Scribble isn't breathing well

[KimbleScribble]

I went into Scribble and Oscars cage to say hi this afternoon. Scribble is having a tough time breathing. He is gasping and making whistling sounds. His lungs sound sticky. I would say pnemonia (bad sp) but he is over a year old!

He was fine this morning but a bit clingy when I stuck my fingers through the cage.
When I picked him up this afternoon he sort of just collapsed into my hands and tried to hide under my shirt.
I have him in his baby cage on a hot water bottle and have covered him over with his blanket.
I phoned the vet and he said I must get the doxybiotic down him as it is good for his chest. But the problem is Scrib is choking on the liquid.
He is fighting with me and not letting me see down his throat to see if something is stuck in his windpipe and he refuses point blank to lap up the doxy on his own. Trying to syringe it down his throat is almost impossible. I am scared that if I hold him to tight I am going to hurt him even more.

[island rehabber]

It's very important that you make sure nothing is down his throat, so calm him as much as you can for a few minutes by holding him, talking to him in low tones, then see if you can put a pencil or small stick between his jaws so you can really look down there! It could be the skin off a piece of fruit, or anything. Once that is ruled out, try holding him calmly, wrapped in a warm piece of cloth except for his head, and dribble the antibiotic drop by drop if you have to, into his mouth. Of course he will argue with you, but right now you are the one who has the medicine and he's the one who needs it :D. It is unusual for pneumonia to set in so critically, so fast...that's why you must rule out first that something isn't stuck in his throat. Good luck :grouphug

[KimbleScribble]

OK. I will have a try at looking again. I got about a 3rd of a ml into him but neither of us liked my rough handling much. I have put him back in his baby cage and I am cuddled up to it and rocking him.
Will go and look around his cage outside. See if I can spot anything unusual. Oscar seems fine.

A few weeks back I found Scrib with a rather Swollen toe. I brought him in and checked it out. He was moving it and able to grip with it and let me wiggle it around. I didn't think it ws broken and thought that he might have got it pinched or pulled somehow. You don't think that would have affected him? If it were broken or damaged?

[KimbleScribble]

So I tried my best to get a look down his throat. I couldn't see very much I am afraid.
I managed to get another .5mls of Doxy into him. He hates me and won't come up to me anymore. He bites me as gently as he can to let me know that what I am doing to him is SO not cricket in his book.
I thought of giving him some hard food to chew so if there is something stuck in his throat it might push it down? What do you think?
He needs to eat, he hasn't had much today.

He is still running around and carrying on but he is a bit lethargic and if he runs around his breathing gets worse. So far there has been no improvement. If anything it has got a bit worse.
Poor Oscar is all alone for the first time in his little life with us,in their outside cage. I am not sure if I should bring him in to be with Scrib or to try to keep them apart if this is some sort of Squirrel flu that Scrib has caught from a wild Squirrel.
I have looked in their cage and can't see anything obvious he might have eaten to make him sick.

[JLM27]

Does the breathing problem seem to come from his throat or his nose?

Can you take him to a vet or a rehabber? Sounds like he might be in serious trouble. If the breathing problem is in his nose, he could have life-threatening tooth problems. (I am no expert, I am just summarizing what I have seen on TSB.)

[KimbleScribble]

Quick update: I think forcing down as much Doxy as I did has done the trick. I kept him warm and quiet and by 7pm this evening he had stopped making clicking, whistling and wet noises. He was still very tired and stressed though so I put him back in his outside cage with little Oscar. He calmed down straight away and Oscar gave him a thorough going over (Hello ear! Hello Eye! Hello Bottom!) and they settled down munching on the Spinach that they have growing there.
By the time the light faded they had put themselves in their box and closed the hole over with their blanket.
I will probably take Scribble in Tomorrow for a few hours to keep an eye on him and give him a chance to rest away from Oscar (who seems to have daily doses of Speed as he is constantly on the move)but they have both done so well being Beeeg Boyz ("wild" Squirrels) that I really don't want them to get used to house noises again. Scribble was very happy to be in his room again and despite being unable to breathe properly still went and marked the corners of the room.

