Sad...

[ctmom]

I had the pleasure of finding a baby grey this April. This past Saturday I lost my "baby Monkey". I think he was about 3 months. It was very sudden. Fine Friday evening and lethargic and breathing hard Sat. morning. He was gone in 6 hrs. The loss I feel is tremendous. I can't believe the 2 months we had would make such an impact on me. I'm hoping I get the chance to do it again. I'm so sorry I could not save him. I keep thinking there was something I could have done.

[SammysMom]

So very sorry to hear of your dreadful loss. Why don't you tell us a bit about your baby... It might make you feel better to share him here with others who know feeling you are feeling right now...:grouphug

[Shewhosweptforest]

So very sorry to hear of your dreadful loss. Why don't you tell us a bit about your baby... It might make you feel better to share him here with others who know feeling you are feeling right now...:grouphug

:goodpost SammysMom is absolutely right :grouphug sharing your little Monkey with others will help you with your pain and loss...we're here for you ....we understand your suffering ....we grieve with you :Cry :Love_Icon ctmom & Monkey :Love_Icon

[Chickenlegs]

I'm so sad for you. Your baby is fine--off on his next great adventure--but your heart is broken. You gave him a mother's love and a home. He takes that with him on his next turn on the wheel. With luck you'll see him again in other little eyes. Godspeed little guy :Love_Icon

[jpurl]

I am so sorry for your loss I lost my sweet Emily a few weeks ago so I know how hard it is I've had many wild animals but none of them grab your heart like a squirrel does God bless you:tilt

[California Squirrel Lover]

I'm so sad and so very sorry for your loss. Rest in peace sweet baby :Love_Icon:Love_Icon:Love_Icon

[ctmom]

Thank you everyone for your kind words. I found Monkey in CT in April while visiting my mom. I looked for his mom for 2 days. My mom doesn't have a lot of squirrels near her home. I brought him home with me to IN. I syringe fed him for 3 weeks. Then he wanted real food. I would always call him my baby Monkey. . He would look at me and if he could speak he would have said I'm big boy Monkey now. My husband and I were not blessed with human children. Monkey was my baby. He had free reign of my counter and 2 shelves to play on. I flipped over 3 barstools so he could climb and jump around. We would play every day together. I didn't realize that they played like kittens do. My highlight of the morning was waking Monkey up and watching him yawn and stretch. I really miss him We spent a lot of time together. I just loved this little guy. He was so much fun. Monkey always brought a smile to my face. My coworkers always enjoyed my stories of him. Saturday morning he was bleeding from his mouth, lethargic, urine was dark;, cold, and breathing hard. He was gone in 6 hrs. I think he was about 3 months old. Does anyone know what could have happened? I feel like I could have done something. I have been an xray tech for 26 years. I'm having a really hard time with this.

[Carol Lynn]

Oh, that is so sad... i'm so very sorry for your loss. Poor little guy. It sounds like he had a very happy life with you, though, surrounded by lots of love and a wonderful human play buddy. My thoughts and prayers are with you... Hang in there. :grouphug

QUOTE=ctmom;1019739]Thank you everyone for your kind words. I found Monkey in CT in April while visiting my mom. I looked for his mom for 2 days. My mom doesn't have a lot of squirrels near her home. I brought him home with me to IN. I syringe fed him for 3 weeks. Then he wanted real food. I would always call him my baby Monkey. . He would look at me and if he could speak he would have said I'm big boy Monkey now. My husband and I were not blessed with human children. Monkey was my baby. He had free reign of my counter and 2 shelves to play on. I flipped over 3 barstools so he could climb and jump around. We would play every day together. I didn't realize that they played like kittens do. My highlight of the morning was waking Monkey up and watching him yawn and stretch. I really miss him We spent a lot of time together. I just loved this little guy. He was so much fun. Monkey always brought a smile to my face. My coworkers always enjoyed my stories of him. Saturday morning he was bleeding from his mouth, lethargic, urine was dark;, cold, and breathing hard. He was gone in 6 hrs. I think he was about 3 months old. Does anyone know what could have happened? I feel like I could have done something. I have been an xray tech for 26 years. I'm having a really hard time with this.[/QUOTE]

[pappy1264]

I am very sorry for your loss. One thing I need to tell you, squirrel babies need formula for a long time. Much longer than three weeks. (Actually at 12 weeks some are still taking it.) What 'real food' did you give him? I know most do not know this, so if you did, don't blame yourself. But nuts and seeds are very bad for a squirrel (yes, the ones outside eat them and love them, but they eat other things that ones inside do not have access to.) The first food besides formula a baby squirrel should be offered is quality rodent block (Mazuri is a good one, but there are others). There is also a block, Henry's Healthy Blocks, made specifically for squirrels (in both growth formula and adult formula depending on age. Those you have to order online.) The next thing they should be offered is greens (romaine, dandelion,butter,endive, chickory, mustard greens...no iceburg, no spinach). Then you would slowly begin to add in some veggies (brocolli, sweet potato, snap peas, cucumber, etc.) And small amounts of fruits (blueberries, apples, blackberries, etc.) There is a list of foods that are good for them (will copy the link and add in a bit). They should always eat block. Before anything else is given, every day. If you feed the henry's, give two a day. I give both, so I give henry's in the morning, but later in the day, put mazuri in. Nuts are the very last thing you would give them. They are a treat. If you give too many, they will not eat other foods. But you should hold off offering them for as long as you can, so they are well established eating other foods. Many give a nut in the shell at night as a treat (if too young to open the shell, then a shelled nut can be offered). I cannot say 100% this is what caused your baby to pass, but I can tell you in time it would have caused something called MBD (Metabolic Bone Disease). Without enough calcium, and being fed foods high in phosphorus (such as seeds and nuts) the body begins to leach calcium from its own bones and the bones get soft. As it progresses it gets very painful, and in time, may cause seizures, as it starts to effect the brain. The reason you don't see this in squirrels outside is because although they may raid bird feeders and be fed nuts (btw, peanuts are NOT nuts, they are legumes, in the bean family. Not very good for squirrels, either), is because they eat other things you do not see (and also have exposure to sun for vitamin D. We feed mushrooms to inside squirrels to try to give them the D that is needed for calcium to be absorbed.)

