Soft poop after eating avocado

[Phoxy8947]

Is this normal? Or something to be concerned about. Snickers always has 2 food dishes, 2 water dishes, and a bottle of water mixed with Pedialyte in his cage, so I don't think he's dehydrated... His poop only started getting looser and more watery after I started giving him avocado... Also, he doesn't really eat the Kaytee fortified rodent blocks-- He prefers to eat all his nuts, seeds, and avocados, which is why I put a mineral lick in his cage, and vitamin drops in his food

[Mel1959]

How old is Snickers?

The soft poop could definitely be from the avocado. Don't offer so much avocado and see how the poop is.

If the foods you stated are all that Snickers eats you are going to need to make some changes for him to stay healthy. He needs to eat some type of rodent block. If he doesn't like the one you have then try some others, like Harlan Teklad, Oxbow, Zupreem or Henry's. The Henry's is formulated specifically for squirrels and many times is accepted better than others. It can be purchased online from Henry's Pets. The Harlan Teklad is also available online. Seeds are a no-no, as are nuts, except as an ocassional treat. These items have an improper calcium to phosphorous ratio. Too many of them over a period of time can pull the calcium from Snickers bones and cause metabolic bone disease, which is life threatening.

Does he eat any vegetables? There is a food pyramid listed in the "squirrel nutrition" section of the forum with healthy food suggestions. He needs to eat veggies and rodent block.

Pedialyte should not be put in a water bottle. He doesn't need the electrolytes all the time. If he has diarrhea offer pedialyte and water, but not together. You can do a skin pinch test on his back near his shoulder blades and see if it remains tented for longer than a second to determine if he's dehydrated.

[Phoxy8947]

How old is Snickers?

The soft poop could definitely be from the avocado. Don't offer so much avocado and see how the poop is.

If the foods you stated are all that Snickers eats you are going to need to make some changes for him to stay healthy. He needs to eat some type of rodent block. If he doesn't like the one you have then try some others, like Harlan Teklad, Oxbow, Zupreem or Henry's. The Henry's is formulated specifically for squirrels and many times is accepted better than others. It can be purchased online from Henry's Pets. The Harlan Teklad is also available online. Seeds are a no-no, as are nuts, except as an ocassional treat. These items have an improper calcium to phosphorous ratio. Too many of them over a period of time can pull the calcium from Snickers bones and cause metabolic bone disease, which is life threatening.

Does he eat any vegetables? There is a food pyramid listed in the "squirrel nutrition" section of the forum with healthy food suggestions. He needs to eat veggies and rodent block.

Pedialyte should not be put in a water bottle. He doesn't need the electrolytes all the time. If he has diarrhea offer pedialyte and water, but not together. You can do a skin pinch test on his back near his shoulder blades and see if it remains tented for longer than a second to determine if he's dehydrated.

We found Snickers about 2 weeks ago, and the wildlife rehabilitator that I have been in touch with looked at his pics and said he looks like a juvenile, becuz his tail is still naked underneath, it's not full and bushy yet. When he first came to us, he was thin with sunken eyes, patchy fur, ratty tail with blackened bone sticking out the tip, all gray fur with no white on the belly. Now he's fatter, tail is healing, the bone fell off, his fur is even and healthy and has tints of brown and white on his belly. I do check to make sure he's not dehydrated. I already ordered Henry's Healthy Blocks for squirrels, I'm just waiting for it to arrive. And I put mineral licks in his cage, and vitamin drops in his food. He doesn't really like romaine lettuce or grapes or red apples. He sometimes ears the Kaytee fortified rodent blocks, but very rarely. He mostly sticks to the avocado, hazelnuts, almonds, pecans, walnuts, unsalted sunflower seeds and peanuts...

[island rehabber]

I already ordered Henry's Healthy Blocks for squirrels, I'm just waiting for it to arrive. And I put mineral licks in his cage, and vitamin drops in his food. He doesn't really like romaine lettuce or grapes or red apples. He sometimes ears the Kaytee fortified rodent blocks, but very rarely. He mostly sticks to the avocado, hazelnuts, almonds, pecans, walnuts, unsalted sunflower seeds and peanuts...

