Head cocked to the side

[Mochi&Mocha]

Hi,
I don't have a lot of time to write but I'm going to try and be as detailed as possible.
Mocha: baby squirrel between 1-2 months (not quite sure how old).

Previous problems: pneumonia (given antibiotics and cleared up), kitten fur syndrome, very tiny in general. (Also missing tail from injury when found- completely healed)

Feeding: 1 part fox valley, half part ultra boost, and a pinch of calcium in formula twice a day. 3.3cc's 5 times a day. 56g

Last night: seemed a little out of it, tired.

This morning: woke up and went to feed her.. she seems crooked, head cocked to the side, still active (not as much as usual though), still eating.

Planning on calling MsOakley when out of class but until then hoping to get some help on here.

[Nancy in New York]

Hi,
I don't have a lot of time to write but I'm going to try and be as detailed as possible.
Mocha: baby squirrel between 1-2 months (not quite sure how old).

Previous problems: pneumonia (given antibiotics and cleared up), kitten fur syndrome, very tiny in general. (Also missing tail from injury when found- completely healed)

Feeding: 1 part fox valley, half part ultra boost, and a pinch of calcium in formula twice a day. 3.3cc's 5 times a day. 56g

Last night: seemed a little out of it, tired.

This morning: woke up and went to feed her.. she seems crooked, head cocked to the side, still active (not as much as usual though), still eating.

Planning on calling MsOakley when out of class but until then hoping to get some help on here.

Fox Valley should be 1 part FV 2 parts hot water, if you add ultra boost it should be 1/4 dry (and you also mix that with the appropriate 2 parts hot water and then combine) of the amount of the FV dry formula. I would not add extra calcium as it is NOT needed when on the FV, too much calcium can be toxic.

Is there anyway that she could have fallen?

[Mochi&Mocha]

MsOakley took her for a week or so when she had the pneumonia and she told me 1 part FV, 1/2 part UltraBoost and 3 parts water. The calcium was being added because of the Kitten Fur Syndrome I believe. Her bones are very tiny and the information found on Kitten Fur Syndrome said it was basically the beginning of MBD. Am I doing something wrong? and no, there is no chance that she has fallen. She is always with me and her box has a top (with holes in it of course)

[Mochi&Mocha]

What are the symptoms of too much calcium?

[Lulu2010]

Based on my experience with animals that need added calcium, it is pretty hard to give too much calcium. It would have to be a lot more than needed added over a fairly good length of time to really have any problems. Too little calcium is far more common because calcium cannot be absorbed without vitamin D. Hopefully someone will come on with more info.
My Lulu had what I believe is the "kitten fur" syndrome. Her fur was very fuzzy and different from any other baby squirrel I had ever raised. Her growth was extremely stunted too. She finally grew up after a few months or so of having her and her fur is normal now. She never did wild up. I thought she was just very behind and eventually would, but not yet and she is a year and 3 months. She also had pneumonia when she was a baby and we battled severe dehydration for a couple weeks. It was back and forth. I was so worried and sure I would lose her, but she is a fighter. The lady I foster for told me just to keep doing what I am doing as long as she showed signs of improvement. It took a while but she finally got better.

[Lulu2010]

Oh, and with the head cocked to the side, does anyone know if that could be an inner ear infection? I mean really it could be a few different things. If she fell and had damage done then that could be the result. I know in rats it can also be a sign of a stroke. Then it could also be an inner ear infection. Not sure what else it could be but just throwing some suggestions out there to think about. Hopefully someone with more experience can chime in because I am not sure of all the possibilities with squirrels and how common inner ear infections are. If that is what it is, then she definitely needs antibiotics asap.

[Mochi&Mocha]

What did you do with your little one? I put up another post to get more attention and everyone is saying to take her off of the calcium. She definitely did not fall though. I have a feeling it could have been a stroke during the night :/. What could cause this though?

[Mochi&Mocha]

What did you do with your little one?

As far as the kitten fur syndrome goes

[gs1]

:grouphug shes really too young to have a stroke.

it could be toxicity....

but i'm guessing she's got some kind of inner ear infection...it could be something/virus she was born with or something that she's picked up ....

even a fly could do it....

i really suggest calling jackie or ms oakley and asking for the closest experienced vet is ... you're in florida ... squirrels are legal.

this might not be diet related.

:grouphug

[Mochi&Mocha]

Okay thank you! I'll call the vet tomorrow morning. Will that be okay? They are closed right now.

[gs1]

no that's too late... call whoever is down there ...jackie or ms oakley and get an emergency vet ....

she really doesn't have until morning ...it's been going on too long....

and as cm said before ...hydrate rather than trying to push formula.....

and nancy gave you good instructions re the fox valley .... :grouphug

sorry that you're getting so many different voices...

[UDoWhat]

What did you do with your little one? I put up another post to get more attention and everyone is saying to take her off of the calcium. She definitely did not fall though. I have a feeling it could have been a stroke during the night :/. What could cause this though?

I don't know what causes or leads to a stroke or embolism but I have had a young squirrel that did have a stroke from a cerebral vascular event. (CVE) Confirmed by a necropsy. Just like in people, this is when the brain is blocked somehow or bleeds out and damages brain tissue and impedes brain function. This is a very simple explanation and only a guess as to what might have happened. If in fact she has had a stroke.

Marty

[Lulu2010]

As far as the kitten fur syndrome goes

She eventually just grew out of it. I originally had her on Esbilac puppy and then joined TSB and was advised to get her on Fox Valley, which I did. She finally became "normal," if you will....aside from not wilding up. I really had a struggle with her. One thing I started doing when I noticed something was wrong with her was spend as much time loving on her as I could. We used to fall asleep every night in the recliner together. I really didn't have much hope for her. I resorted to making her feel as loved as possible so if she passed, she knew she was loved very much. She just kept hanging on. She is a tough girl. I hope your little one can keep fighting. Like I said, we battled severe dehydration over a couple weeks. I constantly had to take her off formula for a couple feedings to rehydrate her on pedialyte or smart water. I had to keep diluting her formula down. It was a lot of work with her and definitely a stressful time.

[Nancy in New York]

OK we are getting a little confused here.
People, myself included, are posting in your other thread.
http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=31195

[Mochi&Mocha]

Sorry! I posted this earlier on and got no response so I posted a new one hoping to get more replies. Very worried but listening for sure!

[Nancy in New York]

Sorry! I posted this earlier on and got no response so I posted a new one hoping to get more replies. Very worried but listening for sure!
:grouphug :grouphug :grouphug I know, when you are looking for help, it just seems like forever sometimes. I don't blame you, you love your baby.
Just wish I had some answers....:Love_Icon