View Full Version : Squirrel Help
Nigma
05-21-2010, 09:22 PM
HelP!
I have a squirrel that seems to being having seizures (ive read the overheating thread and have placed him near the freezer with a friend monitoring him) though it might be the bone calcium defeciancy. I need reasssurances and help for this, its uregtn!
virgo062
05-21-2010, 09:25 PM
:bump
Bumping you up...Someone will be here soon to help
CritterMom
05-21-2010, 09:29 PM
Is it extremely hot right now in Montreal? I would IMMEDIATELY begin calcium treatment:
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.
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) 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.
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Don't wait - not until tomorrow - do this right now.
wheezer
05-21-2010, 09:33 PM
:Welcome You need to give us more info like age of the squirrel and what his diet is.
Putting him near the freezer is a bit scary. I would just put the heating pad under half of his area so he can get off if too warm. But if he is very young he needs heat constantly. So make sure the heating pad is under his container and has blankets to cuddle in but not so many he could get caught in them.
More info please:) :grouphug
island rehabber
05-21-2010, 09:41 PM
I'm ditto-ing CritterMom...if the squirrel has not had a fall, then the seizures are likely diet-related. Get calcium into him IMMEDIATELY! You can reverse this if you make the decision right now to do it and stick with it! :thumbsup
Nigma
05-21-2010, 11:15 PM
Sorry for the late reply - I've been busy keeping my baby cooled off. I was worried sick and already lost one of the batch of three squirrels that I found abandoned and have to live with that weight on my back. Another death will put me in an Asylum for sure.
The squirrel is stable now. I keep him wet to stay cool since it's 19oC here in Montreal (66.2F). It's not really that hot, though it feels like it is (high humidity I guess).
So yes, back to the squirrel. He's cooled off and stopped having seizures once he got back to normal body temperature. Here are the details of the ordeal;
Age: ~6 weeks
Sex: Male
Weight: about 2.5 pounds
I was petting "the twins" (there are two of them) and one suddenly froze up. Instantly I thought he was having an epileptic seizure since I've seen someone get that before. I immediately put him of the freeze floor and pet him to keep him relaxed but he started having another one a couple minutes after his first. Getting worried, I searched the internet for Squirrel help - found you guys - hope.
I immediately posted in the emergency thread and read the overheating thread too. Looked like that was the case so I dipped him in water and kept him in a wet towel. Like I said, no he's cool and all, but he's behavior is odd (I know that;s normal, after reading the thread about Ludwig D. Squirrel).
Also, I made a serum consisting of 1tbsp salt, 3tbsp honey (have no processed sugar) and 1 quart warm water. I gave it to the baby and he drank about 5ml of it.
Now sadly I don't have calcium (I'm out of milk but I had some that was powdered so I gave him that - sadly it only contains 25% of the daily value per cup. I'm searching for things to give him, calcium-wise on the internet that I might have here at home.
(UPDATE: I jsut returned from running at the store and got some Rolaids - 550g calcium per tab - perfect!)
Sadly he didn't drink much. Should I play with him and get him thirsty and have him drink more?
I have syringes if it's a matter of greater health I WILL inject him a shot - anyone have experience with this. (I'd play it safe and go with the thighs/upper legs)
So that's that. He's completely dry now and somehow seems to be normal in behavior and his back legs aren't "dead" like they were a few minutes ago.
Thanks for all your help - I really appreciate it!
wheezer
05-21-2010, 11:23 PM
Could you tell us what formula you are feeding? If he is 6 weeks, I doubt if he could have MBD when still on formula. Did he fall from a nest?
:grouphug
Nigma
05-21-2010, 11:39 PM
Concerning nutrition;
Though I am now ashamed to say this, I've been feeding some bird/squirrel nut mix I bought at a pet shop. I thought it was the good thing since, well, you know, squirrels are nuts for nuts. The diet has officially been changed.
Now I've removed the nut bowl and kept a small bowl consisting of;
-1tbsp salt
-1/4oz. honey (sugar variant)
-3 crushed and diluted Rolaids (containing 550mg of Calcium each - better safe than sorry) in a mix of lukewarm water.
