View Full Version : Squirrel won't eat. Looks like she lost bottom teeth
Terryvr
06-22-2013, 04:59 PM
I hope you can help me with Melony. I contacted you before because last month she was loosing all her tail hair. I was told she had a loss of calcium. I have tried to change her food, got wild bites from Henry's. Her tail is almost full .
Now, we saw her yesterday, not wanting any food including her pecans. She seemed lethargic and normally buries nuts etc. she could not seem to get them and made very mad noises.
She can't get them in her mouth or any food either. I picked her up and it looks like she has no bottom teeth. The top teeth seem to be short and flat.
I am so scared I did get some formula down her, ( Esbilac) mashed cherries corn won't touch veggies or anything.
SammysMom
06-22-2013, 05:03 PM
How old is she? Are you sure the teeth are gone and not curved downward? Is she a pet or wild?
Jackie in Tampa
06-23-2013, 07:52 AM
hoping this member checks back in...
teeth need to be right for good health...
please update us...thank you
Terryvr
06-23-2013, 09:50 AM
Thank you so much for getting back with e=me.
Melony was found in our yard, with a blood spot on the head and just left. About 5 days old at the time.
Melony is now about 17 months old. She comes to the house every day, (twice a day) and will come when you call her. Some times she will come inside, when she was given Pecans all the time when she would visit, she lost her calcium. I am still giving her one dropper of Tums and formula. then as a usual adult squirrel she gets P.O.'d at me and starts chewing me out, I do this every 3 to 4 days, her tail is almost back to normal. She is 3/4 wild and 1/4 tame.
I still can not get her to eat normal blocks and proper foods. I hoped living in the wild would do this.
As far as the teeth, I opened her mouth and tried to look in best as I could. I can try again. I have not called out to her today, I just know when she was given acorns or pecans to bury, she would grab them in her mouth or pick out the one she wanted and put it in her mouth and take off. Now she holds it, rolls it around, put it near her mouth to get it, and starts yelling and having a fit because she can not get it.
SammysMom
06-23-2013, 10:03 AM
That sounds like they are overgrown rather than missing. Maybe the tops are growing backward into her mouth? Take a popsicle stick and hold it in her mouth so it is open (if you could possibly do this with a 3/4 wild squirrel). Look at the top and the bottom and the roof of her mouth as well. Wrap her in fleece if need be, but this is very serious. She will starve to death and/or get a bad infection from whatever is happening to her teeth.:grouphug:grouphug:grouphug
Terryvr
06-23-2013, 04:05 PM
The top teeth look like they are shorter than they used to be, but they are not growing into her mouth. Her bottom teeth look as though they have been completely broken. There looks to be tiny remnants at the base of the gum where they were coming out. Her teeth are not growing down. THEY ARE GONE! We have been giving her some formula and have puréed some fruit for her, which she does enjoy. This was something that happened literally overnight. She was fine one day and the very next day when she came to visit us she was not able to eat her normal treats and bury her nuts. How could the teeth have become broken? Pictures accompany this post. What happens next?207112207113
SammysMom
06-23-2013, 04:11 PM
Maybe she got them caught on something and snapped them off? Or fell and hit them? Poor girl! That stinks. So glad she has you! Now, they will probably grow backm but you are going to have to watch the top teeth so they don't overgrow since there is nothing for them to meet to wear down.
Terryvr
06-23-2013, 04:19 PM
So they will grow back? How long does that take and will we need to keep giving her the formula and puréed fruits. That's all she seems to be able to eat.
SammysMom
06-23-2013, 04:58 PM
I would try chopping up rodent block and adding formula to it. She needs something soft, but fruit is not really great. She really needs more block, formula and veggies. Fruit is just a treat as are nuts. I am not sure how long they will take to see if they will grow back. It really depends on whether the roots were damaged. Can she stay in the house?
SammysMom
06-23-2013, 05:07 PM
Okay, I searched old threads and found this recipe for one:
"This is what I feed Marven to get him to eat his vegetables (especially greens) after he had surgery to
remove the four front teeth....... hoping your little guy likes it too.
1/2 c fox valley powder
1 1/2 c hot water
4 tablespoon vanilla yogurt
1 (3.5 oz) Gerber baby food vegetables - stage 2
Optional....... I pre-chopped 5 hhb blocks and a handed full of walnuts (in a blender) per the vets
suggestion and added them to the mix, then pureed for five minutes. (used a 10 cc syringe)
vegetables used: green beans, sweet potatoes, squash or mixed veggies"
You can also give pecan flavored Ensure. It is full of healthy vitamins and minerals and they usually like the taste. Vanilla is another one that may be well received.
BigNibbler
06-23-2013, 05:46 PM
You have a great relationship with her, and the fact you can call her is amazing.
I have never been able to get them to come from any distance.
It is doubtful that the teeth will grow back for some time and by then the uppers will be way long.
You will probably have to clip, the uppers,at some time.
I hope the bottoms grow in correctly.
Also, her teeth are her major weapon.
Maybe you could see if she would gradually move into a room you have made squirrel proof and nest box and cage in that room. Eventually, if she is happy she might prefer to stay in more than out.
Jackie in Tampa
06-24-2013, 05:05 AM
incisors are tools.. the molars are the mascerators...
chop things small...her normal food will be fine with the exception she cannot shell her own nuts...
clipping is usually a job done every three weeks, so the lowers should be back in about 5 weeks if they are coming back...depends on what the injury was...impact or snap off.
alot of captive sqs will lose them chewing the cage...
it won't hurt to add a wee bit of extra calcium to help promote good healthy teeth growth..
of course soft food for a couple days is advised just in case she is sore...
and maybe some pain aid, anti inflammatory...
we'll will be lurking...hoping they come back in.
Melony:grouphug
MollyBear361
07-02-2013, 04:07 PM
OMG. I cannot believe that girl let you do that to her. LOL. Get better Melony!! From another Melanie (my actual name) :wave123
squirrelfriend
07-03-2013, 04:12 AM
I have seen cases like this. The teeth usually grow back. She probably fell and hit them or got them caught on something. The fall is most likely. One thing to check is to see of there are any sharp shards sticking up that might cut her tongue or make it uncomfortable. If there are some just clip them back until they are duller. Keep watch that they grow back in straight. I hope it all works out for her. Hoping for a speedy recovery.
Unikorngrrl
07-03-2013, 04:28 AM
OMGoodness this girl certainly trusts you!! Good luck Melony, we're all following to make sure you're ok!! :thumbsup:grouphug
TubeDriver
07-08-2013, 07:15 PM
Any updates?
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