question about seizures? Odd behavior?

[SquirrelLove]

She's fine, at least I think it is. A nice person on TSB gave me a girl baby (now 6 weeks old) to help ease the pain of losing Princess. I've named the baby Ivy. Funny / odd thing happens with her. Husband was walking by her cage and she jumped up and did a flip in the air and landed on her back on some fleece. This is just a very small shoe box sized cage while she's so young and using a heating pad under half of it. Anyway, after landing on her back she laid there for a little over 5 seconds with her eyes open and staring at the ceiling and not moving. Husband started to walk into the closet and decided to turn around worried that she might be dead. She was still in the same position staring at the ceiling, unblinking, not moving. So he opened up the cage and while opening it she returned to her upright position as if nothing was wrong. I too have seen her do this, but not for as long. She seems to love the feel of brand new fleece under her and I thought she was just frolicking and rolling in it. Should I be concerned? She's about doubled in size in the week I've had her, eats on a schedule, normal poops and pees, alert when she's finished eating. She doesn't "run" around much, still a little wobbly but she's "normal" as far as all the squirrels I have rehabbed and released. I've been doing this for 6 years and haven't seen a seizure in any other squirrels and I'm not even sure if this was a seizure. Opinions?
Thank you,
Joanne in Jax

[kastillo]

Sounds like she may be in that "fear stage" right after they open their eyes. Although I've never seen behavior quite like what you are describing. Is she grunting and/or chattering when she does this??

If not, it may be a neurological issue.
Was she injured before you got her? I see you got her from another member, did they give you history on her?

Is she still on formula?

Also, have you checked her ears. Ear infections can mess up the equilibrium. It's very late, I hope I'm making sense, but I'm just throwing everything I can think of out there.

[SquirrelLove]

Thank you for your quick reply. I don't think it was fear, although I know what you mean about that fear stage. She's always happy to see or hear us and does a little grunt grunt thing while snooping around her cage. She hasn't chattered, or clicked her teeth like she's mad. I have heard her growl when I first got her, when she was afraid of the new surroundings.

I only got a little history on her. She came from a person who had gotten her from another person who had gotten her from someone that seen her fall from a tree and Mama came back but left her there for the rest of the day after sniffing her. She seems otherwise healthy. Oh and yes she's still on the Fox Valley formula. She is now eating about 12 to 15 CC's every 4 hours. A week ago she was only eating 6 to 9 CC's . I always check her belly after 9 cc's to make sure she's not over eating and causing tummy pain etc. It's just a little odd how she jumps, flips, lays on her back staring at the ceiling. Perhaps she'll grow out of this in time. She seems happy and healthy. Growing by leaps and bounds though lol!


Sounds like she may be in that "fear stage" right after they open their eyes. Although I've never seen behavior quite like what you are describing. Is she grunting and/or chattering when she does this??

If not, it may be a neurological issue.
Was she injured before you got her? I see you got her from another member, did they give you history on her?

Is she still on formula?

Also, have you checked her ears. Ear infections can mess up the equilibrium. It's very late, I hope I'm making sense, but I'm just throwing everything I can think of out there.

[island rehabber]

I've seen babies do that once in awhile as a fear reaction: flip onto the back and stay there with this look like "get AWAY from me!!!" SOmetimes when I am putting one baby back into the container after feeding, another one who is half asleep will get startled and do that to his sibling. I hope this is similar, and not some type of seizure. She sounds perfect in every other way so.....fingers crossed!

[SquirrelLove]

yes, this probably all it is. I will keep an eye on her and see if it gets worse. Thank you! :grin2
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QUOTE=island rehabber;924483]I've seen babies do that once in awhile as a fear reaction: flip onto the back and stay there with this look like "get AWAY from me!!!" SOmetimes when I am putting one baby back into the container after feeding, another one who is half asleep will get startled and do that to his sibling. I hope this is similar, and not some type of seizure. She sounds perfect in every other way so.....fingers crossed![/QUOTE]

[island rehabber]

Joanne, when I checked back to see the age of your baby (6 weeks) I wanted to add that this is exactly the age -- and older -- when this happens. When babies come in "older", eyes open, etc., they do have that fear reaction to us and to other things in our homes (like husbands :grin).

[SquirrelLove]

lol' yes husbands can be scary! I figured this was all it was as I have rehabbed many squirrels, but hubby wanted a 2nd opinion after the loss of Princess. Hubby would go to the ends of the earth to help an animal. And I do appreciate your wisdom too!

Joanne, when I checked back to see the age of your baby (6 weeks) I wanted to add that this is exactly the age -- and older -- when this happens. When babies come in "older", eyes open, etc., they do have that fear reaction to us and to other things in our homes (like husbands :grin).