Skiddil is becoming a bad eater!

[SugarBugFerret]

After my bragging about how Skiddil was such a good eater, she is becoming just the opposite! Little stinker... So now I am trying to figure out why, and to get her eating right again. We were on a perfect schedule...an HHB, then healthy veggies, then some "not as healthy but yummy" veggies and sometimes a little fruit, then some FV, then a couple chunks of avocado, a dollop of yogurt, a second HHB to finish off the day, then a nut and some Kay-Tee Forti-Diet blocks for during the night and the following day. She was eating a lot, gaining weight and doing great! But now, over a period of several days, she is a lot less interested in almost everything that she needs to eat. She still eats block, but I am finding more pieces laying around. She is playing with her healthy veggies more than she is eating them. And the last couple of days I haven't given her the not as healthy stuff that I know she will eat...like sweet potato, and other things off of the "in moderation" list. I am offering quite a variety of veggies off of the first list (almost all) and many off the second list. She is deciding she doesn't want to eat anything that resembles a leaf! And I have discontinued nuts for the time being. The only thing I can think of that changed was that I ran out of HHBs for a few days. (I had placed an order for more, but it took USPS 10 days to get my order to me! Grrrr. Notice I said USPS, not Henry's, because Henry's shipped my order right out...but for some reason it got stuck in Virginia for about 4 days!) I gave Skiddil plenty of the Kay-Tees, but during the 4 days that she didn't have HHBs her appetite waned. Could it be because of that, or is that probably just a coincidence? And how do I encourage little Miss Thang to start gorging herself again? She has lost a few grams and it is concerning me. She is getting lean again and losing her cute little squirrely pear shape. Darn her for worrying her momma! :nono I can't see anything visibly wrong with her, and she is still pretty active and loves to run around and play. Is there something else I should look for or consider? :thinking

[Milo's Mom]

No treats at all period. No nuts. Use tough love to get her back onto her good routine. Blocks first thing in the morning when she is the most hungry, then only the super healthy veggies. If she has nothing else to eat and she is hungry, she WILL eat the healthy food.

Do not allow those sad looking eyes, and cute little nose get to you. Tough love Momma!!!

[TubeDriver]

No treats at all period. No nuts. Use tough love to get her back onto her good routine. Blocks first thing in the morning when she is the most hungry, then only the super healthy veggies. If she has nothing else to eat and she is hungry, she WILL eat the healthy food.

Do not allow those sad looking eyes, and cute little nose get to you. Tough love Momma!!!

Yup, tough love!


Also , keep track of Skiddil's weight. Some fluctuations in weight are normal but ongoing weight loss could indicate something more serious

[SugarBugFerret]

Skiddil is still concerning me. I started with an HHB this morning which she did not eat all of, so I did not give her veggies. She has almost always had one serving of FV during the day, even when she was eating lots of veggies. So I decided to try to push more FV. I have gotten a couple of good servings in her today (around 20cc each). I usually heat about 30cc and whatever she doesn't take from the syringe I put in her cage in a bowl. She does drink some more that way. I also gave her a little yogurt which she lapped up.

She has done a couple of other things that I also think are odd...

Odd #1: She has always loved tissues. I would give her a couple every few days and she would take them immediately to her bed and shred and fluff them to her liking. Over the last few days she has been pulling all of her tissues out of her bed, and much of it she has forcefully pushed out of her cage between the bars and onto the floor. I have tried to give her new ones but she isn't really interested and is still throwing them all over her cage and onto the floor. :thinking

Odd #2: Earlier today she curled up on her shelf (Critter Nation cage) and just went to sleep. I have never seen her sleep outside of her bed. It kind of scared me because several times here on TSB I have read a post where someone would say they went to check on their squirrel and they were not in their bed. They would then be found deceased curled up in an unusual place in their cage. :eek

This baby girl is scaring me...

[farrelli]

She's not running a fever and feeling hot, is she?

[ques96]

If you can try and clean her bed or bedding. My NR will not sleep in his bed about every 3rd day until I take out the fleece and replace it with nice clean laundered bedding.

