Help - seizures

[sassysquirrel]

Today is the second time Nougie has had a seizure - he is a grey male squirrel - he had was raised by a rehabber until a little over a week ago - he does have curved tooth on the top that was trimmed a few days ago - when he was found he had fallen and had a swollen and bloody nose - the rehabber had put him on FV and given AB's - he recovered very nicely - his teeth has had to be trimmed several times since then (only bottom tooth) his top tooth was trimmed the first time a few days ago
Nougie has a very healthy diet - Henry's blocks everyday along with fresh veggies - and some nuts and seeds
The first seizure happened the second time I was taking him outside for some sunshine (very warm here) the first time I put him in a seperate section of the release cage - he did fine a little scared at first then ok for the rest of the day - the next day I went to put him outside again - and once inside the cage he jumped and hit the side of the door - I did not think it was very hard - and then I caught him before he fell to the ground and he jumped from my hands again on to the ground - and that is where he had a little seizure - I brought him in and gave him some rescue remedy - he was calm and slept for awhile and fine ( this was 2-3 days ago) Then today - I had just got through playing with him and approx 10 min later I was sitting on the couch and heard this scratching noise - looked at him cage and thought he was having a seizure - went to his cage and he was - he now is ok and sleeping
Is there anything I can do???? Is there anything else to watch for?
I talked to my rehabber friend - and she said just watch him - sometimes this just happens - thinks it could be from the fall in the cage - just want to see what ya'll think
He is such a very sweet squirrel - but he has always been a skiddish - but has warmed up to me very nicely - and he does love to play - hand wrestle with you - but he does get scared very easily

[sassysquirrel]

Still needing suggestions

[island rehabber]

It does sound like he sustained some neuro damage when he fell.....have you tried Vetri-DMG with him? Chris at squirrelsandmore.com sells it and you only need the small bottle. A few drops once a day may help his neurological system and boost his immunity, too. :thumbsup

BTW: if it's very warm there, PLEASE be careful of heat exhaustion with him. Squirrels can overheat very easily, and seizures are actually a symptom:
http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17785

[Nancy in New York]

I just read that last year at the gathering Philomycus gave a lecture on seizures. She is a member on this board, and a vet student. PM her to see if she has the papers from that lecture.

Here's a link to all of the threads with seizures in the title. Perhaps some of these will be helpful to you too!:grouphug


http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/search.php?searchid=1335928

[sassysquirrel]

It is not that warm here - Except for the one afternoon he has been in the house - he has always been in the house in a cage
I will order Verti-DMG right now - will he be ok till then? - and how much do I give him? and how often?

[Jackie in Tampa]

I certainly am not disagreeing,
but I have seen seizures in head trauma sqs and they happen as the sq is doing normal things.boom, outta the blue.
However with MBD seizures fear/change/noise is always associated...and usually brings them on.
Sudden anything will trigger seizure activity..
A dog bark can trigger, daylight, slamming door, turning on a light...any sudden unexpected change can bring on a seizure.

I would add calcium to his formula..
was he weaned early?
No harm in the Vetri...or the calcium.
Keep him warm and ramp up his high calcium veggies!
Good Luck Nougie:Love_Icon

[UDoWhat]

I certainly am not disagreeing,
but I have seen seizures in head trauma sqs and they happen as the sq is doing normal things.boom, outta the blue.
However with MBD seizures fear/change/noise is always associated...and usually brings them on.
Sudden anything will trigger seizure activity..
A dog bark can trigger, daylight, slamming door, turning on a light...any sudden unexpected change can bring on a seizure.

I would add calcium to his formula..
was he weaned early?
No harm in the Vetri...or the calcium.
Keep him warm and ramp up his high calcium veggies!
Good Luck Nougie:Love_Icon

I agree with JIT I would do the calcium too. My reasoning is that you may not be so sure what the rehabber was actually feeding him, when he was weened, or really much of a history on his diet as to being the proper diet or not. I have know some Rehabbers to feed way too many seeds and nuts and not the best diet. That being said, this may not be an MBD issue but I would not chance it. While you wait for the Vertri.. I would start the emergency Calcium treatments... it can't hurt that is for sure. You mentioned his diet also. It seems fine but his he really eating the healthy stuff or is he stashing it??? I ask only to be sure for I have had this experience when I first started rehabbing years ago and I THOUGHT I was feeding a perfect diet. Boy, oh boy, was I wrong. That was one of my first cases of MBD. Caused by me... I hated to admit it but when I cleaned out his nest box and hammock, etc. I don't think he had ever even tasted healthy food. Most of the healthy stuff was stashed. So my point, do check to see if he is stashing stuff and fooling you.(They are great at that... the little brats :Love_Icon :Love_Icon ) Here is the Emergency MBD treatment link, if you think he would benefit from this treatment too. I would also do the long term treatment as well. I don't mean to push the MBD "card" or step on toes but since I was not sure of the (his) actual diet, I do agree with JIT on this as a possible concern .

http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=31502&highlight=Emergency+treatment+sticky

[sassysquirrel]

I do know for sure he was fed the proper diet and was not weaned too early - I know this rehabber personally - they are very good -raised many many squirrels - they have been doing this for many years

I will add the calcium and watch more closely what he its actually eating - but I am pretty much a clean freak - so his cage is cleaned out - atleast every other day - he does stash some food - but he also eats most of it
Should I try feeding him some formula (FV of course)???? Is there something else I could be feeding him to help with the calcium????

Today he has been perfectly normal - playing and playing - and still wanting to play some more - This is the first squirrel that I have had that just absolutely loves to be talked to - he is soo sweet - I just want to make sure I am doing the right thing for him - Today is a really pretty day - it is 60 and sunshine - I would really like to take his cage outside - but I am afraid that may stress him and bring on a seizure

I really want to check his teeth but I am afraid that might upset him too much - and he might have another seizure - When do you think I could check them????

Is there something I really need to watch for???