injured squirrel, waiting on any callbacks from town, local wildlife rehabs full

[squirrel_help]

Hi all,

I have found a squirrel.. He is an eastern grey squirrel.

he was soaking wet, cold, crying out, dragging his back legs, and bleeding, in the backyard. I thought my dog had got him, but I realized he had been outside for much longer, probably either over night, or from the very early morning until I found him about 1030am.

It was raining on and off all day today, but I think his mom? was nearby.. however he can’t use his back legs and tail, and I found a small cut on his tail almost like it was split open about 1cm long. I cleaned this as it was partially bleeding still and was able to stop that and put polysporin on it. He did not react to this and I think that is from the paralysis.

I think he is about 5 weeks old? I was able to get him dry and warm and cleaned up. I weighed him at about 150g. He has very tiny upper front teeth, bottom front are much larger, but I couldn’t see if he had any molars.

I was able to help him urinate, and cleaned him up.

I tried calling wildlife rehabs near me, but so far no luck. My local town took my information down and sent out my case to whoever they pass that information to but so far I have not gotten a call back. If they also find no one, then I think the town’s only other option will be to come to take him to be euthanized with animal control.

It’s getting late, and I am worried that he will just end up having to be euthanized as I have never cared for a squirrel before and certainly not one young enough to need formula and also injured! I don’t know if there is much I can do, or what I could do in the mean time to give him any chance of staying alive but I am open to any suggestions or advice or am willing to drive him to someone who is better suited to help him given the condition.

My usual vet has retired and I do not know any of the new vets at that same office, but it seems that nobody is offering “small mammal” specialties there anymore either (?). I also don’t know if they would just euthanize the squirrel anyway since none are wildlife rehabilitators and unless licensed it’s “illegal” to keep the squirrel where I am located… they are also closed now for the day.

Otherwise — he’s very perky? I am also worried he will get out of a box overnight and then he will end up as a snack (or worse, a toy) for my dog while I am sleeping.

I can’t imagine he will have much success outdoors if he is paralyzed.

[olorin19]

A few quick notes -

#1 - Lock whatever room he is 8n and under no circumstances leg dogs or cats in there.

#2 - Put a cover on top of the box, making sure there is air flow,

#3 - He needs a source of heat like a heating pad on low under his bedding. This should under some but not alll of where hewill sleep so he can move off it if he is too warm.

Another post to follow.

[olorin19]

If you go to this link, look at the threads labelled as Sticky for good 8nformation.

https://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/...rrel-Questions

This guy needs to get warm first, then hydrated, then fed.

Check this kink as well -

https://henryspets.com/blogs/news/fo...Byd0-UHVA-I9tX

[squirrel_help]

ok, have found a heating pad and secured the box and towels into a bathroom. I emptied the bathroom of most items in case the squirrel does manage to get out of the box, but the bathroom door is latched and will be safe from the dog overnight. His tail seems to no longer be bleeding.

Will keep reading the posts you linked thanks!

next would be some hydration — I’ll try to get some of the formulas and products mentioned tomorrow but I guess water maybe for now?

thanks !

[squirrel_help]

update: survived the night, found him hanging half in and half out the box, so he definitely tried to move around… but the paralysis made it impossible for him to keep pushing his way back in to the box it seems. (so thank you! for advice of keeping him locked in his own room safe and away from any possible dog interaction!)

OK I have upgraded the “home” this morning.. found a plastic container (no lid though) , and have the heating pad underneath that, have a few softer clothes/clothes that are tucked inside the container now. The container is in my old cat carrier (NO CATS - she died end of April so there is NO cat risk) which makes it easy for me to keep him contained.

Luckily, seems like this baby was doing fine until whatever happened, happened — so I am looking at the formula options but I think will need to make my own based on availability and shipping of anything not easily found local or on amazon.

Need to get some hydration in him first. Will be back.

[squirrel_help]

update, and a question

- - -
UPDATE:
For now, until I can get out / order some more / hear back from any local rehabbers with space — I am following the information on the Henrys page for formula. (luckily?) I had ordered a bunch of syringes and nipples a couple of years ago for when my cat was very sick (she lived another year after! but no cat risk anymore, she has since passed) and of course I had a bunch of sizes that are apparently useful for squirrel size.. so I am going to go ahead with the sugar water hydration and then try to make up some of the formula as listed here:

Homemade Goat Milk Formula:
3 tablespoons goat milk
2 tablespoons heavy cream
3 tablespoons plain yogurt
1/2 egg yolk
You can buy goat milk at most grocery stores. If you can’t find fresh goat milk, you can use the canned or powdered varieties.

