please help me...

[bilbul]

Hello

I wanted to ask if anyone can help me understand something. I have 2 squirrel(gembil and bul), both are female. Now 1 years old & she's very healthy & wonderful - but gembil starting to get cold here & her frisky play has turned into aggressiveness and her sister bul doesn’t look like gembil reaction.

So sometimes bul attacking her sister gembil. And sometimes gembil make a foam in her mouth…and now gembil has loss her appetite..
Now I already separate them both..but gembil still doesnt want to eat and still aggressive. Today I give gembil water with simple syrup and calcium inside,because she look like losing her weight.

I don’t know what to do..please help…:dono

[island rehabber]

hi bilbul. Your squirrels are beautiful but we need to see why gembil is not eating. Gammas Baby asked some good questions: what is her normal diet like? Is she drinking water? Can you tell whether she is urinating & pooping ok?
The most important thing is to make sure she is getting liquids. Dehydration will cause her to lose her appetite. You can try giving her some flavored Pedialyte if you can get it where you live, or make some using our homemade recipe:

1 tsp salt (teaspoon)
3 Tbsp sugar (tablespoon)
1 quart warm water
Mix all ingredients in warm water. Store in refrigerator.

Try feeding her with a syringe and see if she'll take at least 3-4mls every couple of hours. Her weight loss may be dehydration. What else have you noticed about her lately that is not normal for her?

[Bravo]

Hopefully this will pass... separating them sounds like a reasonable idea for now, and good advice in the above posts.

[wheezer]

Since Squirrels are not by nature social, perhaps they are getting to the age where they are more territorial. I am not familiar with that species either..though they are very cute!

Of course since one is not eating it may be attacking because it isn't feeling well. I hope we get more information so we can find a reason for the loss of appetite:)

[bilbul]

Awww...Your little squirrels are ADORABLE!! :Love_Icon :Love_Icon :Love_Icon

You said it was starting to get cold there..I know in the US when this time of the year starts, squirrels become very aggressive over their food. They know the food supply is going to be diminishing and become very protective over it. Do your girls have any nuts, food, etc. buried in their cage? If so, I would clean everything out, and only give them enough food for one meal, and make sure they eat it, and don't bury any of it.

I'm not familiar with your species of squirrels, but maybe they are reaching the "TERRIBLE TEEN" stage. :sanp3 For a month or so, they will become aggressive and more "wild", but after that, they should return to their normal little selves.

I don't like the fact that the one has stopped eating. Can you tell us what diet your girls are on? Not knowing the proper diet for this species, do you know if your girls are getting the proper nutrients they need, such as calcium, Vit D, etc?

Can you put them in separate cages for now, but have them side by side, so they can still interact with each other, and see how that goes?

I'm really sorry I'm not much help. Hopefully someone else may know a little more about your species of squirrel.


:thankyou (in Photo:Bul is in my back, gembil is in my shoulder)
Thats Indonesian Squirrel...we call that coconut squirrel.

Yes i gave her proper food.. everyday i gave them carrot,slice of apple,cherry tomato, cucumber, corn, chickpea and sometimes papaya, broccoli, peanuts...
Now i put them in separate cages and their cage is outdoor.

Gembil doesnt like buried food in their cage? she just more like cat to me.Cute,pretty,clever

Yesterday she look like she dont have energy and sleep all day...so, i gave her water with syrup and Calcium medicine(for human)inside...but after she drink that, she become aggressive and active again...its that Ok??? Is gembil sick or what?? cos i dont know what to do...

[bilbul]

:thankyou :thankyou :thankyou :thankyou :thankyou :thankyou :thankyou

[philomycus]

The foaming could be MBD???? Am I wrong on that? I've seen it before.

[bilbul]

How is your little girl doing today? The fact that she is not eating, slowing down and sleeping a lot, and foaming, very possibly could be signs of MBD (Metabolic Bone Disease). Here is a diet I would give your girls immediately. I would give it to both of them, because if one is showing the signs, the other one probably needs it too. I'm not sure what you can find in your country, but please try your best to get your girls on this diet.

Emergency Treatment for MBD (Metabolic Bone Disease)

Get calcium into the squirrel IMMEDIATELY, not later, not tomorrow, NOW. Delaying treatment can cause death or permanent paralysis.

You will need:

--Tums (or any Antacid) or plain calcium pills (no Vit D)
--a syringe or eyedropper

Crush one Tums or calcium pill and add a little water or fruit juice. Use the syringe or eyedropper to force-feed the mixture, a little at a time, until it is all gone. In a pinch, sometimes a spoon will work.

