I really appreciate everyone's help in this. I haven't decided yet what to do. He is being made more comfortable by guarding his surroundings and since this wasn't the emergency I had thought when I initially heard about him, I will read all the information I can about each suggestion. I don't know if his eye is normal progression of the Albinism or was caused by the fall. Shouldn't think it would have taken 2 months for the eye to protrude after the fall. I'm not even sure I believe he fell anymore. I think he became a burden, the product of an attempt to breed for profit and this was the way to get rid of him...to say he suffered injury. Can't understand people wanting to reproduce an oddity that suffers to provide viewing pleasure.

I am still trying to reach the biology professor who did research on white squirrels. Will report if I do get further information. Many thanks to all of you....and any other thoughts would be gladly received.

__________________
Sometimes on Earth, you can find something that resembles a little piece of Heaven. And sometimes on Earth, a little piece of Heaven can find you.

gpm

just curious how Snowy is doing?

__________________
Man, do not pride yourself on your superiority to animals. For they are without sin and you in your greatness defile the earth by your appearance on it and leave traces of you foulness after you. Dostoyevsky

Hi Barb and all those who have offered help with this Albino squirrel. I tried to paste a picture of him on here but not anywhere near techy enough to do it. He has been here one full week and the changes are astounding. I did finally give one dose of Arn 200, just because I couldn't figure out what to do. All the suggestions were so well founded but I ultimately went to the old standby for injured wildlife. I am waiting a bit to see final the results of the one dose. So far, the left (protruding) eye has seemed to move higher on his face, more in line with the other. It now seems even more swollen and appears more completely red, which would be more what is "normal" in this type of albinism. I did talk to the biology professor who did a ten year research paper on these squirrels. He is sending me his report and other information. Barb, Olney, Illinois is the town that is known for albino squirrels....near you? He said that he isn't aware of total deafness or total blindness nor of the two eyes being different as is the case with this (no name yet, those other "people" called him Wilbur but I don't like the connotation and am leaning toward Stewart Little) squirrel.

I think Anna was more on topic than she may have realized with her remedy suggestion as I have found that his type of albinism is very prone to and has difficulty overcoming infection. And internal bleeding is quite an issue with this type of albinism.

Thus far, only two episodes of circling and they occurred the first two days. (Joy!) I really don't think this change was due to the Arn but rather to finding what triggered the episodes and making sure they are eliminated. He doesn't even react to overhead lights anymore. What has been done is to make every attempt to gain his trust. I just keep running the Helen Keller story through my mind and try to act accordingly. My beautiful Bert cat, who rarely leaves his side, has been much responsible for a great deal of his improvement. (This rare kitty has always nurtured the sick ones coming in.....isn't life a wonder?) Has gotten to the point where he now seeks a hand to pet him as opposed to it being such a traumatic shock that would have sent him into convulsive circling. Step by step, this has brought about unbelievable changes for him. For the first time, today, he actually did normal squirrel things like hiding his nuts (he really hasn't even a good sense of smell) and patting them down to "hide" them. He loves, really loves, to be caressed. Jerks that had him all this time were afraid of him because he would fling and fly crazedly if touched. Well, not now. We've worked it out how to "notify" him of approach and now he eagerly awaits belly tickles, back scratches and ear rubs .

He CAN have a life with some quality which is such a surprise to me, having seen the wild child he was when he came. He absolutely will not bite, not even the "chewing" that my sweetie-pie, tame, house squirrels do. This is a wondrous experience for me. I feel he will always be completely blind, completely deaf and very "hard of smelling" but I am sure he can have a good life, if someone could take him into a world where they had the time to simply put their hand on him, hold him close and communicate with their fingers. Even I, who have handled squirrels all these years, find this the experience of a lifetime. Is there someone who has a lot of love to give and would appreciate a whole bunch in return? Anyone interested? He is quite beautiful though a little incapacitated, just a minor inconvenience, so to speak......shipping free! Hurry, time is running out on this one time limited offer!

__________________
Sometimes on Earth, you can find something that resembles a little piece of Heaven. And sometimes on Earth, a little piece of Heaven can find you.

Oh gpm - I am soo happy that little Snowflake (sorry but that's his name, I've already decided.) is doing so much better. hmm... life is wondrous, yes, but because of people like youmy dear lady. Give Flakey a ear tickle and tummy rub from me okay?

