Keller Texas Area...Please help

[ChloeShea]

Hello,

I am in need of advice as to what I should do. I am about ready to take my poor girl to the emergency room.

I have a 4 year old fox squirrel and she suddenly took a turn for the worse she had been a little sick last week but was still able to eat and drink. Yesterday she ate 3 pieces of lettuce and I had to give her water through a syringe.

She has been throwing up and has had diarrhea the last couple of days. I am not sure what to do at this point. She has definitely taken a turn for the worse and I am at my wits end.

If anyone could help I would be greatly appreciative

Chloe/Little Bit, Keller Texas

[joyceb11]

Do you have a vet you can take her to?

I know if she is throwing up you need to make sure she is hydrated, try giving some fluids even if you have to do it one drop at a time, she needs fluids now.

[CritterMom]

Can you tell us about her diet, and anything new that may have been introduced? Have you brought anything in from outside? Does she have access to other animals?

You say emergency room - do you actually have a vet you can take her to? The vomiting and diarrhea sound like either coccidia or giardia, both of which can be treated with meds.

Until then, hydration is REALLY important. You can use pedialyte or make your own:

1 teaspoon salt
3 Tablespoons sugar
1 quart water

Warm it like formula and syringe feed. After 24 hours, make a new batch WITHOUT the salt. Vomiting and diarrhea play havoc with the electrolytes, so she needs salt NOW but you don't want to give hydration with salt for more than 24 hours (they don't need THAT much salt).

[ChloeShea]

Her Diet

Sunflower seeds
Peanuts
Fruit (mainly oranges and melons)
Lettuce
Asparagus

She has been eating mainly lettuce and oranges the last couple of days she won't touch anything else. Yesterday she had 3 pieces of lettuce and maybe 2 bites of orange.

I started her on the sugar water yesterday and today I had to force some more down her.

She is laying in the bottom of her cage in a towel rather that her hammock though which is I am sure due to not having the strength to climb up. She has probably lost about a pound as well.

I do not have a vet I normally take her to. I would have to find one in my area. She did have a little strength to hop around after I gave her the water though.

[pappy1264]

Ok, her diet is not good at all. She most likely has MBD. Here is the link for emergency treatment: http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?34495-Emergency-Treatment-of-Metabolic-Bone-Disease-(MBD)

Follow it to the letter. This is a life or death situation and you have to act fast!

Also, here is the link for the healthy squirrel diet: http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?44440-Healthy-Diet-for-Pet-Squirrels

get rid of the sunflower seeds, all nuts, the lettuce (depending on the kind it is). Please read over the healthy diet. But most importantly right now start the emergency MBD treatment!!!

[ChloeShea]

The Blocks have been purchased and should be here in 2 days. I will definitely start the MBD treatment asap

[ChloeShea]

Does that also account for the throwing up and diarrhea? or could that be a completely different issue?

[pappy1264]

It may. Does she have free roam in your home? Could she have gotten into something? (She still has been on a very bad diet, so def. start the MBD treatment). Push fluids if you can as well. What does her diarrhea look like, is it really smelly?

[ChloeShea]

It is black like her poop normally is but really runny. Have not really noticed a horrible smell with it. When I am gone she stays in her cage and I watch her really closely when she is out or she tries to eat the sheetrock. The only thing I have gotten onto her about chewing on what a piece of wood that used to be in my lizards cage. I suppose that it could have had something on it that was poisonous.

[CritterMom]

How long ago was it in the lizard's cage? Many reptiles carry salmonella but it does have a shelf life...

[Nancy in New York]

Take the wood out from her cage that came from the lizards cage.
THIS could be making her sick.
How long has it been in there?

[ChloeShea]

It isn't in her cage it was on the floor when we were cleaning and while she was out she was chewing on it. The last time it was in the lizards cage was about 2 years ago.

[Nancy in New York]

It isn't in her cage it was on the floor when we were cleaning and while she was out she was chewing on it. The last time it was in the lizards cage was about 2 years ago.

Are you near Ft. Worth?
If we find help are you willing to drive?

[grampyngramy]

I think in a previous post some one from texas said squirrels are not legal to own. So I doubt if you find a vet. Andcif you do make sure they will not put him to sleep.
Also check for fleas. But i bet it is MBD. Prayers to you.

[ChloeShea]

Yes I am near fort worth and I am wiling to drive. Yeah I do not think they are legal here.

[CritterMom]

When is the last time you saw her vomit? Have both that and the diarrhea been happening the entire time?

[Nancy in New York]

Yes I am near fort worth and I am wiling to drive. Yeah I do not think they are legal here.
I'm changing the title in your thread to draw attention to it.
I am going to pm you a phone number in one minute, once I find it.

[ChloeShea]

Saturday was the last time she vommited, and I havent seen her poop since then either. They both just started Wednesday. The last time she chewed on the wood was last Sunday.

OK Nancy thank you!

[CritterMom]

Saturday was the last time she vommited, and I havent seen her poop since then either. They both just started Wednesday. The last time she chewed on the wood was last Sunday.

OK Nancy thank you!

OK, I am officially confused. She hasn't either vomited nor had diarrhea since Saturday? Can you tell us what her symptoms are right now?

[ChloeShea]

now she isn't eating or drinking on her own just laying down lethargic. she doesn't have energy and I don't think she is getting enough nutrients to vommit or poop.

now I am forcing sugar water down her.

[Nancy in New York]

Please let us know how you make out with the contact info I sent you.
Hopefully we can get you some help soon with your girl.

[ChloeShea]

I texted her already hopefully I will get a reply soon. I am at work so trying to multi task :( I wasn't able to get off today

[CritterMom]

Please make sure you start the MBD protocol as soon as possible. Pick up some of the fruit flavored Tums - you can even dissolve them in the sugar water she is already getting and she will have hydration and the calcium she needs. You are describing MBD now.

