PLEASE HELP! FLYER NOT FEELING WELL

[**Theodore**]

Hello, I recently got Theodore, my pet flying squirrel almost a month ago. He is about a year old, some what warming up to me, and of coarse adorable. I've noticed the past few days he has been sniffling and sneezing a whole lot and today he is very sluggish, not hyper at all (which is unheard of), he's just sitting on my closet shelf and itching. He's itching, biting, and scratching himself so much, this just started tonight. I read on some other website that southern flying squirrels don't get lice or fleas. is that true? I don't know what to do or if all these things are connected but I know something is wrong with my little guy and I'm really worried. Please help

[**Theodore**]

Hello, I recently got Theodore, my pet flying squirrel almost a month ago. He is about a year old, some what warming up to me, and of coarse adorable. I've noticed the past few days he has been sniffling and sneezing a whole lot and today he is very sluggish, not hyper at all (which is unheard of), he's just sitting on my closet shelf and itching. He's itching, biting, and scratching himself so much, this just started tonight. I read on some other website that southern flying squirrels don't get lice or fleas. is that true? I don't know what to do or if all these things are connected but I know something is wrong with my little guy and I'm really worried. Please help

[CritterMom]

This could be diet related. Please tell us what you feed him. Does he eat any kind of rodent block at all?

[**Theodore**]

Thank you so much for replying i thought i was going to have to wait until tomorrow to hear from anyone. I was just watching him and i feel so bad he looks so frustrated with his itching everywhere, poor little guy. I'm not sure what rodent block is, so probably not. I feed him VITA EXOTICS: sugar glider formula, mixed with some bird seed, some fresh veggies and fruit. I also give him repti calcium by ZOO MED. I mix the powder with apple juice, water, and some yogurt and freeze in ice trays i give him one every other night. he has a cuttle bone in his cage along with a mineral block, salt lick, chew block, and a raw hide. Although he is inside quite often his cage is outdoors and before I got him he was always indoors. I made him a fairly large cage, its about 8 ft long, 6 ft tall and about 4 ft wide. he has two hammocks in there but he sleeps inside a little box i made that looks like a bird house. for his beding he has pieces of fabric strips, shredded paper towels, and cotton balls, he seems to love it. I hope this helps to figure out what going on. Thank you

[CritterMom]

The diet is not ideal - gliders and flyers have very different needs - but I will let the flyer people, and we have many, guide you there. I wanted to make sure he was not calcium deficient first and with your addition it sounds like not. How many mg of calcium does he get a day?

Itching, sniffling and sneezing sounds really allergic in nature to me. Do you have an exotics vet who will see him?

Do I understand that he lives outside and inside? Is he in contact with other animals? Can he get to the ground in your set up? Like down in the dirt?

Start digging in your brain. Has anything changed? New detergent, a candle? A new toy? Have you changed soap/shampoo? Is something blooming right outside that hasn't in the past?

Children's liquid Benadryl would help relieve ithching etc., but you also need to figure out what is wrong so you can fix it - Benadryl just addresses symptoms, it doesn't cure. We would need an exact weight on him to dose this for you - in grams. Do NOT guess at the amount, okay? Digital gram scales can be purchased at kitchen places, walmart and the like, and at Staples as a postal scale.

Watch the thread - this is a VERY active board and we have people who live and breathe these little guys.

[island rehabber]

Theodore, I added to your title so that our flyer experts will see it more quickly.

[squirrelfriend]

I am unfortunately not too familiar with flying squirrels. I can suggest that you post this in the emergency area. It will get noticed quicker there. Good luck with the little guy.

[Anne]

He needs an immediate diet change. Sugar gliders are completely different than flying squirrels. Sugar gliders are marsupials from Australia and their diet is full of sugars. Sugar is NOT a big part of flying squirrel diets. Flying squirrels need a lot of protein and fats.
Try this diet and if you don't see a big improvement in 3/4 weeks re-post about your problem.

