Adult Pet "freaked out"

[OzarkPetunia]

Hi, all. I've had a pet fluffy-tail for 8 years and I can't believe I just found this board!

I really need help with my "baby"... Sorry for being long-winded but I'm going to try to give as much detail as I can.

My gray squirrel, Bailey, has completely freaked out and we can't figure out what's going on. One day she suddenly started tearing around and around in her cage and when she stopped she was looking around like a spooked chicken. She doesn't always go in one direction, her head isn't tilted, her eyes are equally responsive to light, nothing hurts (when I finally got a hold of her to feel everything).

She wouldn't eat until I put her in a cat carrier and then after about an hour she's calmed down and is eating, drinking & sleeping again.

But she would normally try to destroy a cat carrier so something is NOT right.

I've tried leaving the carrier inside her cage for days and then opening the door and she gradually comes out but then it starts all over.

Last night, I held her just even with the door of her cage for about 20 minutes before she suddenly launched herself into it and then huddled in a corner with huge eyes.

She's never been "spooky" ~ she was raised indoors with a house full of other critters and the cats regularly use the top of her cage as a super-highway from point A to B and she's never cared. The cats that even notice her have always treated her like a kitten, not prey. (ALWAYS supervised, I promise! Like "trust, but verify", they're all still animals with instincts...)

Her cage is by a window but the day this started the blind was drawn because it was really hot outside so I can't think of anything that could have happened that would have created a horrifying association.

The only other thing going on is that she's gotten a fluid-filled lump under her neck on the right side and my vet has drained it with a needle a couple of times in the last 9 months and it's not an abcess ~ it's brownish fluid that has a small amount of blood cells in it when they look at a slide. It's never seemed to bother her.

Her cage is a large ferret cage, she eats a variety of fresh and frozen fruits and veggies (frozen snap peas are by far the favorite right now) with some seeds and nuts. My original advice came from a squirrel rehabber in CA that helped me with baby formula and then the adult diet. Since browsing this board, I've just ordered Henry's blocks.

She's always been a maniac, only coming back for cuddles and play after she's run herself ragged but since this started she just wants cuddles.

When I change the bedding (fleece and old t-shirts) in the cat carrier, she gets super-cautious again like something is going to get her.

It's been a week and a half.

My vet has always been more than willing to help but doesn't have experience with exotics and I've called all the vets in the area since moving here 5 years ago.

Please, please let me know if you have any advice!

Thanks,
Rose

[Jackie in Tampa]

:Welcome :wave123
from the info that you have given, first thing that comes to mind...
sunflower seeds create anxiety...stop all seeds, not good sq food anyway...phos/cal ratio!
Also I have a MBD positive sq,7 y/o and he freaks when his calcium is low..very much what you have described...pure terror.
Sooo as a precautionary, today, right now, give calcium...tums will work. Or pure calcium suppliment, esbilac...anything calcium...Maybe sq will eat tums like candy...maybe you will need to break down in water and syringe feed.
JMO and without alot of details...
Others will have more info and questions.
Can you post a pic!
Hey, good job, 8 years:bowdown
and read our nutrition forum on healthy foods...
sqs require extreme amounts of calcium rich foods...
PS, I am originally from LR!

[PBluejay2]

Good to have you with us! The fluid-filled lump: if it's not an abcess, what did the vet think it was? Is there any chance that it's gotten to a stage where it's painful?

My non-releasables HATE change! Try to think of ANYTHING that might have changed in her environment--ANYTHING--from repositioning furniture in her room (or wherever she's kept) to the kind of soap you use when you shower/bathe. My house squirrel, Buddy, doesn't even like me to clean house because I have to move things around to do it. As soon as he sees me grab a broom or a mop (he's never had a bad experience with either), he freaks and bolts for his nest on a top shelf in a closet, and I might not see him for an entire day. When he resurfaces, he approaches everything like he's never seen it before (that jerky sort of side shuffle with tail extended over his back and to one side of his head).

not much help--sorry, but congratulations on keeping her in good shape for all these years!

