bloody diarrhea

[saloli]

Elijah is a 6 1/2 year old gray squirrel. He has been throwing up off and on for 3 weeks. Vet thought he either had a UTI or was going into kidney failure. He was prescribe Baytril. He had a decent appetite but after 2 days of Baytril he stopped eating. this was 10 days ago. Since then he has had sporadic good appetite but mostly does not want to eat. He has lost a lot of weight and looked generally dehydrated. Vet told me to start him on Doxycycline. This was three days ago. I did and his appetite picked up. His bowels have been black and very odorous and small caliber. Yesterday I was finally able to get him hydrated and he drank a lot of water and ate less than the day before. Today he started having more normal size bowel movements but still black and would not eat. One hour ago he started having very large bowel movements, black that have now turned to bloody mucous diarrhea. All day he has been looking very pale. Since this started he has been getting paler. I have been giving him B vitamins with extra B12, which up until now has seemed to help with his appetite. Today I have not given him any doxycycline. Very worried....

[Anne]

The Baytril and all antibiotics can upset the normal gut flora just as it does with people. Try giving him a few feedings of Yo Baby vanilla yogurt and baby banana. Both may help clear up his bowels and ease discomfort. Stop giving him any nuts for now, they may be a problem just now.I don't know what his normal diet is, but please read the Nutrition section. Keep giving him his medicines.
Hope he improves soon.

[saloli]

His diet is adequate. I have been rehabbing for 30 years. He is a keeper form hurricane Francis, He cannot jump and has only one functioning kidney. This looks like a colitis. His urine was positive for blood. Did not do stool test at that time. This happen to him many years ago and his stool was positive for parasite was given course of Panacur. Should I try this again, He is very pale. Is there anything I can give him for the anemia and if the diarrhea keeps up is there anything I can give him for this. For the past three weeks his diet has been spotty at best. He has been taking in yogurt . Today he will not take in anything p.o. He has drank very little I have syringes him mostly/ He has had 10 cc of water.

[CritterMom]

Instead of the yogurt, which is very good btw and would be an excellent thing to add to his diet - get some Bene-bac for small mammals. It is all of the digestive enzymes in a powder form that can be added to any of the food easily. I found Benebac in small envelopes in the pocket pet section of Petco, BTW. You may want to also begin supplementing his fluids with pedialyte - the fruit flavored ones are usually pretty popular with them. Poor baby.

[Jackie in Tampa]

baytril is hard on liver and lidneys...
what are the ABs targeting?? why are you giving them?
what are your suspicions? parasites?
If so SMZ-TMP is broad sprctrum and much easier on the GI, just takes a tab bit longer to see def results. I like the childrens oral suspension.
Doxy is another very hard AB:shakehead to process. Drug of 'last resort'.

How's the breathing?

Of course you know to hydrate hydrate hydrate.
I too use yogurt.

dang could be a blockage issue, a bad bug in the gut issue, liver/kidney damage, could he have gotten into something?
can you get an xray or better, a 'barium swallow'?
I would do this asap...it will clear up and rule out alot of either or's.
Good luck, keep us in the loop!

[saloli]

He was suspected to have a kidney infection. He had microscopic blood in the urine, along with protein and sugar. He specific gravity was actually better than 9 months ago and at that time he did not have protein or sugar in the urine. He was too stressed to get blood that day. So vet decided he had an infection. Kidney felt enlarged. I did not want to start the Baytril but was assured he would be okay. Not a big fan of Doxycycline. He had those in the past for respiratory infection and tolerated well. That was 4 years ago. Monday I am going to try and get an x-ray. But do not think he will be here by then. He is so sick. He just took 5 cc of water p.o. and is now laying in the sun. He does not want anything to eat and has not eaten since Friday night, which consisted of only some Dandelion greens, half hazelnut and half pecan. He has refused Critical Care, his yogurt, and will not eat anything at all. I feel so helpless and my heart is breaking.

As far as parasites. 2 ½ years ago he had a similar thing happen. First he started drinking lots of water, then within a week rapid weight loss to finally one day massive diarrhea(no blood). He would only eat hazel nuts . Fecal sample revealed some sort of eggs. His kidney felt enlarged then also. Vet could not identify then so gave me Panacur, which worked. A week of that with Critical Care and he started eating normally and gained weight but never weighed the same. He has over the last 2 years gained a bit then lost. I am not sure what this is.

[Jackie in Tampa]

they say reglan will help appetite...but if he is that lethargic...
:shakehead I wouldn't ad to the issue with over medicating...
so sorry sweetie, it doesn't sound good:grouphug
Metronidazole/flagyl may be worth a try, totally targets different bugs..
:grouphug :Love_Icon :grouphug kisses for Elijah...get better buddy!:Love_Icon

[CritterMom]

Have you tried Ensure - the stuff for people? You can get it ay any drug or grocery store - they even have a pecan flavor. Try heating it and giving to him with a syringe like a baby. He may like the taste. You can put the probiotics right in it.

[mugzeezma]

Have you tried Ensure - the stuff for people? You can get it ay any drug or grocery store - they even have a pecan flavor. Try heating it and giving to him with a syringe like a baby. He may like the taste. You can put the probiotics right in it.

Ensure is good stuff... can be a life saver
Get a fecal analysis if possible
Will he make until Monday?
I would try the Panacur before he goes downhill any further
The vet is probably rotating meds because the first round of baytril didn't work.
You may want to subQ ringers lactate if he gets dehydrated...don't overdo it if he is having kidney issues though

I would also give Lifeway Kefir for probiotic....raspberry flavor is very palatable...comes in the dairy case in a plastic pint bottle .... it's a drinkable yogurt...syringe it in.

