Diarrhea?

[Orphan Mom]

:poop (Yes, another post about poop)

Mork and Mindy are ??? I don't remember how old they are now. That all grown up but miniature squirrel age. Nearly self-weaned.

They both have diarrhea now all the time. At first I thought it was because I was giving them too much fruit (though it wasn't much), but I decreased it and finally stopped it altogether. I have systematically eliminated everything until all they are eating is block -- Henry's Wild Bites and FV formula (they are taking about 15 ccs in the evening and some in a bowl earlier in the day) and water. And still they have dirty little nasty diarrhea butts all the time. :yuck :yuck

Does anyone have any experience with the wild bites causing diarrhea? Any other ideas?

Suggestions for clearing it up (other than pedialyte)?

[Rhapsody]

Is the diarrhea green in color or have a smell to it?

[Orphan Mom]

Ummm hard to say about the color. Yes, maybe?

Smell. Definitely. :yuck

[Sweet Simon's Mommy]

could be buggies, parasites.
Have you given then dirt to dig and play in?? Do you take their food out with in a couple of hours so it doesn't go bad in the cage?
Have they been outside yet?
See if you can wet a white cloth and wipe their rear ends to see what color you get.

[Rhapsody]

Its possible they have a case of coccidia and will need medication to rid their body of the parasite/bug........ in the mean time you can hydrate them with pedialyte to flush the body out and then tomorrow you can mix yogurt in with their fox valley to help settle the stomach and digestive tract as far as the coccidia is concerned.

Some one with medicine exp will be along and let you know what to give and at what dose.

[Orphan Mom]

They haven't been outside since I brought them in the first day. No dirt yet. I'm cleaning out & rearranging the cage this weekend and was going to give them a little pan of dirt then.

I don't leave their food in there for very long. If they don't eat it in about an hour I take it out.

The poop is brown, but I guess there could be a greenish tint to it.

I'm trying to think of anything that could be the problem. This is the litter I have in the bottom of their cage (http://www.petco.com/product/3370/Carefresh-Natural-Pet-Bedding.aspx?CoreCat=certona-_-ProductListTopRated_Small%20Animal_1-_-Carefresh%20Natural%20Pet%20Bedding-3370).

[Rhapsody]

Do you add any thing to their FV? - heavy cream can cause diarrhea in some squirrels.

[Orphan Mom]

Its possible they have a case of coccidia and will need medication to rid their body of the parasite/bug........

Terramycin for the cocci? That's what I've given chicks with it.


Do you add any thing to their FV? - heavy cream can cause diarrhea in some squirrels.

Nope. Nothing. Not even yogurt.

[Rhapsody]

1st - I would use pedialyte (store or home made) to flush the body out.
2nd - Give a couple drops of Imodium AD (repeat as needed).
3rd - Give vanilla yogurt to eat (straight and mixed in their fox valley).

....... do this for a few days and see if they improve

....... if they do not improve then we can move onto meds

[Orphan Mom]

1st - I would use pedialyte (store or home made) to flush the body out.
2nd - Give a couple drops of Imodium AD (repeat as needed).
3rd - Give vanilla yogurt to eat (straight and mixed in their fox valley).

....... do this for a few days and see if they improve

....... if they do not improve then we can move onto meds

OK will do.

Man, they are going to be so sad when they think they're getting their nighttime bottle, but instead they get pedialyte!

[Rhapsody]

I understand, but better they get a little pedialyte now and fix the problem - than have their tummies start to hurt over the next few days. (((hugs)))

[Orphan Mom]

I have some Bene-Bac Plus. Should I give it to them? If so, how much? I've got the kind that comes in a giant syringe thing.


P.S. - I also washed their hanging bed, their bedding, and gave them a bath tonight so I could tell if they are still having diarrhea. Man, they hated that a lot. Bath night and no noms before bed. They were soooo pouty.

[Rhapsody]

Lets stick with the basic protocol atm and see how it goes...... :)
Check back in Friday after noon and let us know how they are doing.

[Orphan Mom]

My daughter didn't know that I'd taken them off any food but yogurt, and she saw they were out today and gave them some block. They didn't eat it all though.

Still have diarrhea. They seem lethargic.

I gave them some more Imodium. Worried about the little buggers.

ETA: They're poop isn't water, just really loose and smelly.