Edit: Saw Jackie's post. Adding rodent block is important, but also check out the Nutritional chart: Calcium to Phosphorus ratios (Sticky under the Nutrition Forum) and the other stickies on nutrition if you haven't already.

[OzarkPetunia]

Thanks so much for the quick replies ~ from all I've been reading I was wondering if this could be MBD related.

Assuming I've messed up royally and created a serious health problem, any idea what I can expect for a "recovery" by starting calcium today?

Should I just wait until she decides it's time to destroy the cat carrier as a sign that it's time to try her big cage again?

We've tried and tried to think of anything that could have changed to cause the spookiness but there really wasn't anything moved or changed that would have looked or smelled different. She doesn't even mind the vacuum cleaner. And she's never seemed to care about "change" as I've offered new toys or houses. Without hearing from the community that squirrels generally don't like change, we've raised her with the philosophy of changing things to keep her entertained and engaged and she's always torn into new stuff right away. (Our favorite is giving her a stuffed jack dog toy because she wrestles with it in the floor and is ADORABLE.)

Thanks again!!!

[FLUFFYTAILNUT]

Not..really a whole lot to add..that hasn't been..said..already...:thumbsup

:Welcome Welcome to the Squirrel Board:Welcome

FLUFFYTAILNUT:wave123

[JLM27]

I think you better try to find out what that fluid filled lump on her neck is. She's getting on in years, and I wouldn't let anything like that go undiagnosed. Maybe some of the rehabbers cn tell you how to get a diagnosis.

There is a philosophy here, that the owner should ALWAYS treat for MBD immediately, because it won't hurt to do so and could be fatal if not done. So do give her calcium and lots of sunlight right away. Now that she is older she may have the same problem we old humans do with absorbing and maintaining calcium levels.

[OzarkPetunia]

I'd LOVE any contact info that a rehabber can offer for getting a diagnosis on the lump!!! My vet will do whatever we need to get an appropriate sample somewhere but we just don't know who has the capability of processing it.

They've been willing to process a blood panel for her but they weren't able to look up what the ranges should be!

[island rehabber]

OP I will send you a private message about that....

[OzarkPetunia]

Update: I got fruit flavored and cocoa flavored tums and Bailey ate almost half the cocoa one like it was candy and now she never wants to see another one. She's ALWAYS been finicky. We've tried everything in the house, including the old standbys of peanut butter or avocado and the only way to get more calcium in her is a syringe which she HATES. The Henry's blocks are supposed to arrive today but I have a feeling she won't like them.

But a couple of hours after her first candy, she greeted me with "happy grunts" for the first time since this started. She's still super skittish about life outside of the cat carrier but maybe we're on the right track...?

Thanks to all for the advice ~ anything more is absolutely welcome!!!:thankyou

~Rose

[Sarabi]

Nothing really to add.:Welcome and I pray that everything is okay with your furry one. I just thought of one thing, have you tried the liquid calcium in her water?

[Jackie in Tampa]

:thumbsup YEah!:thumbsup
OP I will send you a private message about that....

[Jackie in Tampa]

Nothing really to add.:Welcome and I pray that everything is okay with your furry one. I just thought of one thing, have you tried the liquid calcium in her water?
YES...Rugby's Calcionate Syrup
.3ccs daily...insurance...need UVs daily also ...
not direct sunlight, but shaded supervised 30 minutes to an hour minimal.
Good advise Carol!:thumbsup
Is there a pic of lump?? was a biopsy done?

[OzarkPetunia]

Her water consumption varies a lot ~ what's a recommended qty to add to her water without knowing how much she'll drink per day? (mg per oz?)

THANKS!

[Jackie in Tampa]

Her water consumption varies a lot ~ what's a recommended qty to add to her water without knowing how much she'll drink per day? (mg per oz?)

