4-year old squirrel vomiting

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I'm worried about my pet squirrel. Shes almost 4yrs old and ive raised her since she was about 3 weeks old. Shes never had any issues w/ this before, but right now she keeps vomiting and I'm not sure what to do.

Here is her diet:

peas
beans
spinach
kale
banana
squirrel/rodent block
almonds/hazelnuts/walnuts
---
(these are the only thing out of the norm):
cantaloupe
avacado w/ the peel

Shes drinking water when I give it to her and her stool was normal this morning. However, she will not eat and keeps throwing up the water. Any suggestions would be helpful.

Thank you

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Also want to point out she seems to be moving around fine, and continues to drink water.

[CritterMom]

You gave her avocado WITH THE PEEL? Is that correct? Avocado peels contain a toxin caller persin - so does the pit. Neither should EVER be fed to a squirrel. The only think I can offer is to push water to try to dilute and flush the system. I would also try to get some activated charcoal into her ASAP to hopefully bind with the toxin to help get it OUT of her.

[riggs]

You gave her avocado WITH THE PEEL? Is that correct? Avocado peels contain a toxin caller persin - so does the pit. Neither should EVER be fed to a squirrel. The only think I can offer is to push water to try to dilute and flush the system. I would also try to get some activated charcoal into her ASAP to hopefully bind with the toxin to help get it OUT of her.

Yes, she usually just peels it like anything else (banana/nut/peas/etc), and eats the inside. If she ingested any of it (which seems to be the case), it would have only been a small amount as they were thin slices, not the entire avocado.

Should I wait and see if it clears up or just give her the charcoal now? If so, how much and for how long?

Thank you for your advice.

[CritterMom]

Well, regardless, it IS unfortunately toxic. Hopefully she ingested very little. Don't feed it again.

As far as whether to administer it, if you are going to, it needs to be soon. Giving it days later isn't going to do much. If I had accidentally fed a toxic substance to my squirrel who was now vomiting, something VERY alien to squirrels, BTW, I would do everything I could to mitigate that. The product you are looking for is called Toxiban and the liquid suspension will be easiest. If I have some idea of her weight I can dose more precisely...but frankly, you can't give too much - it isn't toxic, AND more importantly, she ain't gonna like it much and won't let you get too much down I suspect.

[riggs]

Well, regardless, it IS unfortunately toxic. Hopefully she ingested very little. Don't feed it again.

As far as whether to administer it, if you are going to, it needs to be soon. Giving it days later isn't going to do much. If I had accidentally fed a toxic substance to my squirrel who was now vomiting, something VERY alien to squirrels, BTW, I would do everything I could to mitigate that. The product you are looking for is called Toxiban and the liquid suspension will be easiest. If I have some idea of her weight I can dose more precisely...but frankly, you can't give too much - it isn't toxic, AND more importantly, she ain't gonna like it much and won't let you get too much down I suspect.

She is a full grown Eastern Grey squirrel. I don't know the actual weight off hand. Roughly a couple pounds.

I've been calling around and the only place I can get activated charcoal currently is at Walgreens, but its granular. Will this work? Just a ballpark idea of the dosage would be helpful I can just put it in a syringe w/ some water and administer it that way.

[CritterMom]

Before you go to Walgreens, call your local chain pet store. They may have the suspension - might even have a flavored one.

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Before you go to Walgreens, call your local chain pet store. They may have the suspension - might even have a flavored one.

i live in the middle of nowhere. walgreens is my only option without driving 100miles (vet closed on weekend / walmart doesnt have toxiban). I have 520mg tablets atm. I mixed it with some water and got quite a bit down her w/ a syringe. Lets hope that helps :(

If I had to guess I would say it was about half a tablet worth (~260mg). Should I give more? Or repeat a dose later?

Thank you again for your help.

[CritterMom]

I would watch her. Is she still vomiting? Has she kept the toxiban down?

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I would watch her. Is she still vomiting? Has she kept the toxiban down?

im keeping a very close eye on her. shes just laying in the window resting for the most part. she did throw up some of the charcoal :(

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update: She still keeps throwing up every now and then. She keeps drinking water though, and moves around a bit every so often. I don't know if the drinking/moving around is a good sign or just neutral.

[CritterMom]

When exactly did the vomiting begin? And have you seen her poop at all since she started vomiting?

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When exactly did the vomiting begin? And have you seen her poop at all since she started vomiting?

Noticed it first this morning at 0700 (6hrs ago). She did poop a bit this morning also (normal stool).

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I got about 1 tablespoon of pedialyte down her w/ a syringe. she is still moving around as normal, jumping, etc. still acting sickly though.

[CritterMom]

OK. Just watch her at this point. She is drinking on her own, right? I would offer some rehydration fluid to her - vomiting plays havoc with the system. Dissolve a teaspoon of sugar and just a pinch of salt in a cup of water and see if she will drink that. It will help keep her blood sugar up, too, which is a problem as long as she isn't eating anything.

Edit: LOL - brilliant minds.

