Kidneys failing in down syndrome baby

[Critterluvr]

I am new to the Squirrel Board and have an emergency situation I have been dealing with for about 3 days. I have a 4 to 5 month old Down Syndrome male. He began having problems urinating so took him to only vet in town that wildlife. First they said he had a crystal blockage and extracted through his belly 13 ccs of urine. (I Know OMG!). Said if not urinated in 24 hrs they wanted to put him down. Went back next morn but I would not allow til I had tried everything. Now not sure if his kidneys are damaged. He is still hanging on. He Wants to eat some and drink. Have him on clavamox twice a day and sub q fluids. Can someone please help?! I am desperate. He is my baby and the sweetest thing I have ever known. ( He has not urinated still)
Vet said yesterday his bladder was not huge after doing ultrsound. That is why they think it is kidneys.

[Lulu2010]

I'm really sorry for your little guy. I hope he will be alright. Unfortunately, I don't have any experience with a squirrel going through this. However, I have a leopard gecko (I know, completely different animal) that was a rescue and immediately needed $1,000.00 surgery to just make her comfortable until she passes. She has renal failure and has lots of ups and downs. Sadly, you can't fix the kidneys. But, the doctor put her on some fish oil once a day which is an antioxidant, and it seems to help her. Not sure if it would be the same at all in squirrels bc I have limited experience. I'm sure more people will be around soon. Maybe someone knows if fish oil could help at all or knows of something else you could try. I'm praying for you and your little guy. :grouphug

[Tickle's Mom]

:grouphug
You are in my heart and prayers.

[CritterMom]

Trying to get you some help. Can you post where you are located in Florida? We have lots of members and some great vets down there.

I am just thinking out loud here...if there was urine that was extracted, they do they think kidneys? They are producing urine...

I have a friend with an adult squirrel that had a bladder issue...urine tests showed crystal development, x-rays showed no stones...but they apparently can "hide." Squirrel could not urinate on her own most of the time and had to be stimulated like an infant squirrel to go most of the time. She was placed on a baking soda mixture in consult with a well known vet and it seemed to improve for a while, then she slipped back into not peeing. This culminated in a midnight rush to an emergency vet who, after much begging, performed surgery and retrieved a good sized stone which could not be seen on the first x-rays. It was a successful surgery, squirrel is recovering and peeing up a storm now.

So good results with a vet who admittedly had NO squirrel experience - they even had to improvise and rig up a way to administer the anesthetic! I tell you this because you live in a state with some excellent vets who DO kow what they are doing...

Can you stimulate this little one to pee if you manually express the bladder? She needs lots and lots of fluids and you need to try to manually "pee" him until you can get to a better vet.

Where in Florida are you? The Florida squirrel folk will absolutely bend over backward to help you with this - please don't worry about anyone on her trying to confiscate or anything stupid like that...

[atlantasquirrelgirl]

I'm thinking the same, Critter Mom. Why would it be a kidney problem if the squirrel is still filtering urine? I'd get a second opinion, and quickly.

[cbell]

When our little Rody was alive he did the same thing we gave him some apple-crannberrie juice and held him in warm water our vet also gave us a small heat pad for a dog bed to put under his bed

from time to time we had to stimult him like he seem to forgot how to go on his on

[Scooterzmom]

I thought I read something about "crystals" ... which is another term for a form of kidney stones. The kidney instead of making all liquid makes a form of liquid that turns into crystals (or even stones) and those can block the urinary tract and make it extremely painful to urinate. The urine is created but the stones/crystals can block the passage and prevent its elimination. So yes, it is possible that there is urine but a problem with the kidneys.

In such cases, for humans at least, they have to break down the stones/crystals so they can be eliminated and if they can't do that, then surgery is the only way to get rid of them. Some people make kidney stones easily - for non apparent reason it seems - and may have multiple episodes of passing them. Others will have just one episode in their life. ALl I know is, passing a kidney stone ismore painful than having a baby (my cousin who had 2 kids AND later had kidney stones told me that). I know this about kidney crystals/stones because my husband had trouble with kidney stones for years. He had to be put on diuretics at some point.

