tail

[Pip]

Could you tell me please what it means when a squirrel's tail is closed and tight almost like a short haired cat's tail (Pip's tail is always on the floor now and is no longer full and fluffy as other squirrels')!

Worried! Thank you for your help.

[stepnstone]

Definitely sounds like a red flag, not normal for a healthy squirrel. Is there something that could be stressing him out? How is his behavior, what is his diet and can you post a picture?

[Pip]

Their diet is good: I am using the suggestions and instructions from the squirrel board for nutrition. They do not like rodent blocks anymore (I give them some but they usually just get hidden somewhere) so I give them one Booball each 2 or 3 times a day. Also I give them fresh vegetables, fruits, nuts and maple tree seeds (every day?), rose hips and fresh branches. What they choose to eat is another story. Today someone did not eat all their vegetables and someone else just ate the nuts around the Booball dropping it and so the other one had more!

Yesterday I shielded the squirrel always loosing his food (Pip) while he was eating so he could finish his share and somehow now there is a role reversal. It is Pip who now takes things and passes them on to the other?

I also cut the Booballs into 4 very small pieces and feed them one piece each at a time so I can see who is eating what. It worked well for a few days but now Pip is not eating all of his piece (only the nuts ) and so the other (Rocky) is getting more again.

Pip's tail looks a little better but still not full as Rocky's. Pip walks and climbs well so I hope there is no spinal cord injury. Am hoping to find a bigger cage and maybe this will be less stressful for them. How much living space do 2 growing overwintering male squirrels need? My house is really very difficult to make squirrel safe (I have no play room for them yet) and I can not let them out every day to exercise.

Also a question about whey protein: if cow milk is bad for squirrels then should one look for goat milk whey protein? Most whey protien found in the stores is from cow milk???? What to do????

Thank you for your help and advice!

[stepnstone]

Their diet is good: I am using the suggestions and instructions from the squirrel board for nutrition. They do not like rodent blocks anymore (I give them some but they usually just get hidden somewhere) so I give them one Booball each 2 or 3 times a day. Also I give them fresh vegetables, fruits, nuts and maple tree seeds (every day?), rose hips and fresh branches. What they choose to eat is another story. Today someone did not eat all their vegetables and someone else just ate the nuts around the Booball dropping it and so the other one had more!
Yesterday I shielded the squirrel always loosing his food (Pip) while he was eating so he could finish his share and somehow now there is a role reversal. It is Pip who now takes things and passes them on to the other?
I also cut the Booballs into 4 very small pieces and feed them one piece each at a time so I can see who is eating what. It worked well for a few days but now Pip is not eating all of his piece (only the nuts ) and so the other (Rocky) is getting more again.
Pip's tail looks a little better but still not full as Rocky's. Pip walks and climbs well so I hope there is no spinal cord injury. Am hoping to find a bigger cage and maybe this will be less stressful for them. How much living space do 2 growing overwintering male squirrels need? My house is really very difficult to make squirrel safe (I have no play room for them yet) and I can not let them out every day to exercise.
Also a question about whey protein: if cow milk is bad for squirrels then should one look for goat milk whey protein? Most whey protien found in the stores is from cow milk???? What to do????
Thank you for your help and advice!

A squirrels tail will often reflect it's diet, a good rodent block is key to a healthy diet for captive squirrels and should be their main course of food. If they are given other alternatives along with the rodent block they will naturally object it for the "taster" choices. "What they choose to eat" is not necessary going to provide them with the proper nutrients they need, especially for "captive" squirrels. For many when they think squirrel, they think nuts. You didn't mention what kind/type of nuts (I hope not peanuts) but none the less nuts should only be given as a treat and not to be a main supplement of food.
I'm not trying to be a spokesperson for HHB's but they did make a world of difference with my little one's coat and tail along with her agility. (She had MBD) That is all she gets (2) in the mornings before introducing anything else such as her veggies later on.
She still gets and loves her boo balls also. What I do when making her balls so she don't just pick out the nuts is to grind them fine before adding to the ingredients. That way she eats the whole ball to get the nut taste rather then just picking nut pieces out. There is a portion of nut in her HHB's, there is nut in boo balls. Handing her any other source of nut is only as a treat and only if she has eaten her other foods well and definitely not an every day thing.
I know there are protein supplements directed at/for rodents, hopefully someone with that knowledge will come on and can advise you on your whey protein question.

[Pip]

A squirrels tail will often reflect it's diet, a good rodent block is key to a healthy diet for captive squirrels and should be their main course of food. If they are given other alternatives along with the rodent block they will naturally object it for the "taster" choices. "What they choose to eat" is not necessary going to provide them with the proper nutrients they need, especially for "captive" squirrels. For many when they think squirrel, they think nuts. You didn't mention what kind/type of nuts (I hope not peanuts) but none the less nuts should only be given as a treat and not to be a main supplement of food.
I'm not trying to be a spokesperson for HHB's but they did make a world of difference with my little one's coat and tail along with her agility. (She had MBD) That is all she gets (2) in the mornings before introducing anything else such as her veggies later on.
She still gets and loves her boo balls also. What I do when making her balls so she don't just pick out the nuts is to grind them fine before adding to the ingredients. That way she eats the whole ball to get the nut taste rather then just picking nut pieces out. There is a portion of nut in her HHB's, there is nut in boo balls. Handing her any other source of nut is only as a treat and only if she has eaten her other foods well and definitely not an every day thing.
I know there are protein supplements directed at/for rodents, hopefully someone with that knowledge will come on and can advise you on your whey protein question.



I have made new Booballs with finely chopped walnuts inside and I also added some finely chopped broccoli to make it a bit healthier (along with all the other ingredients of Booball recipe 1). It seems to work better as they both ate everything. I do not give peanuts but I noticed there are some in the Kay Tee Forti Diet rodent blocks I bought. The nuts I give at the end of the day are usually wallnuts, almonds, hazelnuts and sometimes pecans mostly to give them something to do. Perhaps I should change this to every other day or so?
I will be making the homemade squirrel blocks using the Squirrel Board recipe with Henry Healthy Vita-Mins. One of the ingredients is whey protein and I was wondering if you use cow milk whey protein or goat milk whey protein? I heard cow milk is not good for squirrels and so was puzzeled. Will these homemade blocks be nutritious enough even though they are backed?
Should one be at all concerned about the oxalate content of nuts and the effect they will have on the absorption of calcium as nuts are a major ingrdient in the homemade squirrel block recipe?
Thank you again and again for all your help and advice.

[stepnstone]

You exhibit some genuine concerns with your squirrels nutrition. The best person to answer these concerns in my opinion would be: 4skwerlz
If anyone knows squirrel nutrition it's Leigh, I'm sure if you sent her a pm directing her to this post she could provide you the answers/advice your seeking.