View Full Version : Problems squirrel crying shaking head, think something in ears or early infection
I have an adult male squirrel about a year-and-a-half raised him since he was about two weeks old. He has started shaking his head and crying as if something's in his ear. I can't see anything in there. This is the second time he's done this. Last time it lasted about 30 minutes and then he stopped. This time it had didn't stop . He seems in distress . Can anyone help me with this or at least find me a vet that won't take him away. Located near the Woodlands Texas
HRT4SQRLS
01-19-2018, 05:03 PM
This might be a seizure.
I know it sounds weird but what is his diet?
Welcome to TSB.
HRT4SQRLS
01-19-2018, 05:20 PM
I sent a PM to PLOK to refresh the screen to see posts.
HRT4SQRLS
01-19-2018, 05:31 PM
PLOK, I see that you have logged off. When you come back I want to give you some information to consider. The most common problem we see on TheSquirrelBoard is due to the diet. A diet low in calcium and high in phosphorus foods like nuts will lead to a condition called Metabolic Bone Disease. The symptoms of MBD are seizures and/or hind end paralysis.
Do you think this might be seizures?
Does the diet have a lot of nuts?
Have you noticed clumsiness, falling or dragging a leg or both legs?
If the answer is yes to the above questions, MBD is a very good possibility.
It can be treated but it is life threatening and requires megadosing calcium and a diet change.
We can help you.
This is the treatment protocol for MBD.
https://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?32122-MBD-Treatment
If the diet does not contain a lot of nuts, corn or seeds, the condition is probably not seizures related to the diet.
I'm new so forgive me if I don't do this correctly. He is on a strict diet. He gets Henry's healthy blocks for squirrels 2 per day, he gets broccoli, a little bit of avocado, a little apple, lettuce, cabbage, sometimes banana, carrots, cucumber and occasionally a piece of strawberry for a treat.
He gets no nuts no corn and no seeds ever
It starts where he turns his head sideways and then he starts shaking his head and crying like there's something wrong in his head more to the left than the right. He continues to cry but gets very still like he doesn't want to move for a while. You can tell he's distressed and he's not normal. This time he went and went into his bed to hide. This is not normal for him and he's very sociable with me especially at this time of day
I was thinking there might be a parasite of some type in his ear so I try to look inside of it. I didn't see anything then I tried to rub both ears and he just cried when I rub the ears. Last time this happened it lasted about 30 minutes and then he acted like nothing was wrong. That was about 2 months ago.
He's very active runs around jumps around like Tarzan... except for today. He is part of the family and is with us all the time therefore I know his routines and the way he acts very well. Lee at Henry's pets has guided me through raising him. So I've been following the diet guidelines on their site.
Actually thinking about it I thought it was just my squirrel uncoordinated, but sometimes when he's eating he will fall over backwards but then he'll just keep eating it while he's laying down.
I am so stupid as of about 2 months ago we started giving him a lot of corn on the cob. I can't believe I didn't remember that. This would coincide to about when it started shortly after we started to give him the corn.
If this is not what is wrong with the squirrel will it hurt him to take the extra calcium? He has been eating the Henry's healthy blocks he gets to a day is that enough calcium to say that this is not the problem?
Mel1959
01-19-2018, 06:53 PM
Corn has an unhealthy calcium to phosphorous ratio. It could be MBD. You should follow the MBD protocol on the Henrys sight. The extra calcium won’t hurt him.
He could also have an inner ear infection that could be affecting his balance. I’m not familiar with your area of Texas but there are TSB members in Texas. Maybe one of them could recommend a knowledgeable vet.
When he has these episodes try putting a drop of molasses or corn syrup in his mouth. It will raise his sugar levels.
Thank you... I'm sorry I wrote so many messages. I panicked as this little guy is like a child to me. I hope one of the members can help me find a safe vet for Sage.
Nancy in New York
01-19-2018, 08:20 PM
What city are you in?
farm mom
01-19-2018, 08:42 PM
Do you have any pain medication, Meloxicam or Baby Ibuprofen. Whatever it is this little guy is in pain, be it an ear infection or MBD. Next I would give him a tums to chew on, even if it isn't MBD it won't hurt him. Next I would look up exotic vets in your area and call and ask if they will see him.
HRT4SQRLS
01-19-2018, 08:47 PM
Thank you for sharing the diet. It looks very good. Unless he was eating a lot of corn I don't think this is MBD but to be safe the calcium won't hurt him.
You mentioned him falling over backwards. Have you checked his teeth? Is he maloccluded? Sometimes the teeth will grow along the roof of the mouth. I would rule out the teeth as a problem.
It might very well be an ear infection but it's odd that he had it before and it went away. Ear infections usually don't go away without treatment.
When you found him was he neurologically compromised?
HRT4SQRLS
01-19-2018, 08:51 PM
Woodlands Texas is a suburb of Houston, right?
I don't know any vets in Houston but there is an exotic vet in San Antonio. I know that's several hours away. If you're interested in that one we can send the information.
That's 4 hours from my location but please send it anyway. If bad comes to worse I'll be willing to drive it but I really would like to try to find someone a little closer. Mother is in the hospital I don't want to go very far away. There has to be a vet somewhere in this area I just need to find them. Please continue to help me find one. They just now had seven doses of the calcium supplements 500 for the first dose and then 100 each additional dose every 4 hours. He's still in distress shaking his head and crying but it's comes and goes. When he's in pain he hides curls up in a ball and his eyes barely open. My heart's breaking for him. I need to help him.
Location is Willis, Texas.