As far as teeth go, I am totally paranoid that I am not giving them enough to chew on and so have made sure that there is always a hard *something* for them to have around. Scribs teeth are unfortunately bright orange from the 3 courses of Doxy he has had in his little life and his top teeth could do with a few months in tracks (he has a Madonna gap) but otherwise they are short and not causing problems.
Being an Asthma sufferer I could have sworn Scrib had an Asthma Attack! It was that sort of chesty, gaspy, seemingly can't get air sort of situation. We both got a big fright! I don't think we are out of the woods yet and I will just have to continue giving him Dozy doses and just keep an eye on him.
Thanks everyone for your usual quick response and "calm soothing voices of reason!":D
Perhaps something for the TSB Learning Curve: When he was at his worse I got the hot water running in the bathroom, added some Peppermint oil to the steaming water and went and sat in there with him for 10 minutes with the door closed, I rubbed and patted his chest while trying to hold him with his head facing down (like when he sucked up to much formula as a baby). After 10 minutes I gradually got us out of the bathroom and put him back in his warm bed and he seemed to be able to breathe a bit better...
Worth a shot in the future maybe?

[Sarabi]

:grouphug Hoping for the best:grouphug It's so hard to endure when our babies are not well. My prayers are with you.

[island rehabber]

KS, first off Scribble's teeth are supposed to be dark orange -- that's perfect :thumbsup. It has nothing to do with any medicine; it's the normal color of an adult squirrel's teeth.
I would definitely keep up the doxy regimen as you've been doing, and keep heat available for the little one to snuggle into in case he can't thermoregulate right now. We are all crossing our fingers and praying for the best outcome!

[Buddy'sMom]

So glad Scribble is doing better! That must have been very scary, but it sounds like you did everything you could to help him! :bowdown :bowdown

The boys (BEEEG BOYZ! I like that! :D ) sound so cute together -- I know it helped both of them to be re-united :)

Hope is progress continues -- good job Mom! :thumbsup

:grouphug :Love_Icon :grouphug

[FallensMommie]

Quick update: I think forcing down as much Doxy as I did has done the trick. I kept him warm and quiet and by 7pm this evening he had stopped making clicking, whistling and wet noises. He was still very tired and stressed though so I put him back in his outside cage with little Oscar. He calmed down straight away and Oscar gave him a thorough going over (Hello ear! Hello Eye! Hello Bottom!) and they settled down munching on the Spinach that they have growing there.
By the time the light faded they had put themselves in their box and closed the hole over with their blanket.
I will probably take Scribble in Tomorrow for a few hours to keep an eye on him and give him a chance to rest away from Oscar (who seems to have daily doses of Speed as he is constantly on the move)but they have both done so well being Beeeg Boyz ("wild" Squirrels) that I really don't want them to get used to house noises again. Scribble was very happy to be in his room again and despite being unable to breathe properly still went and marked the corners of the room.

As far as teeth go, I am totally paranoid that I am not giving them enough to chew on and so have made sure that there is always a hard *something* for them to have around. Scribs teeth are unfortunately bright orange from the 3 courses of Doxy he has had in his little life and his top teeth could do with a few months in tracks (he has a Madonna gap) but otherwise they are short and not causing problems.
Being an Asthma sufferer I could have sworn Scrib had an Asthma Attack! It was that sort of chesty, gaspy, seemingly can't get air sort of situation. We both got a big fright! I don't think we are out of the woods yet and I will just have to continue giving him Dozy doses and just keep an eye on him.
Thanks everyone for your usual quick response and "calm soothing voices of reason!":D
Perhaps something for the TSB Learning Curve: When he was at his worse I got the hot water running in the bathroom, added some Peppermint oil to the steaming water and went and sat in there with him for 10 minutes with the door closed, I rubbed and patted his chest while trying to hold him with his head facing down (like when he sucked up to much formula as a baby). After 10 minutes I gradually got us out of the bathroom and put him back in his warm bed and he seemed to be able to breathe a bit better...
Worth a shot in the future maybe?



