SQUIRREL IS EXTREMELY LETHARGIC AND COLD PLEASE HELP

[Wolfhailey]

This morning I got Jordan out of her cage and she didn't seem like she wanted to come out. She was cold, moving extremely slow, wont pick up her tail and her whole body seems VERY bloated. I cant think of anything she could have ate out of her normal diet...she ate a good chunk of banana this morning and drank a good amount of water. She also pooped a good amount, but it is darker than normal but not black. Just dark brown. She is 16-17 weeks old. She is currently cuddled up and getting warm on a heating pad, but if you try to move her she squeaks, but touching over her body she doesn't seem to be bothered by any specific spot. She just seems like she wants to sleep...please help us!!!

[Wolfhailey]

Other info for her... she is a fox squirrel, and her normal diet consists of kaytee rodent blocks, cauliflower, broccoli, carrots, avocado, mushrooms, apple, banana, and celery. Other vegetables are randomly tossed in but nothing new recently. She doesn't ever seem very interested in water, neither in the bottle or in a small bowl but this morning she seemed pretty thirsty. Could she just be dehydrated?

[cava]

Banana is tricky and can sometimes help diarrhea, sometimes cause bloating and loose stools. Did she get a large amount and do you think she just has a sore tummy?

Could she have fallen or gotten pinched in a door or stepped on? Could she have eaten a bug?

Keep doing what you're doing, you can offer a dose of infant ibuprofen (need a weight). Poor baby, I hope she recovers quickly.

Also, is she actually eating her blocks or just living on the veg and fruit?

[Wolfhailey]

She didn't have any banana yesterday, but it was the only thing she was interested in this morning. She wasn't slammed in a door or stepped on for sure. When she is let out it is in a completely empty room with the door closed. The only thing physically I can think of is while out last night she jumped into a wall...didn't seem too hard or anything. She was fine for the rest of the night. But her whole body seems puffy. Her body and neck are the worst. And she definitely eats her blocks. Never find a stash when cleaning her cage.

[Wolfhailey]

So looking more closely, I think part of the reason she seems so puffy is maybe because her fur is standing straight up. Stroking her fur and laying it back down she doesn't seem too puffy. But her eyes are heavy, she doesn't want to open them all the way. And she is drinking a very good amount of water.

[Spanky]

How much of that block does she eat daily; what percentage of her diet is block she actually eats?

I am asking because she needs to eat a boat full of that block and the veggies would be a smaller portion of her diet. Most folks feeding lots of veggies are also giving Henry's Healthy Block which are concentrated supplements so they only eat a few each day. The Kaytee is quite different and requires consumption of a good amount of block (the majority of their diet).

[Wolfhailey]

I'd say it's about 50/50. I thought I heard that the blocks should always be available while veggies are given 2-3 times a day, which is what I've been doing. She always eats all her veggies and a handful of blocks is given 1-2 times a day.

[Scooterzmom]

You said she jumped into a wall yesterday and you also mention that her body and neck seem the worse. Is there a possibility she might have injured her neck? Is there some way you can check for that? Doing it gently... see if she reacts to you gently trying to move her head.

You said she is cold, you should give her a Miracle cushion - heated cushion made to warm up in the microwave... or make her one with a sock you can fill with uncooked rice. Place that in her nest so she can snuggle up to it.

Poor sweet little one. Hope she recovers. Maybe you alwant to make sure she does not dehydrate, some Pedialyte might help if she has ot eaten or drank enough.

[Wolfhailey]

So I moved her head around and she had no reaction. But she does seem like she wants to keep her head down. At least that's what shes been doing all day. Shes been sleeping with her nose to the ground...there havent been many improvements so far, she'll seem to be feeling better for about 30 seconds. Then shes back to not wanting to move. She has ate barely anything, but shes drinking a good amount of water. And going potty okay.

[Wolfhailey]

Here is her currently. She has warmed up and doesn't seem to want the heating pad. But this is how shes been laying all day. Poor girl looks so uncomfortable. :Cry

[Diggie's Friend]

Our fox squirrels puffed in the spring, and again in late fall. Yet sometimes puffy is related to a squirrel being sick, which appears to be at least in part the case with your fox squirrel.

I was looking online for the percentage of calcium and phosphorus in the Kaytee source you are feeding, but couldn't find it noted. If it is noted on the back of the package in percent or mg. would you please share here what is noted for both calcium and phosphorus?

The concern is if the Calcium phosphorus ratio is too close, that by adding the foods you note you feed, which all have a higher phosphorus to calcium ratio, that the whole diet Calcium to Phosphorus ratio has been bumped up to equal ratio of Calcium to Phosphorus, or inverted where there is more phosphorus in the diet than Calcium. When this occurs rodents develop a life threatening condition know as Metabolic bone disease.

[Scooterzmom]

Here is her currently. She has warmed up and doesn't seem to want the heating pad. But this is how shes been laying all day. Poor girl looks so uncomfortable. :Cry

Others may want to chime in but maybe I'd give her some anti-inflammatory and painkiller. She is obviously in pain, and that can wear her down a lot. :(

I hope some of the experts come up to check this thread.

