Sick grey squirrel

[ahinton]

I have had by grey squirrel for about 12 years. I saved her from a dog when she was about 4 wks. old. This morning when I went to check on her she was acting very different she was laying outside her house, not moving much. She did drink some water. She didn't seem to mind when I picked her up and held her. She will not eat. Any ideas on what could be wrong. Not sure what to do and the rehab place nearby doesn't want to help.

[Pointy Tale]

Oh my goodness. Thank you for saving her so many years ago.

I am Not a Rehabber. In the meantime, can you tell me about her diet, any recent injuries, does she have a full spectrum light? Has anything changed in her surroundings?

Please hang tight, I am sure a rehabber will be here soon.

[PBluejay2]

Twelve years! That's amazing! You must have been doing something right! I'm sure others will respond asking about diet and sunlight exposure and other basics. I don't mean to sound insensitive here, but there's a good chance your baby is simply getting old. While I've read they can live up to twenty years, twelve years is a good long life for a squirrel. Give it lots of love, make sure it's comfortable, try to keep fluids in it, and offer it its favorite foods, even treats. To make a comparison, my mother is in a rest home literally wasting away, and her doctor says "Any calorie is a good calorie." I do hope your baby perks up and lives many more years

[ahinton]

She eats veggies, nuts, fruits, bread, even tortilla chips every now and then and drinks water. She's always been very active. She lives in a cage in my house so she gets light but not sunlight.

[PBluejay2]

She eats veggies, nuts, fruits, bread, even tortilla chips every now and then and drinks water. She's always been very active. She lives in a cage in my house so she gets light but not sunlight.


Okay. well, others will be on shortly to give you information about diet and the need for sunlight and Metabolic Bone Disease. Depending on the types pf veggies you've been feeding her, there's a good chance that she's not getting enough calcium in her diet, and she must have sunlight to produce vitamin D3 so her body can absorb the calium. Full spectrum bulbs are also recommended, but they won't do what an hour or so of sunlight each day will accomplish. For now, try dissolving a Tums (clacium carbonate) in some water and feeding it to her. Like I said, others will be on soon, so keep checking back!

[ahinton]

Could peanuts do any harm? She has had them before but not in a long while

[island rehabber]

ahinton, PBlueJay2 is right about calcium and the need for sunlight to produce Vitamin D3. Although your squirrel may indeed just be slowing down from reaching a wonderful old age of 12 (:bowdown), it can't hurt for you to try increasing the calcium in her diet. If this is the problem, she will improve noticeably within a short time. Go here: http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17677
for all the info on calcium supplements and proper diet to avoid Metabolic Bone Disease. I would make those adjustments to her diet immediately, and see if she improves. It can't hurt her, and may just give her some more wonderful years!

[digiandchipper]

Where are you in GA...FL is a legal state and there are some good vets here...

[ahinton]

Griffin, spalding county

[ahinton]

Thank you for you help. I will try the calcium. I let you know how it goes.

[Anne]

Yes, do try the Calcium! Having a squirrel for 12 years is a wonderful accomplishment :thumbsup You have come to the right place for help for your precious girl.

[Sarabi]

:grouphug Prayers for your precious girl, please check back and tell us how shes doing and if we can help in any way. I'm in N Central Fl. I have a wonderfully caring vet here that will treat squirrels.

[Jackie in Tampa]

Welcome to TSB and Bless you both.
:Welcome
:bowdown Yes twelve years is an accomplishment as far as sqs in captivity, however please try to keep her hydrated. Also calcium as others have said.
I will send loving thoughts and prayer to you both.
As Digi has asked and said, we have great vets in Fl and as members here, we can all share our knowledge of good ones.
I know a vet in Westmienster SC...an hour and a half north of Atlanta, that will see sqs...Just inside Sc state lines... off hwy 11, first SC exit off 85...If that helps I can PM you her info. I have used her for my sq.:grouphug
We have Georgia members who hopefully will be able to advise of closer/safe vet.
We can also share the good and bad meds with any vet that is willing to see her. Good Luck:grouphug

I am so sorry she is not feeling good. I also would spend alot of close love time with her...:grouphug
We love pics and can help you post them.

[4skwerlz]

I'm going to re-post the emergency treatment here, just to make double sure ahinton sees it:

Emergency Treatment for MBD

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

You will need:

--Tums or calcium pills (any kind)
--a syringe, eyedropper, or spoon

Crush one Tums or calcium pill and add a little water or fruit juice. Use the syringe, eyedropper, or spoon to force-feed the mixture, a little at a time, until it is all gone. Feed a total of 600-800 mg of calcium, and spread it out through the day and night to keep his blood calcium levels as steady as possible.

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. (http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/s...ad.php?t=16093 (http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=16093)) Your squirrel MUST eat rodent block or squirrel blocks every day. If your squirrel doesn't like rodent blocks, you can try crushing them up with peanut butter or avocado temporarily. You can also make a tastier version of squirrel blocks using the recipe at the top of the Squirrel Nutrition forum.

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

Week 1: calcium = 500 mg per day
Week 2: calcium = 250 mg per day
Weeks 3-8: calcium = 100 mg 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.

[Buddy'sMom]

:Welcome and :grouphug :grouphug to you and your little girl!

