Sneezing, mucus from nose and eyes, and more.

[maddalana]

So we have named our little dude Faraday and have had him since Saturday morning. He is doing okay, but what I thought was a bloody nose from seizures (no more seizures thanks to the infant ibuprofen!) ended up being where he scratched off the skin himself. He has been shaking a bit, sneezing, has mucus coming from his nose and a bit from one eye. What could this be and what can I do to help it?

He's not very active. He sleeps almost the entire day (except when I wake him up to feed him). He runs around on me a bit after he eats but then wants to go right back to sleep. He loves to cuddle too.

I've also noticed he has some issues with grabbing and holding things. He refuses to hold anything we give him to nibble on (a plain cheerio) and instead wants us to hold it. He also doesn't really chew on it, but I know his teeth are strong and he likes to try to snatch the syringe from me if I pull it away from him, but he has no interest in holding anything himself. I know all squirrels are different, but the last one we had was snatching, holding, and chowing down on solids at this size.

I'm pretty concerned about the mucus and the mild shaking.


EDIT: From reading about MBD it sounds a lot like this might be the problem. Any suggestions?

[farrelli]

How old? How much does he weigh? What are you feeding him? How much? How often? Does he have any teeth problems?

[SammysMom]

I don't know about Georgia, but here in CT we are having a terrible outbreak of Bordetella. It is a respiratory illness and according to a local rehabber you MUST get the squirrel onto Clavamox immediately. She has lost several babies and knows of many others who have lost many more than her. She thinks possibly it is why we are seeing so many babies suddenly. Do you have access to someone who can get Clavamox for you? Or does anyone else have suggestions or ideas about whether this is a possibility of what is wrong?

[Rhapsody]

Sounds like a cold/respiratory problem or possible sinus infection....... antibiotics will help relieve the discomfort and get
him feeling better in no time....... (((hugs)))

[sdreamcatcher]

I don't know about Georgia, but here in CT we are having a terrible outbreak of Bordetella. It is a respiratory illness and according to a local rehabber you MUST get the squirrel onto Clavamox immediately. She has lost several babies and knows of many others who have lost many more than her. She thinks possibly it is why we are seeing so many babies suddenly. Do you have access to someone who can get Clavamox for you? Or does anyone else have suggestions or ideas about whether this is a possibility of what is wrong?

Bordetella affects squirrels too? I know it's called kennel cough in dogs and can vary from very mild to very serious :eek.

[SammysMom]

I have heard it is in md and i know it is in ct too. The rehabber i spoke to said it is a fast acting illness though.

[lilidukes]

This little one needs ab's. Do you have any human
kind like Ciproflaxin or know of someone who does.
Without meds this baby can die. The shaking may
be due to a fever.
Ga is a bad state for squirrel vets. If you don't have
access to ab's we need to get you connected with someone
close to you who does. If you do we need to get it
dosed and treatment started.
Keep little one warm at all times. Do you have a vaporizer?

Your in the southeastern part Ga I think...how far are you
to Jacksonville FL?????

I have to leave for work soon someone please follow up here!!!!!

[Unikorngrrl]

I'm in Alabama and have meds on hand. Clavamox and Cipro and pretty much about anything else you need. I can ship out in a couple of hours or I can meet you half way if I am a candidate in your area. PM me your location please!!! I'll PM you my number!

[Unikorngrrl]

Also let me know of anything else you may need. I've acquired almost everything I can possibly think of, I hate not being prepared...

Mucous from the eyes is classic upper respiratory though. I have never actually seen Bordetella in anything b/c it's vaccinated so... So I can't attest to Bordetella symptoms. SammyMom might be able to get you in contact with someone to try to narrow down a diagnosis before I give you meds so we can be sure to get you the right meds!

[maddalana]

I would say he was between 6 and 7 weeks old. I have been feeding him KMR as I could not locate any goat's milk in my area (went to both closest towns which are both 30 minutes away from where I live in opposite directions). Small town Georgia makes it hard to find anything I need. His FV formula is due in today.

He has some serious congestion today. Breathing through his mouth with clicking. It looked like he had inhaled some of the bedding we gave him, but it was stuck to the mucus, which I had to PULL out of his nose. Eyes are both clear today. I do not have access to ab's and the vets here won't see squirrels. No rehabbers in my area are currently active and last time I spoke with one they just said "Don't have time. Good luck."