Flakey was the name of our beloved all white, deaf kitty. I named him when I was oh 10 or so. Snowflake - Flakey for short. He was just put to sleep a few years ago - he was 18.

__________________
Man, do not pride yourself on your superiority to animals. For they are without sin and you in your greatness defile the earth by your appearance on it and leave traces of you foulness after you. Dostoyevsky

Hi Barb,
Problem with being as old as I am (as you so kindly keep pointing out) is that just about every darn name has already been used, at least once, some twice! We had a Snowflake, too. Little white Shetland pony who took care of my kids for me when they were little. She loved being hooked up to her wicker governess cart and going on excursions. Miss her still. The Bert cat I mentioned is a white, long hair Angora, not deaf. They both now live on the kitchen table. (It's a big table.) My Bert, who was always at my side, has abandoned me!

__________________
Sometimes on Earth, you can find something that resembles a little piece of Heaven. And sometimes on Earth, a little piece of Heaven can find you.

Great to hear, GPM!

doctorleela

__________________
http://www.homeopathy2health.com

Returning to ask for more help for the albino squirrel, now named Stewart Little.

I am very appreciative of the suggestions made and have kept them for reference. I wanted to hold off until he could be seen by a vet.

While waiting for his appointment he was given one dose of Arnica 200. All circling stopped, (had stopped before Arn, due to habitate changes) his behavior improved, almost acting like a normal squirrel. After 2 weeks, he began to circle a few times. First episode, Acon LM1 stopped it immediately. Started again later in day, gave from same glass, just stirred. Did not stop the circling.

Next episode, days later, gave Bell LM1 with no improvement.

During the 3+ weeks he has been here, though the behavior was so improved (he is actually having "fun"), the left, protruding eye worsened. Waiting for his appointment (which was today) the grayness of the iris has changed to red. The protrusion is much worse.

I saw a specialist who didn't do any of the specialist tests. He felt the invasiveness was unnecessary since he was sure it is trauma induced glaucoma. (Because he is a specialist and because a squirrel is "exotic", he only looked at him for a few minutes and charged twice his normal fee! After all this waiting.) He gave a prescription for topical eye drops, Timoptic, an antiglaucoma drug, three times a day, for the rest of his life. This will be almost an impossible thing to do. If I try to put drops in his eyes, he will revert back to fear and mistrust. I might be able to get one drop per eye in once or twice and then the battles will start and any quality of life he has will be gone. He will be expecting something to drop in his eye every time there's movement. And holding a squirrel still is just not an easy thing to do.......I've never been able to do it yet. Besides the potential side effects of the drug. Even topically, some will enter the bloodstream. I really want to help him homeopathically.

Vet said Dr. B was right and Stewart has right side thrombosis, causing circling to left. Left eye has glaucoma.

In my checking since his vet visit this morning all the suggestions made before still hold value. Phos, Bothrops, Acon, Hep S, Arn, Lach. I found a remedy Physotigma, in a value/weight of 1.

General; INJURIES; blows; eyes, upon, caused glaucoma (1) : phys.
General; INJURIES; falls; glaucoma (1) : phys.
E; Emergency; EYES, injuries; blow, to; glaucoma, caused (1) : phys.

The MM's indicate Phys used as topical........
NATURAL ORDER, Leguminosae.
COMMON NAME, Calabar bean.
HABITAT, AFRICA. ITS ACTIVE PRINCIPLE IS PHYSOSTIGMINE (ESERINE). PREPARATIONS.
HOMEO., MOTHER TINCTURE OF THE BEAN; AND DILUTIONS. U. S. P., PHYSOSTIGMA, EXTRACTUM PHYSOSTIGMATIS, TINCTURA PHYSOSTIGMATIS. DOSAGE. - OF THE MOTHER TINCTURE (I/10), M J - XV; OF THE EXTRACT, GR. 1/10 - 1/4; OF THE PHYSOSTIGMINAE SULPHAS, GR. 1/100 - 1/50.

