yet another question

[heidi]

do squirrels sneeze? I know I may just be very over protective but when i feed them sometimes they make a noise that sounds a little like a sneeze. could you please help me indentify the sound and also if it is something I should be worried about?

[annick]

yes they do sneeze. mine started sneezing a lot when they opened their eyes, and they are doing just fine :D

[squirlnewb]

Do they only sneeze when you feed them? You may be feeding them too fast and some of the liquid is getting into their lungs.

[heidi]

yes, they are mostly sneezing when I am feeding them but it has been happening alot more since they have opened their eyes.

They opened their eye's about 2 days ago so they are probably about 5 weeks old right? when do I start weaning them to solid food?

[Carol]

I saw one of my yard buddies sneeze one time...but then again, he could have gotten some dirt up his nose as he was sneezing after he had just dug in the garden....lol
It was kinda cute to see! I hadn't known a squirrel to sneeze before that!:D

[Sciurus1]

Actually what seems like a sneeze, an involuntary response, in squirrels can be deliberate a deliberate one, not saying their never sneeze, yet you can tell it likely isn't involuntary, when they do that to use the excretion to wipe their fur with it, to clean themselves. They also lick their paws, like kitties do, to use the saliva to clean themselves. ItTis all perfectly normal, being very fastidious cleaners.

[Carol]

Actually what seems like a sneeze, an involuntary response, in squirrels can be deliberate a deliberate one, not saying their never sneeze, yet you can tell it likely isn't involuntary, when they do that to use the excretion to wipe their fur with it, to clean themselves. They also lick their paws, like kitties do, to use the saliva to clean themselves. ItTis all perfectly normal, being very fastidious cleaners.

That's really neat! I didn't know that...I'm always learning something new about squirrels here and I love it!:thumbsup