*ANTIBIOTIC ADVICE PLEASE TAIL LOST NECROSIS INFECTION*

[AndraP]

**Antibiotic dosage needed please **

Hi everyone. I’m UK-based. We need antibiotic dosing advice please for our *wild* grey squirrel friend who lost her tail (we suspect possibly infected, partly necrotic tissue). We befriended her in a local wooded area we commonly walk through and we’ve been feeding her every day for a year and a half. On Christmas Day, she had her tail bitten off (suspect dog attack, but there are also cats in the area). Initially, there were a few inches of floppy skin and fur hanging off. A few days ago, that fell off or she gnawed it off. What was left was what looked like red raw flesh and bone, sticking out of skin casing (the tail skin/ glove was a bit shorter than the red nub). Since a couple of days ago, the red nub got darker and there is much less swelling/ it has retracted into the skin. We thought scabbing, but now it looks quite dark and I’m wondering about necrotic tissue and an infection.
The skin under the tail and around the injured nub seems pink and she is able to move what’s left of her tail well (I’ve seen her do the up and down danger signal with it). She moves well (even though more cautious in trees) and is eating well (hazelnuts, avocado, walnuts, etc.) and even asking us for nuts in shell to bury for her stash. She seems herself, behaviour-wise and I’ve even seen her chase a squirrel away (she was always dominant in the area). she is more anxious but that's normal I think after an attack.

Please, could you help us with treating her infected tail? I am very worried about her tail if there is an infection and necrosis. Local rehabber will not take her (have been told point blank that the law does not allow it, given eastern greys are considered an invasive species) and that she wouldn’t survive without her tail anyway. Now, I know they’re hugely impaired without a tail. But I have also heard of enough squirrels managing ok without one.
Vets won’t treat unless to pts, I’ve been told. I would happily have paid to treat her and get her released again but that's illegal.

So, after some research I have ordered Baytril 10% (pets). I also have Clavamox/ Amoxiclav but the latter is for humans. Baytril 10% is liquid. I also have pill form Enrofloxacin (5 mg pills for pets). We can’t handle her, she won’t allow it. I’m thinking liquid will be easier to administer on a nut. Is it safe? I’ve seen something on a thread about possible neurological damage. But perhaps that’s a risk worth taking with her tail. I’d be very grateful for your advice regarding dosing and administering of the antibiotic, and any other advice you might have about her tail. Anything topical I can squirt on her tail without pain? We did saline wash once or twice but it freaked her out, so we stopped (more important she gets food, we figured). We love her very much and it looks like we’re the only chance she’s got. Please tell me something can be done to help her. Thanks very much!

Photo 1: her tail now
Photo with red arrow: tail nub injury a few days ago for comparison

[Charley Chuckles]

Poor baby ☹️
Squirrels tails will break off when attacked by a predator but yes this does look more like it was bitten off. If it were a cat antibiotics are necessary however this has been a few days now so I'm guessing it wasn't a cat.
It's hard to say if it's infected looking at the pic.
Others can chime in👍
I've had wilds who lost their tails, they do quite well in the wild.
If antibiotics are necessary looks like you would have no problem giving them to your friend😉 meds added to a little nut butter spread on a half of pecan I bet would be easy to give.

[Mel1959]

It looks like an old injury. If you don’t see any inflammation and redness or oozing from the stump I don’t think I’d treat. I suppose it wouldn’t be harmful to treat but in order for the antibiotic to be effective it should be treated daily for 7-10 days. Clavamox is typically given 2 times a day, Baytril can be given 1 time a day but tastes terrible. I question how well you could conceal its bitter taste well enough to have a wild willingly take it on a nut.

My advice is to watch and see.

[Mel1959]

I forgot to ad that if there is any exposed bone it typically dries up and falls off….that could be the dark you’re seeing at the injury sight. An infection will be more red, swollen and possibly wet-looking.

Squirrels can do just fine in the wild without a tail. I’m sure it affects their balance and most have more of a tail left than this one, but she seems spunky enough to get past it.

[AndraP]

Thanks very much for the reassurance. That's good to know that you guys don't think there's necessarily necrosis.

I'd still like the Baytril 10% liquid dosage and the Clavamox dosages, if anyone who is knowledgeable on dosing can chime in. Just in case I do need to jump in and treat after all, I'd like to be ready.

Today I managed to get updated pictures - it looks like there is more red underneath now, and it looks like she has possibly gnawed off some of the very dark crusty scab, revealing darker red tissue underneath. No bleeding, so to me it still looks like scabbing. But i i would be grateful for advice on whether this needs treating orally with antibiotics and whether a local squirt with, say, diluted Iodine Povidone would be beneficial (or a squirt with anything else, like saline wash). Only problem is she's out and about burying nuts, and it's very muddy out there. I don't know whether I should let the tissue dry naturally or attempt to moisturise it when I see her (once a day). I cannot touch it, best i could do is squirt (I'd have to balance this with the fact that it freaks her out, and I would much rather she kept coming to me for good nutrition).

**I am updating one of the pictures to today's for an updated idea of what her tail is like.**

[AndraP]

Here are two updated pictures from today. Looks like a bit more red amongst the dark, if you look really closely. I am guessing she either gnawed off the very dark bits of skin or they fell off, revealing what looks to me a darker red scab underneath. so, there is red there, but dark red. I hope she doesn't keep going with the gnawing and makes it red raw again... It's very cold here now. -2 celsius. Is that good or bad for an injury healing? Thank you so much to everyone replying, we are extremely grateful for the help for our little Buddy.

[AndraP]

Thanks very much, Mel! Would the new pictures I added below more indicative of an infection? I took those today, and it looks like it's not so black/quite as dry anymore. Or would you say that looks more like scabbing, with the more reddish bits among the darker ones?

I forgot to ad that if there is any exposed bone it typically dries up and falls off….that could be the dark you’re seeing at the injury sight. An infection will be more red, swollen and possibly wet-looking.

Squirrels can do just fine in the wild without a tail. I’m sure it affects their balance and most have more of a tail left than this one, but she seems spunky enough to get past it.

[Mel1959]

In your latest picture it does not look inflamed or angry. I think I’d continue to watch it.

If it’s decided that medication is needed you will have the best chance of getting her to take your human version of Clavamox. We can break it down and dose it based on her approximate weight and the strength of the medicine. A full picture of her would be needed to approximate her weight….something I’m very bad at because our Florida squirrels are quite a bit smaller than other grays.

[AndraP]

Thanks very much, Chucky Charles! That's reassuring to hear. Would you happen to know the Baytril 10% dose, in case I do need to treat? I have uploaded some pictures from today, below. There is a bit more red, although scab-looking, I think. Your opinion would be much appreciated.

Poor baby ☹️
Squirrels tails will break off when attacked by a predator but yes this does look more like it was bitten off. If it were a cat antibiotics are necessary however this has been a few days now so I'm guessing it wasn't a cat.
It's hard to say if it's infected looking at the pic.
Others can chime in👍
I've had wilds who lost their tails, they do quite well in the wild.
If antibiotics are necessary looks like you would have no problem giving them to your friend😉 meds added to a little nut butter spread on a half of pecan I bet would be easy to give.