Squirrels teeth are naturally orange. When babies they are white and start turning orange....orange teeth are good signs!

[4skwerlz]

So glad Scribble is feeling better. You must have been frantic. The steam was a great idea. Prayers that Scribble continues to improve.

[KimbleScribble]

Orange Teeth are normal???!!! Like sickly Cheese Curlz Chips Orange??
Really?! And I thought I was being a terrible mommy having to give him drugs that make his teeth look terrible...Hu... Will have to tell the vet that! Thanks guys!
They boys are doing well this morning. Scribble had managed to seal himself inside his box by stuff his blanket through the hole...ha ha! Oscar was sitting on top of the box and yelling at him.
Oscar is around 8months now. I think. He was tiny when I got him in, smaller in length and weight than Scrib was at 3 weeks but with eyes open and teeth pushing through. He was super advanced for the age I had thought he was and was questioning the possibility thay he was a dwarf.
But with a serious vitamin and food boost he put on weight and grew a bit. Still small for his age but as fiesty as hell. He looks after Scribble (beeg 1 year old slightly podgy Scribble) when the evil wild Scruff Tail comes and tries to attack them. He reminds me of that Skrat from Ice Age: "I goes Kung Fu on yer butt":rotfl

Off for another fight with Scrib, armed with Syringe and Rescue Remedy (more for me than him!)
Thanks everyone! :jump

[4skwerlz]

Yep, bright orange is normal.

I always tease Henry about his "orange toofies"

[KimbleScribble]

OK...So another quick update: Scribble isn't making those terrible clicking, whistling sounds anymore but he is still puffing quite hard when he gets worked up. I don't recall seeing him like this before this incident. He gets upset if my husband goes near his cage and he starts puffing like he has run a mile. He got pretty upset yesterday when I brought him in to give him his meds and really looked like he is straining to get air.
He is a rather ummm, "robust" looking Squirrel. Not going to win any skinny competitions but not a roly poly. Am concerned this might be the onset of some sort of heart disease. But perhaps my imagination is getting a bit beyond itself.
Buuuuut...It would explain why he has always been a sedate little boy, not one for much playing and prefers being cuddled. Compared to Oscar he looks like he is wading through peanut butter most of the time... But then it probably isn't anything like that at all...Oh dear...

And today I have to leave for South Africa for 5 days. I have someone coming in to give them food and water (and Doxy in the water. They will both just have to be treated. The Vitamins will do Oscar good). Hopefully they will drink the water... and a friend is using my washing machine over the weekend and taking over my Stray-Dog-Feeding Shift so she said she would sit next to the cage and chat to them while waiting for the machine to finish a load. I am out of cell range for 2 days for my work and I am SUPER stressed about leaving them and not being contactable..

I just have to trust that he will be OK. If there was ever a time when I felt I had to "just let go" and "what will be will be" this would be it... :shakehead
But I am still a terrible Mommy for leaving him while he is sick-that doesn't change.:shakehead

[4skwerlz]

Well it's good that Scribble is better...perhaps his symptoms are just left over from the pneumonia and will improve. Oh dear, it must be so hard to leave him now, but what can you do? You have to live your life.... Is there any way you could get him to a vet for an x-ray before you leave?

Can you have the person who will be watching Scribble come on TSB to keep us updated?

One last thing: What is Scribble's diet?

:grouphug Whatever happens, we'll be praying for Scribble.:grouphug

[atlantasquirrelgirl]

This sounds a great deal like Squarlet's odontoma. Have you seen that thread? There's video posted on it of her condition. You may want to review it, along with the video of her.

http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8149&highlight=squarlet

[Mountain Mama]

If Scribble has pneumonia, it may take some time before all of his symptoms resolve, even after she has finished her antibiotics.