[riggs]

other than keeping her hydrated and watching over her as she rests, is there anything else I can do?

i guess its a good thing she doesnt seem to be getting worse, but the amount of times she threw up was alarming. i'm worried about her :(

[CritterMom]

other than keeping her hydrated and watching over her as she rests, is there anything else I can do?

i guess its a good thing she doesnt seem to be getting worse, but the amount of times she threw up was alarming. i'm worried about her :(

I am too. Has that slowed down at all? I am hoping she got most of the "bad" out and if she just sleeps for a while it will help her heal. I would encourage that any way you can.

As I mentioned above, one thing I would watch out for is the blood sugar thing. They are so small - it doesn't take much to be an issue. You can even put a couple drops of syrup or even a slurry of table sugar and a drop or two of water in her mouth every so often to help avoid that. Literally a drop or two will help and she doesn't have to swallow it - it is absorbed by the mucous membranes in the mouth.

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I am too. Has that slowed down at all? I am hoping she got most of the "bad" out and if she just sleeps for a while it will help her heal. I would encourage that any way you can.

As I mentioned above, one thing I would watch out for is the blood sugar thing. They are so small - it doesn't take much to be an issue. You can even put a couple drops of syrup or even a slurry of table sugar and a drop or two of water in her mouth every so often to help avoid that. Literally a drop or two will help and she doesn't have to swallow it - it is absorbed by the mucous membranes in the mouth.

she seems to vomit again anytime after i give her fluids. although it seems to be less now, thats likely due to having less fluid in her system.

going to be trying to give her about 1 tablespoon of pedialyte every few hours. i will add a pinch of sugar as well.

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update: she hasn't thrown up in the past couple of hours. keeping feeding her pedialyte every few hours (added small amount of sugar). still acting sick and standoffish compared to her usual self. :(

[riggs]

she just threw up again after i got some pedialyte down her. seems to be tied to anytime I get fluids in her, she just has to throw some back up :( Any ideas what I should do at this point?

[CritterMom]

Well, it is counterproductive if she is bringing up all the hydration. Is ANY of it staying down? I am wondering if just letting her rest and drink only if she wants some for a bit wouldn't be a good idea.

[riggs]

Well, it is counterproductive if she is bringing up all the hydration. Is ANY of it staying down? I am wondering if just letting her rest and drink only if she wants some for a bit wouldn't be a good idea.

some is definitely staying down. she just seems to throw up a small amount each time after she drinks on her own or I give it to her w/ a syringe. now shes just resting in the window again.

[Nancy in New York]

What time did she eat the avocado with the peel?

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What time did she eat the avocado with the peel?

Yesterday around lunch.

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Update:
After talking with several rehabbers for a while, it was suggested to give her a small dose of children's benadryl since it's an antiemetic, to help calm her stomach. I'll reintroduce some pedialyte in about 10hrs, as instructed by the rehabber.

Also worth pointing out; She had another bowel movement a couple of hours ago and everything was normal there.

Right now she is sleeping in the window and hasnt thrown up in several hours. I'll keep this post updated as it unfolds. Thank you for your advice and assistance.

[HRT4SQRLS]

When she wakes up check her eyes for nystagmus. Nystagmus is rapid movement of the eyes either side to side or up and down. If you see this movement of the eyes, it indicated vertigo or dizziness. Vertigo can cause nausea and vomiting that is unrelated to GI issues. The Benadryl should help with nausea associated with vertigo.

Does she have unsupervised time out of the cage? Is there a possibility that she ‘found’ some old, petrified food like maybe under the couch?

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When she wakes up check her eyes for nystagmus. Nystagmus is rapid movement of the eyes either side to side or up and down. If you see this movement of the eyes, it indicated vertigo or dizziness. Vertigo can cause nausea and vomiting that is unrelated to GI issues. The Benadryl should help with nausea associated with vertigo.

Does she have unsupervised time out of the cage? Is there a possibility that she ‘found’ some old, petrified food like maybe under the couch?

Her eyes and movement are normal. Shes been running/climbing to and from the window today. I mean, if she wasnt vomiting I wouldn't even think anything was wrong. Shes been laying there for the past few hours, sleeping off and on. No vomit since the benadryl dose around 6pm (almost 4hrs now).

I watch her anytime shes out of the cage. I didnt see her eat anything, but it's possible I missed it. Really thinking it was the avocado peeling though since this all happened <24hrs after she ate some of it.

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She took her midnight dose of benadryl and got a few hours of sleep. Just gave her .5ml of pedialyte. Shes sitting in the window again. I'm just praying she doesn't throw up.

She doesnt seem to be any worse physically at least. She ran over and climbed up to the window.

Since it's been over 24hrs at this point, is it safe to think shes going in a positive direction? Or is she still at high risk? I know it's far from being okay, just trying to get a realistic understanding of where shes at.

[riggs]

I gave her the .5ml pedialyte at 0600.
She finally peed a lot around 0615.
Another 1ml pedialyte at 0630.
She threw up a small amount at 0655.
Gave her another .5ml of benadryl at 0705.
Shes just resting now in her cage.

