Leg/foot/ nerve damage? Euthanasia - urgent help needed

[SquirrellyGirl7]

Hi All,

I found an adult male squirrel in my yard with a front right leg and back left leg injury. I am a volunteer for local nonprofit wildlife org. They came, watched it move and said that likely the front right and back leg were minor injuries and would heal with cage rest. He has been on cage rest for 3 weeks. For the first week he was on pain meds and amoxicillin. They informed me that his leg could not be casted or splited because no matter what you put on a squirrel they will chew it off. This seems to make sense so I didn't question their assessment.

The back leg appears normal but today I noticed blood in the cage and upon examination, the front leg (which he is not using and still "dragging" behind him more often than not) is bloody. The foot is 3-5 times the size of the other leg and on the back side of the "wrist" has a bloody wound on it.

I immediately called the rescue and they stated he may have "nerve damage" and that he will likely need to be euthanized.

Does any of this sound familiar?

Advice or very fast input appreciated as in a few hours this rescue is likely coming to remove the squirrel. I am just...uncomfortable.

Thanks so much

[TubeDriver]

Hi and thanks for helping this squirrel. An X-ray would really help to determine if any bones are broken. The swelling in the foot sounds like a bad infection, if he has not responded to the amoxicillin then perhaps another AB can be tried? Does the swelling look like an abscess that needs to be drained or is it open? Can you post a photo of his leg?

I don't know what "nerve damage" means in this context? Has he chewed on the foot?

Hi All,

I found an adult male squirrel in my yard with a front right leg and back left leg injury. I am a volunteer for local nonprofit wildlife org. They came, watched it move and said that likely the front right and back leg were minor injuries and would heal with cage rest. He has been on cage rest for 3 weeks. For the first week he was on pain meds and amoxicillin. They informed me that his leg could not be casted or splited because no matter what you put on a squirrel they will chew it off. This seems to make sense so I didn't question their assessment.

The back leg appears normal but today I noticed blood in the cage and upon examination, the front leg (which he is not using and still "dragging" behind him more often than not) is bloody. The foot is 3-5 times the size of the other leg and on the back side of the "wrist" has a bloody wound on it.

I immediately called the rescue and they stated he may have "nerve damage" and that he will likely need to be euthanized.

Does any of this sound familiar?

Advice or very fast input appreciated as in a few hours this rescue is likely coming to remove the squirrel. I am just...uncomfortable.

Thanks so much

[SquirrellyGirl7]

Thanks for the quick reply...I have asked them to do an xray but the end decision was that breaks cannot be stinted or casted and they heal on their own so they made the decision to "wait and see". YES it looks like an infection to me...if it were a person it would be almost like a dactylitis type infection. I was home at lunch when I saw it and couldn't get a picture or I would have posted it for sure. The foot is very pink, some oozing bloody stuff from that wrist wound, and all of the hair is gone from the entire foot. When I described it the rescue immediately started talking about chewing but I can only say...it just doesn't look like that to me. It looks like an infection...albeit a very bad one with some crazy inflammation. I just don't know what to do....

Can you do anything about breaks if that is indeed what it is?

It seems like there is a wrist injury and that because he has been dragging that leg behind him it has done some damage to the skin and flesh...maybe opening it up, then causing an infection. I am super stressed out....

[Milo's Mom]

I hate to say this and contradict what the rescue org said, but legs and arms can have splints and casts applied, we do it all the time. The problem at this point is the amount of time that has gone by.

Are you able to take the squirrel to a vet? There are several VERY good squirrel vets in your state. Dr. Emerson and Dr. Zellner are two that come to mind immediately.

A proper amputation surgery cannot happen until the infection has gone away. And the amputation of a front arm means the squirrel is no longer releasable. A hand amputation is questionable for releasability.

[SquirrellyGirl7]

That is really upsetting.

I have seen pictures on social media of splinted legs and have questioned it several times. The rescue does have a vet, I guess it is time for me to get extremely pointed in my conversation. Thank you for your help. Does your vet splint the legs or do you do it individually if I can ask.

[Milo's Mom]

That is really upsetting.

I have seen pictures on social media of splinted legs and have questioned it several times. The rescue does have a vet, I guess it is time for me to get extremely pointed in my conversation. Thank you for your help. Does your vet splint the legs or do you do it individually if I can ask.

I'm sorry, I figured it was going to be upsetting.
As for does the vet do it or do I....it depends. Depending on where the break is, how many bones are involved, how bad the break or breaks is/are and whether the vet is available. With the exception of the really bad breaks (2 or more bones) I usually do it myself and if I have questions or am worried about it I go to the vet and get x-rays of the splinted area. The really bad ones...I stabilize the break as much as possible and scurry myself to the vet as quickly as possible.

[Milo's Mom]

Please update when you're able.