Here is a picture of a human chest x-ray. All that white fuzz on the right side of your picture is the pnuemonia and the inflammation around it. That inflammation is taking up the space where air normally lives. For this person, that's approximately 25% of his "airspace". When you lose "airspace", you naturally work harder to breathe to compensate for the loss. Kind of like trying to suck air through a small straw...it can be done, but it's tiring. So you can imagine that if you exert much energy in this situation, you will huff and puff more.

Try to do whatever you can to make sure he isn't stressed any more than possible. Keep us up to date on him!

[KimbleScribble]

Hey everyone! Thanks for all your advice. Just got back last night. Am EXHAUSTED. I went in to say hi to them last night. Scribble shot out of his box and down my shirt and cuddled up and went to sleep. So much for them becoming wild while I was away!
His breathing still sounds wet and clicky but not as bad as it was. He finished his antibiotics on Monday.
I will go check on them a little later on. (I have a gardener here now. If I am in the cage while he is banging and crashing I end up gettting ripped to shreds while they run around)
Their diet is fairly normal: The get fruit and veg in season with their main staples being apples, bananas, pears, carrots, brocolli and spinach.
They have 1 nut a day (Almond, Pecan or on special occasions they have a Brasil Nut...). Pumpkin seeds and various bird seeds are scattered on the ground for them to "find". They also have wild Squirrel foods like Marula's and other bits that I have seen the wilds eating.
Scribble is a bit over weight but he always has been a "Beeg Boy". He was never as active as Oscar Scarface and has always prefered just sitting around me or being cuddled to running around and exploring.
Need to make a decision about taking him through to the vet, will do a thorough check on him this morning and then decide...But more than likely we will be off to the vet by friday...

[gs1]

so scarey when the babies are sick.

:thumbsup

glad he's getting better.:grouphug

[KimbleScribble]

Right...So we are back to square one. Scribble is coughing, snorting, clicking and wheezing. Not eating. He is still moving around but looks very unhappy.

AtlanaSquirrelGirl: His breathing sounds very much like Squarlets did. (beautiful gilr by the way!) I was tickling his bottom (I can do practically anything to him when I am tickling his bottom) and got him to relax and had a good look at his teeth. The bottom teeth don't seem that long. They are fairly even in length and have no gaps. His top teeth are a bit squonky but don't seem to be giving him trouble. I can't see any trauma to his mouth but then I am not sure what I am looking for.
What I have noticed is that there is a yellowing spot of skin on the side of his mouth just behind his whiskers. Sort of the colour of pus and that same colour is evident on the roof of his mouth. But like I said, I don't know if that is supposed to be there or not... And to get a picture of that is impossible! Even with bum tickles.

The Doxy helped last week. I am happy to put him back on it but I will go through to the vet tomorrow (only lift I can find) so not sure if I should incase there is a change in medication and...As horrible as it sounds...If it makes him feel better and the vet can't find whats wrong with him.
Is there anything I can give him to calm him? Steam bath? Rescue remedy?
Should I hop on a bus with him and take him through to town now? Should I seperate him from Oscar and let him rest? I will have two unhappy Squirrels then though...

[KimbleScribble]

