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texasblessings
05-05-2011, 03:09 AM
Please help! I am a licensed wildlife rehabilitator with significant squirrel experience, but I have never seen this set of symptoms. This is a wild infant for squirrel, nothing significant at intake, no history of injury, just found out of the nest about +/- 2 weeks ago, eyes open, now about 7 weeks old. Was rehydrated orally and brought up onto FV formula for squirrels 3 weeks ^. Has been fine, eating and growing. Early yesterday she was lethargic, didn't eat well and seemed confused. She began to dehydrate as the day went on (put her back on rehydration solution orally) and starting having seizures. The seizures and decline have continued. She is progressively wet around her mouth. She seems to go in & out of alertness, sometimes seeming almost normal but over all she's declining. Her seizures are so bad now, she screams and empties her bladder. She cannot stay upright. Her coat looks rough. No other babies in her batch are symptomatic. Any ideas at all???

texasblessings
05-05-2011, 03:10 AM
Sorry for the typo, FOX squirrel

island rehabber
05-05-2011, 07:23 AM
Welcome, texasblessings, but sorry it's under such dire circumstances.
There are only two things I can think of right now, but others mnay have ideas as well:

* she may have sustained head trauma when she fell from the nest, causing a slow brain bleed or brain swelling. This will sometimes result in a baby seeming normal for days or even weeks, only to exhibit the neurological symptoms (siezing, etc) later.

* she was bitten by something -- most likely a spider? Neuro symptoms can result from this as well. Check her over reallly thoroughly if you haven't already.

I can't say I have ever experienced this myself, but those are my two thoughts. Do you have a good squirrel vet out there who can help?