something is wrong. please help!

[cline]

So, today is not going well for us. I was just in Dima's room hanging out with him, and I noticed he was acting a little funny. He was squeaking a lot & scooting his butt on the floor. He also is usually VERY high energy, but is being really lethargic. He's obsessively cleaning his butt & seems like he's maybe constipated? I'm really not sure. He's very good at getting into things he shouldn't, and I'm super worried that in all the hullaballoo earlier (trying to hide him from the landlord, moving his cage around, etc.) he maybe got into something while I was not looking. I tried giving him a syringe full of water, which he didn't want to take, but then he seemed to lose energy, stopped fighting, and drank it all. He curled up in my lap and slept for about 20 minutes, too, which is highly peculiar.

I lost my last squirrel suddenly for no apparent reason, and he was right around this age. I'm terrified of it happening again. Please help!

Also his diet is (I know you'll ask!): mostly Henry's blocks--he usually gets one/two nuts per day (max), but has been getting a little more lately because he's hard to refuse. Otherwise, mostly veggies--kale & avocado are his favorites. He has recently taken the habit of eating the cat's food whenever he is out (it's Orijen), but I usually catch him right away.

[cline]

His breathing seems labored & he is really tense, too.

[Charley Chuckles]

OK stop the cat food for sure/how old is he again? And more veggies on the good food list which you can find here ...HHB are FANTASTIC so I am not hyper thinking he would be showing signs of MBD :thumbsup
Maybe the visit and disruption caused him to get this way, they are SUPER sensitive to their environment :thumbsup

[cline]

Yeah the cat food is not on purpose. I'm trying to find a good place to hide it, but he finds it every time! Hopefully it's just from all the excitement earlier. I am so paranoid about this guy.

I also don't think mbd. He's moving fine, aside from butt scooting.

[Charley Chuckles]

Also was he acting OK earlier today? You may want to try to syringe a little pedylite (sorry of the spelling, there is a thread to tell you how to make it///someone can help) keep him warm/quiet as they pick up on all our energy, good or bad ...:grouphug

[SammysMom]

Okay, this will sound weird, but do you have some vaseline? Rub a little bit into his rectum to soften any hardened poop that might be there. Can you see any poop in his bottom?

[cline]

I woke up late & went straight to work, so the boyfriend took care of morning stuff. He didn't mention anything & isn't home now. I think he was acting okay earlier, but I was so worried about hiding him & getting our furnace fixed that I really didn't pay enough attention to him. He's just acting not like himself now, which worries me...

[SammysMom]

Give sugar water. The sugar help to draw fluids into the bowel. Don't worry if he licks vaseline from his bottom. It won't hurt him and in reality, it might help if he is constipated.

[cline]

Okay, this will sound weird, but do you have some vaseline? Rub a little bit into his rectum to soften any hardened poop that might be there. Can you see any poop in his bottom?

I have some aquaphor (sp?) & lanolin... I don't see any poop, though. How would I, uh...get it in there?

[Charley Chuckles]

Is he pooping at all???

[SammysMom]

NOT inside. Rub it so that his rectum is lubricated. When was the last time you saw him poop?

[cline]

Last time I saw him poop? Gosh. Probably yesterday? He usually goes into his cage to poop, so I don't generally see it.

[stepnstone]

I have some aquaphor (sp?) & lanolin... I don't see any poop, though. How would I, uh...get it in there?

No, don't use that. Vaseline don't have any additives and you would only
be rubbing on butt, not inserting it.
No vaseline, try a warm (rag) compress.

[cline]

He also is not into water or sugar water in the syringe or out of a dish.

[SammysMom]

He doesn't have to be "into it", but he may need it. What about apple juice or watermelon? He needs sweet hydration. Avocado will help too because if its fat content.
Even a little vegetabe oil on his bottom might help. Just enough to be sure it doesn't hurt to poop.