Took Scrib through to the Vet yesterday. We got Baytril! Yippeee! And its his chest and his teeth look OK. pheeeewwww!
Got him home and decided that because he had had a really rough day and had been super stressed at the vets and had another breathing attack I wouldn't try to get the Meds down him last night, I would let him sleep with Oscar and then start him today.
We went out to meet some visitors to the town and got back at around 8.30pm. I fed all the animals and went and checked on Scrib and Oscar. Thank goodness I did... Scrib was lying in his box with Oscar holding his head looking like he was dead. He was hardly breathing and his lips were puffed out and bluish. He was gasping like a fish out of water and his eyes were popping out of his head. I tried to call him out of his box (I couldn't get him out of the top because there wan't enough room between it and the roof of his cage.) and he didn't know where to go and where I was. I eventually turned the box sideways and got him out. We got him onto a hot water bottle and I started blowin into his open mouth, dribbled his meds down and got a pot of boiling water and held him over it (not to close!) it opened him up enough to let him get some oxygen and then I fought to get more Baytril down his throat for the rest of the night. Brought Oscar in and that seemed to calm Scrib down. By about 2am this morning both of them were sleeping soundly and Scrib was breathing better.
Today they spent most of the morning taking the bedding out of their cage and building a nest in the back of an antique cupboard of my husbands. Scribble gets tired very quickly and I have put them both in thier baby cage with a hot water bottle for an afternoon nap.
Got a big fright. But at least he is running around today. I just wish I knew what was causing this. How can I release him if he has a wonky chest??? Am so sad today, my poor Big Boy...

[4skwerlz]

Did the vet x-ray Scribble's head so he could check the roots of his teeth?

Did the vet say his chest was okay?

[KimbleScribble]

The Vet is unfortunately not set up for Squirrels. He said he didn't feel confident knocking him out for x-rays etc. But is very caring and thorough. Well, I hope...
I held him and the vet listened to his breathing with a stethoscope (rural Vet practice in rural Botswana) and said it sounded very rough and congested and then Scrib had a little breathing fit because he was scared and the Vet said it definately seems to be a chesty thing. I managed to calm Scrib down and the vet looked at his teeth and said that they looked healthy enough and not long enough to cause a problem. He also said that they yellowed area of skin on the outside of his cheek was just hairloss but am not sure about that. But he said that anything else that was wrong with him that we can't see the Baytril will fix.

He gave me a dilution ratio of .5ml to 1 litre of water. He said not to make it any stronger as it is a really strong drug.
Its supposed to be the oral form of Baytril. At that dilution I can't taste much yuckyness but Scribble thinks I am trying to kill him and is SO not interested. I have given him the baytril mix in his water bottle but have had to hide the taste with a little honey. Which I am not so happy about but figure if it will encourage him to drink his meds and I don't have to stress him every few hours with forcing it down with a syringe then it will be less harmful to him. I am so scared I hold him to tight and hurt him. Or hurt his mouth with the syringe. And I have a healthy respect for his teeth! Although he does try not to hurt me...

We have a game that seems to be working. Usually Scribble just says "Uh-Uh, No, Never, Not a Chance" and pushes the Syringe away so while Scrib is watching I dip the nasty syringe in some sweet water and let Oscar have a lick and chew (he is in that "Lets taste EVERYTHING!" young Squirrel Stage). Scrib sees this, chases Oscar away and then gives the syringe a taste and I get a few dribbles of Nasty Water into his mouth. Then he runs away, yells, snorts and coughs, gets himself in a state and 10 minutes later we start again. Thank goodness for Oscar, he has been so Sweet to dear Scribble. But again, isn't as stressful as holding him down and trying to get the meds down, he gets so panicked and congested when we go that way round...
I want to take some pics of the two of them but am worried the flash might stress him a bit. Will see...
Thanks everyone!:bowdown :bowdown

[4skwerlz]

Pneumonia is serious but Baytril should fix that. And frankly, an odontoma or other tooth problem is in many ways much worse.

Praying for Scribble to get well soon.:grouphug

[4skwerlz]

You can also mash up the Baytril with a little bit of peanut butter or avocado and feed it with a spoon. That's how I got Henry to take his when he had to be on antibiotics for 10 days for coccidia. He'd lick it all up and then try to steal the spoon!

[Buddy'sMom]

KS, does the bottle of Baytril that you have state what the concentration of the medicine is? I am wondering if someone here can give you an alternative way to dose it --- that will be easier and will give him a more exact dose?? But they will need to know the concentration in order to do that.

