FRICK EXPLOSION!!

[Frickster]

I'm so sorry to bother everyone again. I just got home from work and discovered Frick's poop has exploded again. This morning when he got up he took his formula like always and then played for a couple hours. His lunch was snap peas and cucumbers. He's been limited in his variety per everyone's suggestions. Later this evening he had a few bites of watermelon. He won't take any rodent blocks or formula or water right now. He ate anoter few bites of watermelon but he's not interested in anything else. When I had him out this morning his poop was totally normal, the darkish black/brown and solid little balls. Tonight it's runny and mushy and just like melted/mushed goo. He has more energy than I've EVER seen him have though. The last few days he seems to be gaining more and more confidence with his leg and today is no different. I am trying not to freak out as you guys are always able to help, but this little baby is so important I want to get him better. The last two nights I have been able to slip a teaspoon of plain yogurt in his formula and him still take it. He's been running back and forth and all around the kitchen so fast he's a blur - no exaggeration! What can I do for him? My mom and I both checked his poop for parasites or anything and it just looks like poop with flecks in it. It actually looks like if a ground up rodent block or sand or something was mixed in it. Please....any ideas?

[Mars]

I'm coming to this story late. Can you summerize what's been happening? :thinking :)

[4skwerlz]

Try not to panic. Mine had diarrhea a few times during the weaning process and I'm pretty sure it was the new foods they were trying, plus me being an inexperienced squirrel mom. Could have been the watermelon as it is very diuretic. Watermelon is very healthy for them--it just might have been a little too much at one time. Usually the diarrhea from a new food would only last a very short while. If he still has it tonight, then there might be something else going on. As long as Frick is feeling great, I wouldn't worry too much right now. :grouphug

[FallensMommie]

Is it soft stools or diarrhea?

When Fallen had vomited it was followed by diarrhea and I mean liquid, liquid to where it got all over his rear end and I had to wash him several times a day back there due to it.

I would think soft poop is just a change in diet/new foods being added. If he is eating to much watermelon/fruits then he is getting a lot of natural water from that and therefore being released in looser stools. Dont over due fruits as they contain to much sugars.

[Frickster]

It's definitely more of a liquid and really smeary. Earlier in the evening it was soft and just mushy but the longer he was up - the worse it got.

MARS - long story short...Frick had really soft poop a few days ago with a couple of peanut buttery drops/smears towards the end. I was advised to cut him back to one vegetable and see how he did. He was still supposed to have his formula and rodent blocks. I asked how many rodent blocks and they said probably as many as he wanted. He seemed to be doing good and getting back on track. Slowly he's been getting a few more things on and off but not like the variety he'd had. Veggies in the morning and his fruit at night. Occassional almonds. Yesterday he was looking great and was ALL OVER THE PLACE! Last night, he turned into a mess - poop everywhere. All over his cage and his bed and when he got out all over the floors and everything! Wouldn't eat or drink anything but kept acting like he was hungry. The only thing he'd take was watermelon. When I put him to bed, he did take some formula but his poop was just brown liquid with specs in it. Like I said, almost looked like ground up rodent block. He was super hyper and literally darting ALL OVER so he has energy - didn't know if that was a problem as well. My squirrel has suddenly developed ADD. :)

[FallensMommie]

Are the specks small round and white. I'm wondering if he got tape worms while he was enjoying his freedom.

Fallen had small white specks in his poop and the vet missed it as she said tapeworms are harder to see in the water suspension ? I took a sample back in and she visually inspected it and treated him for tapeworms.

He had to be on Panacur for 5 days to rid the tapeworms...no more white specks in this poops now :D

[4skwerlz]

Another thing.....you might want to sterilize all of your feeding equipment, syringes, bowls, etc., and throw out any opened or made-up Esbilac you have on hand, and do a general clean up of everything, just in case some nasty bacteria have taken hold somewhere. Esbilac grows bacteria like crazy.

[Mars]

It's definitely more of a liquid and really smeary. Earlier in the evening it was soft and just mushy but the longer he was up - the worse it got.