I live about 2.5 hours from Jacksonville in Offerman, Ga. I would be willing to pay for cost and shipping on meds. I'm very attached to the poor guy. I don't have a ton of money as I just spent half a paycheck on one of my cats who has severe allergies. I'm willing to do whatever I have to to get what Faraday (squirrel) needs though!

I will post a photo of his nose.

[Unikorngrrl]

The FL folks have vets and meds. Someone should be along shortly. I'll see who I can find. No "bedding", only fleece (sweatshirt) or knit (t-shirt) material for now. They like to burrow down in it and it should help keep it out of his nose. Go in the bathroom and steam it up good. Get a bulb syringe and when the steam starts to loosen stuff, suction it out with the syringe. You need to keep him breathing until you can get the ABs and until they can kick in. Do you know any older women? They tend to get UTIs and many will have Cipro on hand. Start there, I'm going hunting for you...

[maddalana]

Sorry again if they are large. Not able to access all the formatting options on my phone.

We have coughing and sneezing now also. The black on his nose is where he scratched himself and is healing. Couldn't get a good image from the front.

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[maddalana]

Will remove bedding and replace with fleece. I will ask my mother if she has antibiotics!

[Unikorngrrl]

Will remove bedding and replace with fleece. I will ask my mother if she has antibiotics!

There are antibiotics other than Cipro. See what all anyone has and we'll see if it will help and we'll help you break it down and dose. I just sent out PMs to 4 people that might be able to reach out to you. Hang in there. Don't stop with Mother, ask any and everyone. Time is going to be extremely important...

[Squirlgirl]

The CT BORDETELLA presents as green or bloody mucus, Doxycycline is the med that is being used.:thumbsup

[maddalana]

The CT BORDETELLA presents as green or bloody mucus, Doxycycline is the med that is being used.:thumbsup

He has white to yellowish mucus.

[Squirlgirl]

Will remove bedding and replace with fleece. I will ask my mother if she has antibiotics!

Is it possible to post a pic of his teeth? The mucus does not look green or bloody so Doxy is not a must. When teeth are too long they cause runny eyes and nose, but he has more than just runny, needs ABX.:thumbsup

[maddalana]

Is it possible to post a pic of his teeth? The mucus does not look green or bloody so Doxy is not a must. When teeth are too long they cause runny eyes and nose, but he has more than just runny, needs ABX.:thumbsup

I can get a pic in an hour or two probably. I had to bring him to work with me and my husband will be coming through from class soon.

[Unikorngrrl]

I also have a friend in Savannah. I sent her a FB message to see if she has anything on hand. I'll let you know what she says. She is not a rehabber or a TSB member. Simply someone I know.

[maddalana]

Thank you for the help! I posted on fb as well to see if any of the in-laws had any as well.

Can't express the gratitude for all of you! I told my husband last night that we need to make kits just in case. I'm planning on trying to get my license soon as well.

[Unikorngrrl]

She responded. I'm about to call her husband. She thinks they have leftover Amoxicillin. Could you drive to Savannah?

[maddalana]

Not this week I couldn't. I'm still trying with family to find some. My husband's Papa may have antibiotics as he keeps and breeds dogs and just gave our dog a shot 2 weeks ago or so for kennel cough. Will find out what it was and see if that can be used. If not I will make a trip to the doctor for my own sinus infection.

[Unikorngrrl]

They're huge animal lovers and great people in general!! I LOVE LOVE animal lovers!! Just spoke to Jason and he's around the corner from home. He's going to call me back with a list of meds that they have on hand. Just waiting on you. I told him that I wasn't sure if you could drive there yet...

[Unikorngrrl]

I know NOTHING about injectible meds at all. Others would have to advise on that.

I'm sure he would mail it though and that close by you should get it by tomorrow. More quickly than any of the rest of us would be able to get it to you...

[maddalana]

I will let you know ASAP.

I also just noticed the scab from where he scratched his nose is partially obstructing his nostril. Can I put a cotton ball with warm water on it to soften it up enough to clear it out?

[Unikorngrrl]

I will let you know ASAP.

