Scratched eye

[jmdphd]

Advice needed- My NR squirrel scratched his eye tonight while in his crate. My guess is that he scratched it on a piece of crumb or chew. I'm a new squirrel mom, so I'm not sure what level of panicked I should be. Thanks!

[SamtheSquirrel2018]

Advice needed- My NR squirrel scratched his eye tonight while in his crate. My guess is that he scratched it on a piece of crumb or chew. I'm a new squirrel mom, so I'm not sure what level of panicked I should be. Thanks!

Hello Jmdphd and welcome to The Squirrel Board:

What is your Squirrel's name and as this often plays apart in likelihood for certain injuries or medical conditions developing; what makes him an NR?

From your post, it sound as if you did not actually witness an incident and I would respectfully ask what it is that makes you suspect that your Squirrel scratched his eye? Also, many people say "eye" when it could be the eye or the surrounding region such as the eyelids so I would like to ask if you mean the eye itself or somewhere around the eye. Is the cornea (the ordinarily clear part of the eye) clear or cloudy or is there apparent blood or possibly pus that see behind the cornea? Is there any drainage from the eye and if so, please describe it. Do you have any eye antibiotics available and if so, what do you have? A number of different antibiotics are frequently prescribed for human use and many of these can be used for Squirrels! One of my preferred ophthalmic (eye) antibiotics for Squirrels is Ofloxacin Ophthalmic Solution but, again, others are available and many of those will quite adequate!

All that being said, do you have a Squirrel-friendly Vet for your Squirrel and if so, are you able to get your Squirrel examined by the Vet expeditiously or possibly the Vet might be willing to provide a prescription or sample of ophthalmic antibiotics even if he would not opt for seeing the Squirrel in the office.

Please keep on with the updates!

Regards,
SamtheSquirrel

[SamtheSquirrel2018]

Another request, Jmdphd; would you please post photos of what you are seeing as the injury!
Thanks again!
Regards,
SamtheSquirrel

[olorin19]

Veterinary opthalmic salve is available from Tractor Supply -

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/pr...intment-1-8-oz

According to this link, it only requires a prescription in California.

I am not saying that this is what the current situation requires - just that if the experts decide that this is the way to go that a salve can be obtained easily enough.