I know you loved your baby, and I am very sorry for your loss. I just wanted you to know this, if you do find yourself with another baby.

Since he had free reign, is it possible he got intot something he should not have?

[czarina]

I am so very sorry for your loss. Little Monkey sounds like he was an absolute delight. I am sure you miss him terribly. But remember he is always in your heart. Try and remember the fun times you had together, and perhaps this can soften your grief a little. They are very special little creatures, and you were blessed to have him come into your life. He loved you and he also knew how much you loved him, they ate special in that way.
Godspeed Little Monkey. :Love_Icon:grouphug:Love_Icon:grouphug:Love_Icon:g rouphug:Love_Icon


You asked if anyone has any idea of what might have happened to him, and it is very difficult to say, and perhaps to difficult for you to concentrate on. We could only speculate. Is there any way he could have gotten into poison? Before he got so sick, had he been lethargic, or having breathing problems?

Please feel free to tell us about him and we would love to see pictures.
This is truly a place where squirrels are loved, and we are glad you have come.

[anniedancer]

I am not a squirrel expert, but please do not feel guilty about not knowing about their diet. And whatever was wrong with him....well, you will never know and it may have had nothing to do with diet. You gave him love, more precious than nearly everything. You did your best. And if another one comes your way, well, now you know where to get answers.
Annie in FL(sweating!!!!)

[ctmom]

Many thanks to all who responded. You're kindness means a lot. I'm sorry I wasn't more clear in my previous post. Monkey was only syringe fed for 3 weeks because he weaned himself off. He was a baby when I found him, however not a bald new one. He was moving some and slightly bigger than the palm of my hand. He did have free reign only on 1 counter. There wasn't any thing he could have gotten into. I didn't know about the blocks then. Now I know better. He did eat a variety of veggies and some fruit. Broccoli carrots sugar snap peas snow peas green leaf lettuce cherries grapes strawberries oranges apples almonds cashews (cashews were treats only) peanuts. I did give him pieces of corn on the cob. I didn't realize the dietary need of squirrels. Now I do. I don't understand how he could be fine and then overnight be so sick. I think this is what I'm having a hard time with. I feel like I did something wrong and I should have been able to save or even avoid this. My heart is broken. I just loved that little guy. I miss him so. ..

[ctmom]

I can't say thank you enough. I appreciate everyone who has taken the time to read and reply. I hope I'm not coming across as a total nut job! !

Casey in Indiana

[TubeDriver]

I can't say thank you enough. I appreciate everyone who has taken the time to read and reply. I hope I'm not coming across as a total nut job! !

Casey in Indiana

Not at all. We are all a little (or a lot) nutty about squirrels here.

Whatever happened to Monkey happened fast. It might have been a combination of diet and a fall? But you saved his life when he was found and gave him love and friendship so although his life was short, it was happy! :grouphug

[Shewhosweptforest]

:Love_Icon ctmom ...I find it hard to believe that diet would have caused his sudden demise ...unless it was an allergic reaction or something poisonous :dono I believe, and only from my experience, that a baby this young wouldn't have had time to be affected by a lacking diet. Only babies who are otherwise compromised seem to get ill at such a young age from diet. I fed my squirrel for 2 yrs. on corn, sweet potatoes, apples, and nuts :eek and she never became ill. Luckily, I stumbled here onto the board looking for kindred spirits and probably saved Baby's life. Because eventually she would have gotten weak. Stop blaming yourself....listen to all the advice here for the next baby :thumbsup And keep Monkey in your heart always....and know as other have said "he lived a life of warmth and love, safe sleep, full belly, and lots of hugs and kisses" it may have been short but it was precious and happy :grouphug:Love_Icon

[SammysMom]

Best for all to remember that these little ones come to us for a reason. Unless you take them from their own nest because something happened to their mom you have no idea what has happened to them to get them to you. Very often, that "something" is a fall from a very high spot. These falls can cause internal issues that do not show up until later in their lives. Monkey may have had some sort of a weakened vessel in his brain or some other issue caused by whatever the reason he ended up with you was. You gave him love and caring and attention. The alternative for him was far more grim had he been left to his own devices and not found by someone who loved him.
Yes, for the future, the diet is the most important thing, but for the moment, know that you gave him love and that is a wonderful gift to give.:grouphug:Love_Icon:grouphug

Godspeed Monkey...:Love_Icon:Love_Icon:Love_Icon

I am in CT also, where does your mom live that there are not a lot of squirrels?!!! I would be happy to share some of my outside begging masses!!!:grin3 JK of course!:Love_Icon

[ctmom]

Sammysmom

My mom lives in Meriden. It's between Hartford and New Haven. Where are you? We used to have a lot when I was growing up. I don't know what happened. Thanks for the reassurance. These comments have brought much comfort
.
.

[SammysMom]

Oh I know Meriden! I live in New Haven. Maybe the little dears all heard about the big sucker in New Haven who feeds too much and MOVED! There is no shortage in my backyard for certain!:grin3