Non-releasable squirrel in need of vet in Vancouver Island, BC, Canada

[Pogs]

Hello, I have a non-releasable and illegal squirrel of five years. Today, he has suffered a foot injury (toe caught in fabric) Does anyone know any emergency squirrel friendly vets (a vet that will not seize or report squirrel) in Vancouver Island, BC Canada or any resources? Thank you!

Its late where I am, and I work early am. I will be sleeping but most likely checking the thread over night. (Thank you in advance, with any information)
Without going into graphic detail, the injury will be life threatening if not treated promptly.

[Tashahaven]

I am sorry to hear your little squirrel got injured 🥲

I don’t have any advice regarding vets. Hopefully someone on here can help with that.

However, it would actually be quite helpful if you could provide as much detail and info regarding the nature of the injury. What it looks like (photos), what (if any) you have done so far to treat it etc…

That way we can do our best to provide guidance and advice on how best to treat the injury, and make sure your squirrel is as comfortable as possible, up until the point you may go to a vet.

Hope he is doing OK. Sending love and prayers ❤️*🩹🙏🏻❤️*🩹❤️*🩹🙏🏻🙏🏻❤️*🩹❤️*🩹🙏🏻🙏🏻❤️*🩹❤️*🩹

[Pogs]

Thank you tashahaven.
I have to head for a work shift but will try to post in the next couple hours, explaining the injury in detail.

[Bravo]

Vancouver Island is a fair size- south or north?

For what it's worth, Google lists the following for 'animal rehabbers Vancouver Island':


MARS Wildlife Rescue

MARS Wildlife Rescue
https://marswildliferescue.com
Wildlife Rescue, Rehabilitation, Release, & Education in the Comox Valley.


Found An Animal - Wildlife Rescue Association of BC
Wildlife Rescue Association of BC
https://www.wildliferescue.ca › animal
Found An Animal Find out what to do with an injured animal or find answers to other questions or issues with wildlife. What type of animal did you find?


Critter Care Wildlife Society Home Page
Critter Care Wildlife Society
https://www.crittercarewildlife.org
Critter Care Wildlife Society specializes in the treatment, care and release of sick, injured and orphaned Native Mammal species of British Columbia's Southern ...


BC Wildlife Park
https://www.bcwildlife.org › injuredwildlife
The Fawcett Family Wildlife Health Centre cares for more than 400 animals, annually. We can accept most birds, reptiles, amphibians, and small mammals. Due to ...


Wildlife & Emergency Contacts - Vancouver Island Pet Pages
vancouverislandpets.ca
https://www.vancouverislandpets.ca › articles › wildlif...
7275 WRA Wildlife Rescue Association of BC provides leadership in rehabilitating wildlife and in promoting the welfare of wild animals in the urban environment.


PAWS Rehab
pawsrehab.ca
https://www.pawsrehab.ca
Veterinary rehabilitation hydrotherapy acupuncture and laser. ... Our clinic is located on Vancouver Island in Chemainus - about 15 minutes north of Duncan ...

[CritterMom]

Thank you tashahaven.
I have to head for a work shift but will try to post in the next couple hours, explaining the injury in detail.

Please, with pics, and don't worry about them being nasty looking.

If your baby is in pain and I suspect he is if he has injured his paw, you can give him infant strength ibuprophen. It is cherry flavored and they like it a lot. We need his weight and you will need a 1cc syringe to dose it. It works very well in these guys for pain.

[Pogs]

Thank you so much crittermom. I will get some pics. He tore his toe off when tangled. So, he is in pain and I worry about infection. It did not bleed a lot because that leg is somewhat paralyzed and atrophied (why he is non-releasable). I released him and his siblings when young but about three years ago, he had a fall from a tree as best I can guess. It rendered his front arm useless.
Its not legal for me to house him, so I'm afraid to reach out to any rehab. As he would be seized and euthanized. I don't want his end to be so stressful. He is sweet as sugar with me but does not like other people.

Adding an extra thank you, will pick up infant ibuprofen and a syringe and weigh him

[CritterMom]

Thank you so much crittermom. I will get some pics. He tore his toe off when tangled. So, he is in pain and I worry about infection. It did not bleed a lot because that leg is somewhat paralyzed and atrophied (why he is non-releasable). I released him and his siblings when young but about three years ago, he had a fall from a tree as best I can guess. It rendered his front arm useless.
Its not legal for me to house him, so I'm afraid to reach out to any rehab. As he would be seized and euthanized. I don't want his end to be so stressful. He is sweet as sugar with me but does not like other people.

Adding an extra thank you, will pick up infant ibuprofen and a syringe and weigh him

Do they have povidone iodine in Canada? It is sold here as a 10% solution, with a brand name of Betadyne, but every store has their own brand of it as a generic as less cost. It is a fantastic antiseptic solution that will kill pretty much anything that might want to infect that wound, without stinging or burning (though it WILL dye his fur for a while). I strongly believe that if you can stave off infection with a topical like that, and relieve his pain with some pain meds, he will be okay even without a vet's intervention. I see a couple of things online - it looks like they sell it as a spray in a 5% solution. You could use that as well. Let us know - the 10% will be diluted before use.