[Rhapsody]

If you started the pedialyte flush last night you can go ahead and give them fox valley mixed with yogurt now, we do not use pedialyte any longer than 24 hours. Feed this mix tonight and tomorrow at 5-7% of their body weight for breakfast, lunch and dinner and then let us know how they are doing - dont forget to give the Imodium AD before each feeding.


You may have to do this for a few days to a week to see improvement.

[Jackie in Tampa]

Hate to say this, I don't recommend Immodium.
If they ahve runny poops, there is a reason, Immodium is gonna mask a problem. If they are lethargic, they probably need a vet.
HHBs are not the cause, period.

If they have cocchidia they need antibiotics.
The recommended choice is SMZ-TMP {Bactrim, Septra, Sulfatrim, these are all the same med, different names}
Keep them hydrated between feedings and keep them warm. Change their bedding frequently, it's contageous if you have other sqs.
Clean all feeding utensils well, use 10% bleach solution for everything..
clean frequently and get them to a vet or a rehabber.

Coccidia is a parasite that most wild animals are born with, it presents itself when something isn't right, weak immune system. The medicine does not cure it, it will always be in their system. Coccidia will be in the intestinal tract, the meds stop the reproduction of the parasite and allow the bodies immune system to overcome the bacteria.
It is dangerous in young sqs and must be treated with ABs.

If there has been any new noise, dogs barking, loud music, cats stalking them, anything stressful, too small of a cage, this could be the reason..stress brings the parasite forward.


good luck, hope this helps.

[Orphan Mom]

Terramycin is the antibiotic to treat for coccidiosis. It is safe for mammals, including rabbits. I just checked, and what I have on hand is expired. I am going to pick some up at the co-op & start them on it tomorrow.

[Rhapsody]

Terramycin is the antibiotic to treat for coccidiosis. It is safe for mammals, including rabbits. I just checked, and what I have on hand is expired. I am going to pick some up at the co-op & start them on it tomorrow.As Jackie mentioned........ the recommended choice of antibiotics we use on squirrels for this issue is SMZ-TMP, Bactrim, Septra, or Sulfatrim - if you cannot get to a vet atm see if there is a member that lives close by you that might have some, Jackie can dose it for you per the squirrels body weight.

[Orphan Mom]

As Jackie mentioned........ the recommended choice of antibiotics we use on squirrels for this issue is SMZ-TMP, Bactrim, Septra, or Sulfatrim - if you cannot get to a vet atm see if there is a member that lives close by you that might have some, Jackie can dose it for you per the squirrels body weight.

Sulfa drugs and cyclines are both used in the treatment of cocci. I can pick up Sulmet or Domvet at the co-op, but in my experience terramycin is more effective in the treatment of cocci than the sulfas.

[Jackie in Tampa]

You need a sulfa based drug..
If you give them substandard meds, you are beating their immune systenm up worse...anti biotics weaken the immune system as it is...

I have mega experience with this. I know what I am telling you is solid.
I am not diagnosing your sqs..I recommend a vet and the correct meds.
A fecal can be done for confirmation.
We don't recommend cyclenes or cillans for sqs.
The med you mentioned can cause serious liver damage if any renal functions are at risk already.
The side effects are not worth the risk, it degrades bones tissue development, and teeth..and on and on..yada yada...

would not be my choice.:shakehead :peace I am just saying....

[Orphan Mom]

You need a sulfa based drug..
If you give them substandard meds, you are beating their immune systenm up worse...anti biotics weaken the immune system as it is...

I have mega experience with this. I know what I am telling you is solid.
I am not diagnosing your sqs..I recommend a vet and the correct meds.
A fecal can be done for confirmation.
We don't recommend cyclenes or cillans for sqs.
The med you mentioned can cause serious liver damage if any renal functions are at risk already.
The side effects are not worth the risk, it degrades bones tissue development, and teeth..and on and on..yada yada...

would not be my choice.:shakehead :peace I am just saying....

A vet is not an option at this point. The vet I was using is worthless. I haven't found one who can treat. Also, I have missed two days of work trying to get Mindy's giant growth treated, and I cannot afford to miss anymore. I am not talking about using substandard meds. I'm talking about treating with what is available, as opposed to putting off treatment. I believe I can get ahold of Baycox without a prescription. There are also other sulfa drugs available for livestock, Sulmet being one of them. I know it is safe for rabbits.