THANKS!
Every morning like you would take a vitamin yourself, I draw .3cc in a syringe and make them take it, I did try the water, but I too questioned how to know exactly how much. I have never liked the add it to the water thing...for the same reason! No control over amount.

[Kat762]

:Welcome HI !

Eight years young, that's great ! Calcium and lump investigation are 2 things to do, I normally let our very learned and knowledgeable experts handle things and I don't like to take up room in the Help needed forums, but I did want to add something- this summer I have twice found earwigs ( those pincer bugs ) in my grey's cage. It freaked me out that bugs were in her cage and I can only imagine if she'd been bitten it would freak her out too.
Just a thought to do a thorough cage search. Normally I only change her " bed/nest " once or twice a week, I know they enjoy decorating it " just so ". Since the bug episode, I take her bed apart daily to make sure none have gotten in there.
I have a border collie who, if he sees a bug indoors, will put his tail between his legs,crouch low and RUN into his crate,and won't come out for hours.
Hope Bailey is back to normal soon:multi

Kat, owned by Andi

[OzarkPetunia]

Thanks for the advice, Kat!

I totally thought the same thing and we have SCORPIONS as house pests!!! So I did take her cage apart and I inspected her fishy bed and the tray in the bottom and didn't find anything, but if it was something crawly it wouldn't necessarily stick around when she went haywire. We were even thinking snake because her reaction was so extreme.

So... if she's gotten spooked by something and created an association between the nasty thing and her cage, WHAT NOW?

I'm definitely going to keep pursuing the Calcium and the lump but what can I do to help calm her down from acting like her entire cage is out to get her?

~Rose

[JLM27]

A new cage? Rescue Remedy? Change all the bedding for new stuff and add a hammock. Honestly, my squirrels EAT bugs with great lip-smacking and relish, wiping their little snouts on a branch like it is a napkin :D Could you hang the cage UP, in case it is a snake (they hide under refrigerators, ya know.)

Is she one that you can get out and cuddle and give pinchy cheekums and chest rubs to? Maybe that would help her.

Has she responded at all to the added calcium?

[OzarkPetunia]

She hasn't really responded to the added calcium. And where she normally does want cheek, ear and underarm rubs while she grooms my hands and arms, she only wants them sometimes right now. Then she ducks and looks around. She ate a few bites of the Henry's Blocks that arrived today and put it down.

I don't have a clue how to post pics but I talked to a vet that was recommended in a PM and he believes like my vet does that it's "some kind of cyst". The skin of her neck moves over the lump and it's firmly attached on the right side between her shoulder and her jaw. The fluid we've drawn off a few times is clear and medium brown colored, not pus and it doesn't have WBC's in it so it doesn't appear to be a tumor or an abscess. She also doesn't mind having us squish and squeeze it so it sure doesn't seem to be painful.

So I THINK the current wierdness isn't related to the lump but I'm certainly not a professional and I didn't even stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night!

Totally looking forward to ANY more input...

Thanks!
~Rose

[Peaches]

Hi Rose and welcome to the squirrel board :wave123
I agree that the lump sounds like a cyst, while it will not harm her it will continue to refill unless the whole sack is removed surgically. At 8 yrs old I wouldnt be inclined to sedate her for a non life threatening cyst though.
As for the freaking out it sounds like something got in her cage. Scorpions :hidechair snakes :eek: oh my I'd freak too lol.
It must be very frightening to be locked in a cage with no way to get away from something scary or dangerous.
I had a mouse 3 yrs ago that would visit my wally at night and steal his food. After wally saw him he freaked out and refused to step foot in that cage again. I bought him a new cage and he was fine until this past winter when a new mouse got in. This mouse would steal food from Wally's bowl and climb up into his sleepy ball to eat it. I had to move the cage and change all the bedding and toys. Wally was fine with it after that but once in awhile he stills sits up high on his branch and flicks his tail and the bottom of the cage just in case. On the other hand the same mouse got into my girlie's cage when she was PMSing and girlie beat the hell out of it haha. Try giving Bailey a new cage or moving her old cage to a new area.
I would continue to give her extra calcium, it wont hurt her and it may help her. I never knew they get freaky when their calcium levels are low. Thats why I love this board, there is always something to be learned from the people here.

