View Full Version : Please Help , I have a sick squirrel
Jimmy74
04-01-2010, 09:11 PM
Hello
I have a grey squirrel , Yesturday he was fine , running around and playing and eating alot. But i noticed today that he's only moving a couple of feet and laying down, sometimes he doesnt even move that much, and he has been laying in one spot now for about 2 or 2 and a half hours now, and he's not eating or drinking, what little water he drinks He keeps throwing it back up. the vet around here said it could be because of he is in rut. I'm really worried about him, can someone please give me some advise on what i can do, he's our baby, like one of the family.
wheezer
04-01-2010, 09:21 PM
Can you give us more information. How old is he?
I seriously doubt he is in "rut"
Also give us a list of his diet. Many squirrels develope MBD because of diet.
wheezer
04-01-2010, 09:23 PM
Here is a reference for what your squirrel should be eating:
http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11323&highlight=squirrel+blocks
island rehabber
04-01-2010, 09:33 PM
Many sudden illnesses in squirrels are due to poor diet. Please give us an idea of what your squirrel eats on a daily basis, and how old he is. We will try to help you as quickly as we can!
PS: I also doubt that it has anything to do with "rut", and mating season is over until July anyway.
Nancy in New York
04-01-2010, 09:33 PM
Hello
I have a grey squirrel , Yesturday he was fine , running around and playing and eating alot. But i noticed today that he's only moving a couple of feet and laying down, sometimes he doesnt even move that much, and he has been laying in one spot now for about 2 or 2 and a half hours now, and he's not eating or drinking, what little water he drinks He keeps throwing it back up. the vet around here said it could be because of he is in rut. I'm really worried about him, can someone please give me some advise on what i can do, he's our baby, like one of the family.
Does your squirrel have the run of the house. Could he have gotten into anything toxic? Some sort of plant, any medicine, anything that you can think of...from under the sink or anywhere?
Put him in a quiet place with a heating pad half under his container and put the heat on low.
How old is he. This has nothing to do with him being a runt or not...this baby is in serious trouble...this is not normal.
Can you get a picture of him?
Has he eaten any kind of nuts in the shell recently?
You have to at least get fluids into him...if you have pedialyte there give that to him from a syringe...if not, you can make your own
1 tsp salt (teaspoon)
3 Tbsp sugar (tablespoon)
1 quart warm water
Keep refrigerated.
Jimmy74
04-01-2010, 09:41 PM
I'm sorry about that. He is close to 7 years old. He eats walnuts , banana's , almonds , macadamia nuts , pecans , apples , grapes , watermelon. he has gotten into my cereal a few times ( fruit loops ) and my honeynut cherrios
Nancy in New York
04-01-2010, 09:44 PM
I'm sorry about that. He is close to 7 years old. He eats walnuts , banana's , almonds , macadamia nuts , pecans , apples , grapes , watermelon. he has gotten into my cereal a few times ( fruit loops ) and my honeynut cherrios
OK...His diet is all off...he could have MBD. You need to get calcium into him really fast. Crush up some tums and really fine and put it into some kind of juice or water if you have no juice and syring feed it slowly...just do that to start, and then we will continue...OR get some molasses and rub it on his gums, or kayro syrup...then we will go from there.
Emergency Treatment for Metabolic Bone Disease (updated 3-31-09)
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.
Nancy in New York
04-01-2010, 09:48 PM
Does your squirrel have the run of the house...is he out of his cage unattended, and could he have gotten into something else...I just don't like the vomitting...and have you given him any nuts in the shell???
Jimmy74
04-01-2010, 09:48 PM
thank you so much, I am going now to get some tums and will start him on it as soon as i get back , thank you again so much. i will keep you updated :)
Jimmy74
04-01-2010, 09:51 PM
yeah he has the run of the house , and i have locks on my cabinets. so he couldnt of gotten into anything. I've also checked and made sure. I try to keep everything put up and locked away so he cant get into it. Yes him throwing up worries me alot too, i believe i did give him a nut in a shell a couple of times.
island rehabber
04-01-2010, 09:53 PM
Nancy's right -- his diet too high in sugars and too low in calcium. We can help get him back on track, if you'll make the commitment to getting him on the Healthy Diet for Pet Squirrels:
http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=16093
In the meantime, make sure he is takng enough fluids -- water or even Pedialyte -- because if he is throwing up he miay become dehydrated.
Nancy in New York
04-01-2010, 09:53 PM
yeah he has the run of the house , and i have locks on my cabinets. so he couldnt of gotten into anything. I've also checked and made sure. I try to keep everything put up and locked away so he cant get into it. Yes him throwing up worries me alot too, i believe i did give him a nut in a shell a couple of times.
Do you know if it was recent? Because sometimes they can have mold in them if there is even the smallest crack in them...
4skwerlz
04-01-2010, 09:54 PM
Jimmy, get the Tums rubbed onto his gums RIGHT NOW. Minutes count. If you have a Rolaids or ANY OTHER KIND of calcium pill in the house use that.
IF this is MBD, the vomiting means it is very bad and he could die in minutes.
Don't wait, GO!
Jimmy74
04-01-2010, 09:55 PM
yes, i gave him one this morning that was in a shell
Nancy in New York
04-01-2010, 10:06 PM
Are you giving the calcium???
Nancy in New York
04-01-2010, 10:28 PM
Jimmy 74 I sure hope that your little one makes it...thanks for getting him help. I get up in 3 1/2 hours so, I am going to bed, but you are in good hands here...please keep us posted...I will say a prayer for your little one...:grouphug
Jimmy74
04-01-2010, 10:35 PM
yes i just gave him some calcium , thank you for all of your help and your prayers :) he did take it and didnt throw it back up. I am hoping this helps him
island rehabber
04-01-2010, 10:38 PM
Glad you got it into him, Jimmy. There are so many cases similar to this here on TSB -- believe me, with low calcium a squirrel can go downhill VERY fast. It is the most common cause of illness in pet squirrels, by far. Even if your little guy simply ate something that wasn't good, the extra calcium is not going to hurt him.....and it's never too late to change that crummy diet he's been on :D :poke .
Jimmy74
04-01-2010, 10:44 PM
I agree , yeah his diet will change. I've asked the vet around here the proper diet for squirrels and some friends , and none of them knew what all was good for them to eat. I'm so glad i found this site and y'all was able to help me. I thank all of you from the bottom of my heart.
4skwerlz
04-01-2010, 10:50 PM
Jimmy, If your squirrel has MBD it will take months to cure. You'll need a special treatment for him. Then you will have to check in with us every day at first, and then once a week, in case we need to adjust the treatment. One dose of calcium doesn't do it!
We still think this could also be poisoning. We need to see how he reacts to the calcium; if he gets better, that will point to MBD.
Jimmy74
04-01-2010, 10:54 PM
yeah, i will check in , and i will keep giving him the calcium :)
wheezer
04-01-2010, 11:11 PM
TBS to the rescue again:thumbsup
So glad you found us Jimmy, keep checking in and following the advice:)
Nancy in New York
04-02-2010, 07:39 AM
Just checking in to see how the little patient is doing this morning...Please stay around and we will all help your little one live another 7 years. :)
philomycus
04-02-2010, 09:13 AM
Just checking in to see how the little patient is doing this morning...Please stay around and we will all help your little one live another 7 years. :)
Yes! Please hang around!!!
Adjusting the diet of a squirrel this old will taking some constant "tweaking", so it's important to continue a treatment and diet change for the long haul, not just after he starts getting better.
Most vets just don't know what captive squirrels need to survive. Welcome to TSB!
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