MARS - long story short...Frick had really soft poop a few days ago with a couple of peanut buttery drops/smears towards the end. I was advised to cut him back to one vegetable and see how he did. He was still supposed to have his formula and rodent blocks. I asked how many rodent blocks and they said probably as many as he wanted. He seemed to be doing good and getting back on track. Slowly he's been getting a few more things on and off but not like the variety he'd had. Veggies in the morning and his fruit at night. Occassional almonds. Yesterday he was looking great and was ALL OVER THE PLACE! Last night, he turned into a mess - poop everywhere. All over his cage and his bed and when he got out all over the floors and everything! Wouldn't eat or drink anything but kept acting like he was hungry. The only thing he'd take was watermelon. When I put him to bed, he did take some formula but his poop was just brown liquid with specs in it. Like I said, almost looked like ground up rodent block. He was super hyper and literally darting ALL OVER so he has energy - didn't know if that was a problem as well. My squirrel has suddenly developed ADD. :)


Can you remember what he ate or got into in the 24 hour pior to this episode?? :thinking Was he chewing on something he shouldn't or eaten something he hasn't for a while?? While we are figuring this out be careful to keep him hydrated. Perhaps replace his water with pedilyte for the short term ie the next 24 or 48 hours. No longer than that. WE don't want to compound the problem :D

[Frickster]

Some are white, some are black, some are sand...it's just little flecks that make it look gritty.:shakehead

If he needs medicine, I don't know what I can do since there's no vet to see him. Is there somewhere to order meds if it comes to that. We have checked for anything moving and nothing seems to be there. We opened new esbilac last night and are throwing the old droppers out.

This morning he took just a little bit of formula, but not much. I am trying to get him to take it easy until it feels better. He drags his bottom like he's trying to wipe it off. I keep cleaning it but every time he poops he gets messy again. I know bottom dragging can be a symptom of MBD but he can also just be doing it to clean himself, right? He seems to understand we're trying to get him to rest.

[Mars]

In this case I think he's cleaning his butt. :)

[Frickster]

I think he's eaten a lot of rodent blocks...has anyone ever experienced that causing a problem with these babies? The esbilac being cold or warm doesn't usually matter to him. He's always been really good about taking it. In fact, when I sit down to give it to him I usually have a hard time getting it set up because he's trying to grab it from me before I can get it in the tube. That's usually right out of the fridge. He's not been picky about that at all.

[Sciurus1]

If he needs medicine, I don't know what I can do since there's no vet to see him. Is there somewhere to order meds if it comes to that. We have checked for anything moving and nothing seems to be there. We opened new esbilac last night and are throwing the old droppers out


As far as Meds go, I have located a rehabber in your area that has access to medication and a wealth of experience to give him the best that can be given to him to meet his needs. I believe this is the best you can do for him now, to get him the care he needs. For that information just contact me via PM board.

[FallensMommie]

At this point this might be the only option to get him to a rehabber to get him the help he needs....if you choose this option I know it is a hard decision but the right decision for Fricks health and well being. We are here to support you.

On dragging the bottom...I too second it is him trying to clean his bottom. Fallen did the same thing and when I called him down from the tree he would scoot it along the bark :eek: Wash the bottom as necessary to help him.

As for the formula have everything ready and set to go so when you get him from the cage all he has to do is eat. He's hungry in the mornings etc. and when they want that formula they want it and doing crazy antics trying to get it. So keep him in the cage, set up the formula and then get him. This will help settle him down and not trying to knock and get into everything while trying to set him up with it.

[Apple Corps]

A key question - is Frick old enough now so that he should be off formula??

Also - GB - would you please develop a FEED THIS ONLY (food / amount / #of times daily) and Frickster could adhere to that - AND ONLY THAT - for a week or so?

[island rehabber]

With the nutritionally poor diet Frick has been on until recently I would keep him on the Esbilac as long as possible -- it's his one hope of getting the calcium he needs. However I would NEVER feed cold or even lukewarm formula to a squirrel :nono. Formula is replacement for the squirrel mother's milk -- it is at least 99 degrees in temperature when it comes from her body, and we should replicate that as closely as possible.

Frickster, you have done a good job rescuing and trying to get this baby back to health, but it appears that Frick has some problems that keep recurring and they may well be beyond your ability to cure. Please consider taking the advice of others here and at least contacting the rehabber in VA. Her vet contacts may be Frick's only hope of health and survival.