loss of appetite and energy. needing advice as soon please!

[ChiefRunEmUp]

My 2.5 y/o female gray is losing her appetite. I have been feeding primate chow biscuits and fresh vegetables since weaned and her and her bio sister have been just fine with the occasional allergies but over the past week she hasn't been eating as many of her biscuits. There are still many left at the end of the day. However, over the past few months she has gained some weight. I ordered Henry's squirrel blocks along with a few biscuits and small fruit and her sister loves them but she still isn't as interested. I found them nibbled on for the most part and dried up This morning I tried to give her a bite of banana and she just snuggled in my arms and wasn't even interested in banana which is unusual. She is of healthy weight but just not as active as she was a few days ago. I have also been keeping watch on her water intake and she usually drinks more than her sister but here lately she has been slacking... but still drinking. Any ideas or suggestions?

[island rehabber]

Chief, as always, check her poop & pee 'cause that's pretty much what it's all about with rehabbing :). See if her poop has changed from normal. See if you can get a white paper towel under her when she's peeing and check the color -- darker yellow/orange or brownish can signify dehydration and/or a UTI, which would require antibiotics.

Another thought: she could be in heat. Any swelling, anything odd-looking down there? They often lose their appetites for a couple of weeks.
Try to get her to drink more by adding a drop of apple juice or even honey to some water.

[ChiefRunEmUp]

Her vulva appears to be a little swollen so that adds up. But this morning she had a bit of crust around her nostrils and has been sneezing today. I am going to remove the cedar chips from the bottom so I can catch a sample and I will update you as soon as possible.

[island rehabber]

Her vulva appears to be a little swollen so that adds up. But this morning she had a bit of crust around her nostrils and has been sneezing today. I am going to remove the cedar chips from the bottom so I can catch a sample and I will update you as soon as possible.

Cedar and pine chips, which have aromatic oils in them, are a NO-NO for squirrels. They do cause respiratory distress. Try Care-Fresh or the cheaper store versions of it -- I love it and the odor control is amazing.

[ChiefRunEmUp]

Oh my word! Where can I purchase Care-fresh? I was using cedar in order to help ward off fleas that the dogs may bring in. Any other suggestions? Thank you for telling me! It's going out the door pronto. They have been wild as hares today! She is doing somersaults and being hyper as usual. No samples yet but I'm waiting patiently. Also I watched her shred through the regular healthy blocks and she was only interested in picking out the nut chunks and flinging the rest out of the cage. I would love to be confident in knowing she is actually eating the healthy part of her meal. Would you suggest that I use the blocks for picky eaters even though it's peanut butter flavored? I'm trying not to incorporate too much filler or nuts in their diets.

[farrelli]

CF or other versions of it is available in a lot of pet stores and even super markets.

http://www.petco.com/product/3370/Carefresh-Natural-Pet-Bedding.aspx

Picky Eaters blocks have pecans, not peanuts. If you can't get them consumed, ask us and we'll give suggestions. Tons of people have had this problem.

[ChiefRunEmUp]

Thought I replied earlier with an update. Poopies are normal. Pee is light as normal and purchased the CF...... holy ham sammitch! I need to find the best priced alternative. I'm about to revamp their aviaries and one bag of that won't cover the floor. Lol. Still picking through the blocks but I suppose I will order the picky blocks and see how that goes. Is it abnormal for a squirrel to have her first heat so late? I have always paid close attention to their behavior, appetite, and features. Is it just possible that the first cycles were so mild that it went unnoticed? Their lady parts have never been enlarged before.

[stepnstone]

I was using cedar in order to help ward off fleas that the dogs may bring in.


FYI...
The type of flea dogs and cats get are not the same as the squirrel flea.
Squirrel fleas can not jump like the canine flea, it sort of "swims" through the fur.
(see pic)
I'm not aware if the canine flea will even get or stay on a squirrel.
I have had a really bad flea infestation a couple years due to my dog bringing them
in to the indoor cats and none of my housed squirrels were ever effected by them. :dono

252368

[ChiefRunEmUp]

Hot dog! Well I guess there is some good news! How peculiar. Ugly little creatures. Do you get rid of them the same as domestic fleas or are there different methods? I haven't ever seen any but I'm super curious.

[island rehabber]

A nice bath or even just a wipe-down with warm water and Dawn dishwashing liquid (just a drop or two) will kill the squirrel fleas. They are slow-moving, not like dog fleas at all.

[MAC]

Cedar and pine chips, which have aromatic oils in them, are a NO-NO for squirrels. They do cause respiratory distress. Try Care-Fresh or the cheaper store versions of it -- I love it and the odor control is amazing.


We tried the care-fresh litter, our girl refused to use it, switched to feline pine clumping litter,all seems well. I will defiantly keep an eye out for respiratory problem's. She's about the same age, 2- 2 1/2 years,eastern gray. an we've been through the in heat thing a couple time's, a loss of appetite, and very defensive of the cage.have the nip's on my hand's to prove it !! in the past it has taken about a month for this to subside, then she was back cuddle's and play..

If your serious about NO pine or ceder, we will try something else , rather than run the risk of a problem !:serene

[farrelli]

A good want to get them to use the CF is to take a bit of already used litter, and put it in the new litter so that they feel more comfortable with it.

[ChiefRunEmUp]

They are LOVING IT! Lol they are diving and rolling all in the stuff. Thanks for the advice! I tried dusting the bag of healthy blocks with some fresh milled pecan flour..... still not having it. Boy oh boy they sure are picky eaters. Just the same as they won't chew wood toys unless I put them in a bag of nuts for scent. I tried to be sneaky.