[Critterluvr]

I appreciate so much for all the help. His mid section gets large and tight and after massaging him for awhile last night and then working on expressing the bladder I was able to get quite a bit thru lil drips over a period of time. I am going to take him back to the vet in the morn (they are not open on
Sunday) and I had to go out of town. I took him with me in a tote with heat source and his soft blankies and he did great. He just ate a little bit of baby food thru a syringe and a little of my flying squirrels' formula with yogurt. His mouth is so much smaller than a normal squirrel's but he sat up and on his own took 3 tiny bites of banana. He is such a fighter. Everytime I think uh oh this is it he rallies and pops open his big bright eyes to see where I am.
I'm gonna keep fighting and praying right along with him. Will keep you posted.
Kathy
I am in Panama City Beach. First they extracted 13ccs. Then the next day after an ultrasound they said the bladder was not big so the vet decided the kidneys must not be working right. She said she had gotten out a tiny piece that looked like sand and was harder than the crystals they found the day before. She was actually going to try to put a catheter in before she did the ultrasound. Try being the operative word because it is soo tiny. The smallest they had ever done was a 2 1/2 lb. ferret. I am frustrated but grateful to this vet for at least trying to help rehabbers because they are the only ones in our town that will help. She has compassion and I really do like her but they have just only worked with so much.

[Pierre]

If you haven't heard from Critter Mom yet regarding a rehabber in Florida, please try to private message Jackie in Tampa or Lego Mom [apologies to those of you are am forgetting in FL!]. They are in Florida too and know some great vets that have great experience with squirrels, which can make a huge difference in the options they have your your baby.

Please don't agree to euthanasia without speaking to one of the rehabbers above, or their vets. :)

Sending prayers for your sweet baby! Hang in there. :grouphug

[Jackie in Tampa]

Emerald Coast Wildlife sanctuary in Destin area is owned by a vet...and one of our members pgualt {Patrick, I cannot find your membership ]can be contacted thru PMs ...he is affiliated I believe...
also Philomycus may know someone...and pernissa is up there ....
brb

[Jackie in Tampa]

http://www.google.com/mapfiles/marker.png Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge (http://www.google.com/search?source=ig&hl=en&rlz=&q=emerald+coast+wildlife+refuge+destin+fl&aq=6v&oq=emerald+coast+wildlife#)Emerald Coast Wildlife Refugehttp://maps.google.com/?cid=16335166662405633315s=9840718498305618747

Place page (http://maps.google.com/maps/place?hl=en&rlz=&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=emerald+coast+wildlife+refuge+destin+fl&fb=1&gl=us&hq=emerald+coast+wildlife+refuge&hnear=Destin,+FL&cid=16335166662405633315)
406 Mountain Drive
Destin, FL 32541-2334
(850) 650-1880

[Jackie in Tampa]

edit...prgualt
will send him PM now
also edit...pnerissa...also PMed...
good luck:wave123

[Pnerissa]

The vet for Emerald Coast Wildlife has an office in Navarre and she is well worth the drive and has extensive experience with wild animals. It's where I take Benji and Nibbles. If you can't get there perhaps your vet can do a phone consult with her.

St. Francis Veterinary Clinic
1856 Cotton Bay Lane
FL 32566-8598
(850) 936-4446

www.stfrancisvetcenter.com

(you can go online and fill out your new registration paperwork to carry it with you)

That's the best I can do for now. I'm out the door on my way to work.

Bev

[philomycus]

I'd call Exotic Bird Hospital (in Jax) and talk to them

8820 Old Kings Road South
Jacksonville, FL 32257-5303
(904) 256-0043

OR: Get your vet to do a referral to the University of Florida.

But what ever you decide, you HAVE TO ACT QUICK!!! Yes, stones can lead to kidney damage. If you can't get urnie out, you have a hard time making more, if you can't make the right amount of urine and put it in the right place, it will not be a good ending. Kidneys are resilent after survivng acute damage, but please START making phone calls NOW. Do not wait.

This squirrel may need surgery, and an experienced surgeon. Not just a good vet.

[Pnerissa]

Do we have an update on this squirrel yet? I just got home from work and was checking in.

Bev

[philomycus]

Haven't heard a peep. I'm worried. :(

For future issues, a "blocked" animal- one that can not urinate is a MEDICAL EMERGENCY.

[lilidukes]

I heard from critterluvr and Peanut started peeing large amounts on his own last night:jump :multi :multi :jump :jump :wahoo

[Anne]

:alright.gif :alright.gif :alright.gif :multi :alright.gif :alright.gif :bowdown :bowdown
Hurray Peanut!!!!!:thumbsup

[Pnerissa]

I hope this is a good sign. Did he see a vet?

[tambot1]

I am in Panama City Fl as well. I have a two in a half year old gray squirrel. She has had several surgeries ( both back legs removed, her tail and one finger) she is a trooper. The only vet in town that will treat her is Breeze Animal Hospital on the beach. Dr Breeze is wonderful. We have been through it. Actually my little one is peeing a little blood so I will be calling Dr Breeze today. Let me know your status and if you need any advise or help.
Tammy