Neurological Squirrel ?

[Lilsammii13]

Hi everyone,

I have two squirrels about 10 weeks old. Their names are Sneezy and Roberta. Sneezy had problems since i had gotten him. Sneezy was not using his back legs when i first got him. Also he is very shaky and has balance issues. He seems to walk sometimes and sometimes he falls over. He cannot stand up and eat food at all. He lies on his stomach and eats. I ruled out an ear infection and has been giving him SMZ for two weeks now. I brought Sneezy to a vet and he received an x-ray. I am currently waiting for more information on them. So far from what the vet tech said was his bones seemed normal, so that ruled out a spinal injury. I have been talking to other rehabbers and they said to think about him and maybe putting him to sleep. I don't feel he is in pain. Has anyone heard of these symptoms. He has a very good appetite. He is still eating FV. Also in his diet, is mazuri rodent blocks, broccoli, Dandelion greens, carrots, sweet potato and avocado. I believe it is neurological, though im not sure what else i can do for him. When i received him, he was having trouble breathing and sneezing a lot. i have some videos of him walking.

I brought up roberta just to introduce her. She is crazy! Going to release her in a couple of weeks. I wish i could say the same for Sneezy. :(

[UDoWhat]

:wave123 Lilsammii13, Sneezy does sound neuro. At 10 weeks, as you know and can compare, Sneezy should be able to sit up and eat. If he is not in pain, which I believe he is not by your description, you would need to decide what is best for him. Is he able to pee and poo on his own? Does he pee on himself? If so, will that be a problem with urine burns, etc. Does he play with you and Roberta? Can he hold the rodent block to eat it ? Sorry for all the questions. Just trying to get a picture of his condition.

Marty, Licensed Maryland Master Wildlife Rehabilitator.

[Lilsammii13]

My names Samantha by the way, so caught up with my baby Sneezy. Thank you for your reply. Sneezy is able to go to the bathroom by himself. he does not pee pee on himself. He eats the rodent block lying down. Roberta tries to play with him but i feel she is so active for him. He does try though. He climbs his cage. He likes to sleep alot :( i don't know what to do. I feel he is better when i give him tums with his FV every morning

:thankyou

[Lilsammii13]

Just an update because you asked if sneezy pees on himself. I was cleaning the cage Today and I took out the newS paper .. I picked sneezy up and I noticed he had peed on himself. I'm thinkin maybe it was because the new paper was gone at that moment?

[BeeFernandez22]

Just giving this thread a bump! There are many rehabbers on here with experience with neuro babies! Hang tight, I'm sure some will be along to offer advice soon!

[BeeFernandez22]

Also, is just on newspaper or if there fleece under him? If he is peeing on himself, the fleece will help absorb some of it and prevent him from laying in a puddle, like on newspaper. He can get urine scald if he pees on himself often.

[CritterMom]

Actually, even better that fleece (which doesn't absorb very fast) are the piddle pads they use for puppies. They are super absorbent and wick the urine away so fast it doesn't have a chance to soak him.

[BeeFernandez22]

Actually, even better that fleece (which doesn't absorb very fast) are the piddle pads they use for puppies. They are super absorbent and wick the urine away so fast it doesn't have a chance to soak him.

Good point CritterMom! Thanks for the correction! I didn't even think about the puppy pads!

[LynninIN]

Does Sneezy only climb with his front legs? Does he have a head tilt or head drift when you are feeding him? An x-ray does not completely rule out a spinal injury. It only shows bone, not the spinal cord or disc injuries.

[Lilsammii13]

thanks! he only peed on himself that one time. He does have newspaper and fleece in his cage. He does mainly use his front legs when climbing. I haven't notice a head drift or tilt when i feed him. when i am feeding him for some reason it gets all over his arms. he has such a big appetite which is good! His arms twitch a lot.

[LynninIN]

Sounds more like a spinal injury than brain trauma.

[Jackie in Tampa]

Sounds more like a spinal injury than brain trauma.
I also think spinal issue. Keeping a small cage with a well padded bottom is advised until your sweetie is stable and his issues are diagnosed is best.:Love_Icon
If his bladder is holding urine, there is a possibility of serious infection...please monitor his urine output...
his bladder may need to be expressed...
would love to see videos. they will help the rehanbbers determine what needs to be done to help your sweetie have a healthy safe life.
If it is determined that he is Non releasable, will you be able to 'forever' him?
:grouphug



:wave123 Good to see you Lynninin!:Love_Icon
{TSB loves, misses and needs you}

[virgo062]

Just an update because you asked if sneezy pees on himself. I was cleaning the cage Today and I took out the newS paper .. I picked sneezy up and I noticed he had peed on himself. I'm thinkin maybe it was because the new paper was gone at that moment?

I'm not sure what kind of cage you are using but Knotheads cage had the plastic on the top shelf and he would pee on it then lay in it:shakehead We replaced it with a wire shelf that took care of that problem

[Lilsammii13]

i will definitely monitor his urinating! i going to post 2 videos i have asap! Also Sneezy likes to sleep alot and for his age he shouldnt be sleeping as much as he does. Of course if he is non releasable i will forever him as long as hes not in pain

[Lilsammii13]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNl5btWuubs

heres one video

[Jackie in Tampa]

:thinking would love top see another video

ummm, just guessing here...
did these issues always exist?
or has his unsteady recently started?
Geez, I want to say it maybe a healing broken pelvis...although he was awefully shakey...
need more videos...
please use extreme caution with him, if it is an injury, he needs a small space and some metacam..just don't think he should be climbing/falling...
the hard wood floors are slick and HARD...maybe keep him where he has better control of his back legs...def not paralysis.

[Jackie in Tampa]

:poke what does everyone see/think?

[Lilsammii13]

Sneezy was like this since he was found. When he was found , he was having a difficult time breathing and eating. He had a bloody nose. That is all the info i had got before i took him. He has always been shaky and i questioned that and i was told he was scared. It didn't get any better. His balance has always been off as well. Also i notice when he is walking his front paw seems to bend in/under and he don't seem to notice and he just stands on it

HERE IS ANOTHER VIDEO

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5OTNjcBnd4c

THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP!

[LynninIN]

Ahh, he's trying so hard to be squirrelly. I agree with Jackie about a pelvic fracture. He is holding his left hip joint very stiff & not moving his tail regularly. Did the vets office x ray the pelvis or just the spine?

[Lilsammii13]

I know he tries very hard it kills me! Just want to help him! I believe they took only spine. I will definitely find out tomorrow! If it is a pelvic fracture can he ever fully recover? I just started him on baytril just incase it is anything else.

[Lilsammii13]

Would a pelvis break make him that shaky?

[lilidukes]

If xrays of the spine were done even a healed break would of showed up. And I would think that a vet doing pics would rule out the pelvis as well as the spine.

Because of the known head trauma and the loss of coordination in the front leg/feet. IMO I would go with neuro instead of spinal.

I would not give him Baytril unless he has a known infection. Baytril is very rough on the stomach. Probiotics or yogurt is a necessity with Baytril.

[Lilsammii13]

Yikes I gave I'm it at 5 pm..I hav him .17 diluted with 1:1 water..what type of yougurt should I give him and how much?

[SquirrelsinSingapore]

:bump

If neuro are there any cause of action to take?
Will/Can Sneezy get better? :dono
Or will he become NR...

[Lilsammii13]

Yikes I gave I'm it at 5 pm..I hav him .17 diluted with 1:1 water..what type of yougurt should I give him and how much?

[lilidukes]

I use Dannon full fat vanilla.

I am confused as to why you are giving Baytril:dono