5 year old flyer weak in right neck/shouder HELP!

[Scubanurse52]

Hi ya’ll! Any ideas or suggestions are much needed. My 5 year old flyer on Henry’s blocks found Thurs. night sitting still on the bottom of his cage and eyes not open well. Long story short, we ended up overnight in the animal hospital but the vets don’t know flyers. His right front leg seems weak and he’s tilting his head/neck sideways some. Vet hydrated, started baytril, metacam and I started calcium carbonate to be safe once we came home. He weighed 74 gym at the hospital, taking metacam once a day, baytril twice a day, calcium 130mg twice a day, eating isn’t terrible, he’s interested. Two pees a day a few poops,.. I have him on a heating pad under the special tub he’s in (one side only). I gave him 2cc LR Sunday and he’s peed 2x yesterday and 2x today. I’d like to not stress him with injections if it’s not necessary.
He seemed to be getting better, then tonight looks worse!... Eyes aren’t bright, head tilt is worse, claws sticking easily, crawls super low on the ground. But he’s grooming and reactive. No injury that I know of and it seemed to have started with very mild “clumsiness” but then seemed ok.
I am beating myself up about the possibility of MBD,... I need a vet that knows squirrels. $500 this weekend and no diagnostics. I know about ca:Ph ratios and thought I was doing an ok job but I’m scared to death! Any help is appreciated and especially to find a squirrel specialist anywhere near Dallas? I’ll drive to get help.

[HRT4SQRLS]

Is he actually eating the HHB? My flyers hide most of theirs. Drives me nuts.

Head tilt, etc doesn't really sound like MBD but I don't know. He could have fallen as a result of MBD if it's a possibility. How many nuts does he eat?
Just to throw this out there as an idea... does he chew plastic? I lost a flyer last year that I believe was due to consumption of plastic. He was a maniac about chewing plastic. He sought it out. I didn't realize the magnitude of the problem until after he passed. The places that he liked to hang out in like the drawers in his room were littered with plastic dust... a LOT. As hard as it is to believe they do consume tiny bits as they chew. I'll never know for sure. :(

If there is a possibility of neuro damage, be careful with the Baytril. It can cause a seizure if there are neurological issues. Sorry I don't know any vets in Dallas.

[Scubanurse52]

Thank you for the Baytril insight. I don’t think this is infectious in nature. I may stop that. I’m sorry to hear about your baby. That is just heartbreaking. Ruben doesn’t chew plastic,... but I do fear a fall. Or maybe his shoulder is dislocated. But he doesn’t mind me touching it, I really need an x-ray and some bloodwork to know. I may cal Texas A&M today and see if they can help me.
Thank you for your response. ~Donna

[Scubanurse52]

Update on my sweet baby boy. He has been diagnosed with an inner ear infection. The exotic vet I finally found put him on Baytril and an anti-inflammatory. He did get worse, needing injectable fluids and augmented nutrition but he has improved greatly!
What I find odd is the weakness in his right arm. It is certainly improved from a few days ago but we have a ways to go.

[HRT4SQRLS]

I'm glad to hear that your baby is better. The arm weakness is definitely odd. I wonder if he fell due to being unsteady from the ear infection. It might be painful from an injury. Let's hope it's that as it should get better.

I'm babysitting a couple flyers for another member. One of the boys was cat caught as a baby. He has nerve damage in his arm from the injury. He holds that arm against his chest. He has no use of the arm but he gets around fine.

[Mel1959]

Update on my sweet baby boy. He has been diagnosed with an inner ear infection. The exotic vet I finally found put him on Baytril and an anti-inflammatory. He did get worse, needing injectable fluids and augmented nutrition but he has improved greatly!
What I find odd is the weakness in his right arm. It is certainly improved from a few days ago but we have a ways to go.

It sounds like Hrt might be spot on. Maybe he fell and injured his arm as a result of the ear infection. I had a release do something to her arm that resulted in her not using it well for several weeks. Because she was released I brought her back into the release cage so I could monitor her. It took about 5-6 weeks to get completely better.

[Scubanurse52]

Thanks for the feedback guys! He’s doing better and better! I was one worried mom!
Each day, even hour has proven a good one! Let’s hope it’s not 5-6 weeks. Oh how I love him.