I also just noticed the scab from where he scratched his nose is partially obstructing his nostril. Can I put a cotton ball with warm water on it to soften it up enough to clear it out?

Yes you can do that. Did you do the steam and suction yet?

[Unikorngrrl]

Savannah people are out anyway. They checked their cabinet and don't have any ABs, just anti inflammatories... PM me your address and I'll mail you a Cipro. At least it will be on the way already. If you find something else you'll have a back up

[maddalana]

I think the problem was the scab. It ended up being one tiny part scab and 98% fibers that got stuck to it. Got his nose clear of all of it and he's breathing much better now. There was so much (which is why I told my husband no totals but he doesn't listen). We still have some clicking and breathing through the mouth but not nearly as bad. A good friend not far away said she had tons of antibiotics. Along what she has.


Edit: towels not totals and asking not along

[Unikorngrrl]

Get them and let us know!!! ASAP. IF it is pneumonia, you don't want to wait. It takes them down QUICKLY!!!

[maddalana]

Get them and let us know!!! ASAP. IF it is pneumonia, you don't want to wait. It takes them down QUICKLY!!!

I have Bactrim DS 800-160 Tab and Augmentin 500-125 Tab and Augmentin 875-125.

[Nancy in New York]

Refresh me, I did NOT read the whole thread,
but I can break these drugs down, I just want to know what we are treating the squirrel for.
ALSO, do you have a weight on your squirrel.
I will need that to tell you how much to dose.

[maddalana]

Refresh me, I did NOT read the whole thread,
but I can break these drugs down, I just want to know what we are treating the squirrel for.
ALSO, do you have a weight on your squirrel.
I will need that to tell you how much to dose.

Not entirely sure. He has mucus coming from one nostril pretty bad. It's white but sometimes yellowish and very thick. He has clicking when breathing and has to breathe through his mouth for most of the day. I have been trying to keep it clear as much as possible. Someone suggested steaming the bathroom and suctioning what ever came out, but I do not have the little bulb to suction with (yet). I'm not sure on weight as I do not have a kitchen scale, but I can weigh him in the morning at work. He's about 7 weeks old.

[Nancy in New York]

Not entirely sure. He has mucus coming from one nostril pretty bad. It's white but sometimes yellowish and very thick. He has clicking when breathing and has to breathe through his mouth for most of the day. I have been trying to keep it clear as much as possible. Someone suggested steaming the bathroom and suctioning what ever came out, but I do not have the little bulb to suction with (yet). I'm not sure on weight as I do not have a kitchen scale, but I can weigh him in the morning at work. He's about 7 weeks old.

Would it be possible to get a picture of him in your hand, so I can see his whole body, and have something to compare him too. I know that is NOT idea to "guesstimate" the weight,l but if they are thinking pneumonia like I read, it may be imperative to get something into him, even if I dose on the conservative side until you can weigh him tomorrow.

[maddalana]

He is about 6 inches from nose to butt.

215496215497

[Nancy in New York]

He is about 6 inches from nose to butt.

215496215497

OMG is that a yawn? :grin2 or a scream?
I am sending you a pm now. If you have any
questions don't hesitate to ask. :grouphug

[maddalana]

OMG is that a yawn? :grin2 or a scream?
I am sending you a pm now. If you have any
questions don't hesitate to ask. :grouphug

Yawn. XD I was trying to get a picture of his nose earlier today and ended up with this. These guys are harder to photograph than cats! I love them.

[maddalana]

Any suggestions for probiotics?

[Unikorngrrl]

Yes, full fat vanilla yogurt. Publix carries a YoBaby in perfect little containers!

[maddalana]

Just a quick update! We still have some sneezing and sniffles, but he seems to be getting better. I've been suctioning out his poor nose when it gets bad.

I've also been noticing some strange things he does. He doesn't care to hold anything and doesn't really like to chew yet. He also doesn't have great use of his back legs still. I also noticed he has been dragging his back left leg under him when he walks, so I felt it a bit and I think his ankle is broken. He doesn't act like he's in pain at all and doesn't seem to mind when I look at it. He can scratch with his left leg and climb a bit, but cannot stand on it very well or walk great because of it. We also think he doesn't like to hold things in both hands because he cannot balance. So he will drop what he's holding and either wait for us to hold it for him or nose it around until he can get it where he wants it.