Flyer refusing to eat/drink

[sierrasmom97]

My flyer is refusing to eat or drink anything! I can tell he is slowly getting weaker. His normal diet consists of fresh veggies at night and yogurt in the morning with FV mixed in. I tried to make up some FV and hand feed him from a syringe, but he just shakes his head, chatters at me, and he actually nipped my finger. He typically loves his yogurt and comes running when he sees me coming with the bowl in the morning, but he won't even touch that.

[pappy1264]

How old is he? Does he get any animal protein? flyers need a lot of animal protein (waxworms, mealworms, chicken) and should be getting it every day (I handfeed waxworms during the day and give chicken at night on their plate. You can buy freezedried chicken at Petco, that works well. Just make sure it is just chicken, nothing else.) You hmay need to get some sub-q fluids into him, as if he gets too dehydrated, he won't eat anything and you are risking his kidneys.

[sierrasmom97]

He is almost 3 yrs old. I have chicken chips that I give him and also mealworms.

[sierrasmom97]

I just tried to give him some worms and he took his little paw and smacked it away. I got a weight on him. He is 98grams. He was nibbling on a piece of squash. His fur looks greasy and not very clean at all. This is not typical for him.

[Jackie in Tampa]

have you seen any seizure activity?
does he have a supplimental block in his daily diet?
how is he getting calcium?
are you familiar with MBD? could it be low calcium?
coul;d he have gotten into something...
if he won't eat right now and is appearing dehydrated, as Pappy mentioned he may need subQ'ed if you cannot get him to eat.
SubQ will stimulate appetite in a failing animal...
will help to stimulate organs to work properly...
do you feel he is dying or just appears sick?

[pappy1264]

Does he have free play where he could have possibly gotten in to something you are not aware of?

Have you tried pedialyte?

[sierrasmom97]

have you seen any seizure activity? no not really..yesterday he was doing some bobbing thing, but I haven't seen him do it today.
does he have a supplimental block in his daily diet? not any longer, he was on HHB a while back, but after talking with mrs skul we took him off that block because he was having hair loss.
how is he getting calcium? yogurt w/fv
are you familiar with MBD? could it be low calcium?
could he have gotten into something...no, he is always on me if he is out his cage
if he won't eat right now and is appearing dehydrated, as Pappy mentioned he may need subQ'ed if you cannot get him to eat.
SubQ will stimulate appetite in a failing animal...
will help to stimulate organs to work properly...
do you feel he is dying or just appears sick? at this point I just know "something is off" with him. He will climb around on me, but he's very grumpy and chatters quite a bit at me if I try to pick him up. He even slightly bit me earlier and that never happens..

[pappy1264]

Could he have taken a hard fall? I am wondering if he is having any pain, where he is biting/grumpy when you try to hold him (where he isn't normally that way. Granted, that could be a hormone thing normally, but combined with the other issues, I wonder if something inside him is hurting.) Do you have access to a vet that you can take him to if needed?

[sierrasmom97]

Could he have taken a hard fall? I am wondering if he is having any pain, where he is biting/grumpy when you try to hold him (where he isn't normally that way. Granted, that could be a hormone thing normally, but combined with the other issues, I wonder if something inside him is hurting.) Do you have access to a vet that you can take him to if needed?

Anything is possible. He could have taken a fall. I have seem him climb around his cage and he seems to be moving ok. No broken legs, etc. He grumps at me in general when I try to scoop him up out of his sleeping pouch. Usually in the mornings when I give him his yogurt he literally comes running. I open the cage door and he jumps on me, runs down my arm to the bowl of yogurt and follows it all the way back in to the cage. The last 2 mornings he's not done that. I even tried putting some on my finger to let him lick it off and he just turns his head. Yes I do have access to a vet when they open.

[jbtartell]

Is he drinking water? I found that when they stop eating like that they may be dehydrated. how much is he drinking? he may need fluids. ask your vet to give him some fluids. with flyers they are very sincative to fluids get dehydrated easy.

[pappy1264]

See if he will eat some no sugar added applesauce (not great, but will get fluids in him, as well as up his sugar levels, as with not eating, they will be low, he could be hyperglycemic.) Or if you have oranges, see if he will take that.

[sierrasmom97]

The only applesauce that I have in the house was cinnamon flavored. I did find some apple juice that I had with no sugar added. He drank maybe 2-3 licks off the tip of the syringe. I also gave him a slice of apple. He took it from me, licked it and threw it down.

[CritterMom]

I am NOT a flyer person...but I would start getting hydration into this baby and I wouldn't take "no" for an answer. I would start with straight hydration solution - homemade is fine -
1 teaspoon salt
3 Tablespoons sugar
1 quart water

and if it means burrito-ing him to syringe it into him, that is what I would do. Once dehydration starts, the appetite goes, which causes further dehydration...and so on. Stop THAT process now and see if the appetite picks up as a result.

[jbtartell]

my thought too not eating and hydration run together..

[sierrasmom97]

The vet that sees squirrels is gone for the day at my clinic. He calls the office periodically throughout the day to check on his patients and the lady at the front desk is going to tell him what is going on. It is possible that we may be seen some time today..if not I already have an appt for first thing in the morning. I went and got some plain applesauce and some grapes. He did nibble on the grape but really showed no interest in the applesauce.