[ChloeShea]

ok thank you!

[farrelli]

I would rub some molasses on her gums. The sugar can help perk her up and also has good minerals in it, like calcium.

I would leave work and start the MBD protocol. I think she knows that she's desperately missing calcium in her diet due to the fact that she's trying to eat your drywall, which is made from largely from calcium sulfate dihydrate. She may go to town on those Tums tabs like no tomorrow. She may also need some vitamin D, but squirrels are sensitive to too much. I would get a D3 pill and take a very small shaving of it and give it to her once. Calcium isn't absorbed without the presence of D in the system. The blocks will provide the proper amounts of D in the diet, but she may need a kick start.

I would also offer some concentrated nutrition such as pecan or vanilla flavored Ensure or Nutra-Cal (which can be gotten at many pet stores). Usually squirrels will like one of them.

http://ensure.com/products/ensure-plus-retail

http://www.1800petmeds.com/Nutri+Cal-prod1340.html

Is she on a heating pad? MBD causes very sore bones and heat can sooth it. Put a heating pad set on low half under her container so that she can't chew it would be very nice.

And yes, the diet is very bad. Nuts and seeds have a lot of phosphorous which bolcks calcium absorption.

[farrelli]

Btw, I might go with the Nutra-Cal before the Ensure in this instance given the diarrhea. Sugar draws water into the gut and can make things worse.

[ChloeShea]

OK I will try and find that one

[ChloeShea]

I am taking the squirrel to the vet tonight. I will update asap when we find out what is going on. Thank you everyone for the help it is greatly appreciated.

[Nancy in New York]

I am taking the squirrel to the vet tonight. I will update asap when we find out what is going on. Thank you everyone for the help it is greatly appreciated.

Is this through the member that I sent you the info for?

[ChloeShea]

Yes it is! She knows a vet very close to me.

[farrelli]

Is it right after work? If not, even if so, I would still give the Tums. There's no down side.

[Nancy in New York]

Yes it is! She knows a vet very close to me.

I'm thrilled!
Please keep us posted.

[Madamelipstick]

Glad there is a vet who can be counted on. Hope all works out.

[ChloeShea]

I am leaving work early to take her. They were nice enough to not add on any more patients (I work at a radiology clinic)

I had my mother go over and try and give her some but that didn't work out so I will be leaving here in approximately 30 minutes.

I am very nervous as to what they are going to say but I hope I at least get some answers and hopefully there is some hope for her

[Nancy in New York]

I am leaving work early to take her. They were nice enough to not add on any more patients (I work at a radiology clinic)

I had my mother go over and try and give her some but that didn't work out so I will be leaving here in approximately 30 minutes.

I am very nervous as to what they are going to say but I hope I at least get some answers and hopefully there is some hope for her

Just make sure that you tell them that you know NOW that the diet is all off, and you are getting going to get that back on track.
BUT I would also tell them that the possibility of MBD exists. They may want to do blood work to check out the calcium levels.
I sure hope you get to the bottom of this. :grouphug

[czarina]

Any updates?

[SammysMom]

Any updates?

Same question... Hope all is well...:Love_Icon

[pappy1264]

Any updates on this baby? How did the vet visit go?

[Nancy in New York]

Any updates on this baby? How did the vet visit go?

I will shoot her an email in a minute, I haven't heard a word. :dono

[czarina]

Oh, I really hope things are ok. Positive thoughts and prayers on their way to Keller, Texas.

[Nancy in New York]

I just heard back from Chloe.
Sadly, Little Bit passed on yesterday right before Chloe
got home.
Needless to say Chloe is just heartbroken. :(
I am so very sorry for your devastating loss.

Rest in Peace
Precious Baby 235017

[joyceb11]

This such sad news :grouphug RIP little Bit :grouphug Chloe so sorry for your loss

[czarina]

I am so very sorry for your loss. You are so lucky for all the wonderful year's you had together, please try and let this lift your heart a little, in this time of grief.

Know that there is a little squirrel angel looking down on you.

You are not alone in your grief, many here are feeling it, too, and sending prayers your way.

[pappy1264]

Oh no. I am assuming they never made it to the vets? This is so heartbreaking. I am so very sorry.

[grampyngramy]

RIP. Little one.

[CritterMom]

Oh...I am so very sorry...:grouphug

[Duckman]

Oh no!!! God Speed Little Bit. You will always feel Chloe's love.

:grouphug:Love_Icon Little Bit :Love_Icon:grouphug
:grouphug Chloe :grouphug

[SammysMom]

Godspeed Little Bit....:Love_Icon:Love_Icon:Love_Icon

[squirrelmommy22]

So sorry chloe, R.I.P. Little Bit.

[ChloeShea]

Thank you so much everyone. I know she is in a better place and God needed a companion but it is still hard :(

I am thankful I have your support


Chloe

[SQUIRRELSAREME]

:grouphug:grouphug:Love_Icon:Love_Icon

[Smartsgirl]

:grouphug Chloe, my heart :Love_Icon aches for you. I live in Lewisville & lost my little man, Monster, 4 months ago. I miss him so much it literally hurts. Most days I still cry :Cry both happy & sad tears.

I wrote this big long 5 paragraph response & POOF, it disappeared. :madd:frustratedx
So here's the short version. Unless you have experienced a squirrels love, you can't explain & no one can understand how profoundly they affect your life. You won't find better or nicer people than those here on TSB.

When or if you feel up to it, I'd love to know your story & see pics of your baby. I'm partial to FOXY squirrels!! It might take awhile before you can. I'm just starting to be able to do this. Partly out of fear:hidechair due to the laws :injail here in Tx & partly out of it still being so darn hard:sad! Again, I'm so sorry for your loss.