[SugarBugFerret]

She's not running a fever and feeling hot, is she?

Not that I can tell. I just had a little play time with her. She was wrestling with my hand and her "training dummies" (hanging stuffies in her cage) and she was really getting into it which makes me hopeful that she doesn't feel too bad. I would think she just wouldn't want to play if she felt crappy. Right in the middle of playing though, she just stopped. Then she went right for her cuttle bone and chewed some chunks off. She just can't have a calcium issue. She has been eating HHBs and still drinks FV. She has also always had the cuttle bone, a banana calcium block and an elk antler, all of which she uses. She does NOT like to be held in my hands anymore, so checking her mouth would be quite a trick if necessary. But while we "wrestle" she nibbles my fingers...so I was trying to really pay attention to what I was feeling in her mouth. Best I can tell, all of her front teeth feel normal and where they should be. And wouldn't she be less eager to play nibble if her mouth were bothering her in some way? I am just trying to think of possibles.... :thinking

[SugarBugFerret]

If you can try and clean her bed or bedding. My NR will not sleep in his bed about every 3rd day until I take out the fleece and replace it with nice clean laundered bedding.

I can absolutely do that! :thumbsup

[SugarBugFerret]

I just walked up to her cage and she was CHEWING on the fabric shelf cover in there. She looked up for a sec, then went right back to chewing the fabric. What?? She has all kinds of good things in there to chew on...

[DarkLies212]

I don't have any advice, but just popping in to say I hope this little one's okay! I'm not sure if it's possible, but maybe she has a cold?

[SugarBugFerret]

I don't have any advice, but just popping in to say I hope this little one's okay! I'm not sure if it's possible, but maybe she has a cold?

Thanks Ash. I don't see any other symptoms that would make me think that, but I don't know... She started eating some Kay-Tees so I gave her another HHB.

[Milo's Mom]

Forgive me for asking, but how old is she?

[SugarBugFerret]

She's about 4 months old now.

[SugarBugFerret]

Still not interested in healthy veggies.

[SugarBugFerret]

I am feeling very alone here...

I just tried FV again. She wouldn't take any from the syringe so I just put it in her cage in a bowl.

[island rehabber]

Sorry SBF -- you're feeling alone because we had a big emergency today (lennysmom's lenny) and nearly everyone was working hard to resolve it on and off TSB.
BUT -- we're back so let's make a plan of action for little Skiddil. Try what I do with Owena:

First thing in the morning: 1 or 2 fresh HHB's plus 2-3 blocks of her choosing. Owena likes zupreems.
90 mins. later: big bowl of the following: kale, spring mix, raddichio with 2 chunks of sweet potato, 2 chunks of apple, and a couple of frozen acorns on top if you have them. Alternate maybe a broccoli floret, or some sugar snap peas, every other day.

Then I don't give Owena anything else until dusk when she gets either a chunk of avocado or a half of a pecan. I make sure she has blocks in her bowl at all times = those are the only things she has available between meals.

If Skiddil will take FV from a bowl, that's great! Owena weaned very early -- about 8-9 wks old, so I have to really be on my toes with her calcium levels. Good luck SBF!!

[SammysMom]

I actually (much to Sammy's dismay :grin3) do exactly the same thing. Blocks very early in the morning, followed by a salad right before I leave for work and then he gets other stuff when I get home later in the afternoon and a nut in the evening.
Skiddil will not starve, even when you are afraid that is just what will happen. Make sure that it is always fresh blocks and sometimes it seems Sammy is better eating them if I cut each HHB into 4 pieces.
I am sorry you felt neglected! We are here and you just have to push us if we miss something.:grouphug:Love_Icon:grouphug

[SugarBugFerret]

Sorry SBF -- you're feeling alone because we had a big emergency today (lennysmom's lenny) and nearly everyone was working hard to resolve it on and off TSB.
BUT -- we're back so let's make a plan of action for little Skiddil. Try what I do with Owena:

First thing in the morning: 1 or 2 fresh HHB's plus 2-3 blocks of her choosing. Owena likes zupreems.
90 mins. later: big bowl of the following: kale, spring mix, raddichio with 2 chunks of sweet potato, 2 chunks of apple, and a couple of frozen acorns on top if you have them. Alternate maybe a broccoli floret, or some sugar snap peas, every other day.

