Lucky is Urinating Drop by Drop Again!!

[Jedifalcon2579]

Lucky has been doing good the past month, Thanks too Kathie with all her help! Recently, she started peeing in spots again, puddle there puddle here, drop here drop there. I had a Ural Analysis done, and it seems that she has some crystals. She's a Grey Squirrel, about 2 3/4 years old. I have been giving her cranberries, organic salad mix, snap peas, green beans, okra, broccolli, boo balls, she has eaten some kaytee block as well, cucumber, parsley, cilantro, etc. Yesterday i didn't giver her any apple or papaya. Today she woke up early and was Antsy just like a month ago, pacing, making small puddles, and drops again. What do you guys suggest with her diet and do u think i should get her on meds?

[pappy1264]

I suggest your vet do an ultrasound to check for a stone or any blockages. If there is a stone, meds will knock the infection down, but it will keep coming back, as the meds cannot get inside the stone, which is filled with infection. Surgery is usually the only option for a stone. But you will not know for sure until you have an ultrasound done if that is the issue. She also needs to be put on baytril and you may want to talk to doc about using some metacam for pain and inflammation.

[Sweet Simon's Mommy]

No Infection??

Crystals are caused by the urine being stored before testing or by meds and are basically calcium deposits ,can irritate to cause infection, sometimes a stone develops if it is the calcium.
Do you have Baytril , if not you might want to get some from your vet, is your vet a squirrel DR ?? You might want to help her express her bladder also to help her out your vet can show you how, I need to figure out video

Is she drinking lots of water, if not try to get her to, she needs lots of water.

[Jedifalcon2579]

Lucky is drinking water and eating her veggies, were also making a new batch of boo balls for her today. We live in Chicago, which makes it harder to see a vet, only with a rehabber, i do live close to Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin, im not sure if those are squirrel friendly states. Since she has crystals, she def needs some Baytril as soon as we can get it for her. She was peeing fine until a couple days ago, after she got rid of her diarrhea.

[Pierre]

Hi there!

I'm sorry your baby is feeling poorly. :grouphug
:Love_Icon Lucky :Love_Icon

Did the urinalysis show an infection? I assume this was done at a vet's office. What did the vet say to do for the crystals she/he did find? What was the urine's pH?

Crystals/stones form generally due to heredity, infections, diet, or dehydration. There are a couple different kinds of urinary crystals/stones. The most common are struvite and calcium oxalate.

Struvite stones/crystals are associated with infections and the urine is neutral to alkaline in its pH. Antibiotics are given and sometimes diet is altered to acidify the urine. Acidifying the urine through diet can dissolve these kinds of crystals/stones.

Calcium oxalate crystals/stones form in an acidic to neutral urine. The form more readily in animals with high levels of calcium in their blood stream due to high calcium in the diet, or from some diseases. Diet changes can't dissolve them but dietary changes can be made to prevent new ones from forming.

Are you working with a vet? Firstly, you need to get their recommendations based on what they saw with the urinalysis. How is her appetite and behavior? Absolutely, no matter what kind, keeping your baby hydrated is key! Make sure she is drinking plenty of fluids.

Best of luck to you and keep us posted after you check with your vet. Keep a close eye on her as sometimes these can be very serious if a blockage occurs. :grouphug :grouphug :grouphug

[Jedifalcon2579]

Lucky has been eating her veggies, i got her all kinds of good stuff, and shes drinking plenty of water! She's also been active, Jumping, Climbing, Running, Roaming around the house, not showing any kind of weakness. On friday I took a urine sample and took it to Kathie so she can take it to the vet. On saturday she called me and said that there was no blood in the urine, no sign of infection, but a small amount of crystals.

[gs1]

:grouphug wish i could help but don't have a clue about crystals and stones etc....:grouphug

[gs1]

Urinary stones are associated with high urinary oxalate plus LOW dietary calcium. You might want to read through some of the latest studies; very interesting!


wow...low calcium is alarming.... because of the mbd association....

you might want to look at this some more ... just to not have to deal with mbd in the near future....

[gs1]

Hi there!

I'm sorry your baby is feeling poorly. :grouphug
:Love_Icon Lucky :Love_Icon

Did the urinalysis show an infection? I assume this was done at a vet's office. What did the vet say to do for the crystals she/he did find? What was the urine's pH?

Crystals/stones form generally due to heredity, infections, diet, or dehydration. There are a couple different kinds of urinary crystals/stones. The most common are struvite and calcium oxalate.

Struvite stones/crystals are associated with infections and the urine is neutral to alkaline in its pH. Antibiotics are given and sometimes diet is altered to acidify the urine. Acidifying the urine through diet can dissolve these kinds of crystals/stones.

Calcium oxalate crystals/stones form in an acidic to neutral urine. The form more readily in animals with high levels of calcium in their blood stream due to high calcium in the diet, or from some diseases. Diet changes can't dissolve them but dietary changes can be made to prevent new ones from forming.

Are you working with a vet? Firstly, you need to get their recommendations based on what they saw with the urinalysis. How is her appetite and behavior? Absolutely, no matter what kind, keeping your baby hydrated is key! Make sure she is drinking plenty of fluids.

