Please help - lethargic squirrel

[wyndij]

We rescued a baby fox squirrel from our yard on 09/28. He came and asked for help and we waited and waited for momma, but she never returned. He’s been on Esbilac formula and rodent block plus slices of avocado, spinach, blackberries and kale. Recently he has discovered acorns and enjoys spending time trying to get them open. He is about 12 weeks old and normally very playful. Yesterday morning he was playful and running and then suddenly did not want to move much and kind of crawls instead of walks and wants to be held and cuddled. He is still eating if I hand feed him. I saw MBD protocol and gave him a dose of tums mixed with pumpkin baby food twice now in hopes he would perk up. But I don’t think he has - or not much. Any advice is appreciated so much for my sweet baby.

[Charley Chuckles]

By any chance could he have fallen?
I'd stick with the MBD protocol till others answer 🙏

[wyndij]

By any chance could he have fallen?
I'd stick with the MBD protocol till others answer 🙏

He very well could have fallen but only inside his cage. It’s about 36” tall and 3 levels. He normally runs all over and hangs upside down and is hyper. We don’t let him run loose unsupervised in the house but he could have taken a fall in the cage when we weren’t looking.

[wyndij]

By any chance could he have fallen?
I'd stick with the MBD protocol till others answer 🙏

If it is MBD, how long does it normally take for them to respond to calcium?

[Charley Chuckles]

https://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?17680-Emergency-Treatment-for-MBD-(Updated-3-31-09)

[island rehabber]

So sorry this is happening to your little guy. The MBD protocol can't hurt him and may help, but we also need to know if there is spinal injury. Do you have a wildlife friendly vet who would x-ray him? Weakness or paralysis in the back legs can be due to a sprain (treatable) or a fracture (very bad). Are you anywhere near DFW?

[wyndij]

So sorry this is happening to your little guy. The MBD protocol can't hurt him and may help, but we also need to know if there is spinal injury. Do you have a wildlife friendly vet who would x-ray him? Weakness or paralysis in the back legs can be due to a sprain (treatable) or a fracture (very bad). Are you anywhere near DFW?

I am not. I’m south of Waco.

Today he did sit up and hold his rodent block slightly with his hands to eat it. But super gently.

[wyndij]

328500

Here’s a pic of him right now for reference.

[CritterMom]

So let's rule something out. Go to the store and get a bottle of INFANT strength ibuprofen. Go for the cherry or berry flavor. I assume (hope) you have a 1ml syringe with clear markings? You should be feeding with those... You will need one.

Weigh him and give us the weight and we can get a dose of the pain meds in. If he suddenly starts acting better in and hour or so, then you have an answer of sorts - something is hurting. Plus, if you control the pain, things like eating also get better and thus eventual healing from whatever is going on.

[wyndij]

Ok! Heading to store shortly. Just want my baby to feel better.
I do have syringes that I’ve given him the tums calcium with.
I’ll post again once I’m back and get his weight as well.
Thank you so much.

[wyndij]

So let's rule something out. Go to the store and get a bottle of INFANT strength ibuprofen. Go for the cherry or berry flavor. I assume (hope) you have a 1ml syringe with clear markings? You should be feeding with those... You will need one.

Weigh him and give us the weight and we can get a dose of the pain meds in. If he suddenly starts acting better in and hour or so, then you have an answer of sorts - something is hurting. Plus, if you control the pain, things like eating also get better and thus eventual healing from whatever is going on.

I got the infant ibuprofen and a scale. He weighs 265 g. He’s more alert now and trying to move around but is not wanting to use his left hand much. I really don't think he fell but he could’ve gotten his foot caught in his cage maybe or is that a symptom of MBD?

328504

[CritterMom]

I sent you dosing. Aw, he hurt his footie. The ibuprofen will make him feel better, but keep him somewhat restrained for the next few days - he doesn't need to be running around because the meds made it not hurt!

This baby is still on formula and is eating blocks. I doubt he has MBD. What blocks are you giving him?

[wyndij]

I sent you dosing. Aw, he hurt his footie. The ibuprofen will make him feel better, but keep him somewhat restrained for the next few days - he doesn't need to be running around because the meds made it not hurt!

This baby is still on formula and is eating blocks. I doubt he has MBD. What blocks are you giving him?

Kaycee rodent blocks - and he loves them!
Recently he’s been rejecting his formula tho and discovered acorns 🙄. I added more veggies to his mix - kale, greens, spinach - and a little avocado with no skin / seed.

[island rehabber]

Sounds good so far. What about his hind end, is there weakness in his back legs at all?

[wyndij]

Sounds good so far. What about his hind end, is there weakness in his back legs at all?

I can’t tell if it’s just his left front leg or his whole left side that’s bothering him. He will sit and move around more today than yesterday but still SOOO much less than his normal playful self 😞
I’m loving all the cuddles but just wish he felt better.

[supersquirrelgirl]

Any relationship to eating acorns and his mobility change ?? Sometimes acorns are rotten.

[island rehabber]

Please do this for me: hold him up under his arms, facing you, and watch what his hind legs do. Does he move them? Will he push against your palm with one or both back feet? Pinch his back feet fairly firmly -- does he react? He should draw his legs up to his belly if there is no spinal damage.

[wyndij]

Any relationship to eating acorns and his mobility change ?? Sometimes acorns are rotten.

Yes. He just started with the acorns the past few weeks.

[wyndij]

Please do this for me: hold him up under his arms, facing you, and watch what his hind legs do. Does he move them? Will he push against your palm with one or both back feet? Pinch his back feet fairly firmly -- does he react? He should draw his legs up to his belly if there is no spinal damage.

Ok. I tried this and both back feet look good. It’s definitely looking like only his front left foot is injured �� I think maybe he twisted it or got it caught in his cage as he was always hyper and running around upside down in it. Currently I have him in his original smaller flat enclosure with blankets. He will hop out of bed to eat now - which he was not doing before - so hopefully he’s starting to feel better. How long will it take his little foot to heal? He has used it to ever so gently wipe his mouth or face or try to hold his breakfast block.

[supersquirrelgirl]

Good news on the back legs and that his is eating again.

Left wrist/arm swollen at all ?? Does he put any weight on it ??

From the above picture, it doesn't look bad. Hopefully, a minor twist or hyper-extension.

Post another picture.

Mr.SSG

[wyndij]

Good news on the back legs and that his is eating again.

Left wrist/arm swollen at all ?? Does he put any weight on it ??

From the above picture, it doesn't look bad. Hopefully, a minor twist or hyper-extension.

Post another picture.

Mr.SSG

Finally got a little video clip so you can see how he walks. The dribble on his chin is from me giving him formula with calcium. He fights me sink it gets a little messy. Lol

[supersquirrelgirl]

Hi there, you will need to upload video to Youtube or similar and then post the link here on TSB.

How is mr squirrel doing today ??