If the squirrel is having seizures, weakness, or paralysis, the symptoms will usually improve within a few hours, but this does not mean the squirrel is cured. It will take many months to rebuild the calcium in the bones.

Long-Term Treatment for MBD

The next step to curing MBD is to fix the diet.

1. Remove ALL seeds, nuts, corn, and treats.

2. Follow the Healthy Diet For Pet Squirrels, which can be found at the top of the “Squirrel Nutrition” forum. Your squirrel MUST eat rodent block or squirrel block as 70% of their diet.
http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14703

3. In addition to the Healthy Diet, you will need to continue giving extra calcium plus Vit D every day for several weeks. Either use the syringe/eyedropper or you can try putting the vitamins on a small piece of fruit.

Week 1: 300 mg calc/50 mg Vit D per day
Week 2: 200 mgs calc/25 mg Vit D per day
Weeks 3-4: 100 mg calc per day

The cause of the acute symptoms—weakness, lethargy, seizures, paralysis—is a drop in blood calcium levels. If these symptoms return at any time, you will need to give another emergency dose of calcium.

More Tips
MBD causes brittle bones that break easily. Try to keep your squirrel away from high places, where he might jump and break a bone. Also, if he is in a tall cage, either place him in a smaller cage, or pad the bottom very well.

Heat is very soothing for a squirrel with MBD. A heating pad turned to low and placed so they cannot chew the pad or cord, or a rice buddy (a sock filled with dry rice/beans and microwaved for about 20 seconds) will work.

Not being familiar with this species of squirrels, I don't know if they require proper lighting or not. I would think if they aren't nocturnal, they probably will. They MUST go outdoors, in a cage, EVERY day for at least an hour, or be under Full Spectrum Lighting from morning until dark. Here is some info on it. If you can't find them, I know some places that will ship overseas. All you have to remember is that to be a true Full Spectrum Light, the color temperature must be 5000K or greater, and the CRI (color rendering index) must be at least 90. You may want to check out the other links in this post, also. :thumbsup Please let us know how you're making out. Many prayers for your girls. :grouphug :Love_Icon :grouphug

Post #11...

http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/s...ad.php?t=11684


:thankyou :thankyou
Today gembil look normal again..she play and sleep with her sister(bul) again...everyday i give her calcium(in a water).

I put them together again because bul look like she loosing her sister..
she dont wanna play and dont wanna eat to..but after i put them togerther again..bul starting play and eat a lot..hehehe

I always put them in outdoor in day light(in big cage), at night in my room(in little cage,just for sleep)...but i dont know why gembil Symptom always came back.

Ok, i will give her vit D just like you suggestion
Week 1: 300 mg calc/50 mg Vit D per day
Week 2: 200 mgs calc/25 mg Vit D per day
Weeks 3-4: 100 mg calc per day

Today thanks God gembil...look normal again, play with bul again..and eat a lot too..

:):thankyou

[Sciurus1]

:Welcome Welcome new member, you have come to the right place.

All the advice posted here is wise to follow.


When a squirrel attacks another in a cage they share, the one attacked will try to get away, and chew on the cage. This can cause the teeth to become sore, so the squirrel doesn't eat hard foods. As other members here have said, separate them, give them each their own cage. Squirrels like these need at least a cage that is at least 4 ft long, 3 feet deep, and 5 ft high on average, larger is better. If the one that is not eating doesn't start eating hard foods in a few days, though continues to eat soft foods, it is best to take it to a Veterinarian to have the teeth checked.

[island rehabber]

bilbul I am so glad your girls are getting back to normal! Please keep us updated on how they are doing. If you stay with the calcium regimen as you are already doing, and make sure their diet consists of all the right stuff they should be fine. Squirrels are funny little creatures -- they don't like change :) But keep up the good work and all will be well. :thumbsup

[squirrelfriend]

I am not sure if the behaviors of coconut squirrels are different than eastern greys. Is it possible that she is in heat? Do her genitals look swollen? IF so she might be in heat. Some animals may be more territorial during mating season. Spring is on its way.

Try a few more different types of food. The more variety the better. If they are coconut squirrels perhaps they like coconut? I know my Eastern greys do! They love it! How about pecans, walnuts, almonds or filberts instead of peanuts? Can you get those there? Leafy greens such as dandilion greens, kale, brocoli and brussel; sprouts are good. Mine also like dried bones to chew on for the calcium they contain.

Hope you girls do well. Best of luck.