Then I don't give Owena anything else until dusk when she gets either a chunk of avocado or a half of a pecan. I make sure she has blocks in her bowl at all times = those are the only things she has available between meals.

If Skiddil will take FV from a bowl, that's great! Owena weaned very early -- about 8-9 wks old, so I have to really be on my toes with her calcium levels. Good luck SBF!!




Thank you IR. I have been watching Lenny's thread and I am so glad things have worked out as they have for him.

I did start with an HHB first today (I usually cut them each into 3 pieces). Skiddil does still eat a lot if not all of her HHBs. I gave her a veggie plate of several green leafies, broccoli stalk slices and a floret, red cabbage, chayote chunks and a chunk of portabella mushroom. She didn't eat any but a couple bites of chayote and maybe a bite of mushroom that I can tell. When all of that got yucky, I tried FV again. She didn't want it. I gave her another HHB and she nibbled on it for a while. I tried FV again but she still didn't want it. I put it in her cage. All she is really eating is HHBs. Is that enough to keep her going for a while? I am giving her more than 2 per day since that is all she seems to want. I do keep Kay-Tee blocks in her cage all the time and I think she is eating them a little. But I usually give her an HHB if I see her showing interest in the Kay-Tees.

I have many other things in the fridge that I am not giving her since I am trying to get her to eat the good stuff. She will eat some of the other if I give it to her. I have sweet potato (one of her favs), yellow squash, zucchini, acorn squash, snow peas, apple, and probably stuff I am forgetting. I have almonds, pecans, walnuts, hazelnuts, and a few acorns all stashed in the freezer, but she gets very few nuts, and none over the last couple of days.

[SugarBugFerret]

I actually (much to Sammy's dismay :grin3) do exactly the same thing. Blocks very early in the morning, followed by a salad right before I leave for work and then he gets other stuff when I get home later in the afternoon and a nut in the evening.
Skiddil will not starve, even when you are afraid that is just what will happen. Make sure that it is always fresh blocks and sometimes it seems Sammy is better eating them if I cut each HHB into 4 pieces.
I am sorry you felt neglected! We are here and you just have to push us if we miss something.:grouphug:Love_Icon:grouphug

Thank you SM. I will keep giving her the HHBs. At least she is eating those! I just hate throwing all these good veggies away each day. She used to eat everything! And now, none of her good veggies. I just don't get it... I have NEVER kept this many veggies in my house, and I have been married for over 22 years and have 2 teenage boys! What does that say about me? :thinking

[TubeDriver]

Thank you SM. I will keep giving her the HHBs. At least she is eating those! I just hate throwing all these good veggies away each day. She used to eat everything! And now, none of her good veggies. I just don't get it... I have NEVER kept this many veggies in my house, and I have been married for over 22 years and have 2 teenage boys! What does that say about me? :thinking

The HHB can be the cornerstone of her diet with additional veggies and stuff added (as well as treats). Be consistent and firm with her diet, she will not starve but she does sounds like a stubborn one! :)

[SammysMom]

My husband makes rude comments about how much better Sammy eats than him...:rofl4 I just give him different veggies every day and am glad he eats his 2 blocks. It goes in spurts. As long as she is eating her blocks, just keep giving her an assortment of veggies and since she used to eat them, she probably will again.

