Adult (I think) with Broken Back or Pelvis

[jules]

PM'd Mars.


I guess my question is, if he survives his injuries, but doesn't regain the use of his legs, what do I do with him?

And any ideas on giving him the arnica other than mixing it in the water he doesn't seem to be drinking?

It's a bit of a dilemma, isn't it?
If you decide to keep him, he should eventually get a little tamer, but he will need a lot of time and patience in his day to day care!
The other option is to continue to find a rehabber to take him...in the mean time do what you can for this poor squirrel.
I think giving the Arnica in his water is the only other possible thing you can do?
He should eventually take some!

[Mars]

Question? What form and potency Arnica are you putting in the water? Homeopathy works by how often it is repeated. If you see him drink from that bowl I would take it out and replace it with fresh water until it is time to repeat. Otherwise you could overdose and cause a reaction such as nose bleeding.

[thundersquirrel]

i think if he stays wild AND unreleasable, he'll need a permanent home outside, i.e. an outdoor cage.

would you be willing to build one? he'd need a good sized one to be truly happy, and hopefully in a place sheltered from predators and near where other squirrels are.

even then though, he might reject captivity. it's fully possible for a squirrel to get depression from being inside. some wild animals will even begin to heal, but become so depressed and lethargic that they don't eat, or hurt themselves in the cage.

now, this isn't a FOR SURE going to happen thing, this is something that MIGHT happen. it all depends on the type of squirrel he is.

for now, take it day by day. see if you can get him out of the box and into a cage- it's more ventilated and hygenic. continue looking for a rehabilitator who cares. try to observe him for signs of improvement.

it's a tough situation, to be sure.

[blinky]

i think if he stays wild AND unreleasable, he'll need a permanent home outside, i.e. an outdoor cage.

would you be willing to build one? he'd need a good sized one to be truly happy, and hopefully in a place sheltered from predators and near where other squirrels are.

even then though, he might reject captivity. it's fully possible for a squirrel to get depression from being inside. some wild animals will even begin to heal, but become so depressed and lethargic that they don't eat, or hurt themselves in the cage.

now, this isn't a FOR SURE going to happen thing, this is something that MIGHT happen. it all depends on the type of squirrel he is.

for now, take it day by day. see if you can get him out of the box and into a cage- it's more ventilated and hygenic. continue looking for a rehabilitator who cares. try to observe him for signs of improvement.

it's a tough situation, to be sure.

thundersquirrel--I very much appreciate your willingness to help and search for a solution, but I don't think I would be willing to keep him outside as a wild squirrel in a cage. Our backyard is not protected from predators, but more importantly to me, I can't believe that would be a good life, dragging your dead legs behind you in a cage, while all around you your fellow squirrels chase each other up and down trees. Or am I thinking about this from the wrong perspective?

I just pm'd Mars about this subject and I want to cut and paste part of what I wrote here, because I'm very much struggling with these issues:

Long term care--I am very worried about this for a number of reasons. Long term quality of life is a concern: if he does not regain the use of his legs and cannot be released into the wild, what kind of life is he going to have in a cage? What are the odds he will become domesticated, in which case I could at least take him out of his cage from time to time?

Short term, I'm worried about him suffering in general. Our dog had something wrong with his spine and was turning in circles and we knew him and could tell he was suffering terribly, so when the vet told us there was little to no hope, the choice was agonizing but obvious: spare him suffering.

I do not know if this squirrel is suffering but I can only imagine that he must be to some degree. Am I prolonging his suffering unnecessarily? At what point does this become more about me not wanting to give up on him, to let go, rather than what is best for him? I don't know how to answer these questions.


I want to say, thanks again, all of you, for all your advice and caring.

[4skwerlz]

Long term care--I am very worried about this for a number of reasons. Long term quality of life is a concern: if he does not regain the use of his legs and cannot be released into the wild, what kind of life is he going to have in a cage? What are the odds he will become domesticated, in which case I could at least take him out of his cage from time to time?

I have to agree. I think a tame inside life, with a reasonable amount of time to run free in the house, would be the best option. There are several squirrels on TSB who were found injured as adults and became completely tame and are wonderful pets. The only way to find out if this guy will adapt to being a pet, is to try. The folks here can give you good advice on helping to tame him.

I do not know if this squirrel is suffering but I can only imagine that he must be to some degree. Am I prolonging his suffering unnecessarily?

He is probably stressed, but if he's eating, he probably doesn't feel too bad otherwise.

Here on TSB we have a philosophy of "Let the squirrel decide." Do you think this squirrel wants to live? Is he a fighter? Is he eating/drinking? Is there life in his eyes? Has he responded to you at all? Or do you think he's given up and is miserable. Also, on his tameability, Has he gotten at all less afraid of you in these few days you've had him? Do you feel any bond with him? (Frankly, the fact that he didn't bite you to the bone when you picked him up is a GOOD sign. "Gloves".....my fanny! Any self-respecting fuzzer could bite through several pairs of gloves and you'd hear their teeth meeting in the middle of your hand!)

In other words, what's your gut feeling?

[blinky]

(Frankly, the fact that he didn't bite you to the bone when you picked him up is a GOOD sign. "Gloves".....my fanny! Any self-respecting fuzzer could bite through several pairs of gloves and you'd hear their teeth meeting in the middle of your hand!)

I ... was not aware of this. I've been told to hold him down in order to give him stuff with an eyedropper ... how am I supposed to hold him down if he can bite through my gloves?

[4skwerlz]

I ... was not aware of this. I've been told to hold him down in order to give him stuff with an eyedropper ... how am I supposed to hold him down if he can bite through my gloves?