Adult Flying Squirrel Diet

It's easy to take care of the nutritional requirements of the Flying squirrel. They will eat almost anything. In-the-shell pine nuts, pumpkin seed, sunflower seed, pecans, walnuts, acorns and hickory nuts are all recommended when available. Give the flyer fresh fruit and berries, blossoms and seeds from sugar maple trees, honeysuckle and white clover flowers. Add fresh cultivated mushroom, broccoli, fresh or dried ear of corn and now and then a bit of unsweetened cereal, such as Cheerios. Sweet potatoes have the correct CA/p ratio and are very nutritious. Just keep the diet varied and they will get everything they need. They eat very little so what they are fed is very important.

In addition to the fresh fruits and vegetables, the flying squirrel diet can consist of a high quality wild bird food that is a mix of seeds, nuts (in-the-shell) and fruit. They prefer larger seeds to smaller ones.

Uncooked macaroni or egg noodles and/or
Small amounts of leftover dry breakfast cereal like raisin bran, Cheerios, Special K, Granola, etc.,
and

Mix well and serve with veggies, fruits, and hard shelled nuts
His flyers also get insects. Meal worms, wax worms, crickets, grasshoppers, moths, cicadas, etc.. In the summer, it's catch of the day.

Judy C says Wal-Mart sells two other wild bird foods her flyers like, made by 3-D Pet Products. One is "Krunchy Nut" and the other is "Nut N' Berry. "They are very similar - both have sunflower kernels, shelled peanuts,” tree nuts" (may contain pistachios, almonds, walnuts, pecans or filberts), hulled pumpkin seeds and dried raisins. In addition, the Nut'nBerry has sunflower seeds, safflower seeds and dried cranberries. She keeps one of these in the cage at all times, as a staple food .

If you choose to use bird seed, a variety of nuts, such as walnuts, almonds, etc., along with fresh fruits and vegetable should be just fine, though the nuts are very high in fat.

Moca offers a varied diet(fresh fruits, veggies, semi-wild roses, wild strawberries, that are in season) PLUS Zupreem monkey chow. She mixes the ingredients of one can with raw oatmeal, soy nuts, other nuts and seeds and small mealworms or wax worms then cooks a few minutes and places portions in ice cube trays for freezing. Her Nugget gets two very small balls of this at night rolled in sesame seeds and sesame Tahini.

Flying squirrels like to eat meal or wax worms. Giant Mealworms are treated with a growth hormone that stops them from turning into the adult beetle. This hormone causes the worms to grow to two to three times their normal size. We do NOT recommend that you use Giant Mealworms to feed your flyer, but they are great for fishing bait. Most flyers love almost any insect. They are part of the natural diet. They are crazy about moths.


Additional protein can be added to the diet with small amounts of boiled chicken or hard-boiled egg whites. Some people also offer a treat of soymilk like Silk.

Flying squirrels don't make very loud noises unless they are cracking nuts in the middle of the night. Make sure flyers have wood and nuts in their cage to gnaw on. This helps decrease the size of the incisors.

The Southern Flying Squirrel is commonly known to experience calcium deficiency because of its fragile bone structure and it's nocturnal nature. Providing the animal with sufficient amounts of calcium and vitamin D3 and foods enriched with these is critical to their well-being and can prevent this deficiency. Seizures are one of symptoms of calcium deficiency. And with calcium deficiency it may not be a lack of calcium itself, but the Vitamin D3 needed to process it. Phosphorous is another thing needed for the nervous system to function properly. The calcium to phosphorous ratio needed is 2:1. Sweet potatoes (have the correct CA/p ratio and very nutritious)

