COLD SYMPTOMS and duration

[BigNibbler]

Hope all TSBers are good.

I have a NR 7 month old who is very weak in the rear legs.
He can walk, but not jump or climb much and cannot climb downwards.
He falls over when grooming - and grooms in a corner for support.

He likes going for walks around the yard with me.
I try to walk with him each day a few minutes.
Sometimes it can be an hour.
I am bundled warm and keep him in my gloved hands.
Last few days he is sneezing and grunting and squeaking.
No breathing noises.
Lately he will only eat HHB's. And Harlad Teklad rodunt nuggets.
Very hard to get him to eat fresh veggies.

Last 24hours lethargic, lots of noise.
Poops hard dark brown, small.
Not usual larger ones.

Does he have a cold you think? Should I give him a drop of cold meds?
Type?
I know he is not comfortable. Thought he was constipated... he drank a lot last night. Not today that I have seen. Does not want to eat anything today nor to come out and play like always.

Yesterday, I nearly broke my left hand, so I cannot interact with him as I would like today.

[TubeDriver]

A couple questions, has he always had the rear leg weakness or is this a newer development?

You mentioned HHBs, how long has he been eating them?

I believe a squirrel can get colds but first rule out a couple other things.

Can you check his teeth and make sure they look correct (proper length and orientation)?

Any clicking noises when he breathes?

Is he peeing regularly? Small dry poops is often a symptom of dehydration.

If you are bringing him outside in your yard, PLEASE reconsider doing that. We have seen many stories of squirrels getting away or being spooked by a sound or something and running into the trees. Many do not find their way back. It would be a death sentence for your little squirrel.

Do NOT give him any cold medications until get a current weight so that he can be dosed correctly, it is very easy to overdose a squirrel.

In the meantime, you could get this and add to his water daily:

http://www.caoh.org/liqimbarecbe.html

[BigNibbler]

his squirrel mommy brought him in to me!
Yes, he was like that since his mom brought him down.
He nearly died when I let him go back out.
He is weak.

Been on his diet since June, when he followed his mom in to me.

He shreds his first few HHBs each day. Then eats about 4.
Yes, I do not want to do that but he is hungry and wont each veggies.
Sometimes I give him CA dusted almond slivers.
He gets about 3 almonds in shells a week.
He has had a few walnuts just for me to check his teeth.

will try to get look at his teeth again. need two hands for that,
when yawns teeth look good.
just shot some video.

[BigNibbler]

He is 580 grams.

[farrelli]

Four+ HHBs a day is too much. Yes, you can have too much of a good thing. You should really cut that back to two.

Answer TDs other questions, please, especially about clicking.

I would suspect dehydration too. What are the results of the pinch test? I would also give him some apple juice because it draws water into the gut.

[TubeDriver]

He is 580 grams.

Hi,

As Farrelli said above, 2 HHB per day should be the right amount, you can give him some veggies, greens, fruits, yogurt in addition to the HHBs.

I can dose infant benadryl but I first want to rules out teeth issues and or pneumonia. You can visibly see if there are teeth issues (overgrown, odd angle and pic really helps) and audibly hear if he has pneumonia (clicking, mouth breathing, wheezing as well as loss of energy, loss of appetite). If there is a tooth issue it will need to be felt with , if pneumonia it will need to be treat ASAP!

I am going to direct some rehabbers to look at this thread.

[TubeDriver]

You can try a dose or two of benadryl to see if it helps with his cold-like symptoms.

You need children's Benadryl (strength should be 12.5mg/5ml).

For your squirrel at 580g, give 0.44ml. You can give this up to 3 times per day.

But please continue to monitor breathing (listening for clicking) and examine his teeth.

[BigNibbler]

Four+ HHBs a day is too much. Yes, you can have too much of a good thing. You should really cut that back to two.

Answer TDs other questions, please, especially about clicking.

I would suspect dehydration too. What are the results of the pinch test? I would also give him some apple juice because it draws water into the gut.


Thank you Farrelli. Absolutely no clicking. Drinks good. Always doing Pinch tests daily. Not dehydrated and pees on me at least once a day, as he sleeps on me a few hours watching TV. He is toilet trained but its my bad timing. He actually is toilet trained in pooping as well. Seeks a specific spot in his cage!

I believe the problem is his teeth need trimming. He is frustrated by nuts suddenly, cannot open mouth enough. BUT he likes nuts outside of the shell, which I just tested him with.
I have trimming experience. Will do later in week.
My left hand is very painful today.
Had an accident yesterday. X Ray is inconclusive. Hoping for best.

Yes, would love to cut down on HHBs.

This is a new development. In September he was toothpicking much wood. Too much I thought. He desperately wants out of his cage. But as soon as he drags, I pick him up.

Right now - this moment he is eating up a storm. apple slices, avocado, some HHB. and drinking good. I left a full size walnut since 2pm, and it is untouched! Poor guy.
Just three weeks ago, he was handling black walnuts - one each week.

