Abscess on rear leg

[olorin19]

Received the Derma Gel yesterday, and applying it twice daily.

Question: How long should Dustin be on the Clavamox?

Thanks!

[stepnstone]

Received the Derma Gel yesterday, and applying it twice daily.
Question: How long should Dustin be on the Clavamox?
Thanks!

At least 7-10 days, possibly even longer depending on improvement.

[olorin19]

At least 7-10 days, possibly even longer depending on improvement.

Thanks stepnstone - expert advice always appreciated!

I will look at how he seems to be doing in a few more days - it has now been 6 days on the Clavamox and 1 day with the derma gel.

[olorin19]

Recap and update:

Dustin is an adult male, two years old as of this week (came into my care 9/15/2014 at 5-6 weeks). Successfully released spring 2015, has lived in my back yard ever since, and while otherwise a wild squirrel, has remained friendly with me, sleeping in nest box during cold/wet weather.

Injured leg first observed 6/24 so bite wound likely at least a few days prior, as it looked nasty by then.
Bite to ankle joint on left rear leg.
Managed to contain him in nest box a few days later.
Surgery to lance/drain abscess on 6/29 and first Convenia injection.
Abscess drained and Convenia injections again on 7/11 and 7/27, started also on Enrofloxacin on 7/27.
Limited improvement from all of this, i.e. joint still large and inflamed, and little or no use of leg in motion, limited use when not moving (resting on it somewhat, scratching behind ear). But where the is life, there is hope.
Started soaking leg in epsom salts on 7/15 with some okay results.
Contacted TSB 7/29 and started on Clavamox.
Mea culpa - did not realize Clavamox needed to be refrigerated until tuesday, so got a fresh batch 8/3.
Received Derma Gel on 8/4.
Over the past 3-4 days, I am seeing some great improvements:
Dustin is making extensive use of the left rear leg when running and climbing. By no means 100%, but far mroe than previously. He is definitely pushing off with it when running and using it when climbing upwards.
The joint itself is (finally) starting to reduce in size. Still larger than the other leg, but nothing like it has been over the past six weeks.

Anyways, many thanks from Dustin and myself.

So the short version of all the above for any of you who find yourself in my position (i.e. squirrel lover but not expert):
Do not wait to get advice from the fine folks at the TSB.
Had I done that, Dustin would have been on Clavamox from the start, and likely already enjoying summer outdoors.

With that said, I am extremely grateful to the vets who were willing to treat Dustin, and no disrespect is intended. They most likely saved Dustin's life.

My plan (based on start date of refrigerated Clavamox of 8/3) is to reassess on 8/10 and solicit opinions as to whether or not to continue and for how long.

When Dustin is ready to return to the wild (and as a check on his really being over the infection), I was thinking of returning him for a week or so to his larger outside cage, along with the nest box which is now in his indoor cage. (The outdoor cage has been stored in my basement but was his original pre-release cage. The nest box has moved around with Dustin since he was four months old, i.e. from indoors to outdoors and now temporarily back indoors. It is very much his safe place.) He has been in a smaller indoor cage the past few weeks, as it is not really possible to give him his meds twice daily otherwise. As he has also been absent from the backyard for six weeks, it might also help him to reinsert himself into the squirrel hierarchy. (Prior to this bite, I would have said he was the alpha of the immediate area, but I guess things change.)

Does that approach make sense?

[HRT4SQRLS]

I'm very happy to hear that Dustin is responding to the Clavamox. We have has excellent results when treating wounds with it. I'm glad your vet helped also but I will say it once again (as it is my NUMBER 1 pet peeve) CIPROFLOXACIN/BAYTRIL should not be used for wounds. Sorry... I had to get that out of my system.
It just does not cover the organisms that are usually found in wounds. Once upon a time it was an excellent drug but due to rapidly developing resistance it has lost a lot of it's punch. I've found that a lot of vets still use it though. Drives me crazy.

I would continue the Clavamox for at least 10 days due to the fact that this was so close to the joint. There is a chance this infection could have invaded the bone. Let's hope not. If it appears to be greatly improved at the end of 10 days I would discontinue the AB and observe it closely for a possible recurrence. If it does, we would probably want to switch to Clindamycin for it's excellent bone penetrating properties.

I think putting him in a release cage before release is an excellent idea. It would give you more time to observe the ankle and also give him time to start getting used to the heat and outdoors again. He's had a long treatment so a slow transition outside would be a good idea. I'm very happy for you and Dustin.,

[olorin19]

I'm very happy to hear that Dustin is responding to the Clavamox. We have has excellent results when treating wounds with it. I'm glad your vet helped also but I will say it once again (as it is my NUMBER 1 pet peeve) CIPROFLOXACIN/BAYTRIL should not be used for wounds. Sorry... I had to get that out of my system.
It just does not cover the organisms that are usually found in wounds. Once upon a time it was an excellent drug but due to rapidly developing resistance it has lost a lot of it's punch. I've found that a lot of vets still use it though. Drives me crazy.

I would continue the Clavamox for at least 10 days due to the fact that this was so close to the joint. There is a chance this infection could have invaded the bone. Let's hope not. If it appears to be greatly improved at the end of 10 days I would discontinue the AB and observe it closely for a possible recurrence. If it does, we would probably want to switch to Clindamycin for it's excellent bone penetrating properties.

I think putting him in a release cage before release is an excellent idea. It would give you more time to observe the ankle and also give him time to start getting used to the heat and outdoors again. He's had a long treatment so a slow transition outside would be a good idea. I'm very happy for you and Dustin.,

Thanks again!

And just to confirm: Ten days from Wed 8/3, since I screwed up by not refrigerating the first batch of Clavamox started on 7/29?

[HRT4SQRLS]

Thanks again!

And just to confirm: Ten days from Wed 8/3, since I screwed up by not refrigerating the first batch of Clavamox started on 7/29?

Yes, It wouldn't hurt.

[olorin19]

As of tomorrow morning, Dustin will have completed ten days of (properly refrigerated) Clavamox 2X daily, plus nine days of Derma Gel 2x daily.

He has been indoors in mid 70s AC environment for over a month, and the new few days are high 80s to low 90s and very humid. Between that and wanting to give him lots of probiotics to help get his microbiome back in shape , I was figuring on waiting until Tuesday or so before returning him to his outdoor cage.

Does this seem reasonable?

The ankle joint is far smaller than it was a week ago, although still a bit larger than on his uninjured leg. He has been pushing off with the injured leg for over a week, spends lots of time standing upright on his back legs at the windowsill, and over the past few days he has resumed that "squirrel telegraph" motion where the back legs alternate coming up and down when on all fours as the tail twitches.

There was a mention of possibly needing a different antibiotic if the infection went into the bone. How and when will I be able to tell? Should I wait a week and look for signs of the ankle joint enlarging or reddening? Observe his physical capabilities?

I have not seen him really use the injured leg for descending, but with that said his temporary indoor cage does not provide much space for that. His outdoor cage is six feet tall wire mesh, and it will be pretty obvious once he gets out there whether or not he is capable of flying around and using both legs to dangle and descend, etc.

So if after a week or so outdoors there is no sign of infection and he seems to be moving fine, is that enough to release him? I am not in a hurry, by the way, and would prefer to err on the side of caution.