[SammysMom]

I just read what I wrote and realized it sounded like I was giving Ken the assortment of veggies and was glad if he ate his blocks...:rofl4
This was meant to be about Sammy, not Ken!:grin3

[SugarBugFerret]

I just read what I wrote and realized it sounded like I was giving Ken the assortment of veggies and was glad if he ate his blocks...:rofl4
This was meant to be about Sammy, not Ken!:grin3

Well of Ken wants to eat as well as Sammy does, then he has to eat his blocks too! :grin3

[island rehabber]

SBF, I would NOT give her more than 2 HHB's per day. They are very concentrated with vitamins and minerals and not meant to be fed as a diet staple. Too intense. Other blocks (Zupreem, Mazuri, Harlan Teklad, etc) can be fed freely.

[SugarBugFerret]

SBF, I would NOT give her more than 2 HHB's per day. They are very concentrated with vitamins and minerals and not meant to be fed as a diet staple. Too intense. Other blocks (Zupreem, Mazuri, Harlan Teklad, etc) can be fed freely.

Ok...just 2 HHBs then. The only other block I have now is the Kay-Tees.

[SugarBugFerret]

Guess who is going through her cage, collecting veggies, and EATING them? They would have tasted a lot better hours ago when they were fresh... Go figure...silly squirrel! :crazy

[SammysMom]

These littles will give you gray hair long before it's time!!!:sanp3

[Milo's Mom]

My husband makes rude comments about how much better Sammy eats than him...:rofl4 I just give him different veggies every day and am glad he eats his 2 blocks. It goes in spurts. As long as she is eating her blocks, just keep giving her an assortment of veggies and since she used to eat them, she probably will again.


OMG OMG Gayle!!!

Between this post and your other post about this one sounding funny, I just snorted!!!

Every morning the BF is up before me, he gets the coffee ready and if I am not up by then, he wakes me up greeting me with my cup of coffee. Then when I get downstairs he usually gets some sort of breakfast ready...cereal, muffins, donuts, bagel, etc. and places it on a paper towel. The other morning I stumble downstairs in search of my coffee, find it, start drinking it and begin laughing hysterically. There on the paper towel where my breakfast should have been were 2 HHB's.

As I was laughing this feeling of terror arose....WTH happened to my bagel? Did the squirrels eat my bagel? OMG!! Where is my bagel as I start tearing cages apart. The BF is standing there staring at me and I finally look at him and ask him where my bagel was if he gave me HHB's for breakfast. Did he feed the squirrels my bagel?

He had no idea what I was talking about. I pointed to the paper towel where my bagel should have been. He started laughing and said those are not for you, those are for Ellie, your bagel is in the toaster oven just like it is every morning at this time. I had the bag of HHB's out so I figured I'd just get Ellie's out too. I did not have a place to put them right away so I placed them on your paper towel.

Why he suddenly decided to get HHB's out for Ellie after 3+ years I will never know, but the moment was very funny. I thought he was trying to feed me HHB's for breakfast!

Sorry for the total thread jack.

[Milo's Mom]

SBF you are in no way alone, ever!!!

Everyone is giving you perfect advice. The only thing I can think of adding is to try nuking the sweet potatoes and broccoli. Just for a few seconds. Heating them enhances the flavor. When my guys start ditching their veggies I do the nuking trick and they suddenly have much more interest and start nomming them right away.

This fall/winter has been very odd as it relates to squirrel behavior. Skiddil will not starve, just keep giving her the healthy diet and when she gets hungry she will eat it. Promise!!!

As for throwing out veggies....toss them outside for the wilds. There is nothing wrong with them other than being a little wilted.

[island rehabber]

I just read what I wrote and realized it sounded like I was giving Ken the assortment of veggies and was glad if he ate his blocks...:rofl4
This was meant to be about Sammy, not Ken!:grin3


It really did, Gayle :grin3
This thread is turning out to be quite funny -- SugarBugFerret I'll bet you don't feel alone with this roomful of comedians anymore, huh? :poke

[SugarBugFerret]

Sometimes all you can do is laugh, or you will cry, right? Humor is always welcome here! :grin3

I don't think I have to worry about my hubby trying to feed me block yet. If I asked him to get me an HHB at this point, he wouldn't have a clue what I was talking about! I can imagine the look on his face..... :rolf