Understanding the Calcium-Phosphorus Ratio
Many different minerals and other nutrients have interactions between them that affect their availability or absorption in the body---for example, between copper and zinc, calcium and vitamin D, iron and manganese. One of the most important, and often overlooked, of these interactions are between calcium and phosphorus. A saying in animal science, is "as goes phosphorus, so goes calcium". What this means is that for every gram of phosphorus ingested in the diet, the body must match that with another gram of calcium before the phosphorus can be absorbed through the intestinal wall into the bloodstream. If the required calcium is not available from the diet, the body will obtain it from wherever it can---such as from the storage depots in the bones. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that in any horse performing stressful exercise (as well as remodeling bone in response to conditioning), you do NOT want calcium being removed from and decreasing bone integrity. This is where the whole idea of calcium-phosphorus ratios comes in. The purpose of calculating such a ratio is to make sure that for every gram of phosphorus you're feeding, you're feeding AT LEAST an equal amount of calcium (a 1:1 ratio or better), so that calcium isn't being continually mobilized from bones. Most nutritionists recommend that the ideal levels are somewhere between 1.2-2 parts calcium to 1 part phosphorus.


Good sources of calcium:
Kale, collard greens, broccoli and spinach (dark green veggies are great!!) and Dannon yogurt, instant oatmeal, soy beans, tofu, sesame seeds, beet greens, turnip greens, parsley, Wakame, figs, rhubarb, sweet potato, cantaloupe, kiwi, strawberries

Foods high in phosphorous:
Apple, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, orange, cucumber, lettuce, grapes, honey dew, celery, cabbage, carrots, dandelion greens (especially late spring and all summer), apples, banana, fresh corn, mushrooms, lima beans, oatmeal, almonds, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, yogurt, and Brazil nuts.

There are some foodstuffs that humans relish which cause illness and death if eaten by pets. Chocolate, macadamia nuts and onions are good examples. It is best to only give flyers foods that grow in their natural range. Thus, do not give anything that is an import from out of the country. Anything that grows naturally in Florida would be in the Southern flyer range.

Water:
They require a constant supply of fresh water once weaned from formula. Some owners prefer water bottles while others like dishes. If you choose a dish to supply their water needs, make sure it is shallow enough so they cannot drown.

Nutritional Supplements:
A powered nutritional supplement that contains calcium and vitamin D3 (if you don't add vitamins to the water) should be sprinkled (a small pinch) on food two to three times a week. ReptoCal, for reptiles, is one such source. T-Rex makes a calcium/phosphorus powder in the correct 2:1 ratio. It is called 2:1 and also contains vitamins A, D3 and C. You can also give Yobaby yogurt, which is a good calcium source. Avimin is a water-soluble liquid mineral (mostly calcium) that can be used if food powdered with a calcium supplement is refused.

Add water soluble multivitamins like Vita-Sol, Sun Drops, or L&M which are made for hamsters and gerbils. Vitamins in the water (as directed) once or twice per week would be plenty. A lot of members add L&M Animal Farms Liquid Multi-Vitamins in the water supply as a vitamin option. One drop per ounce of water in the water supply three times a week, or you can offer both plain and vitamin-spiked water each day and give them a choice.



A super-varied diet that includes mushrooms and cruciferous veggies will often provide enough calcium.
Cruciferous (brassica) vegetables: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cruciferous_vegetables


Wild flyers do not get calcium constantly in their diets. You don't want to provide too much calcium or too many vitamins. You can provide what is needed by offering both plain water and treated water. If treated water is the only water provided, it is similar to force feeding the supplement and even with low doses it could an overdose. Giving foods with calcium and D2 can be hit or miss, but it also gives them the opportunity to eat more or less as needed. Flyers are able to convert D2 to D3. Flyers naturally crave foods they need or they would never get the vitamins, minerals, and protein in the wild that they need. In the wild, they choose the correct foods needed because of their innate intelligence.

Also please use the search feature in the top task bar and look up MBD. This is a diet related disease that is fatal and your flyer is now at that age. You don't want to watch him die because his diet was wrong and you didn't take action to change it!!!!

