injured boy

[MooShoo]

Hi...I am new to the squirrel board. I have been taking in orphaned and injured babies for a few years before moving to my current part of the state. I always dealt with Russell at Squirrel World for questions in the past, but apparently he is ill and is not answering questions now. Anyway...that is how I got here! So, I my husband and I were driving past the local golf course here, and saw a squirrel dragging his hindquarters and crossing the road. A very busy! road. He made it across, then circled the telephone pole and headed back across the road. By the time we avoided being rearended by the semi truck and trailer, and got turned around and back to him he had crossed three times. I tossed a towel over him and scooped him up. Took him home and got him settled, then called the vet. I took him in for xrays, but the vet said that since he had deep muscle pain and could actually pull his little feet away with deep stimulation...that we didn't need the xrays. He was on steroids for 7 days and has now been off of them for another two weeks. He is getting better, and eating very, very well! He can now poof (for lack of a better descriptive word) most of his tail..except for the last inch or so of it. His left hind leg is doing pretty well, the right one is still tucked under him most of the time. He can move it some, but not very well. What do you think the odds of him being releasable again? I have charted the exact location that I picked him up in case he was releasable soon, and I have tried not to handle him unless necessary. If he is not releasable, is it possible to tame the little guys when they are adults? I have only had babies before this. He is a red squirrel. And is otherwise fat and happy. He had a tiny bit of road rash..but no wear on his dragging limbs, so I am pretty sure that we picked him up soon after his injury, so hopefully the steroids helped with keep the permanent damage to a minimum. Thank you for any suggestions!

[Mars]

How well is he getting around?? Is he able to climb??

[jules]

Hi MooShoo!
:Welcome

How old is he? It sounds like he is making good progress...thanks to you:thumbsup
He may just need a little more time for the full usage to come back in his legs. If you make sure he is getting some gentle excersise each day, so he can build up the muscle tissue...that will help! If he lets you, you could also do some physio on his legs to get them working better?
Is he peeing and pooping okay?
And what is he eating? just thinking about his nutrition!

Jules. :Love_Icon

[Mrs. Jack]

:jump what a nice person you are!!!! far as I know reds aren't very tameable, but this guy sounds like he is making great progress.. :Welcome

[hazel]

:Welcome to TSB!

Thanks so much for taking good care of this squirrel and congratulations on finding a helpful vet!

At this rather early stage of recovery (and especially since you don't know for certain whether there are any fractures) I would keep him as confined as possible to limit his movement. This can be a very helpful approach for spinal injuries and broken bones. I'm sure he'd appreciate a heating pad under a portion of his enclosure.

A calcium-rich diet is important for him as is full spectum lighting. You'll be able to find a wealth of informaton on both subjects here. If you have any questions, feel free to ask.

He may eventually be releasable, but it's too early to know for certain.

[MooShoo]

wow..thanks for the quick responses! He is not able to climb, although he tries. I had him in a small dog crate to start with. But as he is beginning to use the limbs more, I have moved him to a large one, and put a box, with a hole in it so he can hide his goodies etc. He is an adult, but I am not sure what age. He doesn't seem to have any other helath issues, his coat looks good, weight looks great etc. He is taking care of himself and grooming..peeing and pooing good. He is eating, one or two nuts(almonds, or walnuts) in the shell each day, varying the veggies and fruits, some yogurt etc. Fruits that he likes are a little apple, he LOVES tangerines and usually gets two or three slices a day, pear, veggies, carrots, didn't like kale, or mustard greens, cauliflower, likes broccoli, zucchini, mushroom, I tried cilantro today! The first night I didn't have to much in the squirrel food department, but had dry oatmeal..he loved it! Is a little of that ok? He also gets some whole grain bread. I live in the middle of nowhere and do not have access to any monkey biscuits or rodent blocks...I do have a parrot and have zupreem fruit blend if you think that would help him at all. Today he got a treat of a few dog kibbles and liked that. I am on my way to the grocery store soon, armed with a feeding list of things to buy for him to keep trying new things. He really doesn't go nuts (haha) when I go to clean his cage each day. He is pretty mellow if you move slowly, and will burrow under the towel to hide. So, I just wrap the towel over his head and let him burrow under my arm until I am done with housekeeping. We have let him excercise in the hallway a few times, with the doors all closed so he can just wanter around and hide behind someones legs for a few minutes. I dontt want him to do to much, to fast, but I don't want him to loose muscle tone either. He tries to climb the door jams, and seems to be coming along pretty well really. I just don't know how long improvement will go on. So...tell me how I am doing?! I tried to send a picture or two, but my file size is to large, and I don't know how to resize them since I am computer illiterate!

Thank you!

[island rehabber]

You've gotten great advice here, MooShoo -- I have nothing to add except :thankyou for giving so much of your time, money and energy to help this squirrel. It sounds pretty positive to me that he will improve, given how he's progressed so far. Keep up the good diet and prevent him from injuring himself and I'll bet he does fine! :thumbsup :)

[Buddy'sMom]

:Welcome Great rescue story!! Sounds like you are doing great with him -- and he is doing surprisingly well in his new home! I hope he continues to improve!

