Captured squirrel with swollen leg.

[Wayward1]

Hi, I have been watching this squirrel in my yard and noticed he cant climb very well. I captured him and have found he has a swollen hind leg and only 1 or 2 claws. Wondering how I can care for him?

[TubeDriver]

Some questions that will help us to figure out what is going on. Does he seem very docile? That postering with his paws in the photo, does he do that a lot? Any odd circling behavior or head leaning? Could you post up a brief video of him? Where are you keeping him for now?

In the short term, provide a shallow bowl of water and some nuts (not healthy longterm) but he might be hungry now and this might help him feel more comfortable.

[CritterMom]

Can you get your hands on a 1cc syringe? You don't need the needle, just the syringe part. If you can get your hands on one (pharmacists will sometimes help if you tell them you are trying to nurse a baby guinea pig or the like) and a bottle of infant ibuprophen, which is a flavored liquid, we can tell you how to dose him and how much (which is why you need the 1cc syringe). It should help with both pain and the inflammation in the leg.

[Wayward1]

Yes he is extremely docile. He didn't do much in the video I sent but he sort of drags one foot. I have squirrel blocks to feed him and I just took a 4x8 sheet of mesh type material and folded into a nice cage for him. I have one of those " Miracle Nipple " syringes from a baby I took care of. I'll have to run up for the ibuprofen. So he holds his paws like that when I turn him on his back other than that I haven't really had him long enough to establish what is normal and what is not. I'm trying to upload the video it's just taking a while.

[Wayward1]

Is there an email address I can send video to? Not having luck through the forum.

[RockyPops]

Hello wayward,
Post your video to youtube and then post the link here.

Thanks for helping this little guy. Is he a wild squirrel? or a release?

[Wayward1]

He's a wild one. Though you couldn't tell it right now. Poor little guy. And ok I'll try the youtube thing. How much ibuprofen do I give him and how often? And should I put ice on the swollen area or?
Thanks for the help too.

[redwuff]

Any chance of getting a weight on him?

[Wayward1]

3lbs

[TubeDriver]

That is a big boy. 1360g?

For 1360g, you want Infant Motrin (strength 1.25mg/50ml) - Give 0.65ml of the infant motrin by mouth every 5-6 hours. It is flavored so most squirrels take it without much of a fight. Make sure he is well hydrated, first give him on warm water by syringe. You can lightly sweeten the water with honey or sugar if that helps encourage him.

His postering and docile behavior makes me suspect head trauma in addition the the hurt leg. Many folks have had success using prednisone for squirrels with head trauma.

3lbs

[Wayward1]

Awesome! Ok thanks for the advice. Getting cooler where I live , may be keepin him a while.. he really is a mess .Wish us luck!

[redwuff]

Do you think he is an adult or juvenile? He looks small for 3lbs, but then I do not have anything to compare it to.

[redwuff]

Hi, I have been watching this squirrel in my yard and noticed he cant climb very well. I captured him and have found he has a swollen hind leg and only 1 or 2 claws. Wondering how I can care for him?

Does he have 1 or 2 claws on the swollen hind foot or on all 4 legs

[redwuff]

How is this baby doing?