FYI, everyone, this is the info from the vet:

..... He gave me a dilution ratio of .5ml to 1 litre of water. He said not to make it any stronger as it is a really strong drug.
Its supposed to be the oral form of Baytril......
And Scribble is either drinking some from his water bottle or getting as many dribbles as she can coax into him via syringe.

Can someone that is familiar with Baytril give KS a bit more advice on this (perhaps by PM if the dosing specifics should not be posted here)? :thankyou

I hope the Baytril works its magic and he is feeling better soon. That must have been SO scary!!!

:grouphug :Love_Icon :grouphug

[KimbleScribble]

:thankyou :thankyou EVERYONE!!

The Vet dispensed the pure Baytril into another bottle for me. enough for me to " mix up a new batch everyday of .5ml to 1 litre of water" (thats what he said!!). It is a controlled substance here in Bots so he couldn't give me more than prescribed (I wanted extra to keep in my Animal first Aid kit-saves having to go through to francistown everytime there is a problem) and even then he wasn't very happy giving me the "neat" stuff. Is it that strong?:thinking
On the Vets label on the bottle it is written: 10% Oral, 10ml. Sooo... A strength of 10% perhaps?? :thinking NOt sure how much he weighs...

Thanks for the Avo or peanut butter advice! I have a bunch of Avo's rippening so I will try that on him tomorrow. He Luuuurves Avo! Should make it a bit more pleasant for him. As for Scribble Barrito-ing: I can never get the roll up quite right and he ends up getting a leg free within seconds. I have started putting the little cloth I use around him, tucking it up under his butt and pinching it around above his shoulders like a cape. He can duck down and "hide" (grumble and yell at me) but can only come back up through that way (he hides alot!!), it works for a short while then he says "No!" and bites. So we go back to the "Lets give the Nasty stuff to poor unassuming little Oscar" Routine.:thumbsup

He is quiet and sleeping soundly this evening. For good measure I will take his cage into the bathroom for a little steam. And I think I need a bath...And a glass of Merlot...And a chocolate... :tilt

[pinky momma]

Our Prescription Dosage of Baytril is depending on weight of the animal.... This is all based on mg/kg and using 2 times a day for 5-7 days
10 grams - 20 grams is 0.01
30 grams is 0.02
40 grams - 50 grams is 0.03
60 grams is 0.04
70 grams is 0.05
80 grams is 0.06
90 grams is 0.07
100 grams is 0.08
120 grams is 0.09
130 grams is 0.09
150 grams - 200 grams is 0.1
300 grams is 0.2
400 grams is 0.3
500 grams is 0.3


Hope this helps

[pinky momma]

Baytril is a controlled drug and should only be used under the control, advice, guidence and supervision of a licensed vet. Here is a dosage chart online to check with if unsure..... http://www.fda.gov/cder/cancer/animalframe.htm

But keep in mind that this is just a reference chart and not something that should be used instead of the advice of a professional.

[pinky momma]

Sorry our Baytril is 15 mgs if that helps with the dosage......

[KimbleScribble]

Scribble update: He has stopped making sucking, clicking, wheezing sounds! He spent an hour outside yesterday toget some sun and the wind picked up and he started feeling sick again. I kept them inside today and they spent most of their time sleeping. I figured that if they need to sleep they must.
I had a good listen to his chest with a stethoscope and although it still sounds a little wet it is 100% better than on Friday. Perhaps they can spend a bit more time outside tomorrow. If they are going to be released it has to be this coming weekend. We will see how it goes. If he is not well enough they will just have to be in the outside cage while we go away (with a friend popping in to feed them). Not keen on that-it's all a bit of a hurried mess due to Scrib feeling sick for so long. I want them (and me) to be completely ready before we part ways.

:thankyou :thankyou The Yucky Meds Cleverly Disguised as harmless Avo did the trick!!! Fantastic!:thankyou :thankyou

I have noticed Scribs poo is different. Still holds its shape but is a slimey light green colour. Would tht be the Baytril or the over indulgence of Avo?

