Leg injury - infection. Two-year-old wild female grey. Condition deteriorating.

[TheAcornStash]

(Thread copied from Non-life threatening)

Hello,

Gray squirrel (female, 2 years old). Name: Orphan.

First contact: May 2023. She was skinny and hungry. She came to eat from my hand without knowing me. I noticed that her tail was crooked, her fur irregular, that she had slight morphological differences compared to other squirrels, and that the foot of her right hind leg was not flat on the ground, but at an angle.

She has been coming to see me for a year (fall, winter, spring, summer). Her condition has greatly improved since the first contact. Also, her movements and jumps seemed normal during this time.

For the last two months, her right hind leg has had a lesion at the knee (see photos). This lesion has been red, black (scab?), and remains hairless around it (she nibbles at it?).

For the past two weeks, she has not put any weight on this leg, and her movements (jumps, running) are clumsy.

I'm thinking genetic problem or event that affected her development, then got worse with age and finally gave way.

In this condition she won't be able to evade predators for long...

What do you think? What are our options for intervention?

Note: I am equipped to take care of her if she becomes NR (nest box in outside cage under tree, food, etc.). I will try to get her to set up camp there.

Thank you for your help!

[TheAcornStash]

(Thread copied from Non-life threatening)

Hello,

Gray squirrel (female, 2 years old). Name: Orphan.

First contact: May 2023. She was skinny and hungry. She came to eat from my hand without knowing me. I noticed that her tail was crooked, her fur irregular, that she had slight morphological differences compared to other squirrels, and that the foot of her right hind leg was not flat on the ground, but at an angle.

She has been coming to see me for a year (fall, winter, spring, summer). Her condition has greatly improved since the first contact. Also, her movements and jumps seemed normal during this time.

For the last two months, her right hind leg has had a lesion at the knee (see photos). This lesion has been red, black (scab?), and remains hairless around it (she nibbles at it?).

For the past two weeks, she has not put any weight on this leg, and her movements (jumps, running) are clumsy.

I'm thinking genetic problem or event that affected her development, then got worse with age and finally gave way.

In this condition she won't be able to evade predators for long...

What do you think? What are our options for intervention?

Note: I am equipped to take care of her if she becomes NR (nest box in outside cage under tree, food, etc.). I will try to get her to set up camp there.

Thank you for your help!

[TheAcornStash]

Update,

She has presented this morning with what seems to be a full-blown infection of her injured leg (cf. photo).

I am preparing ABs (Keflex:cephalixin) at the right dosage and will start administering at her next visit (she already ate to her content and left before the ABs were ready this morning).

Help and/or advice would be appreciated.
Thanks!

[TheAcornStash]

Also,

Please advise as to deletion procedure of duplicate posts in 'Life Threatening'.

Thanks.

[Spanky]

I merged the 2 threads since one had the earlier pics and the other did not... some duplicate info but at least it is all in one place.

Was her foot always angled and not flat on the ground similar to the picture above?

Please confirm you are not in need of dosing instructions and you are all set to go...

If you believe she'd tolerate being captured and held (protected) in the cage that would be ideal IMO. She'd be safe, no need to travel far for plenty of food and clean water, will get her ABX regularly... and have lots of time to rest and recuperate. As long as the capture and holding is not too stressful for her. Have it all planned out in advance. I'd also provide a dark space around the nest box (in addition to)... I cover the top and the sides around the box so she'll not stress out about what she may see in the trees above, etc. Dark and quiet place is best. When I have to hold wilds for treatment, I'll often cover the top half of the indoor cage with blankets and gradually start revealing a side or two as the adjust.

How large is this outdoor release cage?

[TheAcornStash]

Hi Spanky,

Yes, as I first mentioned, I had noticed an angle in her foot/leg ever since first contact a year ago (hence the possibility of genetic predisposition or early traumatic event).
I'm all set with dosages for Keflex (I have treated other squirrels successfully with it), thanks!

Cage is 6ft x 2ft x 2ft with nest box in it (currently uninhabited; too warm). She has lived there before (about four weeks last winter) before being pressured away by a local female (Aix). (cf. photo)

I think first thing is to bring down the infection then get her to a Vet. After that, if she is NR, perhaps I will pressure Aix away so Orphan has the space and time to recover.

Thank you so much for your advice!

[TheAcornStash]

I merged the 2 threads since one had the earlier pics and the other did not... some duplicate info but at least it is all in one place.

Was her foot always angled and not flat on the ground similar to the picture above?

Please confirm you are not in need of dosing instructions and you are all set to go...

If you believe she'd tolerate being captured and held (protected) in the cage that would be ideal IMO. She'd be safe, no need to travel far for plenty of food and clean water, will get her ABX regularly... and have lots of time to rest and recuperate. As long as the capture and holding is not too stressful for her. Have it all planned out in advance. I'd also provide a dark space around the nest box (in addition to)... I cover the top and the sides around the box so she'll not stress out about what she may see in the trees above, etc. Dark and quiet place is best. When I have to hold wilds for treatment, I'll often cover the top half of the indoor cage with blankets and gradually start revealing a side or two as the adjust.

How large is this outdoor release cage?

Hi Spanky, sorry I replied to the thread and didn't 'reply with quote'. Please delete redundant post.


Yes, as I first mentioned, I had noticed an angle in her foot/leg ever since first contact a year ago (hence the possibility of genetic predisposition or early traumatic event).
I'm all set with dosages for Keflex (I have treated other squirrels successfully with it), thanks!

Here is the dosage I am using and reference, for others on TSB: xxxxxxxx She is about 0.5 kg so I am going to use 30mg at least once, hopefully twice a day for 5-10 days. ref.

Let me know if this is similar to your dosages.

Cage is 6ft x 2ft x 2ft with nest box in it (currently uninhabited; too warm). She has lived there before (about four weeks last winter) before being pressured away by a local female (Aix). (cf. photo)

I think first thing is to bring down the infection then get her to a Vet. After that, if she is NR, perhaps I will pressure Aix away so Orphan has the space and time to recover.

Thank you so much for your help and advice!

[Spanky]

I deleted the dosing info (not allowed on open board).... but those guidelines are TWICE the highest end dosage we (TSB) would follow. Our guidelines are from the rehabber guide Wild Baby Mammals (WMB) the First 48 hours and beyond.

[supersquirrelgirl]

Hello AcornStash,

By now you should be approaching the end of AB treatment so just checking how's the squirrel's knee ??

Any luck finding a Vet ??

Mr.SSG

[TheAcornStash]

Hello AcornStash,

By now you should be approaching the end of AB treatment so just checking how's the squirrel's knee ??

Any luck finding a Vet ??

Mr.SSG

Hi, SSG. Sorry for the delay...
The AB worked well; her leg got better and she was back to her normal state for two months. Unfortunately, a week ago, she re-injured her leg and it seems to have gotten infected again. As I mentioned before, her right hind leg appears to be structurally abnormal so I fear she will have problems with it all her life.
I have not found a Vet yet. I am considering another course of AB and extra care (food, etc) to give her a fighting chance.

Thanks for your concern!

[supersquirrelgirl]

Just getting back in town so sorry for the response delay.......

Glad the 1st AB course worked and sorry to hear leg injury again.

Sorry to hear no Vet but hopefully you can find one for an xray of the leg. Good luck!

Mr.SSG