question about this guy

[sdreamcatcher]

took some pictures of this fellow today, and instantly recognised when he started sneezing. hes a male, age unknown, seems to have no problems eating, though my mom and i have both noticed he rests a lot, and in kind of weird places. i have baytril, in fact that may have been how i found you all; i was googling at the time to see if baytril was safe for baby squirrels, because Calvin had been attacked by a cat, and cats carry the dreaded pasteurella (im sure thats mispelled). the baytril is from a pigeon supply; i have used it on hamsters, mice and rats. wondering if the same dose would be fine in squirrels, and how well its tolerated, and how much hed need to take. it mixes in water, but im sure it could be sprinkled or hidden in food; would have to be really good tasting food, to offset the horrible taste of baytril!

more pictures:



hes scolding me in this one, so i had to leave:
http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i30/sdreamcatcher/squirrels/947.jpg

looking for the food i put down, these were taken through a hole in the fence:

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i30/sdreamcatcher/squirrels/943.jpg

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i30/sdreamcatcher/squirrels/944.jpg

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i30/sdreamcatcher/squirrels/946.jpg

[sproggie14]

Yes baytril is fine for squirrels. I couldn't tell you an exact dose as baytril comes in different strengths but if you have used what you have for other rodents you can just adjust the dose accordingly. I'd give a higher dose relatively though to allow for some being lost with the imprecise dosing method you'll have to use. Digestive biscuit or baby food work quite well at hiding the taste.

I'd keep an eye on him though as I'm not convinced baytril will solve all his issues. I'm not an expert on US Squiggles but he looks a bit thin and scraggy to me.

[Jackie in Tampa]

He looks like a big STUD...alot of fights under his belt...maybe tired from chasing the girls...look at those ears...dead giveaway from being King of the Hood!
Good luck!
are you sure he needs baytril? does he have wounds?

[sdreamcatcher]

He looks like a big STUD...alot of fights under his belt...maybe tired from chasing the girls...look at those ears...dead giveaway from being King of the Hood!
Good luck!
are you sure he needs baytril? does he have wounds?

I wondered about his ears; I figure he's at least a year old, but other then that, I'm not sure.

No wounds, but he sneezes a lot, has since April (that's how I can tell him from the others). I don't know enough about squirrels, but in other rodents it's a symptom of respiratory infection, especially since he's not as active as some of the others. It was very obvious yesterday, when I was watching a different squirrel in that same tree leaping and buzzing about at top speed through the branches. He doesn't do that. That's why I wondered about the baytril. I'm pretty sure I could get him to take it; he already (warily) knows I will offer him food. I also have echinacea and similar herbs/supplements; maybe he'd be better off taking those?

[atlantasquirrelgirl]

Does he eat with his head tilted, or very slowly like he has dental problems?

[sdreamcatcher]

Does he eat with his head tilted, or very slowly like he has dental problems?

I don't think so, but next time I see him; I'll offer him some food and watch him. I worked today, so only saw one squirrel this morning; on the roof above the rabbit hutch. I think that one is the mommy of the four babies from April; she was waiting for me to toss up some apples. Someone was in our apple tree today; either her or the male.

I will be on the lookout for him :) .

[sdreamcatcher]

other then a possible sighting of this guy and the female late last evening, our yard has been rather squirrel free. even the apple tree is mostly untouched :). i did catch one (not sure who) jumping in the tree yesterday; said in a normal but annoyed voice, " get out of there, you know better!" and they jumped back to the roof. the apple tree is dropping fruit on its own, so i toss those on the roof over by the (now empty) black walnut tree next door. but they must have found other trees to munch, because its eerily quiet. for a week or so they had been in the walnut tree munching away noisily!

dummy me though; i just came back from the store and forgot to grab a bag of apples :shakehead . so i may head off to the little store closer by and grab something for them.. ive had a taste for apples too lately :D

[sdreamcatcher]

wanted to update that i saw the male on Saturday, and tried to get video and pictures of him eating. but my camera officially gave out :(.

however, i am happy to report that he was eating just fine, no head tilting, no problems chewing. so at least its not dental issues. he seems to be doing ok.

[Mars]

:thumbsup

[sdreamcatcher]

Guess I was worried for nothing. This guy is in the maple tree as i type this after having chased away another squirrel. im guessing hes the dominant male in this neighborhood. ill try to get more pictures with my moms camera sometime soon.

[sdreamcatcher]

i hadnt seen this guy for a bit, and given his poor condition had worried the cats in the neighborhood got to him.


HOWEVER, he showed up last night right before dark, wanting food, and hes now TAME. hes also very chubby and looked so different i hardly believed he was the same squirrel. his ears and that telltale sneezing were definite giveaways that this is indeed the same scrappy fellow, and i do believe i know where hes been hanging out and getting food from. i honestly dont believe he would have made it without help, which i think is coming from a family down the street.

by the way, he is very grabby about his food! my little female takes it soo carefully, and this one just grabs! hes scary tame, so im trying to just toss his food to him, so he doesnt get too close. hes already baffled my cat, shes not sure what to think of any critter who doesnt run like they should.

hes still got that respiratory, but its not slowing him down one bit. he sounds like a little pug when hes walking toward me or wandering around for foo, whhezing and all. but he looks fine otherwise.

ill update with pictures soon.

[susanw]

Sounds to me like this guy could use some antibiotics if he sounds like a pug breathing. Did anyone advise you on what to give and how much, since your last post was in August?