But all in all he is happier. I would give him a 7 out of 10 right now. Bordering on a 8!:crazy
Am still in that limbo "So can I relax and stop the nightly inspection" stage. Have been on a caffiene roller coaster and my writing has fallen apart! But anything (ANNNNYYYTHING!!) for my Sweet Scrib and little Oscar.

Thank you again everyone! You are all so wonderful!:bowdown

[KimbleScribble]

Hey GM! I agree. The original plan was that I would slowly remove myself from their routine and then start taking them to the spot we picked out for them, for a play and then one day let them sleep there. It was all supposed to have happenend by now with this week being their first week out in the wild.
But due to life getting in the way and me having to rush to Swaziland for a job and then Scribble being sick for 2 weeks or so its all a bit messed up now.

We are going away for 3 weeks (in less than two weeks time). By the time we get back it will be getting chilly at night. There is also a good chance we will be leaving Botswana in 4 months time. I really don't know what to do at this stage. Is it fair to leave them in thier cage for 3 weeks? Should I see what they do this weekend (as in take them to their spot and they run off in glee and don't come back), or hold back until we get back?
I have been threatend with divorce if I attempt to bring two biting Squirrels on holiday with us....:D And threatend with starvation if I ask for our honeymoon to be put off one more time...

And another problem is keeping fresh food in the house for them to be fed with. Our closest shop is 160km away... Dry food is not a problem and I am sure a couple of packets of apples, carrots and pears will last in the fridge. Butternuts will last to. But there is no variety in that...
Anyone want to come house sit in Botswana for 3 weeks?

[KimbleScribble]

Hi all! Well I had planned to let you all know that Scrib was feeling better and the crisis was averted but again, as it happens perhaps not.
Yes, Scribble is feeling better, he is playing and zooming around whenever he sees me. Sort of like he is saying "See?? I am a normal Squirrel! Look how fast I am!" And he was giving Oscar and I attitude about coming near him while he has a nut and chased Oscar around for his this morning.

When he got upset about me being near his nut he had a breathing fit! This after 5 days of Baytril?? His chest sounded fine yesterday-still a little bit of a rattle in it and he is using his nose again (could smell the nut in my back pocket!). This is supposed to be his last day of Baytril.
Also, for the past two nights he refused to sleep in his cage with Oscar (I have left the top off so that they can jump in and out to get water.) Instead I have found him curled up in a corner on the floor _shivering_. As if he were a baby that crawled off his heat source. He's a year old! He's a Beeeg Boy!

I picked him up and cuddled him and put him on a hot water bottle then back into the cage with Oscar and closed them in. He fretted a bit but then snuggled up and went to sleep. How strange!

Should I continue with the Baytril for another day or so?
Have decided to keep them home for the 3 weeks we are away. Planning like Crazy!
79235 Scribble

79236 Oscar

79237 The 3 of us

79238 Scribble doing his best Pointer impersonation.

[FallensMommie]

OMGOSH I can't help but they are adorable :Love_Icon

[KimbleScribble]

All is (fairly) back to normal in the land of Scrib and Oscar. :thumbsup He occasionally has the odd "episode" but nothing as bad as it was. Have Baytril standing at the ready if there is a problem. And have given a friend a pair of leather gloves incase she needs to handle Scribble.

Scribble is now on a strict diet of everything but the fattening stuff (nuts, pumpkin seeds, lots of Avo etc). I think that will improve his over all health somewhat. When the Vet saw him yesterday again he commented on the fact that Scrib has developed a bit of a tummy roll since his prior appointment a week before ("Aren't we a bit of a Roly Poly Squirrel?!" Scribble promptly bit him!:D ).