- - -
QUESTION:
I have not had a chance to get out to the store, but we do have the following three plain yogurts unopened at home.. is one better for the squirrel than the others? I attached a direct link to the image searches here:

Liberte Greek /extra creamy / plain:
https://i5.walmartimages.com/asr/976...0&odnBg=FFFFFF

oikos / no sugar added / plain:
https://goodnessme.ca/cdn/shop/produ...g?v=1658259107

olympic organic 3.5%MF / plain:
https://www.olympicdairy.com/wp-cont...-plain-_EN.png

[olorin19]

QUESTION:
I have not had a chance to get out to the store, but we do have the following three plain yogurts unopened at home.. is one better for the squirrel than the others? I attached a direct link to the image searches here:

Liberte Greek /extra creamy / plain:
https://i5.walmartimages.com/asr/976...0&odnBg=FFFFFF

oikos / no sugar added / plain:
https://goodnessme.ca/cdn/shop/produ...g?v=1658259107

olympic organic 3.5%MF / plain:
https://www.olympicdairy.com/wp-cont...-plain-_EN.png

I honestly do not know, but I would suggest one of the first two, as the third seems like low fat.

[squirrel_help]

I honestly do not know, but I would suggest one of the first two, as the third seems like low fat.

ok I’ll go with the first one, it has the most %MF, lowest salt, and more protein.

sugar water was very welcomed!!

Also it seems the squirrel might have had a bowel movement by itself (legs/tail paralyzed) because I did not notice it earlier this morning, and just now when I gave some of the sugar water I had to lightly wash it off as it was partially dried/stuck to him*, so I don’t think it was from my handling… but there also seemed to still have urine left so I helped by gently pressing.

That would be good news, yea? Maybe the injury is low enough that some functions are intact?? I will update again in a bit.

*Maybe it is a little “her” after all.. I am reconsidering now that I’ve had a closer look!

[olorin19]

You might want to circle back with the various vets. While I am "experienced" rather than "expert", I have seen good results with prednisone on two occasions with paralysis when administered early enough.

Hopefully one of the experts here at TSB will weigh in.

[squirrel_help]

You might want to circle back with the various vets. While I am "experienced" rather than "expert", I have seen good results with prednisone on two occasions with paralysis when administered early enough.

Hopefully one of the experts here at TSB will weigh in.

Ok hopefully someone will update here. The tail seems to be healing. I have also had some responses from a rehab network trying to find anyone available close-ish to me. So hopefully there will be somewhere for me to take her soon.

[squirrel_help]

UPDATE:

formula feeding went well.. she is now taking a nap and curled up again.

.. AND I have finally found a wildlife refuge with vets that can process her intake and evaluate the extent of her injuries.

thank you for all the information in this forum and to the specific help given in this thread <3

[Diggie's Friend]

Adenocobalamin and Methylcobalmin, natural bioavailable forms of Vitamin B-12 to the body,
were found to improve nerve function in rodents with spinal injury.
These same forms of Vit. B-12 also reduce inflammation and pain.

(do not use cyanocobalamin)

Treatment soon following injury found to work the best.
1 needle droplet from 1 ml. syringe into formula daily.

https://www.google.com/search?q=PDF+...hrome&ie=UTF-8

Amazon.com quickest delivery and lowest price found for these forms.

https://www.amazon.com/Global-Healin...zcF9hdGY&psc=1

[squirrel_help]

Adenocobalamin and Methylcobalmin, natural bioavailable forms of Vitamin B-12 to the body,
were found to improve nerve function in rodents with spinal injury.
These same forms of Vit. B-12 also reduce inflammation and pain.

(do not use cyanocobalamin)

Treatment soon following injury found to work the best.
1 needle droplet from 1 ml. syringe into formula daily.

thank you! She has had another bowel movement by herself so I am really hoping I found her earlier enough and there might be some hope for mobility again.

[squirrel_help]

Hi all,

thanks so much.

Took a bit of a drive but… the injured squirrel baby is now safe with a veterinarian rehabber on a wildlife refuge. Still not sure what the outcome will be, … either way… it is better than it was a few hours ago… and I have a case number I can check in with to see how she is doing (or not..) .

…Seems like there are just so many more animals than rehabbers can handle around here.

Thanks to everyone who replied here and helped me get this far (and also thanks to all the other ‘sticky’ posts and threads and resources I found here!)

… funny how I just happened to be in the right place at the right time and otherwise normally would not have been there at all!

[Diggie's Friend]

So glad you got the baby to the rehabber.

If you can, please copy and past the info on the B12 support to the rehabber.

Here's the link to the source of the bioavailable B-12 forms in Canada.

https://www.amazon.ca/Global-Healing...%2C165&sr=8-12