Foul Smelling loose stools

[Robs0574]

Hi,
I have a 4 month old squirrel I have raised sense 3 weeks. He has been great until the last few days. He has had loose stools that smell very foul and are a lighter color than normal.
I cant post any pics as im having problems. I can send them to someone on cell phone or email tho?
Any help would be great.
Thanks
ROb

[CritterMom]

Can you give us more background info? What is he eating NOW - and what formula did you or are you using? Did anything different occur before the bad poops started?

[Robs0574]

He is eating green veggies, henrys blocks 2-3 a day, esbilac 2 times a day as he still wants it. He has loose stools over the weekend and they went away until last night. This morning I gave him henrys and milk, no greens. I also put some cherrios 4 him.
He's been a healthy guy until now with no problems.

[island rehabber]

Foul odor and lighter color could possibly be because he took too much formula that particular day.....BUT, it could also be coccidia, and that needs to be treated. Coccidia lives in all squirrels' systems but sometimes an overgrowth will cause diarrhea like this...often a mustardy yellow stool and strong, sweet-smelling but awful odor. Try reducing his formula intake a bit today and see if his poops firm up again. If not, you will need Baycox to treat him.

[Robs0574]

Ok, I'll try that. Should I keep feeding him his greens also? I tried to post pics with no luck tho..

[stosh2010]

Rob, here are your POOP Pics---that you e-mailed to me...need an accurate weight in GRAMS for proper dose of abs recommended.....

279729279730279731279732279733<<< click on pics

PS
please e-mail me some pics of your FUZZ-HEAD...I'll post them here ,also.

[stosh2010]

If it is coccidia, you need to disinfect the entire living area he stays in. Cage, branches, nest box, fleece, etc. We use a 50/50 vinegar & water solution to wipe down-- thoroughly---everything our CREW walks on, because they will drag their butt on everything, leaving residue that may not be visible>>>note:white/clear vinegar

[stosh2010]

Here is MIRACLE the squirrel.....
(I had a great squirrel named MILAGRO--that is Spanish for Miracle)

279734<<< click on pic

[Robs0574]

Thank you for posting that, it's awesome!!
I got his weight of 510 grams. I'll check his poop and cut back his milk. Should he still b eating greens?

[stosh2010]

How is MIRACLE doing today ????

[Robs0574]

Still sick. I sent u a couple pics.
He eats and plays fine. He is sleeping a little more than normal tho.

[stosh2010]

Still sick. I sent u a couple pics.
He eats and plays fine. He is sleeping a little more than normal tho.

Here they are:
279783279784279785279786279787<<< click on pics
They still look pretty sickly... slimy ...
Did you give abs to Miracle??

[Robs0574]

No, none as of yet. I don't exactly know what to give him and from what I'm reading don't have the right ones anyways.
Any suggestions/help?? Anyone?

[Robs0574]

My vet has actually agreed to look at the squirrel today. The only is they have no experience with squirrels.
So what kind of direction should I give the vet? What should they not do? If it is giardia or coccidia is they're a abs that will work for both of them?
I already don't want the vet to administer any meds to him, what if they want to tho? Should I be worried?
Please help!!

[Robs0574]

See above post

[stosh2010]

Foul odor and lighter color could possibly be because he took too much formula that particular day.....BUT, it could also be coccidia, and that needs to be treated. Coccidia lives in all squirrels' systems but sometimes an overgrowth will cause diarrhea like this...often a mustardy yellow stool and strong, sweet-smelling but awful odor. Try reducing his formula intake a bit today and see if his poops firm up again. If not, you will need Baycox to treat him.

I would ask the vet for a couple of Baycox pills and then get dosing info from TSB.

[CritterMom]

First, make it easier on everyone and do as sterile a collection of some of the poop as you can. The doctor is going to want to look at that and sometimes they won't poop on command.

Giardia is commonly treated with metronidazole (brand name Flagyl) or a wormer, fenbendazole (brand name Panacur). Of the two I would prefer the Panacur - it is VERY commonly used on dogs so it is highly likely any vet would have it, and it is much easier on their system - a fairly safe drug. It is available OTC.

Coccidia is commonly treated with a drug called brand name Albon, which is a sulfa medication and has been around forever. There is a newer drug from Bayer called toltrazuril (brand name Baycox) that also treats coccidia, but is MUCH faster acting than the Albon is.

If you are leery about them dosing him, very DIPLOMATICALLY tell them that you have access to a large network of people who commonly work with these animals and you would like to run the dosing by them because they have so much experience with squirrels SPECIFICALLY.

[Chickenlegs]

Push come to shove, I have Baycox. I suppose the vet will provide medication but I can overnight the Baycox to you if needed. There's actually a chance it would get there overnight as I'm in Fairfield Iowa right now. Thing is, too late to get it out today so earliest it could get to you is Monday. Hope the vet visit goes well and you get what the little guy needs NOW!