Shes holding down the fluids for now at least. The small amount she threw up was hopefully just residual from yesterday.

[CritterMom]

I gave her the .5ml pedialyte at 0600.
She finally peed a lot around 0615.
Another 1ml pedialyte at 0630.
She threw up a small amount at 0655.
Gave her another .5ml of benadryl at 0705.
Shes just resting now in her cage.

Shes holding down the fluids for now at least. The small amount she threw up was hopefully just residual from yesterday.


Will she drink on her own if you leave her a bottle or dish with just straight water? Has she attempted to eat anything?

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Will she drink on her own if you leave her a bottle or dish with just straight water? Has she attempted to eat anything?

She will drink water on her own. Zero interest in food yet. She just turns her head.

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update:

Just got back from the vet. He said she was looking fine all things considered. He gave her .1ml of both Atropine and Cerenia (for the toxin and the vomiting).
Said she didn't look dehydrated or anything (no need for subQ fluids). She was running/jumping around the office the entire time. He said to just let her eat and drink at her own pace, and to just monitor her for a bit.

Hoping the worst is behind us, but am definitely still worried; Until shes back eating and drinking as normal.

Thank you all again for the feedback.

[riggs]

I feel like shes struggling to have a bowel movement currently. She keeps acting like shes trying, but unable to go. She doesnt feel bloated or anything, but if i rub on her stomach she gives me a low squeak like its irritating her :(

Any suggestions on something to help her out?

[SammysMom]

Water with molasses in it is a great natural laxative.

[CritterMom]

So is a little prune baby food.

She likely doesn't have much in there to poop out - when did she last eat?

[riggs]

So is a little prune baby food.

She likely doesn't have much in there to poop out - when did she last eat?

She ate Saturday evening. Sunday morning (yesterday) was when she started getting sick. Tonight will be 48hr mark without solid foods. She is at least keeping fluids down now though.

Right now I'm just giving her some pedialyte every couple hours and a small amount of baby applesauce.

[riggs]

Update for today:

Gave her some pedialyte just after she woke up around 0600.

Threw up a small amount not long after she woke up 0640.

Shes been able to hold down all fluids after that.

Saw the vet today and got some shots (Atropine and Cerenia, both .1ml).

Gave her a about .4ml of applesauce through a syringe.

She finally ate a small bite on her own -- A very small ball of peanut butter this evening.
It was the only thing I could get her to even look at.

She peed twice today that I noticed, and i've been watching her like a hawk since yesterday morning. No bowel movement today though, but she seemed to be trying at one point.

Was able to drink a small amount from her water bottle also.

Gave her several doses of 1ml pedialyte throughout the day.

Right now shes resting. Just hoping this is progress and that the worst is behind us. Never thought it would be this stressful to go through one being sick like this, but it is... I love her so much and hate to see her in distress. if anyone has anything helpful, please pass it along. I refresh this thread constantly and can answer any questions or provide any information needed. Thank you again for all the feedback.

[Mel1959]

I assume you have tried all of her favorite foods? Does she like avocado, yogurt (full fat vanilla), banana, maybe even Rice Chex cereal. Ensure the nutritional supplement for adults is sometimes well liked. It comes in a Pecan flavor. Maybe if you can get her to take tiny amounts of something often, it will help her tummy get a little more settled.

[riggs]

Today has been a wonderful day so far. She woke up around 0330 and started nibbling on some spinach.

Then around 0500 she drank a decent amount from her water bottle and ate some sugar snap peas and some more spinach+kale.

Shes much more active and alert today also. Really *really* glad she seemed to have turned a corner in the positive direction.

The main concern I have at this point is making sure she can have a bowel movement. Shes acted like she was trying to go a couple of times, but nothing passed. I know the charcoal from Sunday can constipate you, so hopefully she just has to work that out and it wont take long. The vet recommended a small dose of mineral oil, and several ppl in the thread have made good suggestions. I'll have to decide which route to go.

Shes definitely not out of the woods yet, but if she keeps improving at this rate she will be soon. If anyone has been praying/sending her well wishes, I appreciate it. She definitely needed them. Here is a picture of this beautiful girl, Dale:

310064

[CritterMom]

Well, things can only go OUT after they go in. Eating should help. I would cut the spinach out of her diet completely. It is extremely high in oxalic acid. It not only binds with any calcium that is in the spinach, thus making it totally unavailable to the squirrel nutritionally, it is hard on the kidneys/urinary tract. Kale is okay. It has some but it really isn't bad. My little guy is addicted to the red and green baby leaf lettuce in the bags.

If you happen to have any watermelon laying around, offer her some of that (red part only). Lots of water + lots of fiber should = poop.

She sure is pretty. What a floofy tail!

[riggs]

Today was a wonderful day. She is back to eating, drinking, peeing, and finally a small poo. So happy shes going to recover from this.

[CritterMom]

Phew. That was really frightening.

Now you need to get cracking and tell us about her so we can get to know her!