I've placed an icepack/blanket duo which I'll change every 3 hours during the night. It's there in case one feels warm and needs to cool off. Their regular "bed" is also there, which is a cardboard box with a plain blanket and a tree branch for the need to chew.
I'm a -very- light sleeper and awaken to the sound of a hair falling off my scalp so any odd noise will be inspected promptly.
Thank you all. :D
Nigma
05-21-2010, 11:43 PM
:bump
Bumping you up...Someone will be here soon to help
Thank you so much for your help! It really makes one feel welcome and heard of when the time is critical. :grouphug
4skwerlz
05-22-2010, 12:22 AM
Your squirrel needs to be on formula; not a bird/squirrel mix. Likely this is nutritional. If you need help finding the proper formula, let us know.
CritterMom
05-22-2010, 05:20 AM
OK wait. 6 weeks old and 2.5 pounds? That is TWICE the weight of an adult squirrel? Is this a BABY? If it is, it needs to be on formula IMMEDIATELY.
For temporary: go to WalMart - they sell First Born Puppy Milk Replacer. Get some of that. Stop at a pharmacy and tell them you need some plastic syringes - 1ml is best, but if they don't have that, get the smallest you can. Often they will give them to you. Formula needs to be warmed to about 106-110 degrees and fed, VERY SLOWLY, with the syringe.
A 6 week baby should still be on heat - a heating pad half under the container it is in.
The First Born is a temporary solution you can do NOW. You will also need to order some Fox Vally formula for the baby at www.foxvalleynutrition.com - buy the 32/40. It is very reasonable in price, one bag will be enough to take your baby to weaning.
They should be on formula for as long as they are willing to eat it - 10-12-14 weeks or more.
This baby is suffering from malnutrition, and will likely not last much longer if you don't act. Walmart opens early...
CritterMom
05-22-2010, 06:44 AM
One more thing - I know you read about Ludwig's heat stroke. Poor little Ludwig lives in the Honduras, and was put in one of those plastic "hamster balls" in 90 plus degree weather. You are talking about the 60's. These convulsions are not heat related.
Ronda
05-22-2010, 07:06 AM
I have to agree with Crittermom...unless your squirrel is sick and has a high fever there is no way those seizures are heat related, this is most likely mbd (metabolic bone disease-a lack of calcium)... plz carefully follow the rehabbers advise in order to save your squirrel. Can you post pictures?...also you say you have 2 squirrels... you should treat both for the mbd, since they have both been on the same diet. it will only be a matter of very short time before the other baby has seizures too. i am sending hope and prayers to your squirrels... good luck! Plz keep us informed
Nigma
05-22-2010, 08:57 AM
I'm heading to WalMart and getting that puppy mix. Also, the estimated age is more between 8 and 9 weeks than 6 (I miss judged, though they've grown from straight tail to fluffy in a week, also their activity has been going through the roof).
I've placed a bowl with the "serum" mix I mentioned above. I'm heading to the pet store and getting those food cubes for rodents and will feed it to them as soon as I get back. I'm guessing they're hungry but I'd rather have them take the liquid serum than feed them anything else for now.
Thanks you again, everyone, for the ongoing support and feedback.
CritterMom
05-22-2010, 10:36 AM
If you are buying solid food, it needs to be for RATS, not any othe rodent - not hamster, not gerbil - RAT only. The others do not provide what your squirrel needs.
The formula will be fed to them using the syringe like a baby bottle. They may also be willing to drink it from a small bowl. It needs to be warmed.
Nigma
05-22-2010, 10:38 AM
Just got back from the pet store. I bought a Milk replacer for puppies by NUTRIENCE TRANSITION. Here are it's analyse garantee:
Crude protein min. 27.0%
Crude fat min. 30.0%
Crude fiber max. 0.0%
Moisture max. 3.5%
Ash max. 6.8%
Website link: http://www.nutrience.com/eng/products/dog/dry/transition_milkreplacer.php
All is good?
Nigma
05-22-2010, 10:40 AM
(http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/s...ad.php?t=16093)
The link is dead. :(
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