[Charley Chuckles]

I wouldn't get too upset if he pooed yesterday, but maybe get a rag soaked in water/sugar you may get him to bite on it, and that will hydrate...if he still doesn't poop by tomorrow, get a can of PURE PUMPKIN like what you make for a pie (EZ this time of year) give him just a little, It always worked for my Charley :grin3 but I am not concerned about his :poop as my CC went many days without it...just concentrate on his fluid intake :thumbsup

[SammysMom]

How does his tummy feel to the touch? Is it hard or bloated? Does it hurt him to have it touched?

[Charley Chuckles]

What is his age?

[cline]

How does his tummy feel to the touch? Is it hard or bloated? Does it hurt him to have it touched?

It does feel a bit hard, and he'll put up with me poking it for a second before getting really vocal. He is totally refusing the sugar water, though. I think I new a buddy for this.

[cline]

What is his age?

He's about 6 months.

[Charley Chuckles]

and he sounds like you have had him on a good diet (what is put up here right?) then maybe he is just overwhelmed by the furnace people and him having to be in hiding, and picked up on your vibes? Do you think that could be it :thinking

[Charley Chuckles]

Pinch the back of his neck, like between your fingers and see if when you let go, it springs right back/If you have a hard time even grabbing it, then no worry, he should be hydrated/it should spring back fast, now my kids I can't hardley get a pinch, they are fluffy :grin3

[SammysMom]

Even if you have to put sugar water into his mouth a drop at a time it is better than nothing. Has he peed? Does it seem like he can pee?

[island rehabber]

Good advice from Charley Chuckles -- I was just going to post about the pumpkin and she beat me to it. :grin2
Sounds as if he is constipated. It will most likely work itself out so long as he takes in fluids normally. Constipation is not generally life-threatening.

[Charley Chuckles]

This is what I have done, I get a dish of sugar water room temp/put your finger in it and slurp it any way you can into their mouth :thumbsup

[farrelli]

Yes, apple juice is great because it contains a double shot of natural laxative (sugar and sorbitol) not to mention the fluid content. Failing that, some kind of sugary fluid.

You might also try rubbing some molasses or maple syrup on his gums to see if it brings him around. I've seen a lot of cases where blood sugar was low, which reduces their interest in eating or drinking.

If you can, and you should try, massage his tummy to try to get his intestines moving.

[cline]

Bad news: i pinched his skin and (it was hard to tell) but it looked like it stayed where it was....
Good news: he finally realized I'm trying to give him SUGAR water, and not just water, and drank a ton of it.

I'm going to keep an eye on him for a while and hope his behavior improves...he's still acting kind of weird.

[farrelli]

Great keep an eye on that hydration, Give him all he wants and then some. See if he'll take more in a short while. Dehydration obviously causes constipation as well as a whole hose of problems.

if he has a water bottle, check to make sure the ball isn't stuck.

[cline]

Yes, apple juice is great because it contains a double shot of natural laxative (sugar and sorbitol) not to mention the fluid content. Failing that, some kind of sugary fluid.

You might also try rubbing some molasses or maple syrup on his gums to see if it brings him around. I've seen a lot of cases where blood sugar was low, which reduces their interest in eating or drinking.

If you can, and you should try, massage his tummy to try to get his intestines moving.

Bad news: i live in a less-than-good neighborhood & all of the stores closed at nine. No apple juice to be had.

I rubbed his tum for a little bit and he put up with it, but squeaked a lot & held on to my hand really tight.
Also, his tum definitely feels hard, but especially on the left side...

[farrelli]

He may also be gassy. Do you have any infant gas-x by any chance?

Constipation and gas are helped by him moving around, so if you can get him to walk and such, that would be great. Those tummy runs help too.

[SammysMom]

Do you have a heating pad that you can put under half of his cage? You want to put it on low and make sure it is only under half of the cage so he can get off of it.

[sid'smommy]

might be just hormonal changes.... could he just be marking his territory ??

[Charley Chuckles]

Sorry I was confusing, if his neck pinch stayed where you pinched, and it didn't pull up like a lot of excess skin...then that is GREAT news and no dehydration issue///but pump the fluids anyway B/C it is always a good thing...remember what we were always told when we are sick...DRINK PLENTY OF FLUIDS :grin3 you are doing a great job :thumbsup and get some rest yourself :grouphug

[farrelli]

About dehydration, to be clear, if you pinch the skin and it stays tented for any time, that's dehydration. it should go back down very quickly, like on the back of your hand.