:grouphug :Love_Icon :grouphug

[Mars]

Have you shopped Chris's Squirrels and more? We spend alot of money there!

http://www.squirrelsandmore.com/

[MooShoo]

Wow...that is a cool store! I think I will get together an order. Do you suppose if I have rodent blocks leftover when this guy is hopefully released, that if I put them in the freezer they would stay fresh enough to start another squirrel off?

[Mars]

yes, they freeze well for up to 6 months. :)

[LynninIN]

And here's MooShoo's cute baby squirrel boy.

[muffinsquirrel]

Isn't he a foxer, rather than a red? I've never 'met' a red, so I don't really know. If he's a foxer, that's good - that's about the most laid-back squirrel there is, and, from what I've heard, a red is about as opposit from 'laid-back' as you could find! He's beautiful, no matter what he is.

muffinsquirrel

[LynninIN]

:thumbsup Foxer.

Red squirrels have white belly's and foxers have red belly's.

[TexanSquirrel]

:Welcome

[Mars]

the squirrel pictured below is our red squirrel we know in the north. They are also called pineys eslewhere. The squirrel of this thread is a Fox squirrel also so called Red in parts elsewheres. :D Only a little confusing :rotfl

[Abacat]

:Welcome MooShoo! What a beautiful foxer boy you have there! :D I'm so glad you found him. He's a lucky guy, not alot of people would stop to help an injured animal, you're awesome. :thumbsup
:grouphug

[rippie-n-lilgirlsmom]

:thankyou Your our hero of the day!!:jump
Lucky for you foxers are one of the most easy squirrels to handle.
THey are more laid back and docile.
Hes a beautiful boy and you are an angel.:thumbsup

[island rehabber]

the squirrel pictured below is our red squirrel we know in the north. They are also called pineys eslewhere. The squirrel of this thread is a Fox squirrel also so called Red in parts elsewheres. :D Only a little confusing :rotfl

Mars, a word popped into my head when I looked at the expression on your little red's face -- the bottom photo? "INSOLENT" ! :rotfl Everything a red should be.

MooShoo you are an angel....best of luck with him and we're here to help. :thumbsup

[squirrelsrule&bunniestoo]

Your little guy is beautiful. Definetely a foxer. They are the most laid back of the squirrels, but they can still be pretty aggressive if they want to be. It sounds like your guy is pretty mellow. I think he will eventually be releasable, but it might take a long time. It is a very good sign that he is improving. Keep up the good work and :thankyou for stopping to save the little guy and putting in all the effort you have to save him.

[Secret Squirrel]

Awwww....your foxer is wonderful ! Sounds like you are giving him a very good life too :thumbsup :thumbsup
What have you name him? Can he move his tail?
I had a paralized grey squirrel and he was a real good boy. It's so easy to become attached to them whem they have spacial needs.
:thankyou for getting him out of the street and helping him to get better. I wish you all the best.

[MooShoo]

Well, the reason that my screen name is MooShoo,is because of my first rescued/injured baby squirrel..we named him MooShoo, since he came into the clinic in a chinese food bag. He went everywhere with me, and had a pretty serious head injury. We ended up not being able to release him as his head injury left him unable to stand upright. He ran on his side, climbed sideways etc. Anyway, the little man left a huge hole in my heart when he was gone years later. So, maybe in MooShoo's honor, I will name this guy some sort of chinese food name as well. Maybe Kung Pao, or Eggroll since he is sort of chubby:)

We have always called these guys Red Squirrels, so it is very nice to know what they really are! I tried to find pictures of them online, and could never find enough pictures to accurately identify them. The ones that were called red, didn't look correct, the alot of the other pictures were not color and were just of no help. Thank you all for the information!

He does use his tail so that is a good sign. The end approx. one inch doesn't poof yet, but it doesn't show any signs of loosing blood supply, so hopefully it will come back. I am going to wait another two weeks or so before giving him things to climb on..does that sound appropriate? The closes re-habber is over 5 hours away, and we were told before that they were not (talking red squirrels here, since that is what everyone called them, maybe I should try to check on fox squirrels) indiginous and were supposed to be euthanized. Does anyone know how to check on things like that? I am in WAY N.E. Oregon.

Thank you everyone!

[4skwerlz]

So, maybe in MooShoo's honor, I will name this guy some sort of chinese food name as well. Maybe Kung Pao, or Eggroll since he is sort of chubby...
The closest re-habber is over 5 hours away, and we were told before that they were not (talking red squirrels here, since that is what everyone called them, maybe I should try to check on fox squirrels) indiginous and were supposed to be euthanized.

He looks like an Eggroll to me! :D I checked the Oregon wildlife management site, and foxers are considered non-native, so you and Eggroll are on your own... Good luck.