Dehydrated weak squirrel less than one year raised then released now sick

[DanaEvans-Semmel01]

A squirrel I raised and released a few months ago in my yard that comes every day for water , nuts, and avocado had showed signs of " calmeness" and lethargy the past few days. She showed up on by back deck chair barely breathing. The er vet will not see her and I can not find a vet. We have been giving her 10cc syringes of espilac, pedialyte, karo syrup every 2 hrs.
She got slightly stronger today. I am thinking some type of toxin? She was very healthy last week!!!
Any advice?
Someone mentioned sago palms? I also have tall palm trees and I think she has eaten the berries off of them before.
Thank you!

[mel_la_fee]

I know this is an older squirrel and not a baby, but mixing Pedialyte with formula still strikes me as unnecessary and potentially damaging. I know many rehabbers who have done this, and I'm definitely no expert, but I worry about the effect it has on the kidneys/GI system- and whether or not an injured adult squirrel shouldn't just be treated like a baby or juvenile- i.e. rehydrated first and given formula mixed with plain water afterwards...

I honestly don't know in this case because if you're right about the squirrel having ingested some organic toxin, a protocol of activated charcoal and flushing may have been in order (someone correct me if I'm wrong) or barring that a formula/milk of magnesia mix to dilute the effects of the poison. At this point it's been a few day though, so I don't see that helping. Even with an adult capable of digesting various mixtures of nutrition/food, I still think your best bet now would be to rehydrate the little one while giving it time to rest in a secured area.

Would it be possible to re-cage him/her? If it's an organic toxin you'd be cutting off the availability of poison, able to rehydrate, and then offer nutrition, in a safe space. If it's a viral or bacterial infection, then having it in a cage would allow you to monitor condition changes and symptoms, as well as provide treatment if necessary.

Sorry- I know confining them after they've been freed can be stressful for them, and next to impossible to do besides, even when they otherwise trust & remember you. Just seems like it might be necessary.

[Nancy in New York]

A squirrel I raised and released a few months ago in my yard that comes every day for water , nuts, and avocado had showed signs of " calmeness" and lethargy the past few days. She showed up on by back deck chair barely breathing. The er vet will not see her and I can not find a vet. We have been giving her 10cc syringes of espilac, pedialyte, karo syrup every 2 hrs.
She got slightly stronger today. I am thinking some type of toxin? She was very healthy last week!!!
Any advice?
Someone mentioned sago palms? I also have tall palm trees and I think she has eaten the berries off of them before.
Thank you!

Yes Sago palms are deadly to squirrels.

https://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?32849-WARNING!-Sago-Palms-are-DEADLY-to-SQUIRRELS!&highlight=Sago


I know this is an older squirrel and not a baby, but mixing Pedialyte with formula still strikes me as unnecessary and potentially damaging. afterwards...


From the Pedialyte Site:

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-dGtK5KF/0/82141b00/L/i-dGtK5KF-L.jpg

How's your little one doing this morning?

[DanaEvans-Semmel01]

I know this is an older squirrel and not a baby, but mixing Pedialyte with formula still strikes me as unnecessary and potentially damaging. I know many rehabbers who have done this, and I'm definitely no expert, but I worry about the effect it has on the kidneys/GI system- and whether or not an injured adult squirrel shouldn't just be treated like a baby or juvenile- i.e. rehydrated first and given formula mixed with plain water afterwards...

I honestly don't know in this case because if you're right about the squirrel having ingested some organic toxin, a protocol of activated charcoal and flushing may have been in order (someone correct me if I'm wrong) or barring that a formula/milk of magnesia mix to dilute the effects of the poison. At this point it's been a few day though, so I don't see that helping. Even with an adult capable of digesting various mixtures of nutrition/food, I still think your best bet now would be to rehydrate the little one while giving it time to rest in a secured area.

Would it be possible to re-cage him/her? If it's an organic toxin you'd be cutting off the availability of poison, able to rehydrate, and then offer nutrition, in a safe space. If it's a viral or bacterial infection, then having it in a cage would allow you to monitor condition changes and symptoms, as well as provide treatment if necessary.

Sorry- I know confining them after they've been freed can be stressful for them, and next to impossible to do besides, even when they otherwise trust & remember you. Just seems like it might be necessary.

She is just sleeping and I have had her inside for a day and a half wrapped in a blanket, we just gave her 6cc iv fluid subq, does not want to eat too much out of the syringe today,
She was getting a little stronger last night but now she is worse. It is just so wierd because last week she was fine.