[Jackie in Tampa]

I so disagree...
why would anyone feed raw macaroni:thinking
why would anyone use lizard suppliments on a mammal?
or soy milk?
vitamins in the water?:shakehead
water bottles can damage small flyer tongues...


hate to beat up anyones suggestions...
sorry...this is just all wrong imo:peace


MBD causes itching. good luck.

[Anne]

Samples of flyer safe water bottles. Pet Smart carries both type and neither one has the regular water bottle balls that can stick or pinch little tongues. The Lixit is rather expensive-small is $13.99 here found in the small pet's section. The tube water bottle is very inexpensive $ 1.99 at Pets Mart and only $1.12 at Walmart.

184983

184984

[Skul]

I think it best to leave out macaroni and any processed cereals with the exception of a few Cheerios. No instant oatmeal. A small amount of the regular would be OK.
No soy beans, no peanuts, no raisins. Avoid bird seed. The Nut 'n Berry is OK in small amounts or treats.
I also recommend not feeding spinach.
If you wish to use a water bottle, use the type often seen for Parakeets.
Tube outside, with a plastic trough that sticks into the cage.
The type with the stopper ball in the end of a tube, may present a safety issue.
Watering cups/bowls are fine.
You really don't need any suppliments added to the water.
There is one thing I will stress, and that's protein. It's a must have.
As others mentioned, mealworms and waxworms are the most often used.
Other things that can also be offered.
Cooked chicken/turkey/duck/goose/quail. Small amounts.
The drumstick or thigh bone. (yes, really):D
Cooked egg. Small amounts.
I say small amounts only because that stuff will go bad if left.
Take the bones out after 12 hours. Same reason.
I suspect the problems you're seeing may be due to protein deficiency.

They love to chew on fresh twigs, so if you have any oaks, maples, ash or similar trees, cut some green twig and watch the fun.
They also love rose hips.

[Anne]

:thankyou Skul. Judy (Muffinsquirrel) was ill when we went over the new diet together. Will work on refining it.:D Did post pictures about the drinking bottles, they are both great. The water levels can be seem clearly on both of them. The lixit is great for cages of several flyers and the tube water troth is so reasonable, I usually put 2 on each cage. I, no longer buy the chicken jerky for dog's since that Made in China scare. We bake chicken wings for the flyers and feed that twice a week. I also have a food dehydrator and make dried chicken here at home.

[**Theodore**]

Thank you so much everyone for your suggestions and help, I must say I am surprised and delighted to see there was this many responses. I am so glad i joined this forum, I can tell you guys truly care and are there to help, which is awesome for newbies like me. Theodore seems to be feeling a lot better tonight although he still isn't quite as energetic as normal. Thank you for the dietary list too, I will change his diet. CRITTER MOM, to answer your question about his calcium vitamin D supplement intake is kinda hard to be certain. The way I do it is add 1 teaspoon of the powder supplement to 6oz. apple juice, 3-4oz. water and a couple scoops of yogurt shake it up and pour into ice trays but only fill each ice cube half way, then give him one every other day. Is this completely wrong? I read it online somewhere that it was a good way. I was wondering if he even needs the supplements since he is outdoors, how do they get their daily vitamin D in nature? and yes he can get to the ground in his cage but it is not dirt it is a piece of ply wood. Another question I have is can you actually hold your squirrel without him running away from you? Little Theodore wont ever just let me hold him and pet him, he crawls around all over me but never lets me pet him. Do you think its because he is a year old and i just got him a month ago, or will I never be able to just hold him? I don't think the guys that had him before me held him too much, I think they just let him out of his cage to run around their apartment at times. With that being said, how can I weigh him? I have a little food scale but I don't know how I can possibly get him on there without running away. I tried to put a peanut on it and hoped he would stay, but nope. Oh and yes I have other pets, a dog, cat, and a chicken. They don't necessarily come into contact with other but the cat and dog come in the house and so does the squirrel, and the chickens sleeping box thing is right next door to the Theodore's cage. Please let me know if that could have any effect on him. And THANK YOU so much for your help.

