Squirrel hit by a car

[Suziesquirrel]

Hi everyone,
I have taken in a grey squirrel that my husband found, she was by the side of the road, likely hit by a car. This was 2 nights ago. We have been feeding her by syringe as she hasn't eaten the mushroom clover or strawberry, she has some milk and crushed nuts. My question is, has anyone known a squirrel like this survive? she is a bit wobbly, maybe dizzy, goes round in circles occasionally.but can walk fine sometimes, seems a bit brighter today and has started digging. She only has one eye, this might be an old injury though.
She seems quite comfortable with being handled and fed, but I'd like some advice on what I can feed her, and anything else to help her rehab. I have tried seeking local help but no one will take squirrels, vets in UK will just put her to sleep as it's illegal here to release grey squirrels, they are classed as invasive species. We hope to release her anyway if she recovers

[Charley Chuckles]

:Welcome
Thank you for rescuing her!
First could you possibly get a picture of her it would help to figure her age possibly.
Do you see any injuries at all, and I'm guessing she's allowing you to handle her🤷
What milk are you referring to? They can't have cows milk. I think in the UK you can get puppy milk in a can, the powdered not liquid.(ESBILAC)..others can help chime in on that.
I would stop the nuts they are not healthy for squirrels it's more a treat, I know everyone thinks "SQUIRREL/ NUTS" 😁 I use to think that too.
The circling could be signs of head trauma.

I'M BUMPING your thread hopefully others can give you more advice 👍
Prayers for her 🙏

[Suziesquirrel]

Hi, thanks for the speedy response

I've been giving her puppy milk, she seems to be much
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better co-ordinated today and has even eaten some avocado and strawberry. I'm happy she's brighter and more energetic this evening. I'm hoping to release her soon if she continues this way, I'm just waiting to see if she's definitely stopped these circling round and round periods. She has opened her other eye so it's looking positive :grin3
She was found on a busy road where we saw another squirrel dead, I'd prefer not to take her back there, Can squirrels live in new areas or are they fiercely territorial? I wouldn't want her getting beaten up.

Excuse the avocado toes in the pics 😁

Another thing is, she seems to have quite big nipples, I'm hoping she hasn't left a nest of very young babies behind, and is either pregnant or may have a nest of young ones, but I'm guessing as it's been two days the little ones would not have survived anyway without her

[Charley Chuckles]

I'm concerned about her eyes, circling and very unusual she's so tame. She may have head issues and unable to be released.

Hoping others can chime in soon👍

[Charley Chuckles]

:bump:bump:bump

[Chirps]

Hi! Thanks for caring for her. I can't see that her nipples look like they're being used. She has so little fur on her belly they may just be more noticeable. When my wild girls are lactating their nipples protrude from their fur and are very noticeable, standing up from the surface, even though they have double the thickness of fur that she has. Also she'd be swollen at the base of each teat, little milk bags. So that may be one upside.

Hopefully one of the experts sees this thread. Do you have or can you get prednisone? I don't know if it has a different name in the UK. It can help with head trauma, but from what I've read here, the sooner started the better. Still, it might help her. One of the experts needs to see this thread to advise you on if that is a possibility. Do you have a kitchen scale? If you can post a weight it will be useful for someone to help you dose any indicated meds. Hang in there!

[Charley Chuckles]

🙏

[Suziesquirrel]

Hi
Thanks for your help
I've not been able to get hold of prednisolone. She's stopped circling. Her main problems now area weakness in her arm and possibly leg. She crouches to feed and her grip isn't amazing but has improved every day so hopefully she will stand and climb with time and healing. She walks fine and seems more aware of danger, table edges and such. Amazing really considering what happened. 327296327297
Unfortunately rodent blocks here don't seem to be made of hazelnut, they include fish and other weird stuff. I've got her some food I'll post the pic of ingredients, could you take a look and see if you think her diet is missing much? I have been feeding her strawberry today and some seeds but will give her this block and see how it goes, she is chewing fine now which is great

When you get to the point of releasing squirrels do you provide them with a nest box somewhere or just leave them to build their own?

Thanks again 👍 🐿️

[Spanky]

For the prednisilone dosing we'll need to know the strength of the product you have and the squirrel's weight.

The ingredients seem to be more in line with grass eater's diet... gerbils, hamsters and the like and I'd suggest not great for a squirrel. It takes special digestive systems (hindgut fermenters) to break down and digest the highly fibrous grasses... squirrels are not hindgut fermenters.

Mazuri rodent block is available on Amazon UK:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mazuri-Nutrional-Complete-Vegetarian-Formulation/dp/B00JR8K8DA

This is one of the higher quality rodent blocks.

Puppy formula... Royal Canine makes a puppy formula in line with the nutritional needs of squirrels. Most puppy formulas are not (excepts are Royal Canine and Esbilac (powdered version only).

I don't believe this is an actively nursing mother based on the pics...

When we release squirrels we use a "soft release" process... in the outdoor release cage for several weeks and then we open a portal just big enough for a squirrel (3 inches round or square) to come and go. During the next week (or several weeks) they will come and go and often build or move into an abandoned nest... until they have their own nest ready, they will continue to return to the nest in the release cage. Providing them a nest box in a nearby tree (properly located) is a bonus, but not a necessity....