Bloody Urine - No Acorns!!

[Biologist_Rachel]

I was hoping someone could give me some advice. I have been rehabbing four Fox squirrels (three males and one female). They are all brothers and sister and have been doing great and are around 12 weeks old. The day before yesterday I was cleaning their cage and noticed a dark urine spot. It looked very diluted with blood. Im not sure which one it came from and they all eat, play, sleep and act fine. They are still on formula twice a day and have access to water. I have been feeding them a variety of apple, carrot, broccoli, fresh corn, walnuts, pecans, large striped sunflower seeds, etc. but no acorns! There was another spot again this morning but it wasnt as diluted with blood as the first time. And I know I am saying "spot"s but they were large healthy urinations. Should I seperate them somehow and then take immediately to the vet? Or try cranberries first??
Thanks for any help!

[Monipenny]

You need to figure out which one is doing this so seperate them if possible. Stop feeding them sunflower seed and corn, no good for them. Also, limit carrot to 1-2 small peices per month, too much vita. A. They need greens, lots of greens, kale, boc choy, romain lettus, etc., There is a healthy diet list somewhere on this board, no doubt someone more familiar will post it shortly. Nuts and fruits are treets like candy is for kids, limit those as well and only offer these after they have eaten HH blocks and healthy vegatables. Fresh cranberries are fine for them but I doubt this will help the ailment.

[Milo's Mom]

Here is the link to the healthy diet.

http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=39275

[Monipenny]

I just noticed that you didn't mention feeding them blocks of some sort, Henry's pets sells a good squirrel block that we like to feed them. www.henryspets.com Purchase the growth formula but don't be surprised to find your squirrels will snub their noses to them. Like a good mama, you will have to force them to eat these and they will if they are hungry. They have been spoiled with a lot of treats so learning to like something healthy will take a little time and determination on your part. Some here have had better success feeding their babies the Picky eaters blocks, you could get those instead.

[Milo's Mom]

Would it be possible for you to take a picture of what you're seeing and post it?

Different foods make their pee turn some scarey colors....mostly brownish/reddish and it can look exactly like blood.

My Foxer's pee always has a slight pinkish/brownish/reddish hue to it. And I am positive she's on an extremely healthy diet....I am totally anal about her diet.

[farrelli]

Two more things: If you're a biologist, could you put a urine sample under a scope and see if it actually has blood cells in it? Do you have access to antibiotics? Cipro and Baytril are usually best.

[Biologist_Rachel]

I feel awful! I wasn't aware I was giving them an unhealthy diet, I was following squirreltales.org instructions. I have no intentions of keeping them for pets but I love them and want the best for them. I've had them since before their eyes we're open and have cared for them ever since. I will definately get them eating better today.
Yes I took a photo of the first urination that was so diluted in case I needed to show a vet. (Its not a great photo but you can clearly see what I am talking about). The one from this morning is not a diluted.

https://ch1prd0210.outlook.com/owa/attachment.ashx?attach=1&id=RgAAAAC8CQFt5s2KTpVwj69ZJqd%2bBwDbMSyMYQdISbZDA qGnDNTaAAAAAEUTAAB1k%2b8cIPntQYdZ%2bzTMrsSoAABIO7n jAAAJ&attid0=BAAAAAAA&attcnt=1

This is a link to the photo, sorry I couldn't find out how to copy and paste the photo from my computer.

[Milo's Mom]

The link asked for a user name and password.

Can you e-mail me the pic and I'll post it for you. milosmom041610@gmail.com

[Milo's Mom]

Are they still taking formula? If so, how much how often?

I did look at the site you mentioned and see that they recommend Esbilac. I did not see any mention of a quality rodent block until I got down into the MBD treatment section. (I may have missed it as I skimmed it very quickly).

Are your kids eating rodent block? If not, they really need to. The best and most cost efficient block out there (as far as I am concerned) are called Henry's Healthy Blocks. 2 blocks per squirrel per day.

[Milo's Mom]

Also, I am really sorry to tell you this....their recommended diet leaves a lot to be desired.

[Biologist_Rachel]

They are weening themselves down to less than 12 cc's apiece. They get offered more but are taking to water instead. I only feed them one in the morning and before I go to bed.
No I am not feeding them any blocks. But they have chewed on a deer antler shed quite substantially over the past month. I will try to find some blocks while I go to the grocery for their greens tonight. I have gotten them one block before but it seemed to be 90% bird seed although they did eat on it and ate some of the larger components.

[Biologist_Rachel]

And unfortunately I don't have access to veterinary supplies to treat them, I would take them to the veterinarian.

[farrelli]

By blocks, we mean rodent blocks. Those seed-types are crap. You can find acceptable quality blocks made by Harlan Teklad, Mazuri, and Kaytee forti-diet for example. Sometimes they can be found in grocery stores, but usually pet stores. And Henry's are found online:

http://www.henryspets.com/squirrel-diet/

[Milo's Mom]

Okay, hang on. Do not run yourself ragged trying to find blocks. Make it super easy on yourself. Order them online from Henry's and they will be delivered to your door. You should get the growth formula. Here is the link to the specific blocks I am talking about.

http://www.henryspets.com/squirrel-blocks-growth-formula/

Even though the Henry's Blocks appear to be more expensive they really are not. With commercial blocks in the stores you'd need to feed a big handful to each squirrel (and make sure they eat it) every day. With the HHB's you give each squirrel 2 blocks per day with healthy veggies. Also, the HHB's were made specifically for squirrels versus primates, rats, mice, dogs like the commercial blocks and the dog food the other site recommended.

The deer antlers are good.

Keep them on the formula as long as possible.

[Milo's Mom]

Here is the pic you sent me.

203761

I am concerned about the color of the pee; however I am more so concerned about the pad that it is on. Is that pad one of the puppy piddle pads?

If it is, please remove it from the cage as soon as humanly possible. They are highly toxic to squirrels. The attractant they put on them for dogs has killed many squirrels. Most of them were significantly younger than yours, but it's not worth the risk.

If it is a human grade pad, you're fine, just make sure they cannot access it. If they get a piece of the plastic coating stuck in their throats it can suffocate them.

[Biologist_Rachel]

It's a safe pad I had just ripped it myself to look closer to where it had absorbed. Thank you all for your help, is narrowing down the squirrel and taking to the vet the consensus?

[Milo's Mom]

Do you have vet access? I do not think you are in a legal state.

I would try to narrow it down to who it is, in the meantime fix the diet and push fluids...it may go away on it's own.

If not, you've been able to narrow it down to who it is and we can go from there.

[Biologist_Rachel]

Thanks for your help I appreciate it. I will fix their diet and fluids and give it til the end of the week. Thanks again :)

[Monipenny]

Yes, please seperate if possible to figure out who is peeing this. Is KY a legal State to keep squirrels and/or are you licensed to rehab if not a legal State. Will you be able to have vet access without fear of having the baby confiscated? If not, maybe we can locate someone on this board who lives nearby that can take the squirrel in question for treatment if necessary.