Omigosh, Phoxy -- as a future fellow New York rehabber of mine, we need to get you feeding this boy right, here. :grin3 Our NY squirrels need to be big and strong and kick-azz, know what I mean? :strong
Everything in that last sentence except avocado is a NO NO right now, while he is growing and in your care. Of course the nuts helped him when he was starving and in dire condition without his mamma, but if he continues to eat that way he will, again, be in trouble.
Try these foods that I use to start babies on solid foods -- they are generally a big hit:

Zupreem 'Monkey Biscuits' or Primate Chow....generally the best tolerated basic rodent block. These should be fed in quantities so that he always has them to nibble on. You may need tough love at first because he's had so many nuts already. He's like a little kid who has had McDonald's and a box of Oreo's every day for weeks and now you expect him to have a salad and quinoa for lunch :grin2
Henry's Blocks -- two per day only. Provides all the calcium and other essentials he needs.
Fresh, dark kale
Chickory
Dandelion greens (free, on your lawn! wash thoroughly of course)
Sugar snap peas in the pod
Mushrooms (white button)
Raw sweet potato or, even better, raw Korean Sweet potato (purple-red on the outside, white on the inside)

I truly hope this helps....it will definitely help your boy!

[Phoxy8947]

Omigosh, Phoxy -- as a future fellow New York rehabber of mine, we need to get you feeding this boy right, here. :grin3 Our NY squirrels need to be big and strong and kick-azz, know what I mean? :strong
Everything in that last sentence except avocado is a NO NO right now, while he is growing and in your care. Of course the nuts helped him when he was starving and in dire condition without his mamma, but if he continues to eat that way he will, again, be in trouble.
Try these foods that I use to start babies on solid foods -- they are generally a big hit:

Zupreem 'Monkey Biscuits' or Primate Chow....generally the best tolerated basic rodent block. These should be fed in quantities so that he always has them to nibble on. You may need tough love at first because he's had so many nuts already. He's like a little kid who has had McDonald's and a box of Oreo's every day for weeks and now you expect him to have a salad and quinoa for lunch :grin2
Henry's Blocks -- two per day only. Provides all the calcium and other essentials he needs.
Fresh, dark kale
Chickory
Dandelion greens (free, on your lawn! wash thoroughly of course)
Sugar snap peas in the pod
Mushrooms (white button)
Raw sweet potato or, even better, raw Korean Sweet potato (purple-red on the outside, white on the inside)

I truly hope this helps....it will definitely help your boy!


Thank u so much!! Yes I knew he needed to eat more vegetables, but I was afraid that if I took the nuts away, he would stop eating again, like his first few days with us-- which is why I give him Pedialyte also... I bought him a mix of spring greens and spinach. Maybe he'll like that. Or the cucumber. But yes, I will definitely buy him the other foods u listed. The wildlife rehabilitator that I've been corresponding with and updating on Snickers progress told me he needs the calories rite now, but other than that, I gave her a full list of what he eats and sent before and after pics of him, and she thought he looked much better and healthier... Otherwise I would have cut back on giving nuts a lot earlier... lol

[JoanP]

From what I have read on the bottles of Pedialyte, an opened bottle is only good for 48 hours.

[Phoxy8947]

From what I have read on the bottles of Pedialyte, an opened bottle is only good for 48 hours.

Yes, I know, thank u tho. I've bought him several bottles

[UDoWhat]

Omigosh, Phoxy -- as a future fellow New York rehabber of mine, we need to get you feeding this boy right, here. :grin3 Our NY squirrels need to be big and strong and kick-azz, know what I mean? :strong
Everything in that last sentence except avocado is a NO NO right now, while he is growing and in your care. Of course the nuts helped him when he was starving and in dire condition without his mamma, but if he continues to eat that way he will, again, be in trouble.
Try these foods that I use to start babies on solid foods -- they are generally a big hit:

Zupreem 'Monkey Biscuits' or Primate Chow....generally the best tolerated basic rodent block. These should be fed in quantities so that he always has them to nibble on. You may need tough love at first because he's had so many nuts already. He's like a little kid who has had McDonald's and a box of Oreo's every day for weeks and now you expect him to have a salad and quinoa for lunch :grin2
Henry's Blocks -- two per day only. Provides all the calcium and other essentials he needs.
Fresh, dark kale
Chickory
Dandelion greens (free, on your lawn! wash thoroughly of course)
Sugar snap peas in the pod
Mushrooms (white button)
Raw sweet potato or, even better, raw Korean Sweet potato (purple-red on the outside, white on the inside)

I truly hope this helps....it will definitely help your boy!


Totally agree. :highfive Thank you IR.