[Peaches]

Give him a nut in the shell, something small like a almond and watch to see if he cracks it easily and eats it. If he gets right through it then its not his teeth and he may have a respitory infection. If he sounds like a pug just walking around the yard I would go ahead and get some antibiotics into him. It wont hurt him and it just might help him. I wouldnt worry about hidding the bitter taste too much, squirrels like bitter. Hide it in some fruit.

[sdreamcatcher]

hi all,

i really need to get a picture and/or video of this squirrel; if you saw him youd never guess hes anything but healthy. i never did get a dose for the baytril; the bottle i have is powdered form, enrofloxyn 5%, if anyone has ideas. im sure i could get him to take it if necessary. hes been breathing like this since april, so im guessing probably not his teeth, but i can try a nut or two. he is quite plump now, so whatever it is isnt affecting him as far as him eating. hes also quite active now, and was busy following me around and burying all the food i gave him once he was full. he acts like the little female im feeding, just has that breathing issue.

thanks for the advice; i will definitely try the nuts to start. id just hate to medicate him if hes ok otherwise, especially given the length of time hes had this issue?

[Peaches]

Hmmm I didnt catch the part about this starting in April. Are you sure he's not grunting at you for being too close to his personal space? Sometimes wild ones make grunting, snorty sounds as they approach you.

[ShesASquirrelyGirl]

If you are going to administer meds you need to capture him. You can't give it one day and then not the next if you don't see him or if you are working. It will do more harm them good that way. So please unless you capture him to administer and monitor don't give the antibiotics.
If you capture him just come back and we will help you with him.
Also if you post your location we might have someone local who can help or know of a vet willing to see him.

[susanw]

Posting new pictures would help, he doesn't look to healthy in you August pictures.

[sdreamcatcher]

i have spent the better part of my afternoon searching (unsuccessfully) for the camera. BUT he has been here most of today, stalking me for food, lol, and looking and acting quite good. he is nice and plump; even his tail has filled out. hes chubbier then the girl i think, such a far cry from the pictures i first posted. i will take and post pictures as soon as i can. hes definitely doing well, just has that sniffle sound. the little girl made a few sneezes too, when i gave her food. these are fox squirrels, and from what i understand from experience and reading here they are vocal, so maybe part of it is that.

as far as antibiotics, if it came down to that, id have no problems getting a full course of that in him; now that hes back and has found a yummy food source, i know i can get him to take the baytril. ive done rescue work before as well as caring for a multitude of rodents of various species, and know how important it would be to make sure he goes the full course. im leaning more toward herbal and other supplements though, since ive had really good luck with them for my pets and various rescues. thanks to all of you for your help, and i will update as much as possible. im guessing he will be one of my regular winter visitors. add the squirrels to the list of visitors who have been coming two or more years, as well as blue jays who have been around at least 3 and probably longer.

[4skwerlz]

I'm so glad the little guy has improved. Sometimes the males will act very tired and look pretty beat up right after the mating season. I can't imagine it's a respiratory infection since it has lasted this long (6+ months). Either he's making some kind of vocalization, or perhaps he had some kind of injury to his nasal passages??? As beat up as he looks, he's probably an older guy, and they do slow down a bit with age. I had a wild friend who was at least 6 years old, which is old for a wildie. I called him Rocky since he was all beat up like an old boxer... He moved a bit slow most of the time, but could still chase off a youngster if he felt like it.

[ShesASquirrelyGirl]

i have spent the better part of my afternoon searching (unsuccessfully) for the camera. BUT he has been here most of today, stalking me for food, lol, and looking and acting quite good. he is nice and plump; even his tail has filled out. hes chubbier then the girl i think, such a far cry from the pictures i first posted. i will take and post pictures as soon as i can. hes definitely doing well, just has that sniffle sound. the little girl made a few sneezes too, when i gave her food. these are fox squirrels, and from what i understand from experience and reading here they are vocal, so maybe part of it is that.

as far as antibiotics, if it came down to that, id have no problems getting a full course of that in him; now that hes back and has found a yummy food source, i know i can get him to take the baytril. ive done rescue work before as well as caring for a multitude of rodents of various species, and know how important it would be to make sure he goes the full course. im leaning more toward herbal and other supplements though, since ive had really good luck with them for my pets and various rescues. thanks to all of you for your help, and i will update as much as possible. im guessing he will be one of my regular winter visitors. add the squirrels to the list of visitors who have been coming two or more years, as well as blue jays who have been around at least 3 and probably longer.
I am not doubting your experience with rodents or administering meds. However there is no guarentee that a squirrel will be around every single day. Some who have outside pet squirrels often leave for a day or 2 as well. You said you hadn't seen him for a bit and thought a cat got him. So as you know they don't always show everyday.
Glad you are going with the herbal route though. Goldenseal Echinacea and Astragulas are both very good to use in rodents! I wish you luck.

[sdreamcatcher]

this guy has been around every day since returning, even with the bad weather we had. i finally found my camera today, and not long after, spotted him begging for food. so here are the long anticipated pictures of him. as you can see he is nice and plump!!

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i30/sdreamcatcher/squirrels/PC060795.jpg

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i30/sdreamcatcher/squirrels/PC060796.jpg

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i30/sdreamcatcher/squirrels/PC060798.jpg

last one i know is blurry, but it shows his body a bit better. he is totally normal except the sneezing sounds. eats very well and is quite adamant that he gets his fair share of the food :)