The one thing you will need to watch out for is slow healing - if he has reduced circulation in the leg that could be an issue. But I really do think that if it is kept clean and you keep it either wiped down or sprayed with the antiseptic daily as long as the wound is open, you may be able to handle this without having to drag a rehabber or vet into it. A rehabber would do what we are suggesting YOU do.

[Pogs]

Crittermom, I do believe we have betadyne! That sounds hopeful. I'm headed out for supplies now. I will try to get pictures uploaded asap.

[Pogs]

The circled area is where he tore his toe, clean off. I have a picture of the toe, but its graphic.
The way his paw curls under, is how his paw is permanently stuck. I trim his nails as they don't wear on thier own due to thier positioning. He wears the fur down, as his arm/paw is stuck with limited mobility. Hence, so much fabric lining his room as he can wear it thinner on Harwood etc i don't believe his has full sensitivity in that foot but I do think he can still feel to a degree.
He has a good appetite still and was happy to groom me and have snuggles.

[Pogs]

I have the 10% betadine solution and infant advil in an oral suspension. I have the weigh scale ready to go but waiting on squirrel to come out from nap time. I'm going to post his amputated toe because I think it will help shed light on the type of injury he has sustained but its awful and I apologize in advance and I hope its okay.

[Pogs]

My biggest fear is that he has exposed bone and it won't heal.

[CritterMom]

So to dilute the betadyne, mix 1/2 teaspoon (2.5ml) in 1/4 cup (60ml) water (best if you boil and cool it or use distilled). If you put it in a little bottle with a squirt top, you can just put a drop on his toe - do at least 3 times a day but if you are around you can do it more frequently. It won't hurt him. If you slightly warm it up so it isn't ice cold when it hits his toe he likely won't even know you did anything.

Yes, the skin is going to have to grow to cover the end of the bone. The only thing a vet could do is to anethetize him, trim some of the bone away in order to have enough skin to stitch over the end.

The think I am more concerned about is that it may begin to itch when it starts to heal and he might begin to mess with it. I am hoping that he has little enough feeling in it that it doesn't bother him. About the only thing that will relieve that kind of itching is benadryl. I see that Canada sells the liquid Children's benadryl but it looks as though it is half the strength that ours is in the US, which will have to be taken into consideration when dosing it. Hopefully you won't need it because he leaves it alone.

They really do heal well. I watched one of my wilds, who I actually tried to catch so I could have euthanized she was so horribly injured. Without going into all the detail, you could see her jawbone and teeth on one side because all the skin and muscles had been ripped off. There was very little of her that wasn't a mass of horrible wounds. She wouldn't let me or any other squirrel come anywhere near her, but she came to my feeder once a day and I made darned sure I had the best stuff out there for her when she did...and I watched her heal completely -like to the point that she was very difficult to pick out from the others eventually. Without meds, living outside -she used to show up with dirt and stuff stuck in the wounds. She taught me a lot about just how tough these guys can be.

[Pogs]

Crittermom , thank you so much for the clear instructions and the hopeful words from your experience. I will follow the directions for the betadine. I can definitely apply it throughout the day, multiple times. I don't see him mess with that foot too much, so fingers crossed he can't feel enough to get itchy. I tried weighing him on a baking scale as I don't have a large scale at home. He was hard to get to sit still but he seems to be 1lb 15 or so. How do I medicate him and with how much in regards to the infant ibuprofen in a liquid suspension. It came with a syringe in ml form.
Thank you again for helping me to help the little gaffer.

[CritterMom]

I sent the dosing info to you by PM - we don't put dosing info on the open board. If you go to the very top of the page and click on Notifications and then In Box from the drop down you will come to your PM box and can read the message.

We will eventually need to see a pic of the whole squirrel showing his sweet face!

[Tashahaven]

Thanks C.M.!!

I’ve been slammed all day at work. I’m so happy she jumped in! I was hoping we could try to help you without necessarily needing a rehabber/vet, as my understanding of where you are from is most likely seizing your darling squirrel!

I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers! Hopefully his sensation is less, so he doesn’t mess with the wound, but not so much that blood supply is limited and he heals expeditiously!

I think you have a wonderful plan of action in place. And you seem to be wonderfully observant, so if anything changes, or you have questions or concerns, just let us know!

It might be a good idea to see if you can secure any antibiotics, human are fine, even one or two pills. That way IF there is a need or a concern of infection presents itself, you will be prepared and not need to worry or scramble locating it at that time.

Can’t wait to see a full body photo! 🥰

[Pogs]

Very grateful for the excellent help. I raised this guy since a pinky and it is a heartbreaking and distressing feeling, witnessing such a frightful injury and being useless in trying to aid him and not knowing where to turn to for help. I appreciate the help and directions so much, it has brought a feeling of peace today being able to tend to squirrels injury and ease some pain for him. I am so relieved I stumbled across this squirrelboard, on my panicked internet search yesterday evening.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart!
When I catch my breath, I will post of photo of the tiny patient.
In regards to antibiotics, are some more suitable than others for squirrels ?
Thank you again for your time, help, experience and caring. Both squirrel and human can sleep better tonight.