Phoxy, as IR has said, rodent block is what you should offer to your babies as first and only solid food for a number of weeks until they are eating them readily between formula feedings. It will be tough now and no fun, but if you summon up all the tough love you have... you will change this situation. We all have been there and many new rehabilitators make this deadly mistake. Squirrels will hold out for junk food longer than you think they can. As long as they have formula feedings (if still appropriate for their age), rodent block and Henry's blocks are the only other food offered in the cage, you can change this. :thumbsup A rule of thumb is rodent block should make up 75-80% of a squirrel's diet after weaning. The other 20-25% should be healthy foods and yes, occasionally nuts. Make sure a water bottle or other water source is available once baby squirrels open their eyes or soon after.

Good luck with your endeavor to become a rehabilitator. You are lucky to be near Island Rehabber and have her guidance. She is one of the best there is!!

[Phoxy8947]

From what I have read on the bottles of Pedialyte, an opened bottle is only good for 48 hours.

Yes, I know, thank u tho. I've bought him several bottles

[Phoxy8947]

Totally agree. :highfive Thank you IR.

Phoxy, as IR has said, rodent block is what you should offer to your babies as first and only solid food for a number of weeks until they are eating them readily between formula feedings. It will be tough now and no fun, but if you summon up all the tough love you have... you will change this situation. We all have been there and many new rehabilitators make this deadly mistake. Squirrels will hold out for junk food longer than you think they can. As long as they have formula feedings (if still appropriate for their age), rodent block and Henry's blocks are the only other food offered in the cage, you can change this. :thumbsup A rule of thumb is rodent block should make up 75-80% of a squirrel's diet after weaning. The other 20-25% should be healthy foods and yes, occasionally nuts. Make sure a water bottle or other water source is available once baby squirrels open their eyes or soon after.

Good luck with your endeavor to become a rehabilitator. You are lucky to be near Island Rehabber and have her guidance. She is one of the best there is!!

Yes, I do count myself lucky. She has responded to all my posts 😊 I just have a few questions-- I'm in the grocery store now, are snow peas the same as sugar snap peas? And whole white mushrooms, are those button mushrooms? I live in a predominantly Spanish area, so it's a little hard to find certain foods

[UDoWhat]

No....sugar snap peas are sweeter. My squirrels like them better. I do offer both sugar snap and snow peas.

Yes those are the right mushrooms.

[Phoxy8947]

No....sugar snap peas are sweeter. My squirrels like them better. I do offer both sugar snap and snow peas.

Yes those are the right mushrooms.

Oh ok, I wasn't sure, so I bought him sweet potatoes in the meantime... But he already has cucumbers, avocado, romaine lettuce, spring greens, spinach, no salt no sugar peanut butter, and his mix of hazelnuts, walnuts, pecans, almonds, unsalted peanuts and sunflower seeds, plus his water, Pedialyte, mineral licks, vitamin drops, pine cone chews, and a few drops of Bach's Rescue Remedy for pets stress reliever already available to him in his cage. And I still have red apples and grapes in the fridge for him too

[island rehabber]

Oh ok, I wasn't sure, so I bought him sweet potatoes in the meantime... But he already has cucumbers, avocado, romaine lettuce, spring greens, spinach, no salt no sugar peanut butter, and his mix of hazelnuts, walnuts, pecans, almonds, unsalted peanuts and sunflower seeds, plus his water, Pedialyte, mineral licks, vitamin drops, pine cone chews, and a few drops of Bach's Rescue Remedy for pets stress reliever already available to him in his cage. And I still have red apples and grapes in the fridge for him too

Ok Phoxy, here's your sentence above with all the BAD STUFF taken out:

I bought him sweet potatoes in the meantime... But he already has cucumbers, avocado, romaine lettuce, spring greens, spinach, plus his water, pine cone chews, and a few drops of Bach's Rescue Remedy for pets stress reliever already available to him in his cage. And I still have red apples and grapes in the fridge for him to.

:grin2 You don't need that other stuff right now. Honest. GO easy on the red apples and grapes -- lots of sugar, so one or two little chunks of apple and 1 grape per day are ok.
If your boy eats romaine, great -- mine never do. You might try the baby kale & spring mix that many supermarkets have, or some chickory and dandelions instead. Much more nutrition in those.

[island rehabber]

Oh if you're in a Spanish area, look for "yama"! Those are the red sweet potatoes I mentioned. Squirrels love them.

[Phoxy8947]

Oh if you're in a Spanish area, look for "yama"! Those are the red sweet potatoes I mentioned. Squirrels love them.

