Symptoms of rat poison?

[ConkerChild]

At my place of employment, we have a momma squirrel we call Tater, cause she loves tater tots.

Today while tending the outside bar, I saw what I knew at once to be a grey squirrel tail in a large drain. She wasn't stuck, but she did not seem to be interested in moving, which concerned me greatly. With the help of one of my awesome bartender coworkers, we got her into a box. My mom came and collected her while I was working, and she's has been resting while I worked. I transferred her from the box to a bigger carrier when I clocked out and came home. She was loose in the laundry room for a bit, which allowed me to watch her. She is breathing very strangely and seems uncoordinated. I have caught her and placed her back in a carrier, and she has access to food and water. I can't see her tummy well enough to even take a guess at whether she has babies right now, but I told my coworkers to be on alert for baby squirrel cries over the next few days. I'm going to contact a local rehab tomorrow, but any advice on what I can do now? Has anyone had experience with rat poison in squirrels? Looking up symptoms in dogs and cats, it looks like bleeding from the nose and mouth is common, but I do not see that in this situation.

[Spanky]

First, whereabouts in Florida are you? We may have members close by that can help sooner than tomorrow and this may be critical to get her help sooner rather than later.

Second, I think it important that you do everything you can to determine if this is a nursing mother.

From the description, this could be a head injury from a fall or spinal injury in which case time is of the essence, tomorrow may greatly diminish her chances of recovery. She'll need anti-inflammatory medications.

It may also be other things, like raccoon roundworm.

If this is rat poison, then it is important that she receive an injection of Vitamin K1... there really are not over the counter products that have contain the large amounts of K1 needed to help counteract rat poisons.

Is she eating? If she lethargic? Is she drinking water... if so does she seem to be drinking excess amounts of water?

A video of her movements and uncoordinated would be extremely helpful (also to help spot any signs of nursing?).

Hopefully others can offer more information...

[Mel1959]

:hello:hello. What's the status of this squirrel???

[ConkerChild]

My mom sent me a text saying her condition has remained the same, around 5 PM. I will be home shortly to determine if anything had changed. I did get a chance to evaluate her earlier, and get a side view of her belly. I did not see anything that made me think she was nursing; no teats or a fatty underbelly. She looked very lean.

I am around the Villages off 441 in Northernmost Lake county, so about 30 minutes south of Ocala. I will drive her to someone who can more properly care for her. I don't work til 5 tomorrow. There are a lot of bartenders who are hoping for her complete recovery, we love watching her on our patio.

She has drank some water, but not a lot. I have not noticed her eating, but she is frightened and uncomfortable, so I'm not sure how much that has an effect on her appetite.

[island rehabber]

CC, it's good to see an old TSB friend like you back here again -- even if it is for a big concern over a beloved squirrel. :grouphug
Thank you for caring about this girl. I pray it's nothing life-threatening and that she recovers quickly!

[BCChins]

Petechiae can be a sign of rat poisoning. Petechiae in dogs are small, pin-point red or purple spots found on the dog's skin (look at the belly area) or mucous membranes.

[ConkerChild]

Petechiae can be a sign of rat poisoning. Petechiae in dogs are small, pin-point red or purple spots found on the dog's skin (look at the belly area) or mucous membranes.

I'll try! She's a full grown squirrel, so it tough for me to get her in a position to check that, but I'll try!!

Good to see you again as well, Island Rehabber!! I miss not working and going to school full time. I used to be on here all the time! :grin2

[ConkerChild]

For anyone following, Tater is doing better. She is eating almost all her food and is drinking some water. She has been more alert, and I think her facial swelling is going down. A few more days of R&R and I think she may be able to be released. :)