UTI

[tgramsey]

Hello, my little 8 mo old is suddenly peeing a light pink urine. I fear it's a UTI. Any advice? He has not had any acorns or unusual food. I'm going to feed him some cranberries later. Otherwise he is very energetic and playful. I don't know of a vet I can take him to see -- I can't take him to my dog's vet. If anyone does know a trustworth (!) vet in east or north Texas area - (or nearby few hour drive is no big deal) - who will see him, I'd appreciate a contact name. Thank you.

[SammysMom]

Do you have any antibiotics on hand? Maybe one cipro tablet left over from a human who didn't finish them?

[tgramsey]

Hi, I don't have anything like that unfortunately. I'll ask my family if they have anything and if so, run the drug name by you - I don't know one from another. Thank you for replying. Any other suggestions if I can't find an antibiotic?

[SammysMom]

If it is a UTI he needs an antibiotic. You can try to help relieve some of the discomfort by giving him diluted cranberry juice. NOT cranberry juics cocktail with sugar. PLAIN cranberry juice diluted with water about 50/50

[tgramsey]

Update: I do have some antibiotics: Doxycycline Hyalite 100 mg and Minocycline 100 mg. I looked them up and both can be used for UTIs in humans. Will either of these work/safe? And if so, how much/often? Also, is there a way to know for sure he even has a UTI? I just noticed the very light pink urine. Thanks for your help.

[SammysMom]

I am not sure about those meds. Since you aren't sure and he is released, he may have eaten some acorns and they will color urine.

[tgramsey]

Well, he isn't released in the traditional sense. Kinda half and half. I don't see how he could've gotten into any acorns this week -- but you're right, i guess he could've snagged a stray one from the roof or something. If he still has the pink urine in a few days, are there any resources to let me know how much of the antibiotic to give? I sure don't want to give him anything without knowing exactly what I'm doing. Thank you!

[SammysMom]

Does he come and go inside and out? So glad he has someone to watch over him...:Love_Icon

[tgramsey]

Hi, He has a big cage/house, but gets a lot of tree time. This week it's been really rainy so he hasn't been romping around much in the trees/no real access to any acorns -- that's why I'm afraid the pink is UTI. I read squirrels get UTIs pretty easily. Any suggestions on how to find out about these antibiotics? I guess I'll post again ask if anyone knows those two and appropriate doses -- if they're okay for him. And --I was just reading about UTI test strips. Never heard of them and not sure they'll work on a squirrel, but I'm going to buy some tomorrow. Getting him to pee on a strip is going to be interesting!

[stepnstone]

Doxycycline is a broad-spectrum antibiotic that treats infections caused by susceptible bacteria.
Although not our first choice, it can be used to treat UTI's in animals and is used by vets in both
dogs and cats.
According to WMB it should be administered with food and a product to protect the stomach
lining.
What you have will need to be broken down to a strength of 5mg/ml and then dosed at 5-10mg/kg.
You will need to get a weight on this squirrel for proper dosing as squirrels are dosed according to
body weight. Once you have a weight we can help you with dosing if necessary.

I don't know your history or experience with squirrels and don't mean to come across as condescending
but are you sure he is a he? Has his testicles dropped into his scrotum?

[tgramsey]

Hi, thank you for the info. Yes, definitely male - 8 months old. I'll get a weight and check back in for help with the dose.

[tgramsey]

I haven't been able to get a weight yet. He absolutely will not stand on the scale or let me sit him on it, etc. I tried putting a nut on it - he just reaches over. Tried putting it in bottom of a pot and tossing in a nut - he just hangs on to the rim with his feet and reaches in. Ugh. He is very average in size -- I imagine very typical of any 8 month old.

[stepnstone]

I haven't been able to get a weight yet. He absolutely will not stand on the scale or let me sit him on it, etc. I tried putting a nut on it - he just reaches over. Tried putting it in bottom of a pot and tossing in a nut - he just hangs on to the rim with his feet and reaches in. Ugh. He is very average in size -- I imagine very typical of any 8 month old.
You can put him in some type closed container, weigh it with him in it
then weigh it without him and subtract the weight of container.

[tgramsey]

good idea. I'll try that tomorrow. thank you.

[tgramsey]

Hi there, just an update on the possible UTI. I'm actually not sure the brownish/pink I saw was urine now. The areas I saw the liquid are in spots where he likes to scratch/wipe his face and chew and actually are smaller spots vs a small puddle. Doesn't look like blood and I see no blood in his mouth, but it's slightly sticky. Last time I noticed it he had just eaten a bit of a walnut -- but I haven't noticed a pattern with walnuts -- he doesn't get that many. Overall, it's diminished anyway - not seeing the spots like I did last week. I've been feeding him frozen cranberries and cranberry juice just in case. Any thoughts? Thank you.

[lilidukes]

A UTI has a very strong distinct smell. To me it smells
almost like campfire wood after you put the fire out with
water. Burnt wet wood I guess I'd call it.
Normal squirrel urine has it's own smell, but a UTI will
stand out.

Hope this helps some.

[tgramsey]

Thank you. I don't smell anything odd. Any suggestions on what this liquid could be? Is there discharge from their mouths or noses for some reason? Again I see blood on his face/in his mouth, etc. I did find another spot today with dabs of this liquid though. It's very strange. This is definitely not an area he would urinate -- the "splatter" is actually on a vertical surface - on a low cabinet drawer near the floor. He likes to wipe/scratch his face on the handle. It looks like someone spilled a small bit of cranberry juice or red liquid. Now, he has been eating cranberry the last few days, but this whole mystery started before that. It's the reason I gave him cranberry in the first place, thinking it may be uti. Hopefully there's a logical explanation. I just want to make sure he is okay. He is acting just fine otherwise.