Not going the Cold route. Think its the teeth. Will watch closely. Want to check the inside of his mouth ASAP.

Will update...

[BigNibbler]

Video shot earlier - 4 clips. Last is longest and most thorough.
Lots of background noise unfortunately.
Window was open for first three clips. Still noisy after closing.

http://www.smugmug.com/gallery/n-SttG4

[BigNibbler]

Just soaked some Harlad Teklad nuggets in sweetened apple cider to soften them - He loves them!

[Zebra]

How is tipsy doing now.l'm praying for him.please let us know the out come .If he has a cold l dont know uch about squirrels myself but they are truely one of god angels.l'm So Sorry about him being not well. Get better soon Tipsy. :serene :grouphug

[TubeDriver]

I heard the couple of sneezes he made. I also wonder about his teeth? I do not hear any wheezing, regular snorting panting etc and he is breathing through his nose just fine so I don't think he has a breathing issue. I don't think he has a cold or pneumonia. Need to know how his teeth are doing? When were they last trimmed? Was it a clean cut? It looks like he want to eat that block but can't get his teeth around it. Again this goes back to his teeth.


In a couple places, he appeared to be trembling/shivering. Is that new?

He is a very cute little guy, I hope this is nothing serious.




Video shot earlier - 4 clips. Last is longest and most thorough.
Lots of background noise unfortunately.
Window was open for first three clips. Still noisy after closing.

http://www.smugmug.com/gallery/n-SttG4

[BigNibbler]

How is tipsy doing now.l'm praying for him.please let us know the out come .If he has a cold l dont know uch about squirrels myself but they are truely one of god angels.l'm So Sorry about him being not well. Get better soon Tipsy. :serene :grouphug


Thank you so very much Zebra. Anyone who can appreciate these nibblers is special to me!

[BigNibbler]

I heard the couple of sneezes he made. I also wonder about his teeth? I do not hear any wheezing, regular snorting panting etc and he is breathing through his nose just fine so I don't think he has a breathing issue. I don't think he has a cold or pneumonia. Need to know how his teeth are doing? When were they last trimmed? Was it a clean cut? It looks like he want to eat that block but can't get his teeth around it. Again this goes back to his teeth.


In a couple places, he appeared to be trembling/shivering. Is that new?

He is a very cute little guy, I hope this is nothing serious.


Thanks for viewing the video. I have never trimmed this guy's teeth. I have trimmed others. In the last few weeks I have been feeling them getting longer with my fingers and been wondering why he has not been eating like he used to. I like to keep in close contact with him, so he won't wild up, because he is probably not going to be releasable. His name is Tipsy. Wish he got stronger, then he would become Tip or Tipper! He has a nervous condition. I shot the video so you could see that. Notice how he enters his hammock dragging his legs. His rear legs are about 1/100th as strong as they should be.
I have been giving him more calcium and letting him have more HHBs.

For the last 4-6 weeks, I have been getting him used to traveling to work with me each day. He is fine with that. Its not a long car drive. But having two different double tiered cages that are not identically furnished by him is a bit stressful as well as mentally stimulating, and I attributed that, to his change in behavior. Just did not want him to have no one to interact with all day. He wants so very much to walk around, and repeatedly his desire to be outside his cage exceeded his desire to eat, even his favorite foods. So it was not an obvious a change. I posted this about his cold, just in the slim case that with the cold temps this week, that perhaps he got a cold. He has always sneezed more than most squirrels.

He is drinking plenty and had 5 rodent nuggets in apple juice tonight between two meals as well as the apple and avocado slices mentioned earlier.

He was brought up on rodent nuggets as all the wilds here are. His mommy would bring some to the nest as they get older. So he naturally likes them. Which makes things easier.

If my hand was not in so much pain, I would trim his teeth tomorrow. Hopefully timing will work out OK.

Thank you again for your concern TD!

[SammysMom]

BN, Tipsy is adorable! I hope he lets you clip his teeth without incident. I have one who needs to have hers done and it is quite a daunting task as she doesn't know me. I will bet that he will do fine since he has been with you for so long and I am sure he trusts you.
Hope all is well other that Tipsy's teeth. Nice to see you here!:grouphug

[BigNibbler]

BN, Tipsy is adorable! I hope he lets you clip his teeth without incident. I have one who needs to have hers done and it is quite a daunting task as she doesn't know me. I will bet that he will do fine since he has been with you for so long and I am sure he trusts you.
Hope all is well other that Tipsy's teeth. Nice to see you here!:grouphug


Thank you Gayle. Good to hear from you.

[BigNibbler]

He is not eating anything that is firm. And eats very slowly. Something is definitely bothering him. Here are some shots of his teeth when he yawns - They do not look very long, but wondering if his lower teeth are chipped or angled?
The new photos follow the four older video clips.

My email address on TSB is an old one, but I get Private messages. Some of you know my email address.

http://www.smugmug.com/gallery/n-SttG4