ATTN Squirrel_mom & Squillo

[CritterMom]

Your thread unfortunately disappeared due to a problem that is happening on TSB right now - we seem to have lost several days of posts. Can you put your updates here for the time being until the board is restored? I hope you are seeing improvement.

[Rhapsody]

FYI ---I just Noticed that I lost ALL of MY JULY PM"S as Well --:dono :thinking

[squirrel_mom]

Thank you all for your concern.

Squillo seems to be doing much better today. She has now had two full days of the calcium regiment. She seems to take it best when mixed with a little bit of avocado, which was recommended because of the good fat content.

Today she got out of her hammock on her own and went to the top portion of her cage, which is still semi-blocked off with cardboard. She manages to squeeze through though and can go from top to bottom, but we feel it is still a safety precaution so she won't fall from the top to the bottom (a 4' tall cage). She did poop a lot (at least 17 poop pellets) this morning, but they looked normal in every way and didn't smell abnormal.

Her mobility is greatly improved, she does her backwards somersaults and doesn't appear to be favoring any feet and she is moving around the cage as normal.

One thing though that we have noticed is that she still isn't eating or drinking on her own without help. We have to hand her a Kaytee Rodent block (she hasn't wanted any today but ate approximately 4 blocks yesterday) and we also hold her water bottle in front of her and then she will drink.

Thank you

[stosh2010]

Great News about the IMPROVEMENT... Keep up the good work...

can you re-post some photos ??? we lost 2 days on ALL THREADS...

[squirrel_mom]

Squillo is still getting her calcium 6 times a day at 1am, 5am, 9am, 1pm, 5pm and 9pm and we have the Oyster shell calcium (without vitamin d) 500 mg tablet. We cut the tablet in quarters and give that to her 6 times a day. We though we would use 1/4 (125 mg) of the tablet vs 1/5 (100 mg) to compensate for possible loss in the transition from cutting it up and mixing it with either strawberry or avocado (we try our best to minimize loss). It is safe to say she is getting at least 100 mg 6 times a day and possibly even 125 mg.

She appears to be using her toes and fingers normally. Sorry about the confusion about her food; She can physically use her hands to hold rodent blocks and vegetables, she just doesn't seem to want to get them from her food dish on her own, maybe she is acting a little spoiled and taking advantage of mommy and daddy :) . She also stands and sits normally without difficulty and her balance seems normal now.

She also appears to be in a stable condition throughout the day, much more active yesterday and today and her alertness is normal. She still isn't as energetic when she is out of the cage. She seems to want to perch on a shoulder rather than jump to and from objects in the room like she did before her symptoms started. Otherwise she is doing well and acting normal.

[squirrel_mom]

Here's two pictures of Squillo taken today after her 1pm feeding of calcium (125 mg dose mixed with avocado). She also had some Kaytee rodent block pieces, about the equivalent of 1 block.

* Also as I type this post, she is drinking from her water bottle on her own now (so hopefully we don't have to hold it up next to her face from now on).

She's eating the rodent block piece in the first picture and in the second picture she is intrigued by the camera while hanging out on daddy's arm.

[JakesLittlePrincess]

She is a beauty! Glad she is getting better!

[SammysMom]

Bright eyed curiosity is a very good sign! So glad to see improvement. I had a similar experience and it is very scary. Just remember that even when she looks great the problem isn't solved. Keep up the good work!:thumbsup

[CritterMom]

Oh, this is such good news!

Animals, especially those who know us, engage in what the behaviorists call "comfort seeking" behavior which is basically wanting their mama when they feel lousy. I wouldn't be surprised if her wanting you hand feed her is part of that. And with a face like that I would imagine she gets PLENTY of lovin'!

[squirrel_mom]

Squillo's pee on the cardboard divider is chalky white when dried. Would this be considered normal? Does this mean she is not absorbing the calcium correctly?

Earlier in the day she was quite active. This evening she seems less interested in running around the cage as she is in her hammock now. When I went in to pet her after I gave her the calcium dose, she was slightly aggressive (she boxed/hit me slightly) her ears flat and back and now she is sleeping again.

