Back of neck injury

[The Nut Lady]

Hi, everyone.

One of our regulars, Stripesy, who hadn't been seen for about 5 days showed up today with injuries around the back of his head near his ears. The wounds do not look fresh, so we have no idea how he would have gotten them, although there has been a cat roaming around the area lately. He's eating fine and moving mostly fine, if not maybe a little sluggish.

Can someone please guide us in how best to help him? We have Amoxicillin / Clav 875-125mg, Baytril 10%, and Betadine. It may be tricky to get two doses of something in him per day, but we will certainly try.

Thank you in advance.

[The Nut Lady]

Hi all. If dosing could be provided for the Augmentin (Amoxicillin - Clav 875-125mg tab), that would be greatly appreciated. I believe that's more appropriate than the Baytril 10% liquid, considering this injury very possibly came from a cat attack. I don't have a weight, but would say he's on the average (maybe slightly smaller) size for our backyard grey males, here in the Chicago area. Also, he's a regular but often only once a day (although his current situation may change that, as we are an easy source of food). I know this is not ideal, but is there any chance of getting dosing for once/day treatment, along w/ twice/day, so we can adjust accordingly? Appreciate any help here, as this little guy is very loved (he's "Lefty's" son and is such a special guy. You all helped me with "Lefty" when she had an abscess on her face while nursing Stripesy and his siblings. She is still well and we see her everyday like clockwork

Thanks!

[Spanky]

Dosing sent in PM.

"Average" size squirrel is relative to the locale. For example, a typical FL grey will weigh only 2/3 of an average MN grey.

[The Nut Lady]

Thank you so much, Spanky! Since he's wild, I can't weigh him, and I'm horrible w/ guessing weights. I did Google weights of eastern greys in Illinois and it seems to be 1.25lbs. Thanks for your help and hopefully this li'l guy will heal up well.

Dosing sent in PM.

"Average" size squirrel is relative to the locale. For example, a typical FL grey will weigh only 2/3 of an average MN grey.

[The Nut Lady]

Stripesy took a bit of a turn for the worse today. All this time we thought his ear had been torn off and healing, but in fact it was only stuck back on his head. Well, he dislodged it today, taking a lot of fur and flesh with it. The back portion of his head from ear to ear and the back of his neck is missing its fur and skin and some amount of flesh below it. We’re very much concerned about infection and an inability to heal beyond the care we can provide.

Is it time to catch him and take him to a rehabber? Kane Area Rehabilitation and Education for Wildlife (KARE for Wildlife) in St Charles, Illinois has said they’ll take him, but it’s 45 minutes away. If anyone has a contact for a rehabber closer by — in Du Page County — it would be greatly appreciated. I contacted pretty much everyone in Du Page on the rehabber list at illinois.gov, but only one person got back to me and their suggestion was that we take him to Willowbrook Wildlife Center. We would prefer not to do this, as Willowbrook has said he wouldn’t be released back in this area.

Or is this still a wound that we can manage on our own? We’ve gotten 4 days of amoxicillin / clav into him thus far and feel we can continue dosing him for the full 10 days. We also have dosing for ibuprofen, which we could start ASAP. And if anyone has other suggestions for treatments, we will do our absolute best to get and administer them.

Thank you all so much for your care and support; this community is truly the best!

[Spanky]

I doubt this is closer but this is at least a known / vetted rahabber:

2nd Hand Ranch
25375 1150 N Ave, Princeton, IL 61356