We have a member that is a rehabber near Atlanta (Atlantasquirrelgirl) and I will send her a PM to see if she knows anyone that can help you.

Also, this rehabber was recommended previously in Columbus, which is not that far away from you:

Georgia, West central region, Muscogee Cty (Columbus) 706-322-5012
Sarah Rowe, Columbus Squirrel Rescue SCRGA@aol.com
Wildlife Species: squirrels (can refer raccoons and other mammals)
This is an excellent rehabber. She helped me with my first squirrel. ....

As you likely already know, Georgia is a difficult state for people (non-rehabbers) to get vet help for a pet squirrel. Given that you have had her for so long, hopefully someone will be willing to help you to identify what is going on and what you might be able to do. But you should be cautious in calling anyone and before you bring her to anyone for help, ask specifically what they will do and confirm that they will not take her away from you. :grouphug

:grouphug :Love_Icon :grouphug

[Buddy'sMom]

The Tums or other calcium will help if she is in need of emergency calcium (and won't hurt her if she is not). After you start her on that .....

Is there any chance that she got into and ate something that you would not consider squirrel food? Anything else that might have suddenly changed in her surroundings or environment -- sprays, cleaners, pest control, paint, fumes? Different kind of branches or buds or flowers for her to nibble on? :thinking :thinking Just trying to think of any possibility that could cause a sudden change like this. (I know you have had her a long time :bowdown and I'm sure have your home and routine arranged for her safety and comfort, but sometimes it can just take something new that could be overlooked.)

:grouphug :Love_Icon :grouphug

[ahinton]

The only thing she has eaten that she has not had in awhile is raw peanuts in the shell, and she was fine yesterday. She took the tums out of the syringe just fine, she seem to just want to sleep. I will keep an eye on her overnight. Thanks for all the help.

[4skwerlz]

Try to keep giving her small amounts of the calcium throughout the day (and night if you can) until she shows signs of improvement.

[Buddy'sMom]

ahinton, a couple of other suggestions:

1. She might like a "rice buddy" -- take a sock and fill 2/3 with rice or dried beans, knot the end and microwave 30-45 seconds (very warm but not too hot) (this is recommended with MBD because they are sore and achey -- whether this is MBD or not, it might be comforting and cozy to her).

2. Many times squirrels that are sick or hurt will take vanilla or strawberry (human) Ensure even if they aren't eating other stuff. Might be worth a try to see if she wants some. ....... or anything else that might be a favorite treat. :)

Let us know how she is doing -- you are both in our thoughts and prayers. Check back later --- atlantasquirrelgirl may respond by post or may send you a Private Message.

:grouphug :Love_Icon :grouphug

[ahinton]

She may have eaten part of a hydrangea flower a couple of weeks ago. Are they poisonous? I can't believe the response I have gotten today, most people I know don't like squirrel very much. Once again thanks to all.

[atlantasquirrelgirl]

Hi there. Sending you a PM. I think I've got the person to help right there in Griffin.

[JLM27]

Could the peanuts have had a mold on them? I've heard that can happen.

[Legomom]

According to this, they contain cyanide, which is poisonous. I would think, however, that if it happened a few weeks ago, she would have shown symptoms much sooner. I'll be praying for your girl. :grouphug

http://www.pawsdogdaycare.com/Start-Up-Services/Plants-Poisonous-To-Pets-Hydrangea.htm

[ahinton]

no mold on the peanuts

[Buddy'sMom]

Where you able to get the PM that atlantasquirrelgirl sent you? To check PMs, click on "Private Messages" in the upper right corner. (Sometimes the PM function does not get turned on right away for new members, so let us know if you can't access it.)

How's our little girl this evening? What's her name?

:grouphug :Love_Icon :grouphug

[Buddy'sMom]

ASG and AH did exchange PMs and AH has several options for getting vet help for her squirrel, to try to figure out what is wrong, that could have come on so suddenly.

Hoping you both have a good night. :grouphug :grouphug :grouphug

[Legomom]

:thumbsup

:grouphug Good luck!! :grouphug

[Ontario Rehabber]

Just got to this thread. Hope the little girl is doing better this morning. Let us know how she is - were you able to get a vet apptmt for her? Praying for you and the little one. :grouphug

[longshotgamble]

Where are you in GA...FL is a legal state and there are some good vets here...
South Carolina is a legal state too, if that is closer.
I hope your squirrel improves, lots of great people here who will help.
Thanks for saving this squirrel and taking such good care of her/him.

[ahinton]

just wanted to post an update. Little Squirrel was up and moving around when I got home this afternoon and ate some sweet potato. Looks like she might be ok. Once again I thank all of you that helped yesterday.

[Buddy'sMom]

:alright.gif :alright.gif That's wonderful news!! :alright.gif :alright.gif

I hope you will stick around, now that you've found us. There is a wealth of knowledge and experience here .... and also a wealth of compassion and understanding and support. :thumbsup :thumbsup We'd love to hear more about your little one --- and we LOVE pictures!

I hope she's OK now, but please don't hesitate to ask for help or to contact the vets atlantasquirrelgirl suggested, if you need to.

:grouphug :Love_Icon :grouphug