When Squillo is healthy/normal, she will usually sleep more during the day and is more active in the evening when we are home but since she has been ill, I stay with her during the day which may be why she has been more active during the daytime. I'm hoping this is the result of why she is not interested in playing now. I doubt she is getting worse/relapsing, but thought I would mention this just in case.

[CritterMom]

The chalkiness is just her throwing off the excess calcium. Nobody knows the exact amount she needs at any given moment so you exceed the amount and her body will use what it needs and get rid of the excess. That is why you start to reduce the amount gradually when you are seeing good results - the amounts you are giving are to get her over the acute part of this illness only.

And with you there I am sure she has just adjusted her sleeping, Wilds are happy in bed long before dark!

[squirrel_mom]

:thankyou

[squirrel_mom]

We will increase the frequency of doses in smaller amount for each dose as directed.

We noticed that one of the toenails on her back right foot is missing (she favored her back left foot and one time her back right foot in the beginning of all of this but not any more that we see) She doesn't seem to show any discomfort in her right foot or left foot now. Not sure when she may have ripped the toenail off though, I don't see any blood or raw areas on the toe. Here are two photos (the best I could get as she was being quite active)

[squirrel_mom]

Observation:

Squillo has definitely improved in terms of her energy and mobility (not 100% but much better) She still acts a bit strange when exploring certain parts of her cage. She seems to be scared of the bottom/floor (which might explain why she won't eat on her own without it being handed to her)...she does the apprehensive, wide eyed, ears out flat to the sides motions and won't touch the floor, like she is slightly unfamiliar with her surroundings.

(Before getting sick, Squillo would love the bottom, wrestle around with her stuffie and slide around on her belly)

When she is in the top part of her cage, on her shelf, she seems perfectly normal. I was hoping that would have improved more so by now, but...:dono

I have also noticed her tail fur seems to be falling out (only a few strands here and there..and maybe a tiny clump the other day... I find them laying around the floor of her cage... It isn't noticeable by looking at the tail.. just what I find on the floor. Could be routine shedding.

Just things I am noticing... thanks for listening!

[squirrel_mom]

Aslo, we just fed her a bunch of veggies/ pellets... she is CHOWING DOWN!:D

[squirrel_mom]

Anyone have any concerns about losing tail hair?... it seems like every time she grooms herself, more comes out... and from the tip down about an inch or two her tail seems a bit thinner... is this normal?

Also, she's peeing a lot and dragging her but/crotch along her shelf. :thinking

It's something new every time I look at her, or maybe I'm worrying too much.

She's still in good spirits though...

[squirrel_mom]

In addition to my concerns above, on a lighter note, today is the first day since her sickness that she has wrestled with mommy's hand.

She still is acting needy when out of the cage and wants to be comforted.

[squirrel_mom]

Now Squillo is losing much more tail hair...??? when I stroke down the tail I
am left with multiple hairs in my hand...

She also pees a lot? :dono

[Ronda]

HI :) ... it sounds like things are much better with her playing and wrestling. As far as tail hair loss... I know sometimes radical change in diet can cause sudden excessive shedding, I don't know that it would be confined to tail hair. Maybe she is just moulting her tail? I think she may be peeing (and most likely drinking more?) in order to cast off excess calcium. You noticed her urine is chalky...this is why. Actually you want her to drink and pee a lot while she is getting all this calcium. It will help prevent kidney stones if she stays well hydrated

[4skwerlz]

HI :) ... it sounds like things are much better with her playing and wrestling. As far as tail hair loss... I know sometimes radical change in diet can cause sudden excessive shedding, I don't know that it would be confined to tail hair. Maybe she is just moulting her tail? I think she may be peeing (and most likely drinking more?) in order to cast off excess calcium. You noticed her urine is chalky...this is why. Actually you want her to drink and pee a lot while she is getting all this calcium. It will help prevent kidney stones if she stays well hydrated

Excellent advice!:thumbsup

I agree I wouldn't worry too much about the fur loss right now. When you change the diet, even for the better, sometimes they moult out the old fur and grow a shiny new coat of fur. Sometimes this can be uneven.

Once she's been on the Healthy Diet for a while, subsequent moults should be normal.

[squirrel_mom]

Awesome! Thanks so much for the info and peace of mind. :Love_Icon

And yes, she is improving every day. I will keep up with updates!