[cline]

No infant gas-x, no heating pad. I feel like the worst right now.

Here are some pictures of him that I just took:

224102
Close up of his face...he's been holding his paws really tightly towards his mouth.

224103
He laid like that for a good 10-15 minutes, which is...weird, then he flipped over and sort of hunched up on his belly, he's now in the traditional squirrel-cinnamon-bun position on my lap, asleep...

He hasn't peed or pooped yet (I'm surprised about the pee bit, considering how much he drank....)

Am I over-worrying? I just have this feeling that he may have gotten into something while I was not paying attention earlier.

[SammysMom]

Have you got uncooked rice or dried beans? Fill a sock with that tie it shut and microwave it for 20 sec at a time to warm it for him to cuddle with. It will make his tummy feel better to lie on it.

[Charley Chuckles]

you are a good squammy, which means we totally over worry 24/7 :sanp3 so welcome to the crowd :grin2 just keep him warm and snuggled for tonight and let him get some rest too, I think that would be best since he has been hydrated well, and if he hasn't peeded can you express his bladder, oh I so hate for you to have to do more to him however...right guys :dono

[cline]

Have you got uncooked rice or dried beans? Fill a sock with that tie it shut and microwave it for 20 sec at a time to warm it for him to cuddle with. It will make his tummy feel better to lie on it.

I've got uncooked rice, but no microwave because my boyfriend is a life-ruining hippie. I've got the squirrel snuggled up in my (amazing, warm, fleecy) footie pajamas.

He woke up a couple minutes ago, ran right to the kitchen to try and steal the cat food, but is sleeping again. I'm going to take this as a good sign. (I caught him before he could eat any of the food, btw)

[farrelli]

Oh, he's so cute! I hope he feels better soon!

[farrelli]

Btw, a few drops of veg/olive oil for him to drink is goo too to try to help things along.

[cline]

Btw, a few drops of veg/olive oil for him to drink is goo too to try to help things along.

Yup! I gave him a little bit earlier. I think I've done all I can & now it's just wait and see...
Luckily, I don't work tomorrow and school doesn't start up again until Tuesday, so I've got all day to keep an eye on him (both eyes, who am I kidding).

[sid'smommy]

Are you sure thats a boy ???

[cline]

He peed (definitely!) and I think pooped (hard to tell...)

Going to try and give him some more sugar water before I head to bed & hope for the best.

[farrelli]

Great. More hydration in the morning too. Got to get him pooping again.

I hope he feels better come tomorrow.

[Charley Chuckles]

Just checking in, ADORABLE :grouphug

[Sweet Simon's Mommy]

If you can get some watermelon, they love it, hydrates and has sugars for energy.
Looks like a girl to me.

[SammysMom]

Just checking in to see how you and your pal are this morning...:grouphug

[kastillo]

How is she? From the pic looks like a girl, if she's hunching over like you said, she may have a stomach ache.

Maybe the cat food finally upset her stomach. Maybe she has worms? Any thoughts anyone?

For now, the hydration is excellent and cannot hurt.

[cline]

Welp, you were all right! Lil Dima seems to be fine this afternoon--running around and being a little terror as usual. No more squeaking & I've seen her pee & poop normally.
Also, yep. Definitely a girl. I guess I just assumed that the pokey-out little tic-tac bit was a penis, but there you go!

Just when I thought I had this squirrel parent stuff under control!
Thanks for helping me with my little freak out. We're hiding the cat food in the oven now when Dima is out & making extra sure we put everything that she might possibly want to eat under lock and key.