[IrishHarps]

Just to clarify, from your description, is he in a cage, but you keep the cage outdoors? That seems unusual to me.

Other flyer people - could the flyer get mites or fleas this way, from outdoor exposure?

Please fix his diet asap as recommended above! You can get Henry's Healthy Blocks from their website at: http://www.henryspets.com/products/Flyer-Blocks.html. Get them! :)

If he is outside most of the day, and if he wasn't very well socialized from a young age (7-8 weeks), he probably won't ever be very tame. That being said, flyers are very 'hyper' and it is normal for them to just run up and down their people. They don't really sit still long enough to be pet and don't really like it. I only ever get to pet mine when she is very sleepy (and not inclined to bite ;-)) They will only really get snuggly during the day, when they are asleep. So don't feel too bad about the bonding!

Please, as stated above, keep in mind that sugar gliders and flyers are NOTHING alike! Don't follow any advice you find online for sugar gliders. They are marsupials and native to Australia, and Flyers are rodents and native to the Americas. It's like treating a koala and a grizzly the same way, because they both have the word 'bear' in their name.

Can you provide more information about his housing, and also pictures, and a weight? Try weighing him during the day when he is sleepier. Pictures of where he is housed will help too. This will help everyone get you the best information. Best of luck!

[Mrs Skul]

:wave123 Hi Theodore**
Your at a Critical Point right now.
First off STOP ALL THE SUGAR GLIDER FOOD, and Apple Juice Water!!!! :nono
HE IS PROBABLY DIABETIC. He can Die from this. Get lots of Fresh water in with him.(Do NOT let him run out of water.)
When they Itch all over like he is doing, They are Lacking Calcium and or protein. Their skin is crawling because they Hurt & Ake every where.
Watch him Close. He might start Chewing on his Feet of chewing Holes on his side. (He is very Low on Calcium and Protein.)
Offer him a Tums and see if he takes and eats it. Offer PROTEIN!
Do you feed and Freeze Dried Chicken, Meal Worms, or Wax Worms? Do you have a Cuddle Bone and The Mineral Calcium Chew in the cage with him? (Mineral Calcium chew Shaped like a Ice Cream cone.)

I PM you my number, I am up all night. Please call me. Their is to much for me to Type and go over. I have been on the computer most of the afternoon and night. :D
I need to go feed mine. I will be awake all night Call ME. Your Flyer is in a VERY Critical State. The Last Flyer who was on Glider Aid and some of the same food you are feeding, Passed away at 1 year old. :shakehead
PS
Do you have any Revolution for dogs or Cats? Look him over you will see the fleas. If he has them.

[Skul]

Do you think its because he is a year old and i just got him a month ago, or will I never be able to just hold him?
He really didn't get bonded to people. Chances of being able to hold and pet may be slim.
Not impossible, just slim.
If he will poket dive (or even not), put a nut in a couple pant pockets.
You can sometimes reach in the pet them, then.
Easy way to weigh them is a tupperware bowl. Weigh bowl or zero the tare, then stuff squirrel in.:D

[**Theodore**]

hahahaha! that's funny about the tupperware bowl, but I think I might have to do that. Here is a picture of Theodore and a picture of his cage. sorry I don't know how to control the image size so it might be huge or it might be tiny.185324

[IrishHarps]

Hi Theodore!

This is probably the amateur way to do it, but I resize my pics by opening them in Microsoft "Paint," selecting the whole image, go to "Image>resize" and type in 40% instead of 100% (this means it resizes the image to 40% of the original size), crop, save, and you are done! Works like a charm and you only need to use the basic program that comes with all Microsoft computers that way.


Back to the squirrel - have you tried the tums? protein? what is his diet now? Is he feeling any better?

He's cute :)