Squirrel with a Cleft Palate

[BR1GANTES]

Hi.

This little fellow is a regular visitor to our garden.
I think this is a cleft palate, but maybe its an accident?
Whichever, It looks painful.

Just wondering, best to leave him alone, or try and catch, and take him to the vets?

Thanks.

[Jason Green]

I'd tend to think an injury. We have a few wildlife vets/rehabilitators on here who'll point you in the right direction.

Welcome to WAB.

[Farplace]

He needs veterinary attention, however catching him won't be easy unless he is too poorly to be bothered. Once you have caught him, the next challenge will be finding a vet who is happy to treat him.

[toadpole]

OOOh nasty ....i would say it looks like its tooth is growing into its face either way it looks like it looks awful ....IF it could be caught that would be the best thing for it ...how long has it been like it .....Marion

[BR1GANTES]

I cannot tell whether its the same one which visits regularly. So I dont know.
I only noticed the damage through the long camera lens I used earlier.

Any advice on how to catch it, and where to take it?

Thanks.

Yes it looks like its tooth is coming out of the top of its face....?
Poor little b-ugger

[toadpole]

actually having finally put my glasses on and had a further look at pics ,i agree with other replies it does look like an injury has jolted that tooth into its face either way poor thing could do with a helping hand of sorts .....luckily our local vets will help out with some wildlife injuries ...but i think if its a case of putting anything thats passed help to sleep they have a moral obligation??either way your biggest task is to catch it .....RSPCA may lend you a trap ....or a wildlife centre ....i think that would be your best bet .....good luck Marion

[Jason Green]

Perhaps try and track-down a vet first, then catch it and make arrangements. The issue you may fall foul of though, is that the Grey is non-native, and I believe there exists a law preventing their release post-treatment. Still, it may be discretionary.

Good luck.

[BR1GANTES]

Well, Ive just had a look here:


In your area - rspca.org.uk

Its a drop down box with three options:

Service Distance Location.

Under Service chose: Emergency Wildlife Care
Distance. Chose maximum. Up To 50 Miles [!]
Location [my postcode] West Yorkshire.

Sorry, no service was found within the selected distance, please change the distance and try again


Also chose service: Emergency Veterinary Care, also within maximum distance of 50 miles.
Sorry, no service was found within the selected distance, please change the distance and try again


I'll try and ring them on the general enquiries, when they open line tomorrow.
Thanks for your help.

[Dogghound]

Looks like its suffered trauma to the face which has offset the jaw resulting in the tooth growing through the top of the mouth, as this animal is unlikely to be using that particular tooth in this condition and they keep on growing in rodents.

[BR1GANTES]

Come to think of it, it was almost licking the bird table when I took the photo. I wonder if it would be able to open nuts in its present condition?
Is the tooth likely to be connected to anything?
It looks like the root of the tooth has been pushed through the top of its mouth
If I catch it, I wonder if that tooth would just pull straight up and out?