[OzarkPetunia]

Hi, all.

I still need advice. We're not making progress and I STRONGLY suspect that this is a reaction to a change in her eyesight from cataracts. You can see a light fog depending on the way the light hits her eyes and I've followed the "Emergency Treatment for MBD" advice since I started this thread with no real changes in her behavior. She still won't eat the HHB's unless I grind it up and mix it with almond butter and then she won't eat it two days in a row mixed that way. But I've been able to get her to eat the Tums portions each day by mixing it in SOMETHING. It just has to be a different something EVERY DAY. :D

She's "settled" into a predictably cautious behavior of greeting me at the door of the cat carrier and either taking a food offering right away or first wanting to peek out in her new strange "paranoid" way of stretching her neck out and turning her head every which way. She doesn't ever flinch away from me but I assume it's because she can smell it's me.

She wants to be held and snuggled all the time but only if I keep her head covered. If I don't, she starts to get more and more agitated. That's why I'm thinking there's something wrong with her eyesight. But I can pet and rub on her all day long when she's inside the cat carrier. My guess is that it's because it's dark.

She won't go back into the cat carrier on her own if I've just changed the fleece with some that's the exact same color. I'm sure it smells different, but Bailey has NEVER been intimidated by clean bedding or new toys or anything different ever before. So again, I suspect she's missing some sensory input. I really don't think she was spooked by seeing the boogeyman (snake, bug, mouse, etc...).

But it also doesn't make sense that this happened suddenly. Could she have had a stroke?

Any ideas about the long-term?

Is 8-9 years "old" for a gray squirrel?

THANKS!
Rose

[Jackie in Tampa]

:wave123 Rugby's Calcionate Syrup is a supliment for calcium that I use daily, it is in sugar water and they don't hate it...I use a syringe to give orally.
.3cc is equal to 100mg ish. So a doable dose. Not enough to keep a sq alive and healthy but with other good foods it adds up.
A 1 quart bottle is around $20 online ...a life time supply for a circus of sqs!:thumbsup
The oldest sq that I know of in captivity was Stevo, who recently passed at 13 y/o. RIP Stevo.:Love_Icon
The agitation sounds like a side effect from MBD, this is my personal experience with the disease. My sq also has MBD and is 7 y/o...I notice when he has not been eating healthy and/or enough, he is limping etc, showing signs of low cal, he is also grouchy, paranoid and nervous:dono ..
however his eye sight has not been affected.
I cannot think of anything that may cause her to be scared, I am sorry to hear she is still going through this and hope someone can offer something to try, some insight to her issue.
Good Luck:Love_Icon

[JLM27]

First of all, let's go back over the onset. Did anything at all change in the house on the day or the day before this began? New cleaning materials of any kind? New appliances installed? New carpeting or piece of furniture? New decorations or figurines or pictures? Change in whether the blinds are up or down. ANYTHING that changed. ANYTHING that she could see, hear or smell or that would have changed what she sees, hears, or smells. Even if it is not actually IN your house. Sometimes machine and appliance noises are subtle or outside our range of hearing.

For instance, two of my (wild) guys were sitting with me when they suddenly freaked and started moaning in terror, both pointing in the same direction. I couldn't hear or see a thing until I got up and walked all the way around a big house between us and this water pump that someone was using because their basement flooded. I couldn't hear it at that distance, but they could and they were freaked because I guess some frequency in the sound scared them.

[OzarkPetunia]

We've gone over and over every detail and can't come up with a single thing that changed. My Mom moved in with us after she retired and she's chemically sensitive so it's rare that there are ANY smells other than food. But I even went over FOOD smells and couldn't come up with anything. We are quite literally the most boring people on earth. Anything different would totally stand out in my mind. My husband and I have wondered if there's something like you describe ~ a noise that we can't hear that's frightening her. We live on a rural property of 8 acres but it's conceivable that one of our mechanical devices is making a sound we can't hear. I just don't know where to start investigating that until something breaks or starts squealing so we can hear it.

