or worse yet, is there exposed bone? Unfortunately it is Friday night and of course we are coming up on a weekend but it might be possible to find a Vet who will see your Squirrel on Saturday and obtain x-ray films. This would of course need to be a Squirrel friendly Vet and not someone who would be inclined to confiscate the Squirrel or euthanize it; both of which can happen and does! This may be another avenue for getting help from others here on TSB because a member may not know of someone who could help out with splinting but may know of a Vet near where you live. It may be valuable to post photos or a video of your Squirrel other may see what you are seeing that lead you to believe there is a fracture (or maybe more than one fracture).

As far as Subscribing to a thread, all you need to do is click on "thread tools" at the top of your thread page and a drop down option will be to Subscribe to the thread. I'm sorry about your little Squirrel's condition. I hope you will be able to find some definitive help very soon!

You mentioned that you are going to give Pedialyte and that is certainly ok but I would suggest that you use it only initially of maybe an additional time or two at the most and then transition to plain water with a touch of a sweetener such as syrup or honey to give it an enticing taste. If the baby has become cold and left without food, he probably is dehydrated and you are going about care in the correct order; warming first before fluids and then later, formula and food. Unless an animal is losing electrolyte such as Sodium through diarrhea as a an example, "simple" dehydration is almost entirely loss of plain water with very little or no significant loss of electrolytes. Using Pedialyte or other "salt" solution may help replenish the intravascular volume (the fluid within the blood stream) faster than using plain water and is a valid reason for using Pedialyte early in the rehydration but the Squirrel must have plain water or the concentration of electrolytes with increase which can cause some very significant problems.

I'll send you a "cheat sheet" for Ibuprofen dosing by PM.

Please keep on with the updates about your Squirrel!

Regards,
SamtheSquirrel

[Notatreerat]

Thank you so much for bumping and responding. He definitely has a broken shoulder and wrist. If you turn him on his back his entire arm flops open and down towards the ground. I can also feel the difference in his shoulder blades. His wrist also dangles like his shoulder. He had Pedialyte first and a drop of honey on his gums. Now he’s just getting sugar water. He’s devouring it so I can tell he wants milk instead. He’s attacking the miracle nipple and constantly searching for a nipple. The vets in my state will not treat wildlife. They won’t even take them if they’re severely suffering and needing to be euthanized. Our law states that they should be left alone because predators also need food sources. It makes me sick. And our state took away over 100 rehabilitation licenses so we only have 3 or 4 people in my state who will take squirrels when they’re not full. It’s making it impossible to get licensed here. There’s a petition that’s been going around for over 2 years so it’s not doing any good. It’s horrible and cruel. Thank you again for responding. I appreciate it so much!

[Notatreerat]

It won’t let me upload an 8 second video so here’s a photo.

[Spanky]

It won’t let me upload an 8 second video so here’s a photo.

The TSB site does not support hosting videos, but you can upload them to YouTube or another hosting site and post a link here for members to view. It is very difficult to immobilize a squirrels arm or leg without a cast. Even with a cast they will all too often chew it off. But I would attempt to stabilize / immobilize the arm using some tape/vet wrap and something rigid like a popsicle stick, wooden food skewer (snip to size), etc. It is imperative that the wrap is not too tight so as to cut off circulation.

I have had these breaks in a couple very young squirrels and am always surprised at how quickly they improve. It is a battle keeping the arm immobilized most of the time. The ones that were more cooperate healed up in less than 2 weeks... I am sure not fully, but enough that the keeping them in a small cage another week or two, to limit movement and climbing, did the trick.

[Notatreerat]

That makes me feel so much better. I watched videos all night learning how to splint. My hubby ran out and got all of the materials so we’re about to attempt it. Wish us luck!

[Notatreerat]

Video of baby boy’s arm

https://youtube.com/shorts/sAHCKQWt6I4?feature=share

[CritterMom]

Aw. Poor little thing. The trick with vet wrap is that the stability is provided by the THICKNESS of the wrap, not being snug around the area. You want a fair amount of slack around the arm and wrap it multiple times around to get the stability. It basically becomes a cast. I am guessing you will have to wrap around part of the body to keep it in place properly. I sincerely doubt he is going to be cooperative!

Are you able to hang onto him if he ends up non releasable?

[Notatreerat]

Absolutely. I’m in the process of building a “nursery box” and an 8ft L X 4ft W X 6ft H cage, and have previously built another cage which has a pair of sisters in it currently. I pray he’s not NR for his sake but will gladly give him a permanent home if he needs it.



Aw. Poor little thing. The trick with vet wrap is that the stability is provided by the THICKNESS of the wrap, not being snug around the area. You want a fair amount of slack around the arm and wrap it multiple times around to get the stability. It basically becomes a cast. I am guessing you will have to wrap around part of the body to keep it in place properly. I sincerely doubt he is going to be cooperative!

Are you able to hang onto him if he ends up non releasable?

[CritterMom]

Since we gave you ibuprophen dosing, I do want to add this: It is mean and terrible and goes against EVERYTHING you want to do but if you take away ALL of the pain he will use the arm as soon as he can and that you DON'T want. Pay close attention - you want him to hurt a little to keep him from being a normal juvenile squirrel (maniac) but not so much that he gets droopy and depressed and stops eating. You can reduce your dosages or spread them out more or both to attain the "hurts but not too much sweet spot."