Best of luck to you and keep us posted after you check with your vet. Keep a close eye on her as sometimes these can be very serious if a blockage occurs. :grouphug :grouphug :grouphug



um ...sounds brilliant and i feel very, very stupid ... have no idea what to think between this and 4swerlz answer.... omg... i'm glad you've got other people helping you .... i'm feeling very blonde right now....:D

[Jedifalcon2579]

This morning she woke up pacing again, and she pee'd in spots, and a couple small puddles. She did eat her veggies and drank water. With a small amount of crystals in her urine, whats good to add or take out of her diet? Plus i'm looking for a vet that would see her, its not easy here in Chicago, do u guys have any suggestions?

[gs1]

i would pm island rehabber, 4swerlz, pierre, crittermom etc.... and have someone tell you to increase or decrease the calcium.... :grouphug

because i don't understand calcium/stones/crystals.....:thinking

you need to get this done asap....i'd almost put this in emergency ....

:grouphug

[pappy1264]

What Pierre said. Can you ask what kind of crystals they saw? There are also times where a good amount of calcium is given (ie, not 'too much') but an animal for different reasons can have trouble processing calcium (I had this happen in my glider, Roo. She had recurrent UTI's, with blood present. Sadly, she did have a kidney stone, which in gliders are inoperable and I lost her to it.) It will be important to know which type of crystals they are seeing, as well as the ph of the urine itself.

[Sweet Simon's Mommy]

You say she is eating lots of veggies, What exactly is she eating. Saw some of the list from an earlier post but what does she actually eat the most of.
Can you list the veggies and fruit. Some can stop the calcium from being properly absorbed into the system even though they are getting calcium. What form of calcium are you giving her??
Morning meal, lunch meal , snack and dinner or do you leave food in her cage at all times. Does she have stashes?? Get rid of them!!
How much out of cage does she get and is she monitored when she is out and isn't nibbling on something she shouldn't be like varnish .
Kidney stones are very rare in squirrels but it can happen, what meds has she been on as they too can cause crystals.
If she is pacing you might want to give her some infant ibprophen , how much does she weigh??
You can add some cranberry juice to her water, 1 part juice to 3 parts water.

[gs1]

jedi....

here is another great discussion that could help you ....

http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=32052

and ofcourse what pappy&sweetsimonsmommy said ......

:thumbsup :grouphug

[Jedifalcon2579]

in the morning i give her kaytee block and shes getting used to those, sometimes cranberries, and a boo ball, around noon time i give her veggies, different lettuce greens, radiccho, arugula, some baby brocolli, and a piece of papaya, and another boo ball, she eats a good amount, and at night i either give her either a piece of walnut or pecan, piece of papaya, blueberry or apple. i add different veggies other days stuff like bok chow, cucumber, okra, chayote, brussel sprouts, bell peppers etc.When i let her out, i def monitor her and make sure she don't eat anything she should'nt and that she's safe. As for stashes i always make sure she doesnt have any in her habitat. She weighs about a pound and a half. Any other suggestions for her diet? btw she pee'd a some descent puddles when i took her out tonight, the urine was a nice color, and not a strong odor! a month ago she was on baytril for a week, thats all the meds she been on.

[pappy1264]

There is also the possiblity she has some type of blockage or swelling, so she is not peeing and the debris is sitting in her bladder (or kidneys) too long and forming crystals, as well. An ultrasound should seriously be considered to make sure that is not the case. She may need meds for inflammation, as well.

[Jedifalcon2579]

i'm working very hard to find a vet that see her, i called like 15 places today and non would see her, its not easy in illinois without a wildlife rehab license.

[Sweet Simon's Mommy]

well the light color and lack of odor are definitely a good sign.
Its sounds to me like your answer will only come by having a Dr test her urine,
I am assuming you have looked her over really well, no tics or fleas or something stuck on her, a thorn or sticky something that could cause her to squirm.
Man it is so hard when they cant tell you what hurts

[Sweet Simon's Mommy]

Do you have a local humane society? many people who find squirrels take them there not knowing where else to go, they might know of someone, or try some pets stores, people take squirrels there also, they may know who can help you. Being an illegal state, the vets are talking, but the other guys might. Just a thought.

[pappy1264]

Do you have any licensed rehabbers who are near you that could help with a vet seeing her? How is she today?

[CritterMom]

Can Kathie or 2ndHand Ranch Rescue help you with a vet?

I would be pushing fluids in the meantime, you may be able to flush this out. If you are going to be giving extra water, I would use cranberry juice to flavor it with - not the "Ocean Spray" stuff that is mostly high fructose corn syrup - get REAL cranberry juice from a health food store.

[Jackie in Tampa]

Jedi, I have recieved your PMs...
I will go back and read all your threads to know history before answering any questions...
Can you give us the baytril info...dilution. strength, tablets or suspension?
can you post a weight in case a TSB rehabber thinks you should admin it to your sq...
:Love_Icon

[Jedifalcon2579]

She getting better, today she wasn't ansty, and urinated better, looks like need to get her on an Alkali diet, what do u guys suggest would be good to give her?


mjs

[Jackie in Tampa]

It's in the mail, hope she is better soon.:Love_Icon

[Jackie in Tampa]

any updates?
how's she doing?