URGENT! SQUIRREL ATE MOLDY ACORNS!!!

[Scooterzmom]

What is the protocol for this situation. The squirrel is eastern grey, passing blood in his urine now. He's 3 1/2 yrs old, a family pet. Owner been advised so far to offer nothing as food, we told him to try and flush out the toxins with pedialyte.

Anything else we should suggest?

[Rhapsody]

That is the best thing to do atm...... hold all food (and) flush the body until it can be flushed no more.
and PRAY!! --Healing Vibes being sent.

Homemade Pedialyte:
1 cup hot water
1/4 tsp salt
1 tbsp sugar

[Nancy in New York]

What is the protocol for this situation. The squirrel is eastern grey, passing blood in his urine now. He's 3 1/2 yrs old, a family pet. Owner been advised so far to offer nothing as food, we told him to try and flush out the toxins with pedialyte.

Anything else we should suggest?

Does he have activated charcoal?

[Rhapsody]

Does he have activated charcoal?
I was just wondering about that Nancy....... absorb the mold like it was poison or toxic.

P.S.
scrapping burnt toast can be used if no activated charcoal is available. :)

[Nancy in New York]

You can also induce vomiting if it has been within a couple of hours.
Since this is NOT a chemical that has been ingested, I wonder if that would be
the route to go first and then activated charcoal or burnt toast, if we are in the time guidelines?

[ALittleNutty]

Not sure about squirrels but hydrogen peroxide is used to induce vomiting in dogs. Sending prayers!

[Nancy in New York]

Epsom salts dissolved in water will also work. I have never dosed and am frantically looking on the internet for suggestions.
This is for a chicken, but in the WMB book Epsom salts is also suggested.
Still searching internet.
Does anyone know the dose for the peroxide?


Epsom salt is a naturally occurring mineral, a combination of magnesium and sulfate. It’s soothing on the skin, and so is the choice for soaking baths if a hen has a dermatological issue. Epsom salt is also used internally. It detoxifies toxins, so if your hen has ingested a dangerous plant, or consumed botulism, or gotten into a poison, an epsom salt drench is the cure. It acts as a laxative, so if your hen’s system needs flushing, or if her crop is impacted or the digestive process seems blocked, this will gently move things along. It also controls yeast infections. It’s a general cure-all, so if you’re faced with a hen that seems weak in the legs, has a sudden loss of vigor, seems sick without having respiratory symptoms, epsom salt might help. It can’t hurt.

Over the last week I’ve noticed Buffy’s vent looking messier and messier; otherwise she’s behaving normally. It’s time for an epsom salt drench.



If, for some reason, you want to treat the entire flock, you can put epsom salt in their drinking water – use 1 teaspoon per cup. Leave it out for one day. (This isn’t something to feed on a regular basis.) But, since I only want to douse Buffy, I dilute 1 teaspoon of epsom salt in 1 ounce of lukewarm water. I have a syringe at hand. (This is a plastic syringe available at your local pharmacy.)

Hold the hen so that she is comfortable and her wings are kept at her side. Open the beak with one hand and squirt the liquid in her throat, a little bit at a time so that she can swallow. Don’t shoot it down her open gullet at full-force, or it could get into her lungs. Let her close her beak and swallow.

[Nancy in New York]

In the book it also suggests syrup of Ipecac.
There is NO dosing info on it though, still looking.

[ALittleNutty]

No idea on dosage of the peroxide but I would think 1 - 3 cc's would probably be enough.

[Nancy in New York]

No idea on dosage of the peroxide but I would think 1 - 3 cc's would probably be enough.

Thank you I am searching through old posts and found 2 cc's. :thumbsup




I've used peroxide...just syringe a few CCs at a time until they will cack it up.
Without knowing what type of ipecac it is or the weight and age of the animal I am not comfortable dosing.
The peroxide will cause gas buildup in the tummy which causes the vomiting..not fun

[Nancy in New York]

OK I just found this as well, from a few years back.


i've just been talking to 4skwerlz



Aflatoxins are very likely...bad news. Not only acutely toxic (inhaled they cause fatal resp. infections; ingested, acute GI toxicity) but also a potent carcinogen....

If it were my Henry, I would do what Mugzee suggested, run to the store and get Ipecac syrup, induce vomiting. Then, give something to boost the immune system (consult with some rehabbers on that). Then keep her warm, hydrated......and pray.

[island rehabber]

Are we SURE he is "passing blood"? Acorns make squirrels pee red.....don't forget.

[lilidukes]

Metronidazole helps to clear the GI track of toxins!!

[SammysMom]

Are we SURE he is "passing blood"? Acorns make squirrels pee red.....don't forget.



This was my first thought as well... Healing prayers for this guy...:grouphug

[Nancy in New York]

Damn, I really hate these emergencies when everyone gets ramped up, eager to help, sit by their computer, and then wait for hours! :imp
Going off the board now, hope all is well.

[Scooterzmom]

OK… first of all thank you guys roar answering so quickly. Sorry I didn't get back sooner: I myself was not getting a response back from the owner for awhile :(

Anyway, finally... Squirrel is 16mos not 3 + years. Also he's been eating acorns all week with no problems til now. And then, now, he is peeing but no "blood" in it.

Soadvised him to throw away all the acorns - he did check and some of them were mouldy. Then also suggested not to take a chance and cut off food and give pedialyte for the next 24 hours, no more though. Told him to check for both red in the urnine and make sure squee is not lethargic. Owner says the squirrel is playful, runs as usual etc but only sleeps a bit more than usual.

All in all, I think we may be dealing with red in the urine and hopefully not toxins. He will be checking back in with me and will keep you posted.

Edit:I, too, was getting teed off while waiting and waiting, :imp can't blame you Nancy. I do have some Flagyl (metro) here so if it is needed I will give the owner some - I can dose that from the book. ;)

[Nancy in New York]

OK… first of all thank you guys roar answering so quickly. Sorry I didn't get back sooner: I myself was not getting a response back from the owner for awhile :(

Anyway, finally... Squirrel is 16mos not 3 + years. Also he's been eating acorns all week with no problems til now. And then, now, he is peeing but no "blood" in it.

Soadvised him to throw away all the acorns - he did check and some of them were mouldy. Then also suggested not to take a chance and cut off food and give pedialyte for the next 24 hours, no more though. Told him to check for both red in the urnine and make sure squee is not lethargic. Owner says the squirrel is playful, runs as usual etc but only sleeps a bit more than usual.

All in all, I think we may be dealing with red in the urine and hopefully not toxins. He will be checking back in with me and will keep you posted.

Edit:I, too, was getting teed off while waiting and waiting, :imp can't blame you Nancy. I do have some Flagyl (metro) here so if it is needed I will give the owner some - I can dose that from the book. ;)


What made him think he was poisoned all of a sudden?
The squirrel was just sleeping a little bit more?
Just make sure that he knows the healthy diet, he doesn't want
to go down that road if he is feeding "junk". :thumbsup