[Notatreerat]

So far he hasn’t tried to walk. He just lays in one spot and looks miserable. He’s devouring his hydration fluids and uses the other paw to hold the miracle nipple but lets the injured arm hang. He’s breaking my heart. Half of his tail was ripped off as well so I’m sure that’s causing him pain also. I wish I could carry his pain so he wouldn’t have to.

[CritterMom]

Poor little guy. I wish you could get an x-ray to know what the heck you are dealing with. As long as he is quiet and not trying to use his bad arm I would go ahead and use the dosing sent.

[Notatreerat]

Me too! I wish I was friends with a doctor so I could at least get him X-rayed. And yes, he’s extremely still. So much so that it’s scaring me. I have to keep checking to make sure he’s breathing. How is it that you can develop so much love for these babies in such a short time? These babies have my heart and this kid is ripping mine out.

[SamtheSquirrel2018]

How is you Little One doing?
Regards,
SamtheSquirrel

[Mel1959]

Me too! I wish I was friends with a doctor so I could at least get him X-rayed. And yes, he’s extremely still. So much so that it’s scaring me. I have to keep checking to make sure he’s breathing. How is it that you can develop so much love for these babies in such a short time? These babies have my heart and this kid is ripping mine out.

I’m just now seeing this. I will send you a vet source in Alabama in a private message.

Message sent

[Notatreerat]

@samthesquirrel
I found a video on splinting a dog with a broken shoulder and just followed what the vet said. I wrapped him with gauze to give him something soft and comfy against his skin, bent a paper clip to go across his back and down his injured arm, then wrapped that loosely but thickly with self-adhering bandage. I thought he would fight it or try to rip it off but he hasn’t had any problems with it. It’s like he knows it’s helping him….or maybe it’s easing the pain for him. I’ve prayed repeatedly for healing and that I did it right. I’ve also been adding a tiny bit of calcium powder to his milk as well in hopes that it will help him heal. Thank you for checking in on him!

[SamtheSquirrel2018]

@samthesquirrel
I found a video on splinting a dog with a broken shoulder and just followed what the vet said. I wrapped him with gauze to give him something soft and comfy against his skin, bent a paper clip to go across his back and down his injured arm, then wrapped that loosely but thickly with self-adhering bandage. I thought he would fight it or try to rip it off but he hasn’t had any problems with it. It’s like he knows it’s helping him….or maybe it’s easing the pain for him. I’ve prayed repeatedly for healing and that I did it right. I’ve also been adding a tiny bit of calcium powder to his milk as well in hopes that it will help him heal. Thank you for checking in on him!

Thank you for your update! It certainly seems that you are doing what is needed for your little Squirrel! Immobilization with alignment of the fracture fragments and the extremity positioned to help ensure functionality following the removal of the splint are the ideals for fracture management during the healing process. You are doing a very good and conscientious job! I believe both of two possibilities you suggested as explanations for your Squirrel not objecting to or disturbing your splint apply in this case! Again, great job.

Just a suggestion, please make sure now and periodically that the end of the foot stays warm and that there is no additional swelling because these can be signs of compromised blood flow in the extremity and if this occurs, loosen the wrap immediately and then it can be reapplied as improved circulation becomes obvious; but just not as tight.

In regard to the "tiny" bit of additional Calcium, this will not hurt in any way and may be helpful. What comprises your Squirrel's diet? You are very correct in being concerned about a Squirrel having adequate Calcium at any time and certainly when new bone is forming!
Regards,
SamtheSquirrel

[Notatreerat]

Thank you. Your message made me feel so much better. I redo his bandage every other day to make sure it’s not cutting off circulation. I wrap it very loosely as well to make sure he’s not constricted. He looks so cute in his little bandage but I feel so bad for him. He doesn’t put any weight on that leg but gets around really well, and really fast. I have him in a very small container so he won’t move too much so that he can heal but as soon as I finish feeding him he takes off and I have to catch him. I know he’s craving running and playing so I feel guilty. If anyone has an opinion on that or advice I will gladly take it. I will take all the advice I can get.

[SamtheSquirrel2018]

Thank you. Your message made me feel so much better. I redo his bandage every other day to make sure it’s not cutting off circulation. I wrap it very loosely as well to make sure he’s not constricted. He looks so cute in his little bandage but I feel so bad for him. He doesn’t put any weight on that leg but gets around really well, and really fast. I have him in a very small container so he won’t move too much so that he can heal but as soon as I finish feeding him he takes off and I have to catch him. I know he’s craving running and playing so I feel guilty. If anyone has an opinion on that or advice I will gladly take it. I will take all the advice I can get.

Thanks! Would you please detail your Squirrels diet? Also, does this Little One have a name?
Regards,
SamtheSquirrel

[Notatreerat]

He’s only about 5 or 6 weeks old so it’s just formula and healthy blocks for him so far. The girls are older so they get blocks, squash, sweet potatoes, avocados, spinach, kale, cauliflower, broccoli, formula, and 2 apple slices a week. And his name is Creed, which means I believe/ I have faith. ❤️✝️