Pitiful Squirrel

[Suz]

I am not sure what is wrong with Friffy. Two days ago she became lethargic and cranky. She is very chunky, but she wasnt the end of last week. It is like she became overweight almost overnight. After reading the diet on this board:sanp3 , we are currently modifiying that, but still she shouldn't have went from fine and slim to fat and lathargic basically in a day! I have treated her with a tum, very recently, and hoping for the best, but I am not sure what else I should do. Please help me out.

[island rehabber]

Suz, we'll need to know a lot more before we can help...

*What is her REAL DIET like every day? (Not what she hides, but what she actually eats)
*How long have you had her? How did she come to you?
*What does her belly feel like? Soft & mushy,or hard & bloated?

[Jackie in Tampa]

Suz, we'll need to know a lot more before we can help...

*What is her REAL DIET like every day? (Not what she hides, but what she actually eats)
*How long have you had her? How did she come to you?
*What does her belly feel like? Soft & mushy,or hard & bloated?

and one more, how old is she?

[Suz]

She was only eating mostly nuts, some dried corn, and only a little fruits or veggies. Then when I found out the diet she should have been on, I started feeding her more veggies and fruits, no nuts, started her on calcium, and I am trying to get her to eat some block(I can't afford the expensive stuff and shes not liking this kind much). I have had her since August of 2012 and she was about 4 weeks old (not real sure only know she was teeny and had no hair on tale). My husband is a lineman and found her (and a couple siblings) in a streetlight. One fell out and he got 2 out, his co-worker took one home and he brought Friffy home to us.
When all this started her stomach was very hard and bloated, but since the diet change and calcium it is not as hard or big. She is more active now and still looks overweight(she doesnt have a lot of room right now, we are working on getting a bigger/better cage) hopefully that will change soon.

[SammysMom]

In truth, the Henry's Healthy blocks are not that expensive. You only need abut a bag per month for one squirrel. $20 per month is not too bad when you are only feeding one.
Is it possible to post pics?

[farrelli]

You might also try getting a bag of HHBs but intermixing them with cheaper blocks, maybe giving one a day. They're pretty concentrated and I know many people on a budget got this route. If you can't swing that and need to stay with the cheaper blocks, it's still important that they be a primary staple in their diet. If you tell us what kind you use, we have a variety of ways to make them more tasty.

[squirrelfriend]

Is her belly distended? Feel her tummy and then feel another squirrels tummy(if you have another squirrel) for comparison. I am just curious if any of the organs are swollen like a bladder or something.

[Suz]

She is actually doing much better. I am giving her calcium in small doses multiple times a day, and she is feeling very frisky now!!! I will post pics soon, but its really hard to get her still long enough..lol
On another subject though, she can escape her, for now, habitat. I am having to use a dog crate, because the cage we were using belonged to someone else and they needed it back. Question... Can you potty train a squirrel?? That way her escaping wouldnt be too horrible. She is in our bedroom and I have squirrel proofed it so she can't get hurt or anything.mjs

[Skul]

You can potty train a squirrel to go anywhere they want. :D
Unfortunately, it's never where you want.

[Shewhosweptforest]

:thumbsup I'm glad to hear she is doing better :crazy as far as potty training:thinking the only thing I discovered was Baby likes to go on certain surfaces so I try to have something absorbent there...she likes to go on a perch we have at her window so that makes it easier...sometimes if you put a container of something...sand, dirt and you can move it where she usually goes..you may be able to get her to use it...I think you would have to start this when they are young..Good Luck..I'm like you I just "Baby" proof everything:jump

[farrelli]

Squirrels tend to have a favorite latrine corner of their cage, or some other place. They will mostly pee there. Accidents happen though. Pooping can be a bit more random, but they're usually very easy to clean up. Just get a dustbuster.