I did burrito him and force the fluids and noticed something that could be the reason he isn't feeling well. His little male part is swollen and red so I am thinking some type of bladder type infection maybe??

[jbtartell]

sounds like that or he has been nursing on his self.. which would be odd with his age..lol who knows.. the vet will for sure..

[MiriamS]

Jackie, Pappy and Mrs Skul are flyer Goddesses :bowdown so whatever they say is a good bet. It's strange that he's swollen down there but self-sucking might be a reaction to pain or stress. I would take him to the vet asap.

In the meantime, try to keep him wherever it's less stressful for him. In your shirt if that is cozy for him, so you can keep an eye on him and keep him calm.

[Jackie in Tampa]

hope he can see the vet, sounds like he may have a UTI.
If there is constant urine on his belly, it's probable.
If so, an Anti biotic is needed and a probiotic.
A safe sq friendly AB would be SMZ-TMP suspension.
Please keep us in tghe loop.

[pappy1264]

Either a UTI, or a possible blockage. Have you seen him potty (my flyers always 'go' on me....lol) Does he seem to be straining? Does his belly seem more round and bigger then normal? (if blockage, his bladder will be distended and he will need a vet immediately). If UTI, he will need meds. Please update when you can.

[sierrasmom97]

I just got home from the vet. They are keeping him through the afternoon (if not longer). They are trying to figure out the best way to treat him without causing more stress on him. There really isn't anything to report at the moment. I will post more when I know more.:Love_Icon

[MiriamS]

Your flyer being at the vet's is worth reporting for sure because it lets us know he's in good hands and they're working to make him better. Minimally they'll have an easier time making sure he's hydrated. :thumbsup Thanks for letting us know.

[sierrasmom97]

I have him home now to watch overnight. They gave him some subq fluids, a steroid shot and some Baytril. They sent him home with the antibiotics for me to give once a day and also some Nutrical food supplement to try. Right now he is happy to be home and he went straight for his sleeping pouch. :sleep1

[MiriamS]

They do seem to do much better in their own home than at the vets. Vets don't realize how sensitive they are and often put them in noisy places and it's incredibly stressful. I'm happy he's home with you and a plan of action to make him better.

[Skul]

Does sound a bit strange.
Just to reduce the clutter, have you checked various bags/pouches for a stash.
If the stinker has a stash, he may very well not take food from you.
Thinking of that, what type of watering apperatus do you use?
If large, you really can't judge whether they're drinking enough.
It's quite possible that an infection of some sort has set in, so it's good you have a vet available.
If you have one available, please get a gram weight on the little monster.
Being a very small animal to start with, weight changes help in figuring out if there really is a problem.

[sierrasmom97]

I have checked his sleeping pouches and he doesn't have a stash anywhere. I had recently swapped out everything and washed it.

He has 2 types of waterers. The first is the typical hamster water bottle with the ball and the second one is a silo type bird waterer like this (http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2750996). I don't trust the hamster bottles alone anymore because I have had the ball get stuck and no water will come out.

The vet did weigh him today. He was either 97 or 98 grams. I can't remember which.

[Mrs Skul]

Hi Sierrasmom
Is this Jacoby :dono Can you post a picture of him and of his swollen parts? Are you talking about his Penis or Testicles, Being Swollen?
Is he Cheeping and squeaking at you every time you try to pick him up or touch him? Can you tell me exactly what you feed him in a day. How much fruit do you offer a day? How much protein a day? Do you have a cuddle bone and a Calcium mineral Ice Cream Cone Chew in the cage at all times? When you took him off the Flyer Blocks did you try him on a Rodent Block Later when the fur grew back? :thinking Did you ever try him back on the Flyer Blocks to see if the Fur Loss came back? Does he eat any Nuts or Acorns? How much Water a day does he drink out of the Water tub? How much yogurt and FV do you mix and feed him? I sent you my Phone number call me tomorrow Please. I am Praying he feels better soon. :grouphug
PS
Have any other Flyers or Rodents sick? Have you gotten any new Pets living with you recently? Has anyone sprayed for bugs or weeds lately?
Take some Maple syrup or Molasses and mix it in some water. Offer it to him warm. You wont it to be like week Ice tea or taste a little sweet.

[sierrasmom97]

Just wanted to post and let everyone know that I just lost Jacoby about a half hour ago. I had done everything the vet suggested and tried the emergency MBD treatment listed here also. I guess it was just something beyond my control. I am heartbroke at the moment. Thanks to everyone who tried to help.

[MiriamS]

Sometimes you just don't know and there's nothing you can do except love them until the end. My heart goes out to you. :grouphug

[sierrasmom97]

And loved he was :Love_Icon
It's amazing how these little critters steal your heart :)

[Jackie in Tampa]

:grouphug Jacoby:grouphug SM97:grouphug

[Mrs Skul]

:sad
RIP
Sweet Little Angel Jacoby
:grouphug Sierrasmom I am so sorry for your Lose. :grouphug
I know it's so Hard now, and Words cant even explain the Pain you are going threw.
My Hart is braking along with yours. Remember I am hear for you when you are ready to talk. :Love_Icon :grouphug
:Love_Icon You are a Wonderful Squmommy. Jacoby knows you loved him. :Love_Icon
"Watch over your Mommy Sweet Little Angel."

[patjones]

So Sorry He is gone