We have enclosed their outside cage in Chicken Mesh (small hole variety) to keep snakes out (we put wooden slats between the Chicken Mesh and the existing Mesh so that there is a gap between the two. So no toes can get caught.) and while we were at it we have added new levels and runways, rope Swings and little places for them to explore.
Please, if anyone has any boredom busting ideas, could they PM them to me?
3 weeks of pretty much being by themselves in a cage (only really getting attention at feeding times :-( ) is going to be a bit rough on them so am hoping that if I give them interesting things to play with they won't suffer to much. Any ideas?
We are off on holiday on Thursday. Am very sad to be leaving them behind- Scribble has been everywhere with us since he arrived last year... Its going to quite strange not having him around...

:thankyou :thankyou Thank you to everyone for their advice! You are all wonderful! mjs Scribble and Oscar would not have got this far without all the knowledge and care from the Squirrel Board members that have helped us along the way. :thankyou :thankyou :Love_Icon :Love_Icon :Love_Icon

[island rehabber]

I'm happily moving this thread to Non Life-Threatening....so glad Scribble is back to his old self! :thumbsup

[Ontario Rehabber]

So happy to hear Scribbles is feeling better. :jump

A good idea may to be to give your friend the address to this site in case of anything unforeseen. I'm just a worry wort by nature. A few suggestions for items to put in the cage would be a container full of soil to dig in, bury stuff, and eat. If possible fresh branches daily with leaves and/or seeds to munch on, a large stump to munch, boulders or pebbles are usually appreciated, good for the minerals, cotton rope, in season natural seed heads, etc. You may have many or all of these already in the cage.

I'm sure the little ones will miss you as much as you miss them, what little cuties they are!!!!

Have a good holiday

[Momma Squirrel]

Nice habitat. Do they stay out there all the time?? Another question, what are the walls made of??

[KimbleScribble]

:jump AEMJ, that habitat looks so good I would happily live in there! Lovely.:D :D

[Jackie in Tampa]

Hate to thread jacket...but AEMJ Jeff, I keep getting more pics of this habitat and I love it! Fred has this same set up as work shop...Oo...
out out out!:D
just kidding...I need more sqs like I need a hole in the ...yada!
Great Habitat!
Sorry Kimble:wave123

[KimbleScribble]

Wonderful! Is this a sort of Prefab Wendy House tht you have modified or bought as is? Or is this of your own design? My Boys would think they were in the Scribble Hilton Hotel if they went into something that size!:jump
Scrib and Oscar also like to keep their trees until they are good and dead.

[Ontario Rehabber]

What a gorgeous house:thumbsup A five star hotel for squirrels with room and maid service - not too spoilt!!!!!!!!!!Good for them. They may never want to leave.

[JLM27]

Hi, is it possible Scribble has allergic asthma? Don't know if squirrels can get this, but it was a thought.

[JLM27]

Hello. Here is just a thought because I am paranoid =:0. I know it is easy to cut grass turf and just roll it up and then you can put it down again and peg it with twigs until it settles. I was thinking maybe around the cage in addition to the pavers you could roll up the turf, put down a 2 foot band of chicken wire and then roll the turf back down. This is a lot of work but it sure would frustrate any persistent diggers, like a fox, or a weasel, or a badger.

[KimbleScribble]

Yes! Thanks! Lots of ideas! What do you give them for "doing things" ?
So far they haven't been overly impressed with the climbing ropes i have put up for them. I thought Oscar would at least enjoy them, he climbs onto the th roof panel of the cage and hangs upside down while he eats his food. Scribble bullies him into giving up his food so he goes up there and hangs by his back legs!. Strange boy.

[JLM27]

I do not keep squirrels but just have yard buddies. What they like most is to chase each other in and around all the branches on the trees like in figure eights, so maybe a sort of tangle of upright large branches in a corner? It has to have a couple of defensible dead end branches sticking out where they can turn and face the pursuer, too.

[JLM27]

Also, I hear they like to swing on a dried corn cob. Then, some have had success with a wheel that they can maske go faster and faster, and Bean sure likes his stuffies!