Yea, he doesn't really eat the romaine lettuce, or the apples or grapes... Like I said, he mainly just sticks to the avocado, nuts, and seeds. And if I try giving him anything else, he won't eat it, and he'll just hold out and wait til I give in, and spoon feed him avocado or refill his dishes with nuts 😕 He occasionally eats the Kaytee fortified rodent blocks, but not really. So I ordered Henry's Healthy Blocks for squirrels, and hopefully he'll eat that when it arrives... Thanks again for ur help. I posted pics of him in my album, but for some reason, they're all sideways and I can't figure out how to rotate them... lol

[island rehabber]

Yea, he doesn't really eat the romaine lettuce, or the apples or grapes... Like I said, he mainly just sticks to the avocado, nuts, and seeds. And if I try giving him anything else, he won't eat it, and he'll just hold out and wait til I give in, and spoon feed him avocado or refill his dishes with nuts �� He occasionally eats the Kaytee fortified rodent blocks, but not really. So I ordered Henry's Healthy Blocks for squirrels, and hopefully he'll eat that when it arrives... Thanks again for ur help. I posted pics of him in my album, but for some reason, they're all sideways and I can't figure out how to rotate them... lol

If you don't hold out, and NOT give in, you will have a crippled squirrel on your hands with that diet.
Eventually, he will begin to have seizures and then die.
If you don't believe me, put "MBD" in the search bar and read the threads here about those whose squirrels have suffered horribly with what, in reality, is an advanced form of osteoporosis in humans. A squirrel does not have to be old to get it, just fed the wrong diet.

I can't impress upon you enough the need to do the right thing. Please don't be one of those people who comes here later on screaming and begging for "prayers" and "HELP!!" because their squirrel has gone down in the back legs, or is seizing. Usually, we cannot help such people because they won't listen, and their squirrels die because it's too late.

[UDoWhat]

Yea, he doesn't really eat the romaine lettuce, or the apples or grapes... Like I said, he mainly just sticks to the avocado, nuts, and seeds. And if I try giving him anything else, he won't eat it, and he'll just hold out and wait til I give in, and spoon feed him avocado or refill his dishes with nuts 😕 He occasionally eats the Kaytee fortified rodent blocks, but not really. So I ordered Henry's Healthy Blocks for squirrels, and hopefully he'll eat that when it arrives... Thanks again for ur help. I posted pics of him in my album, but for some reason, they're all sideways and I can't figure out how to rotate them... lol

OK let's go over this again. NOT any other food in his cage but Kaytee blocks (since you have those already). Find/order some Monkey biscuits because they tend to like them. Give only KAYTEE BLOCKS, MONKEY BISCUITS, FORMULA IF STILL TAKING IT, AND HENRYS BLOCKS and water. That is all.... NOTHING else. His present diet will kill him. Please read all you can on this board about a killer bone disease called MBD, Metabolic Bone Disease. It is very real and has killed so many squirrels that have come seeking help that I can't count them all. Your sweet boy is heading for this disease. We can help you turn this around if you follow our instructions.:Love_Icon

[Phoxy8947]

If you don't hold out, and NOT give in, you will have a crippled squirrel on your hands with that diet.
Eventually, he will begin to have seizures and then die.
If you don't believe me, put "MBD" in the search bar and read the threads here about those whose squirrels have suffered horribly with what, in reality, is an advanced form of osteoporosis in humans. A squirrel does not have to be old to get it, just fed the wrong diet.

I can't impress upon you enough the need to do the right thing. Please don't be one of those people who comes here later on screaming and begging for "prayers" and "HELP!!" because their squirrel has gone down in the back legs, or is seizing. Usually, we cannot help such people because they won't listen, and their squirrels die because it's too late.

Yes, I know about Metabolic Bone Disease... I've been very scared and worried about his nutrition, which is why I bought the mineral lick and vitamin drops... I will take all the nuts out of his food dishes, if u can promise me that he WILL eventually eat the rodent blocks, and won't starve himself 😊😅 Thanks again for all ur help

[Phoxy8947]

OK let's go over this again. NOT any other food in his cage but Kaytee blocks (since you have those already). Find/order some Monkey biscuits because they tend to like them. Give only KAYTEE BLOCKS, MONKEY BISCUITS, FORMULA IF STILL TAKING IT, AND HENRYS BLOCKS and water. That is all.... NOTHING else. His present diet will kill him. Please read all you can on this board about a killer bone disease called MBD, Metabolic Bone Disease. It is very real and has killed so many squirrels that have come seeking help that I can't count them all. Your sweet boy is heading for this disease. We can help you turn this around if you follow our instructions.:Love_Icon

Yes, i have the Kaytee fortified rodent blocks, and I ordered Henry's Healthy Blocks for squirrels- picky eaters formula. So I'm waiting for that to arrive. But yes, I've been worried about MBD for awhile, which is why I bought the multivitamin drops and mineral licks 😕 I will take the nuts out of the cage, but he will eventually eat the rodent blocks, rite? He won't starve himself??

