Bleeding Gums & When to Feed Nuts?

[rocky-n-bullwinkle]

We have a little squirrel that we rescued a few weeks ago (after TS Fay), not sure his exact age. He's fully "furred" and has been on puppy milk since we found him, and is doing well. However, we noticed some blood in his mouth today. I can only guess this is from him teething? Is there anything we should do at this point or give him? Or should we just continue feeding via nipple? Also, how soon until we can start to feed him nuts/veggies? And when should we get him on bones/antlers to chew on?

Sorry for all the questions all at once!

Thanks very much,
~Rocky~

[squirrel princess]

Are his eyes opened and do you have pics:poke :D this will help determine agemjs

[Mars]

What are you using to feed him with? Remember we need your eyes to see with. Bleeding is not usaully a teething issue. :)

[rocky-n-bullwinkle]

He's being fed with a 2 oz bottle and catac nipple. He only occasionally spits some out of his nose, which I know is very bad. However, the bleeding only started recently. I will try to post a pic soon.

[Mars]

Is there something in his cage or box he may be chewing/teething on? I'm wondering if he could have cut his mouth? They need to teethe on things just as a human child does. I provide rodent block, bone and anther peices ( available from Chris's squirrels and more ) also cuttle bone. What we don't want them chewing is the cage wire, plastic or wood.

[muffinsquirrel]

We have a little squirrel that we rescued a few weeks ago (after TS Fay), not sure his exact age. He's fully "furred" and has been on puppy milk since we found him, and is doing well. However, we noticed some blood in his mouth today. I can only guess this is from him teething? Is there anything we should do at this point or give him? Or should we just continue feeding via nipple? Also, how soon until we can start to feed him nuts/veggies? And when should we get him on bones/antlers to chew on?

Sorry for all the questions all at once!

Thanks very much,
~Rocky~

I have sometimes seen blood from a baby's mouth when it was cutting teeth, but it is not very much blood (just enough to scare the living daylights out of you!) and stops almost immediately. If that is what you saw, I wouldn't worry about it. If it was more than that, I would take him to a vet to find out what and why.

As soon as he has teeth, you can start leaving rodent blocks in the cage for him to chew on. He will get very little inside him, but will enjoy the chewing. As soon as he looks like he is ready - is active, climbing, etc. - you can start him on solids. (Also start providing him with water.) Peel anything that has a 'tough' skin - apples, grapes, etc. Be sure to offer pieces large enough for him to hold and chew on, but not small enough for him to put in his mouth and choke on. Introduce new foods slowly so that if he has a bad reaction you will know what caused it. Offer shelled nuts in moderation - I start mine on 1/4 of a pecan or walnut. When he is really getting into chewing, crack an in-shell pecan and put it in his cage. As he learns to open it, start cracking them less and less until he can open them himself. (I usually put a couple of uncracked in-shell nuts in the cage as soon as their eyes open. They will chew on them, roll them around, carry them from point 'A' to point 'B' and back again. They don't usually get them open, but they sure keep themselves entertained!)

Mine couldn't care less about antlers, but do enjoy a bone now and then. I keep a cuttle bone in their cage, and they will sometimes chew on it. Pregnant or nursing females really like them.

Good luck with him.

muffinsquirrel