Teeth are perfect. Found him at about 2 weeks old. Found entire nest on ground. Baby was very cold and dehydrated. Worked around the clock and he was thriving. Now about 1 year old. Very healthy, active. He was eating well all good then one day out of blue he started to shake head crying and chattering. I thought maybe something crawled into his ear. About 20 min later he just stopped as if nothing wrong. Then yesterday it happened again only this time very frequent together. As if he had a moment of peace then he's shaking his head around again. He then gets quiet, balls up and closes his eyes. I can tell hes in pain.
It's illegal to provide help to a squirrel in the state much less having in your home. I need to find a vet that will not take him, or report me. I didn't expect to keep him.Tried to release him but he won't leave he stays right by our side, no matter what. Even build him a 10 x 10 totally enclosed area outside with a waterfall hibiscus trees ropes it's a dream. He wouldn't even move out there unless we were there with him. We would sit for hours to get him to go outside and play but as soon as we leave he just cries at the gate. After months of this we finally decided he's just here to stay. He lives inside with us. We now use the outside cage just for play time. My point is he has bonded with us, and we with him. Need a vet that won't take him away.
Will get him the Meloxicam or Baby Ibuprofen now. Keeping him on his 100 mg. Tums every 4 hours. I have a question ... do I give him 100 mg every 4 hours around the clock? Or total a 500 mg "per day" in 100 mg doses every 4 hours. (When 500mg achieved stop and resume again next day for another 500mg)
Don't think he was neurologically compromised when I found him. But as he's grown I've found that he's not a very good climber when it comes to trees. He does great in his cage. I just assumed because he didn't have a lot of experience with trees that maybe that's a learned trait. I'm not sure, this is my first ball game with squirrels. I've done dogs and birds for over 30 years extensively, but never squirrels.
Diggie's Friend
01-20-2018, 05:21 PM
Does he his claw in the ear like the is something in it? Take a sniff to check if it has an odor; if so likely an ear infection.
Read through this tutorial; find a Vet you already know to do.
https://www.wikihow.com/Treat-Ear-Infections-in-Rats
No odor, checked both ears.. they look normal. No inflammation or redness. When he's not hurting I can actually touch his ears. I'm going to try to get a swab with a Q-tip and look at with my microscope. Want to see if there's any tiny parasites, although I will only be able to see a surface sample. I need a vet to go in to look deeper.
CritterMom
01-20-2018, 06:16 PM
Will get him the Meloxicam or Baby Ibuprofen now. Keeping him on his 100 mg. Tums every 4 hours. I have a question ... do I give him 100 mg every 4 hours around the clock? Or total a 500 mg "per day" in 100 mg doses every 4 hours. (When 500mg achieved stop and resume again next day for another 500mg)
Divide up 500mg per day so you are getting it into him with relative regularity (you don't need to get up in the middle of the night).
You may not be getting 500mg a day into him. Where it says "500mg" on the front of the Tums bottle, it is the size of the tablet, not the amount of calcium in it (very confusing). Turn the bottle around and somewhere on the back label it will tell you how much ELEMENTAL CALCIUM it has per dose. Then check the dosage size. The elemental calcium number is the one you want to use when calculating your 500 mg per day.
For example, I have a bottle of "Ultra 1000 Strength" Tropical Fruit Tums. One might think those tabs have 1000mg of calcium in them. Nope. 400mg elemental calcium. So read your back label!
Giving him the tums/calcium "per day" as you related is fine. Have you gotten the baby style ibuprofen yet? If you post his weight here someone can dose it for you.
Diggie's Friend
01-20-2018, 07:25 PM
http://ratguide.com/health/basics/signs_of_pain_in_rats.php
http://ratguide.com/health/auricle_ear/otitis_media_otitis_interna_labyrinthitis.php
HRT4SQRLS
01-20-2018, 07:44 PM
PLOK, I found an exotic vet for you in Houston. This vet is safe. Several members have used this vet for squirrels. I will send the information in a Private Message.
HRT4SQURLS THANK YOU SOOOOOO MUCH! You don't know how much this means to me.
SammysMom
01-20-2018, 08:13 PM
HRT4SQURLS THANK YOU SOOOOOO MUCH! You don't know how much this means to me.
HRT is the best! THe beautiful thing about TSB is that we DO know how much it means to you. Many of us have been in your position and we are all relieved that you now have a plan! :blowkiss
Until I can get Sage to the vet how much of the baby ibuprofen should I give him and how often for 1.7 lb. I just want to keep him comfortable.
HRT4SQRLS
01-20-2018, 08:36 PM
Let me find my notes and I'll give you the info.
HRT4SQRLS
01-20-2018, 08:54 PM
Ibuprofen dosing sent.
Thank you everyone so much for all your advise. After doing further detailed research with Lee from Henry's Pets, we came to the conclusion that it was not MBD. We believe it to be a reaction to flea meds put on the dogs living in the house hold. This hypothesis could be
verified by the time of the first occurrence and the application of advantage II on the dogs. Other occurrences coincided with Sage and the dogs being near one another. I hope this information helps other who might encounter similar symptoms.
TubeDriver
02-22-2018, 12:26 PM
Sorry to hear this but glad you identified the issue. This experience can now be shared with other members, potentially helping squirrels in the future. Did your squirrel get over the symptoms and recover?
Thank you everyone so much for all your advise. After doing further detailed research with Lee from Henry's Pets, we came to the conclusion that it was not MBD. We believe it to be a reaction to flea meds put on the dogs living in the house hold. This hypothesis could be
verified by the time of the first occurrence and the application of advantage II on the dogs. Other occurrences coincided with Sage and the dogs being near one another. I hope this information helps other who might encounter similar symptoms.
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