It actually sounds a lot like Timoptic in that the side effects (homeopathic physiological action) are similar and Timoptic is used orally (Blocadren tablets) for heart and drops topically for glaucoma. Phys has heart symptoms listed in MM's. I have Phys but only in 6X potency. (Reading about it scares me though.)Boger has "better lying with head low" for Phys, which he is doing more and more. Also "left".
----------------------
Albinism
Left eye protruding (exophthalmia, proptosis?), iris/pupil red, trauma (four to five months ago) induced glaucoma
Left eye, iris turned red after Arn and Acon, before Bell. Could be coincidence. Protrusion more rapid last few weeks. Due to
remedies?
Right side thrombosis, causing circling to left (increasing frequency as eye swells more)
Whites of eyes clear, no reddening
Mild disposition, better by touch, comfort, likes company (loves his kitty friend and "looks" for him
Lies with head extended over side, lower than body
Deaf/(almost) blind.......funny thing is that while his eye looks so much worse, he actually seems to be able to see somewhat now
Loves lima beans, fresh or vine dried, tomatoes(lima beans are squirrel accepted but tomatoes are unusual....vet said because
they are red but it isn't that, I'm sure.
--------------------------------------------
I haven't filled the prescription but feel guilty about that...it took too long to schedule with the "specialist" and ground has been lost, I'm afraid. It looks like his eye can't remain in the socket much longer. I should have started him without waiting for vet opinion.

Any suggestions for remedies (and potencies) appreciated greatly. Phos comes up high in the glaucoma rubrics (other than the "caused by trauma" rubrics above). Someone once mentioned Phos sounds like squirrels! Also mentioned in Knerr...... Eyes; RETINA; congested; vascular fullness, with epilepsy, from cerebral congestion (1) : Kali-br., with 3 value).....I'm tempted to just start Phos in LM1 but too frightened I might cause more damage. Then there's Ars, Both, Lach, Nat S, etc., for thrombosis...help!

I did run a lot of words past the vet like Vitreous, iritis, choroiditis, retina, hemorrhage, vascular, etc., but he said the only appropriate term I brought up was "cerebral congestion". Said could only go on "one sided, trauma induced glaucoma".

If it is felt that glaucoma can't be effectively treated with homeopathy, I will start the drops. Thing is, squirrels can live 14 -15 years in captivity and I can not imagine a "lifetime" on 3 times a day. Even if I lived long enough (!) I wouldn't have any fingers left. Surgery to remove is not a good option if there is already brain involvement, I don't feel. Anesthesia resulted in terrible epilepsy in brain damaged cat I once had. And I've had procedures done on squirrels who died while under, couldn't be brought out of it.

[ 29. August 2002, 22:59: Message edited by: gpm ]

__________________
Sometimes on Earth, you can find something that resembles a little piece of Heaven. And sometimes on Earth, a little piece of Heaven can find you.

gpm - no advice to give but will keep our little Stewart Little in my thoughts. Hopefully someone will reply soon.

barb

__________________
Man, do not pride yourself on your superiority to animals. For they are without sin and you in your greatness defile the earth by your appearance on it and leave traces of you foulness after you. Dostoyevsky

Thanks Barb, I appreciate your good thoughts. Have had feisty, playful and fun squirrels but this little guy is a real heartbreaker. He is sincerely kind and trusting. As soon as he feels a hand touch him, he lies down quietly and you can feel him sinking in pleasure. Squirrels aren't like this! Deserves a whole bunch more than life offered him. He was unbelievably good at the vet's. No one had ever seen an albino squirrel before and all gathered to look at him. I was concerned it would cause him stress, especially with the bright lights, yet he seemed fine. Had a good bit of Rescue Remedy on his blankets though!

I should have added that it seems he is focusing and seeing a bit. I know he is aware of things, looks at them. I don't think it's terribly much but certainly more than when he first came. Even as the eye grows larger. I am positive he saw nothing before other than a shadow. Vet said he thought, if he has any vision, it isn't in the protruded eye. Yet he turns that eye toward things, as if to better see them.

__________________
Sometimes on Earth, you can find something that resembles a little piece of Heaven. And sometimes on Earth, a little piece of Heaven can find you.

Hi GPM,

We've use Physostigma here in 30 potency often. Especially for accomodation and visual problems.

You prefer to use LM? I don't think a dose of Phos LM1 should hurt too much. BUt I thought a low C potency would be better.

All the best,
doctorleela

__________________
http://www.homeopathy2health.com