Nobody went shopping and brought anything new home. We use the same natural cleaning products we always have and nothing was cleaned that day ~ or MOST days for that matter :D . Nobody moved anything because that would probably point out the need to clean something and who wants to do that? And I mentioned before that the blinds were closed because it was hot outside. But the AC had already been on in the house for weeks so that wasn't new either.

We're just at a total loss for a source of "difference".

I'm definitely going to order the syrup, but I thought that after 3 weeks there would be SOME improvement in her behavior if it was MBD-related. (I understand that actual recovery takes much, much longer.)

She rarely got seeds and although there wasn't much variety in her diet the only "bad" treats she was getting were peanuts and that was never more than 1 per day (one complete nutshell, so 2 nuts I guess). My original diet advice when she was a baby came from a rehabber but it had evolved over the years because of her finicky-ness so although it was mostly the right foods I haven't reviewed the ratio tables yet to see how balanced it was or wasn't. I now have the nutrition guidelines in the kitchen and I consult it anytime I hit a brick wall with her not wanting to eat what she loved the day before. She won't eat avocado at all now which is a bit strange. Nectarine, black walnuts and pecans seem to be the only things she will always take so we try alternating small portions of them as appetizers to get her started on the rest.

So it sounds like the only advice there is out there is to assume it IS MBD and stay on course with supplemental calcium.

Thanks again to all for the advice!!!:thankyou
Rose

[Mads]

I certainly am not an expert only having raised 9 babies, but I think that perhaps your thoughts of her getting old...may be valid. And eyesight also valid, and I wonder, in her cage, does she have a nest box in the highest point of the cage? Someplace where it's dark...? Could it be that the cat carrier is darker than the cage and that is what she needs in these older years?

My young squirrels also seek quiet dark nest boxes in the mid afternoons and only really want to feed in the earlier mornings and late afternoons. ( Mine are wild, if you can say that visiting me for food 10 x daily is wild)... If it's raining, they still don't want to come out of the dark nesting boxes I've put up in the yard. And so it would make sense that an older squirrel would want to hang in a dark nesting place longer during the days.....?

[Mads]

Also, I do use a solid gold suppliment Sea Meal for my squirrels that I give on a spoon with almond butter. They love it, and the suppliment is a all around great calcium suppliment. You may want to look into that. You can also use peanut butter, but I find they love the almond butter more.

[OzarkPetunia]

Thanks, Mads. Yes, she does have a nest box in the upper corner of her cage. It's just low enough for her to lay flat on top. When this first started, that's where she'd wind up after frantically circling her cage like she was in the Indy 500. She alternated being in the nest box or being on top of it but was mostly IN.

I think I'll cover her cage with something on 3 sides and the top and see if that makes a difference. Any suggestions other than plywood (we have some that's already outgassed but I'd love a cheaper suggestion)? I already know that anything within reach is fair game for destruction but she's not even fluffing her fleece in the cat carrier.

She IS in a much better mood today. Still sticking her neck out the open door and twitching to look all around but when she backs into the cat carrier she's actually THINKING about playing with me.

But today she won't eat anything that's been good up until now. Not even almond butter. She had 1/4 of a fig and 1/2 a SMALL slice of a clementine (smaller than a tangerine) for breakfast. She wants nuts! If she hasn't eaten anything more by this afternoon I'll blend her up a shake and we'll feed her with a syringe.

It's hard to wrap my brain around her finally seeming to be in a better mood and at the same time not wanting to eat anything.

ARGH!

~Rose

[4skwerlz]

Update. After much behind the scenes, it was arranged for OzarkPetunia's vet to consult with Jackie's wonderful Dr. Lightfoot regarding Bailey.