[Wolfhailey]

So apparently I was wrong. It is not kaytee. It is Oxbow. I will attach a picture of the analysis. And as far as MBD goes, I have been trying to give her more of the calcium rich veggies than the others. And does MBD kick in over night? She has been so playful and energetic this whole time up until this morning. Even last night she was completely fine.. And does it cause swelling?

[island rehabber]

Oxbow is an excellent rodent block; I don't think you should worry about MBD with her diet. Something is going on....drinking a lot of water can be a sign of stressed kidneys or diabetes but it doesn't seem as if her diet is high in sugar. Could she have gotten into something and ate it like a candy bar, etc....which gave her temporarily high blood sugar? Just reaching for straws here, but I don't believe this is MBD. I do agree that a bit of infant ibuprofen couldn't hurt. Remember that she is going to try and disguise her illness because she is a prey animal, so she's not helping us diagnose what;s going on. :)

The fact that she IS drinking, peeing and pooping is excellent.

[stepnstone]

Others may want to chime in but maybe I'd give her some anti-inflammatory and painkiller. She is obviously in pain, and that can wear her down a lot. :(
I hope some of the experts come up to check this thread.
http://www.sherv.net/cm/emoticons/yes/yes-i-fully-agree-smiley-emoticon.gif I would definitely allow her pain management!


So apparently I was wrong. It is not kaytee. It is Oxbow. I will attach a picture of the analysis. And as far as MBD goes, I have been trying to give her more of the calcium rich veggies than the others. And does MBD kick in over night? She has been so playful and energetic this whole time up until this morning. Even last night she was completely fine.. And does it cause swelling?
There has been squirrels jumping around playing one minute and dropped from MBD the next so yes,
the symptoms can appear to come on overnight but in actuality a squirrel will hide the symptoms until
it takes them down and they no longer can.

If mbd / lack of calcium is in question, why not start the mbd protocol and see if it helps.
It does not hurt a thing if it isn't but it can sure save a life if it is.

Protocol for MBD:
https://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?17680-Emergency-Treatment-for-MBD-(Updated-3-31-09)

[Wolfhailey]

So I followed the directions for the MBD treatment, crushed up and mixed a tums with water. I figured getting her to eat it was going to be a struggle, but she actually really enjoyed it. Didn't have to force feed her at all. Hopefully I'll see some improvement in the next few hours... I don't think I'll be able to sleep knowing she feels like this.
Also not sure what kind of pain killer and how much I can give her?

[stepnstone]

So I followed the directions for the MBD treatment, crushed up and mixed a tums with water. I figured getting her to eat it was going to be a struggle, but she actually really enjoyed it. Didn't have to force feed her at all. Hopefully I'll see some improvement in the next few hours... I don't think I'll be able to sleep knowing she feels like this.

Have you anything to give for pain?

[Wolfhailey]

I have 500mg acetaminophen, 220mg naproxen, and 325mg aspirin. But I don't have a scale for her weight which I'm sure will be an issue...

[Wolfhailey]

And as far as her getting in to something...I can't imagine she did. When she is let out of her cage it is in a completely empty bed room with just her and I in there.

[stepnstone]

I have 500mg acetaminophen, 220mg naproxen, and 325mg aspirin. But I don't have a scale for her weight which I'm sure will be an issue...

Not recommended, I wouldn't use any of those.
Can you get some (liquid) infant ibuprofen?
We can give a safe estimate on her weight by her picture to administer Ib

[Wolfhailey]

I can run to the store and grab some right now.

[stepnstone]

Just for a closer look...
Poor baby is obviously hurting and miserable. :(

306694

306695

[stepnstone]

I can run to the store and grab some right now.

Great!

[Wolfhailey]

Okay I just for home and got an infant advil...50mg of ibuprofen per 1.25mL. Do you need more pictures of her to help dosage?

[stepnstone]

Okay I just for home and got an infant advil...50mg of ibuprofen per 1.25mL. Do you need more pictures of her to help dosage?

Do you have a syringe to administer?
Are you ok with reading a syringe?

[Wolfhailey]

Unfortunately I got rid of my syringes when she got off formula. But the ibuprofen came with one. It only reads .625mL, 1.25mL and 1.875mL. But if you give me the amount I think I'll be able to measure it pretty well.

[stepnstone]

Unfortunately I got rid of my syringes when she got off formula. But the ibuprofen came with one. It only reads .625mL, 1.25mL and 1.875mL. But if you give me the amount I think I'll be able to measure it pretty well.

Hang on.... BRB

[stepnstone]

I believe I got it worked out... check your PM for dosing.

[Diggie's Friend]

On the outside chance, have you perhaps fed Romaine lettuce in the last few days?

[Diggie's Friend]

The reason I ask is that the CDC has a Nationwide alert out not to eat any Romaine lettuce, as a number of people have been hospitalized with E. coli. This source in particular has had previous warnings out last year also. Even if you feed a lettuce mix with Romaine in it the CDC says to dispose of it, along with any other source this lettuce touches.

Symptoms may include diarrhea, intestinal cramping. and vomiting.