Diarrhea again!

[OceansAway]

Hello everyone,

I rescued a baby squirrel about a month back and when I got him he had diarrhea. With the help of the people here, I was able to stop it and he grew into a healthy baby. He is about 6.5 weeks old now, and suddenly, he has diarrhea again, worse than before. It almost looks like wet tail in hamsters. NOTHING in his diet has changed, and I even got a new can of esbilac just in case. He is eating about 5-6 cc of Esbilac with about 1/4 heavy cream every 4 hours. He chews on solid foods, such as unsalted peanuts, and cheerios, but won't eat them yet, just sort of mouths them. Right now I am giving him LRS SQ fluids and Pedialyte. Is there some sort of antibiotic that is safe to use for squirrels or any other sort of medicine? I work for a vet, so getting it is not the problem. Nobody there is familiar with squirrels so I thought I would ask again here. Any help would be wonderful. Thanks so much!

[Mars]

Is the diarrhea liquid white to cream colored and very smell?

[Sarabi]

Yes, Thats what I'm having problems with and the vet say its osmotic diareah, something like that and put them on SMZ-TMP Susp. gave them fluids sub-Q. Male I just got in has a possible broken Femur:shakehead She asked if I wanted to try (Rehab)or go ahead and Euthanize, she doesn't know me very well yet:Love_Icon

[Abacat]

:thinking What is it, stop food for 12-24 hours, feeding only rehydration fluids in severe diarrhea?) Then s l o w l y reintroduce formula. At 6 1/2 weeks I'd try feeding every 6-8 hours, once the diarrhea has resolved itself.

I've always been taught many times under feeding or over feeding can be the issue with :poop problems. I would have the vet do a fecal to rule out endoparasites, bacteria or some protozoans. Good Luck keep us posted.

[ShesASquirrelyGirl]

I agree with the above advice and to lay off the cream as well.
You can also use acidophilus in the rehydration fluids for some healthy bacteria. If its a formula issue it should help regulate his system again.
I wouldn't use antibiotics unless you know there is an infection and it is needed.

[Rindy]

Way too much cream in the Esbilac. Try feeding him diastat for one feeding. The same amount you would feed him formula. Reduce your feedings to 4 times a day more spread apart and see how that works. At 6 weeks he should be on 4 feedings a day.

You shouldn't feed a growing baby peanuts because it prohibits calcium absorption which can cause metabolic bone syndrome. The cheerios are not good for him either. He should be nibbling on rodent block and monkey biscuits and as he weans off of formula this should be his staple diet before you release him. You can add veggies and nuts sparingly. The poop thing is often just a case of trying different modifications in the diet. But it can also be something else requiring vet assistance.

[Rhapsody]

Question...... What would be the NEXT STEP be --If all the suggestions above have been followed and the Diarrhea is still present?

:thankyou

[CritterMom]

Rhapsody, this is a three year old thread. I am hoping the poop issues have resolved by now!:osnap

[pappy1264]

Rhapsody, although its an old post, in answer to your qestion, you can read Frank, Furter and Bean post (NEVER had squirrel with diarrhea like these three had, and we did EVERYTHING you would normally do to try to get it to stop. Lot of reading, but we went through the 'when nothing else is working'.)

[Rhapsody]

Thanks I will do the READING....... :thumbsup
as I was asking for MY SELF (i have 3 siblings) that are giving me a fit with diarrhea - Thx.

[jbtartell]

yogurt to formula is great for digestive track. 10 cc to a cup of formula..:)

[Rhapsody]

Been doing that for weeks now ---no luck with YOGURT or the REG Protocol for Diarrhea (i posted a thread) in the ER Section to get HELP for My 3 little guys now....... but Thanks.
Link: http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=30172

[Anne]

OK- yogurt can cause diarrhea-heavy cream doesn't help digestion just adds fat. Stop formula(hope you are using Fox Valley-Esbalic causes deadly diarrhea!!!!!). Dose with SMZ-TMP @ 0.01cc/ml for every 25 grams. For 24 hours just hydrate every 2 to 3 hours.Your squirrels sound like they have Coccidia.
You take 2 aspirin and call me in the morning.:D

[Nancy in New York]

ANNE CLEAN OUT YOUR PM BOX...:) Sorry to thread jack.

[Rhapsody]

Thats OK ---as it give me a chance to tell ANNE that I have CIPRO and that MY THREAD is actually here:

http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=30172