Bloodwork is being done at this very moment, so let's all hope and pray for good news.
:grouphug

[luvs squirrels]

:wave123 Hi Rose

I sure will keep Bailey in my prayers. I'm so glad to read that she's going to go see an exotic vet. :grouphug

I'm sure if she's not seeing as well that would definitely make her skiddish.

I'll be anxious to hear what Jackie's vet has to say.

:grouphug

[JLM27]

Hang in there Bailey! You've got everyone's attention now. Help us figure out what is wrong in your world.

Are you sure there is no snake in the house? I know this is creepy, but they go under things like refrigerators and hide or into firewood piles, holes so small you would think it was a mouse hole. Do you have a cat? A friend of mine said her cat would bring the snakes in alive and drop them on the floor. I was just thinking since you are rural. . .

[OzarkPetunia]

Thanks to all for the well wishes. My vet isn't an exotics vet but there are 4 doctors that each have specialties and with our "zoo" we see all of them. So when I bring Bailey in I usually get seen by every doctor that's in at the time because we're there long enough that they all get to pop in. The "small animal" specialist is Bailey's primary Dr and she was able to draw blood from a hind leg but it was such a slow draw that we didn't get results for a few of the values because the blood clotted a bit.

I will TRY to post all the results for review by this fabulous community if anyone can help interpret them but the key markers seem to be fine so no diabetes, no kidney failure... no answers.

But hey, now we have a baseline for next time!

JLM27 ~ I can never be SURE that there are no snakes but our cats don't go outside and whatever has managed to get inside hasn't survived long in the past. (Except spiders that get played with and played with and played with until one of the cats "accidentally" smooshes it.) We do sometimes get scorpions but the cats go on high alert like pointers.

There was actually some great news at the vet though ~ Bailey's putting her weight back on that she lost after this started and I'm just too panicked to notice on my own. She doesn't have much of an appetite so I'm feeding her one thing at a time where before I could prepare a bowl and she'd just tear into it.

Again, thanks to all and PLEASE keep the suggestions coming for "finicky eaters". SPECIAL THANKS TO LEIGH FOR PATIENTLY HELPING ME!!!!!:thankyou

[4skwerlz]

Great news. Did they check her vision? Did they do a fecal? Blood calcium level?

[OzarkPetunia]

No fecal. :hidechair

I THINK I'm attaching all the results.

Calcium was 9.8 mg/dL ~ what's "normal"?

[4skwerlz]

No fecal. :hidechair

I THINK I'm attaching all the results.

Calcium was 9.8 mg/dL ~ what's "normal"?

Okay, the test shows no result for glucose due to hemolysis (you mentioned there was trouble drawing the blood). On what basis did your vet eliminate diabetes?

I'm looking up the calcium levels....

You really need to get a fecal done.

[OzarkPetunia]

Oh yeah, and her vision checks out the same as almost a month ago. Cataracts but still light responsive and she can "see". We couldn't get her to sit still and cover one eye to read the letters on the wall so we don't know how WELL she can see.:D

I've surrounded her cage on 3 sides and the top with unprinted cardboard and I'm going to leave the door of the cat carrier open this evening to see if she's more comfortable not being able to see beyond the bars. If so, I'll have to cut a hole in the top and rig a full spectrum light up!

Now we need those pigeon spikes because the cats think the smooth platform on top is the coolest place to hang out and if they get an itch they cause a kitty-quake. Bailey never cared before but these are new times...

[OzarkPetunia]

Glucose processed in the last set of test results on the right side. Her result is 107 mg/dL. I found 2 rat ranges and one is 50-135 and the other is 50-160.

[4skwerlz]

Here is Bailey's report, and below are normal values for rats. The calc looks okay, and the glucose. A lot of the values are low though, like phosphorus. Maybe one of our folks with a good squirrel vet can have someone take a look:
9186291861

[Jackie in Tampa]

Leigh, will you forward these results to my email and I will forward to DrTL...
are we ruling out MBD? DIABETIES?...I hope so...I was nervous.
:grouphug
Bailey, we love you and your mommy is worried, please eat your healthy foods, please....:grouphug

[luvs squirrels]

Be a good girl Bailey.