Squirrels have a small hind gut for fermentation. Antibiotics can disturb the flora and create diarrhea

[saloli]

Took Elijah to vet. No parasites. No blockage. Waiting on fecal stain. He has been drinking lots of water, refuses pedialyte. He thinks he has uricemia and wants to start him on Tagamet. Not sure about this. Does anyone know if this is a safe drug for a squirrel ?. He turned down the yogurt and Ensure. Yesterday got a dose of Benebac in him along with a smidge of Critical Care. Today he has had a smidge of Critical Care but is so so pale, out of breath and generally tired. This looks like he is going into full blown kidney failure. But is still urinating and urine has an acid odor. Any ideas to treat the anemia as he has lost so much blood. Erythropotien cannot be used because he cannot get a blood sample to prescribe therapeutic level.

[saloli]

Vet just called and told me he has secondary coccidia and wants him on Sulfa trim. He told me I will have to keep him very hydrated or this will shut down his kidneys. Very confused. Have you ever had any experience with this happening.

[mugzeezma]

Vet just called and told me he has secondary coccidia and wants him on Sulfa trim. He told me I will have to keep him very hydrated or this will shut down his kidneys. Very confused. Have you ever had any experience with this happening.

BINGO!
yes

BAYCOX works best...sulfa trim may not get it all and have to be followed up in 7-14 days

[saloli]

Where can I get Baycox

[mugzeezma]

Coccidial infestations cause severe diarrhea, vomiting, even seizures from hypovolemic shock.
Forget the tagamet

[mugzeezma]

Where can I get Baycox

Your vet should have it....or Albon

[Chickenlegs]

I'm kinda surprised your vet didn't test for Coccidia--it's a lot more common than folks think. It's in our backyards and anyplace there's dirt (the diggin kind--not the kind I need to clean out of my house) Sulmet is what I use for my chickens--saved Frizzy Izzy (my little Cochin frizzle's) life. Ok she's a chicken but Sulmet is available in farm supply stores. Izzy is tiny so the dosage can be scaled down. Bet Sulfatrim is Sulmet by any other name-or a kissin cousin-and yes--the treatment has to be repeated but it's a fairly mild treatment. I'm just throwin this in here for folks who may not have access to a vet or Baycox. Get well soon Elijah!

[Jackie in Tampa]

Albon is no good here...bacteria are resistant in my area...

MUST use SMZ-TMP, sulfatrim, bactrim, all the same med...
good for cocchidia...keep him on it 7days/twice a day...no matter what..
not hard on any organs, very broad spectrum AB...works wonderfully...he will need probotic and plenty of fluids
glad to hear this...however cochidia is due to streesss, so finding out what is stressing him is optimum..
new pet?
new anything?
barking dog, chance in general,
wash everything, starting fresh...
I use 10% bleach solution on cage, leaving on 20 minutes and rinse well...
fresh branches etc...
also add some extra calcium to his diet!...get his brain happy...!:)
let me know if I can help with anything...

[saloli]

I do not think Elijah is going to make it. Last night had another bowel movement (not diarrhea but had some bloody mucous) since then he has been stressed (in pain I think) He has drank water by syringe and had some calcium, and Critical Care (not much of that). He cannot stand up very well and wobbles and shakes and falls. He looks very pale. I have given him a dose of B12 sublingual, which usually helps (not this time) His breathing is rapid, not to shallow. I need to stop the bleeding but do no know how. He is too anemic.

I am not sure what would have stressed him. He lives inside and goes out into the enclosure to play and relax and sun himself. He lays in my lap at night sleeping while I work and nothing much has changed in his environment. About 6 weeks ago he started chewing on things in the office, which is unlike him. He became obsessed with plastic so I put everything up and out of reach. But he did chew up some buttons on the fax machine. Then threw them up. He has never done anything like that. Then he started licking the floor a lot. It was as if he was searching for something. He also was starting to come into season and always loses weight (a little) and pees a lot. Now, he only has one kidney so I am wondering if all this is due to kidney failure. His urine is very acidic and he has always drank copious amounts of water. He does not socialize with any other squirrels except Punky, also a Hurricane keeper (back feet do not turn properly and she cannot climb down) Except for her Bartholin gland flare she has once in a while she seem okay.

I am so worried……… I do not want to euthanize him, He is my baby.

[saloli]

This morning just after sunrise Elijah left. He had a peaceful night and fell asleep in my lap. He slept beside me all night and got up this morning had a little water. But he was so pale and his heart just gave out. He started gulping air, he started to pass a large amount of blood and the just slipped away. I took him to the vet for a necropsy. Maybe I will have some answers later today or tomorrow. His love was perfect, beautiful and wondrous and he gave me more then words can express. I was blessed to have shared my life with him. Right now my heart is broken. Thank you all for your help. I will post necropsy results when I get them.

[mugzeezma]

:(...I am so so sad for you...your loss

Run free little Elijah

[Tickle's Mom]

:grouphug :grouphug :sad :sad :grouphug :grouphug



I am so sorry for your immense loss of Elijah. I hope you find a little comfort in knowing you did all that could have been done for this sweet sweet soul. :Love_Icon

[CritterMom]

Oh, I am so sorry for this. I winder if there was some internal damage from the plastic? RIP Elijah. I am so glad he was with him mommy when he went - so hard for you but knowing you were able to provide that last comfort will help you.

[Chickenlegs]

How lucky you are to have shared a bright little life. How lucky he is to have been loved right up to the second he moved from his pain to freedom. Look to the trees--there's a little soul up there watching out for you. Deepest condolences. :Love_Icon

[saloli]

The necropsy report stated he died from end stage renal failure. His kidneys were completed gone. The vet said the bleeding most likely was a result of uremic poisoning, although he did show the typical symptoms of kidney failure, that is what he died from. Again thanks for all your help and support.