[UDoWhat]

Yes, i have the Kaytee fortified rodent blocks, and I ordered Henry's Healthy Blocks for squirrels- picky eaters formula. So I'm waiting for that to arrive. But yes, I've been worried about MBD for awhile, which is why I bought the multivitamin drops and mineral licks 😕 I will take the nuts out of the cage, but he will eventually eat the rodent blocks, rite? He won't starve himself??

I promise he will not starve himself. You will think he will starve because he WILL hold out for a few days. Do not give in. He will be mad and might even try to bite you but DO not give in. He will be hungry. This is a hard thing to do but I promise it is harder to watch him seize and die before your eyes knowing you could have changed this. There is a recipe for Boo Balls on TSB. They are made with rodent block ground to a powder and other ingredients. They may help with the transition to rodent block.

To tell you the truth, I would forget those vitamins and mineral licks. They don't hurt, I guess , but they don't really help either.

I would immediately begin the Emergency MBD Treatment Protocol. Here is the link.


https://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?32122-MBD-Treatment

I am just worried that this diet has been fed for a while now and your boy might be in trouble soon. Please start the new diet today. We are right here with you. We can help.:Love_Icon

[Phoxy8947]

I promise he will not starve himself. You will think he will starve because he WILL hold out for a few days. Do not give in. He will be mad and might even try to bite you but DO not give in. He will be hungry. This is a hard thing to do but I promise it is harder to watch him seize and die before your eyes knowing you could have changed this. There is a recipe for Boo Balls on TSB. They are made with rodent block ground to a powder and other ingredients. They may help with the transition to rodent block.

To tell you the truth, I would forget those vitamins and mineral licks. They don't hurt, I guess , but they don't really help either.

I would immediately begin the Emergency MBD Treatment Protocol. Here is the link.


https://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?32122-MBD-Treatment

I am just worried that this diet has been fed for a while now and your boy might be in trouble soon. Please start the new diet today. We are right here with you. We can help.:Love_Icon

Well, we've only had him for about 2 weeks now-- Is that long enough to have developed MBD? And he came to us in pretty bad shape- ratty thin tail, patchy shedding fur, thin, sunken eyes-- He honestly looked more like a rat when he first came to us 😕 After only 2 weeks, he's definitely fatter, full coat of fur, tail is getting a bit fuller, tho still naked underneath, tints of brown in his fur color, white on his belly... I thought he needed the calories and was doing good, becuz I've been sending pics, video, and lists of all his food and supplies I bought him to a wildlife rehabber in California who specializes in caring for squirrels... 😔 Now I feel like a bad squirrel mommy... lol but thank u so much for ur help. He's eaten the avocado, cucumbers, and spring mix greens and spinach that I put in his cage. Is this a good start? And he's always very active-- running, jumping and climbing.... Is he in immediate danger? Or he will be ok

[HRT4SQRLS]

Phoxy8947, 2 weeks isn't long enough to fully develop MBD but 2 weeks IS long enough to develop bad eating habits and become a picky eater. You don't want that.

Eating the veggies is a good start. I'm glad you found the board early on. You can easily fix this. It sounds like you are already headed in the right direction. I think he will readily eat the HHB pickie eater block. Until they arrive, give him the Kaytee rodent block with the veggies.

He will be OK Mom! :)

[Phoxy8947]

Phoxy8947, 2 weeks isn't long enough to fully develop MBD but 2 weeks IS long enough to develop bad eating habits and become a picky eater. You don't want that.

Eating the veggies is a good start. I'm glad you found the board early on. You can easily fix this. It sounds like you are already headed in the right direction. I think he will readily eat the HHB pickie eater block. Until they arrive, give him the Kaytee rodent block with the veggies.

He will be OK Mom! :)

Thank u so much!! I've been worried about MBD for a while. I'm glad to hear he'll be ok. Thanks for all ur help