Squirrelmom2023
09-25-2023, 09:07 PM
Good evening,
There is a lot of information on these forums!
I am hoping to get some opinions or perhaps reassurance. A little background… I have a young squirrel that my cat had cornered- he came to us about 3 weeks ago, and I estimate him to be 9 weeks old now. I think he had been alone for a while because he looked and acted dehydrated and hungry as soon as I got him. He also had a cloudy eye.
I immediately researched and hydrated him, then went out and got the recommended formula, which he has done very well on.
He is now a super loving, playful and chunky little squirrel (Goes by Chipp) who lives in a cage in our living room and is absolutely spoiled rotten. He does very well with now the fox valley formula and blocks and loves his treats too.
My plan is to have my husband build an enclosure outside and do a soft release when it’s time. We live in a heavily wooded rural area.
However… my problem and anxiety revolves around the fact I think he may be blind in one eye. The one eye that was cloudy when I got him, got clear for a few days, then suddenly very opaque white. He had drainage for several days, and I treated the eye with antibiotic drops recommended by a Veterinarian friend. The drops got rid of the discharge, but now his eye is still cloudy white, and to our horror, has shrunken in the socket. It is hard to explain but it looks atrophied.
I am wondering- will he do ok in the wild with one bad eye? I don’t think he can see out of it at all. But he does ok with leaping and climbing around the living room during his play time. I just am so attached to little Chipp. I want to do the best for him to thrive outside.
There is a lot of information on these forums!
I am hoping to get some opinions or perhaps reassurance. A little background… I have a young squirrel that my cat had cornered- he came to us about 3 weeks ago, and I estimate him to be 9 weeks old now. I think he had been alone for a while because he looked and acted dehydrated and hungry as soon as I got him. He also had a cloudy eye.
I immediately researched and hydrated him, then went out and got the recommended formula, which he has done very well on.
He is now a super loving, playful and chunky little squirrel (Goes by Chipp) who lives in a cage in our living room and is absolutely spoiled rotten. He does very well with now the fox valley formula and blocks and loves his treats too.
My plan is to have my husband build an enclosure outside and do a soft release when it’s time. We live in a heavily wooded rural area.
However… my problem and anxiety revolves around the fact I think he may be blind in one eye. The one eye that was cloudy when I got him, got clear for a few days, then suddenly very opaque white. He had drainage for several days, and I treated the eye with antibiotic drops recommended by a Veterinarian friend. The drops got rid of the discharge, but now his eye is still cloudy white, and to our horror, has shrunken in the socket. It is hard to explain but it looks atrophied.
I am wondering- will he do ok in the wild with one bad eye? I don’t think he can see out of it at all. But he does ok with leaping and climbing around the living room during his play time. I just am so attached to little Chipp. I want to do the best for him to thrive outside.