See? He must trust you a little. He could of bit the snot out of you!

I wouldn't try to hold him (yet). Just offer the eyedropper to him while he's in the box. You might also think about a wire cage. And there's a big difference between, putting your hand over him and holding him down a bit, and actually PICKING HIM UP. At least there's a big difference to him!

[blinky]

See? He must trust you a little. He could of bit the snot out of you!

I think he tried but I jerked my hand away. I don't think he trusts me. I think he's terrified of me.

I wouldn't try to hold him (yet). Just offer the eyedropper to him while he's in the box. You might also think about a wire cage. And there's a big difference between, putting your hand over him and holding him down a bit, and actually PICKING HIM UP. At least there's a big difference to him!

He doesn't want anything to do with the eyedropper. I could try holding him down, but I'm still worried about getting bit ...

Every rehab place I call is a dead end. I had placed a call with the Chinitimini Wildlife Rehab Center yesterday, which is in Corvallis. They called me back today and left a number for the person they said handled all their squirrel cases. I called that person back and she said she only dealt with baby squirrels, that I should call the center back. When she found I was in Portland she said I probably had a Fox squirrel, and that the center wouldn't accept Fox squirrels because they're not native to Corvallis. She said euthanasia was the best option, which is what every center I've managed to talk to so far has said. I can't tell if he is a Fox squirrel or a Gray squirrel. I called the center back anyway and am waiting to hear from them again.

[4skwerlz]

I think he tried but I jerked my hand away. I don't think he trusts me. I think he's terrified of me.

You can't jerk quick enough. If he wanted to bite you he could have. Yes, I'm sure he's still scared of you. Even my wild squirrels who know me quite well, are still wary. But they don't live with me either.

He doesn't want anything to do with the eyedropper. I could try holding him down, but I'm still worried about getting bit ...

Did you figure out his age?

I can't tell if he is a Fox squirrel or a Gray squirrel. I called the center back anyway and am waiting to hear from them again.

A grey squirrel has a white belly; a fox squirrel has an orange or yellow belly.

[blinky]

A grey squirrel has a white belly; a fox squirrel has an orange or yellow belly.

Well, at last, some GOOD NEWS! Doesn't matter if he's a grey or a fox, because the Chinitimini Wildlife Rehab Center says THEY'LL TAKE HIM!!!!!! As long as I promise to come and pick him up--assuming he recovers--and release him back where I found him, they will accept him ... !

I can't tell you happy this makes me. I've been tearing up, thinking euthanasia was my only real option. Chinitimini could still decide to euthanize him of course, but I trust their judgement a lot better than mine.

I might call in sick to work tomorrow so I can make the three hour round trip ... otherwise he'll have to wait till Friday ....

[pamela lee]

:wott OMG that is wonderful news. You've done a fabulous job taking care of this poor baby. Great job.

[atlantasquirrelgirl]

That's fantastic. I hope that the squirrel can recover to be re-released. Thanks for caring enough to make the trip.

[Mars]

[hazel]

GREAT news, blinky!!!

I hear you coughing! You sound really congested! Take some aspirin for the headache right now and don't forget to take your temperature because you feel awfully warm. Only pedialyte and yogurt for you, poor blinky! If you take good care of yourself now, you'll probably feel better by Thursday.

[jules]

That's great news Blinky!

Please keep us up to date with what happens!



Jules.

[blinky]

Made the trip this morning. Took me three hours and twenty minutes, in the rain, and I was late to work by about an hour. It was worth it. On the freeway he started scurrying about inside his cardboard box and I was worried he was going to chew through it or otherwise get out and maybe crawl under the seats, or even worse, the brake pedal, but he stayed put. I think the fact that he is still so active after three days is a good sign--at least I hope it is.

Even though I mapped the whole trip out very carefully the night before--I hate making long trips to cities I've never been to, because I always get lost--I still managed to miss the last turnoff ... I went back and forth, back and forth on the same road looking for it, knowing that if I didn't find it within minutes I might be out of luck--the center had a two hour window within which I could drop him off and I was very anxious that I would miss it, which I almost did. Finally realized that the sign for the road I wanted was lying flat on the ground(!) I found the center, and turned him over. It was obvious that they were very caring people, though it made me a bit nervous that they seemed slightly puzzled that I had driven all this way to drop him off. They kept mentioning other shelters but I told them they'd all turned me down. I gave them a fifty dollar donation and asked them to please do their best for him and they said they would.

So it's out of my hands now. I'm relieved, but I'm also dreading the phone call where they might tell me they chose to euthanize him ... I hope not, but again I trust their judgment better than mine ... (as an aside, when I told them he'd bitten my gardening glove, they said they wear welding gloves, and sometimes the squirrels still manage to bite through them ... )

This has been an eye-opening experience for me, even as someone who was already an animal lover. I've never thought that much about squirrels one way or the other before this happened. Now I see them everywhere, and am extra careful when driving by them ...

Thanks again for all your suggestions and feedback. I'm an atheist, but if I did believe in god, I'd say you all were doing his/her work. Kindness and empathy for the most defenseless among us is the highest of human service.

[hazel]

for taking Blinky in today! (Had a feeling you would, heh heh..)

Wishing you and Blinky all the best!

[4skwerlz]

Kindness and empathy for the most defenseless among us is the highest of human service.

Right back atcha, Blinky!

Please let us know what happens, no matter the outcome....

[jules]

Thanks so much for taking the time to care for this little one!

Squirrels are wonderful creatures...I don't think there's anyone on this forum that hasn't been surprised how they get in to your heart so quickly!

Please let us know the outcome!


Jules.