We love you

:Love_Icon

[OzarkPetunia]

I'm still anxious to hear if Jackie's Dr LF has any concerns about Bailey's bloodwork but she's doing GREAT! Maybe there's something to an old fashioned blood letting!!!!!

She still freaked out in her original ferret cage even when it was covered on 3 sides with cardboard to reduce what might look scary but it seemed like just the different levels were scary to her. When she was on the top level she kept turning her head and looking down to the bottom and bracing herself wide as if ready to bolt, then she crept slowly down the ramp and when she reached the bottom she kept looking up all freaked out. I gave her flowers to distract her and she was fine while eating but she wouldn't relax and crept part way up the ramp a few times but kept looking all over the place. She's now in a rat cage that's MUCH too small for an adult sq but she's so comfortable it's like she's a different kid. And she's hungry ~ YAYYYYYY!!!!!

I'll give her a couple more days and then try to transition to an intermediate sized cage unless anyone has any other suggestions. I'm wondering if solid shelves would make a difference to how it looks to her.

~Rose

[luvs squirrels]

Bless her heart. I hate that she so scared about something. Glad she feels more secure in the smaller cage and how wonderful that she's hungry.

Keeping the prayers coming you way.

:grouphug

[4skwerlz]

I'm so glad to hear Bailey is doing a little better. I'll call Jackie and see if there's any news from Dr. LF.

[JLM27]

But she had been OK in her ferret cage before this started, right?

[Mrs Skul]

:wave123 Hi Rose I hope Baily is doing better.I Have a few things to offer. 1 st When we put Rockie big cage out side, she was fine. One night a rat coon got on top of the cage. Scared her to death. She went buzzerk.(*!#@%^&*#@*) :eek: :eek: Took days to calm her down.When we released her, we left the door opened. One night the rat coon got on top again.She never slept in the cage again. .2nd My dog has a bump that shows up once and a while right above his eye, between his ear. The vet said it was a glean that was plugged up. They drained it. Clear fluid is all that came out. So when ever it shoes up I just stick a needle in and drain it. But my dog is 14 years old and is quiet when I am doing this. (( He is not a squirrel)) :poke I would not wont to try it on a squirrel. How big is the lump? The one that Max gets is about the size of my thumb! 3rd have you tried yogurt? I suer hopes every thing works out for you and Baily. Good Luck I am praying for you all. Christal

[4skwerlz]

Ozark, I talked to Jackie and Dr. LF will be happy to discuss Bailey's test results, but you need to have your vet call Dr. LF. It's a professional courtesy thing....

Let us know what you find out.

[OzarkPetunia]

Thanks, Leigh and Jackie! My Dr that ran the tests for me is on vacation this week but I'm waiting for a call back from another Dr in the office and I'm sure he'll call her because they're all super supportive of our "zoo".

Christal, thanks for the feedback. Bailey is still doing great in the small cage so I'm hopeful that we'll gradually move back up into an appropriate size. She doesn't like plain yogurt ~ I haven't tried adding honey yet.

When I got home last night she bounced to the cage door and literally rattled the bars for attention (okay, probably food but I can pretend she wanted attention). BAILEY IS BACK! :jump

[OzarkPetunia]

Update: My Dr's office called Dr LF and got the word that Bailey's bloodwork is normal. YAY!!! Hopefully all will continue to improve and we'll just get past this weird bump in the road.

Thanks to all for caring so much about all these fuzzies we love!

:thankyou

[island rehabber]

:thumbsup:thumbsupglad to hear it, OP!!

[4skwerlz]

Oh thank goodness! :thumbsup :thumbsup :thumbsup

[luvs squirrels]

What wonderful news!!!!

:multi