Urgent Help Needed: Dog attacked baby squirrel [Archive]

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Outlandish

06-24-2023, 08:15 PM

Hey everyone, looking for some help. Earlier today one of the dogs on the ranch that I work at attacked a juvenile California ground squirrel. (It’s not my dog, just FYI.) He grabbed the squirrel and was shaking it, but dropped it when he saw me. I was sure it would be dead, but it started trying to crawl away. It kept rolling over and was clearly distressed and dazed so I put it in a small box with a towel and a cap of water to drink. I’ve peaked at him every hour and to my surprise he’s still alive. I’m trying to keep handling to a minimum but I picked him up (gloved!) once and I don’t see blood or puncture wounds on him. He is in his box in my house with me right now.

Another employee at the ranch is a wildlife rehabber and she’s coming to work tomorrow so I can ask her about him if he makes it through the night, but I don’t know if she knows anything about squirrels. In california they are classified as agricultural pests and frequently killed. Tomorrow I can go to town and buy supplies for him if he makes it through the night but for now I need advice about what to do now.

Should I leave him alone to rest? Should I give him some water with a Q-tip or offer some food? He is resting in his towel right now and seems more stable than this morning. To my knowledge, he hasn’t eaten or drank since he was attacked this morning. Additionally, I don’t have any heating pads or anything and my house is around 70. Is this okay or should I make the whole place warmer for him?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Outlandish

06-24-2023, 08:16 PM

Additionally: here is a link to a Reddit post I made about the situation which includes photos. Sorry, I don’t know how to post photos on this forum form mobile.

https://www.reddit.com/r/squirrels/comments/14hzhiq/emergency_advice_needed_dog_attacked_baby_squirrel/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=ioscss&utm_content=1&utm_term=1

Spanky

06-24-2023, 09:52 PM

You can offer water, the Q-tip is a good idea and a small paint brush... like an artists brush or make-up brush would be better. Adding a little molasses and a pinch of salt to the water would be helpful. You can place a shallow dish of water with marbles or clean pebbles/rocks in it (helps prevent them from putting their nose too far down and aspirating).

Dark, warm and quiet.

Dogs tend to shake them and break things... his best chance is to be treated with steroids (Prednisone, Dexamethasone or Prednisilone). This can bring down swelling and cut off permanent injuries in their spines and heads (if possible).

If you can put him in a bathroom and warm that room more that would be good, We don't want direct heat on his head in case he has brain swelling. I am going to read through reddit...

Spanky

06-24-2023, 09:56 PM

Outlandish

06-24-2023, 10:19 PM

The Redditt post about dogs and bacteria... that applies to cats, dogs not so much. Cats have squirrel killing bacteria in their mouths, dogs pretty much shake them and break them.

DO offer hydration... water, even add some sugar and a pinch of salt. If his gums are pale that indicates shock, rub some molasses, syrup, honey or such on his gums and that will help. Gotta run, I will try to come back later...

I put it in the cap, a honey, salt, water mix. I offered some on a Q tip but he didn’t seem like he was taking any. I can try again later tonight. I have a small syringe too but I don’t want to aspirate him.

Outlandish

06-24-2023, 10:20 PM

I put it in the cap, a honey, salt, water mix. I offered some on a Q tip but he didn’t seem like he was taking any. I can try again later tonight. I have a small syringe too but I don’t want to aspirate him.

Update: he pooped! Several little poops when I picked him up to offer the hydration mix.