[SammysMom]

Please do keep her on a healthy diet. I am so glad that she is okay today. She was very much on my mind today...:grouphug

[sid'smommy]

I think she is in heat... she may do that off and on for a few weeks. Be careful, this is the time that makes them a little goofy, and people may get bitten. She may start peeing on you also, or on people as they walk by the cage. :grin3

[cline]

I think she is in heat... she may do that off and on for a few weeks. Be careful, this is the time that makes them a little goofy, and people may get bitten. She may start peeing on you also, or on people as they walk by the cage. :grin3

She's been peeing on people for a while now. She LOVES peeing on my friend Karli, haha. That would explain some of her behavior lately, though!

[farrelli]

Oh, I'm so happy! I checked this thread firs thing in the morning. I was hoping that she'd be all better.

Do you know how she might have gotten dehydrated?

[sid'smommy]

Thats funny... my Squidsy had a routine with my boyfriend... poop on right shoulder, walk under goatee a few times to scratch her back, pee on Left shoulder, slap him across the face, then run to me to cuddle. He learned to accept it. We could learn something from squirrels...LOL :grin3

[cline]

Oh, I'm so happy! I checked this thread firs thing in the morning. I was hoping that she'd be all better.

Do you know how she might have gotten dehydrated?

Thanks for your concern! I was super worried about her, too!
Our last squirrel was incredibly interested in water, to the point where we would catch him drinking from our cups if we weren't careful (see pictures). Dima doesn't drink nearly as much--I think she might just not like it? any idea how we can get her to drink more?

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224149

[cline]

Thats funny... my Squidsy had a routine with my boyfriend... poop on right shoulder, walk under goatee a few times to scratch her back, pee on Left shoulder, slap him across the face, then run to me to cuddle. He learned to accept it. We could learn something from squirrels...LOL :grin3

That is too funny! Squirrels are so strange! Karli doesn't come over very often, but when ever she does, Dima makes a straight beeline to her and pees right away. She's a really good sport about it though!

[BigNibbler]

They can drink every hour, even every half hour. if you just bring them to the water, or the water to them.
I am troubled sometimes by the water bottles. They can act flaky. And if you put any sweetener in them, that also can cause the ball to stick a bit.
The bottle is tricky. A squirrel gets used to the angle of the spout and knows how to press the ball, but change the angle a bit and it can throw them off and get frustrated.

Find out what they like to drink from, and have more of those around.

I have experimented with flavored water, but sometimes the fact that it is different can also cause them to hesitate.
Nothing beats frequent reminders.
If they are not near the bottle, they will not drink as much as if they a

They are like humans - Notice that if a friend or a parent repeats asking you will taste something eventually that you at first turned down. Got to be persistent with her.

[Sweet Simon's Mommy]

Again...Watermelon!

[cline]

Again...Watermelon!

Watermelons can be hard to come by in January in Wisconsin, but I'll keep my eyes peeled!

[farrelli]

What does she currently drink out of? If a water bottle with a ball, a good tip that many people go by is to have at least two, so that if the ball on one gets stuck, they have an option until you do your sweeps to check on it.

Some prefer filtered, some prefer city. And one squirrel here, Sammy, has to have bottle service to drink. He lets his mommy (SammysMom) know that he's thirsty and she has to take the bottle to him and squeeze while he drinks! :shakehead

[cline]

What does she currently drink out of? If a water bottle with a ball, a good tip that many people go by is to have at least two, so that if the ball on one gets stuck, they have an option until you do your sweeps to check on it.

Some prefer filtered, some prefer city. And one squirrel here, Sammy, has to have bottle service to drink. He lets his mommy (SammysMom) know that he's thirsty and she has to take the bottle to him and squeeze while he drinks! :shakehead

I noticed her trying to drink out of the cat's cup (the cat won't drink out of a bowl--spoiled), so I gave her a cup of her own. She DOES drink out of it, she just doesn't drink very much. Maybe I will try a water bottle and see if she likes that better.

[farrelli]

Get glass, or mount it outside the cage. Plastic won't last. She also may need to be taught that water comes out of it.

I think there's one squirrel on here who won't drink from her bottle unless she's hanging upside down. Clearly, every squirrel has their own preferences.

[BigNibbler]

Even watermelon is more popular with some than with others.