Adult Female Anorexic

[Klebswife]

My 3 1/2 year old Florida Grey Squirrel is off food. We took her to er after 2 days off food. They found nothing wrong with her. That was over a month ago.

We syringe baby food, water, apple juice, pedialyte. She will sometimes eat a small amount of kale, carrot, nuts, but not often and not enough to be compatible with life, in my opinion. Give gas x, infant, and get small amount of feces. She is urinating. She is skin and bones.

I thought she might be neurologic but constipation may mimic.?.

Would like to take her in to xray her belly, but trying to social distance and don't know if wildlife vet is open. Will call, but any advise in the meantime is appreciated.

Thanks,

Shannon in Florida

[Scooterzmom]

In these times things do get hard for pet owners and their pets, for sure :( Does she get blocks - Harlan Teklad or Henry's? Those are extremely important in a squirrel's diet. Lack of those will cause a calcium deficiency in a squirrel - which is extremely painful and can be lethal. If she is not taking any then she would need to be treated ASAP for calcium deficiency. ÙLet us know, we have the recommendations for that emergency treatment.

If she does eat blocks, then a first step I wonder if you could at least take a sample of her faces to be tested for parasites - they should be able to do that much fi you tell them in advance that you're bringing it in. I do hope however that you can have that poor sweetie seen for an x-ray and more thourough check-up.

[Spanky]

Have her teeth been checked? (I thought it would hurt to ask to be certain).

[Klebswife]

She was anesthetized at the er. I would hope they checked her mouth. She gets excited when food is offered, takes a nibble and then throws it away.

I'm concerned about blockage, but we are seeing some feces after baby food feedings.

[Klebswife]

I have tried her on rodent block in the past but she refuses. She has been on a good variety of veggies, kale, carrots, lettuce, peppers, hazel nuts, Brasil nuts, pine nuts, acorns when in season. She has been healthy, but suddenly went off food.

[Spanky]

I have tried her on rodent block in the past but she refuses. She has been on a good variety of veggies, kale, carrots, lettuce, peppers, hazel nuts, Brasil nuts, pine nuts, acorns when in season. She has been healthy, but suddenly went off food.

There are some problems with her diet.


Stop all brasil nuts, they have too much selenium for squirrels... it will build up cumulatively and cause issues after time.

Any nuts should only be treats... 1 - 2 a day but only if the diet is balanced.

Pine nuts are extremely bad, the worst of all nuts as they have a high (extremely high, which is bad) phosphorous to calcium ratio.

Peppers should be avoided and if given, only in small quantities



Here is a link to a cheat sheet for healthy foods:
https://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?44440-Healthy-Diet-for-Pet-Squirrels


Rodent blocks are not an option, they are a necessity... she really cannot get all the nutrients she needs without some sort of rodent block.

THE VERY BEST squirrel vet in the COUNTRY is in Port Orange, FL... Ravenwood Clinic. Any chance you can take her there?
https://ravenwoodvet.net/our-veterinarians/alicia-emerson-2/

[Klebswife]

Oh,no! She's done so well for so long. We have removed the bad foods. Can we crush the rodent block and mix with fluid to syringe feed. Can we give a little human stool softenher?

[Spanky]

Oh,no! She's done so well for so long. We have removed the bad foods. Can we crush the rodent block and mix with fluid to syringe feed.

Probably yes, but what type of rodent block do you have?



Can we give a little human stool softener?

I would recommend giving her canned pumpkin. Not canned pumpkin pie mix, just plain ole pumpkin. And you can feed that with a syringe, she seems to prefer "pureed" food right now?

[Klebswife]

Thank you. I will find it and try it.

[Spanky]

Considering the current status of things... you can also use RIPE banana (un-ripe bananas will cause constipation) or canned sweet potato (or cooked and smashed fresh sweet tater).

Under normal circumstances, canned pumpkin is my preference.

[Klebswife]

I wish I could get over to Port Orange. It's across the state from me, though.

[Klebswife]

Just got 3 cc's organic pumpkin in her followed by a couple of cc's of pedialyte. She likes pedialyte. She stays dehydrated. Skin turgor is not good. Should I give her more pumpkin?

[HRT4SQRLS]

Did they do X-rays? The only way to evaluate the teeth is by X-ray.
There is an excellent squirrel vet in St.Pete

[Klebswife]

Who is the squirrel vet in St. Pete? I'm in St. Pete!

[HRT4SQRLS]

https://www.avianandanimal.com/about-us.html
I guess technically it is located in Largo.

Dr. Nicole Zellner. She is excellent with squirrels. She refers teeth issues to Dr.Emerson for followup but she is highly capable of diagnosing and treating any other issue. You can call them but I’m sure you know that due to COVID-19 everything is upside down right now... and that includes vet offices. Of course, if this is urgent I wouldn’t wait until the epidemic is over. It might not be an ideal situation but she should be able to diagnose the problem. Due to her experience with squirrels, she knows what to look for. I highly recommend her.

[Klebswife]

Thank you! We will look her up.

After we got the pumpkin and pedialyte in her she pooped a little and then ate a little kale I offered her.

I will definitely look up Dr. Zellner. Largo is just a hop, skip and a jump away. Thanks, again!

*Edit.

I found her and I know the clinic. Hermie (my baby) was there for a check up when she was 6 months old. Very cool.

[Scooterzmom]

Did they do X-rays? The only way to evaluate the teeth is by X-ray.
There is an excellent squirrel vet in St.Pete

I would insist on x-rays of her teeth. My lil dwarf broke a tooth, unbeknownst to us and a few weeks later she began rejecting food, as you describe... a lick or bite, then tossed it out. We checked her teeth - that time opened her mouth wide and checked and sure enough, that was the problem.. one tooth had broken and was growing backwards yet we could not notice by just parting her lips. With our little dwarf Ayanna it was easy but not every squirrel will let you do that however.

As for the blocks, the Harlan Teklads 2018 or 2014 don't do well in a liquid. Even ground to a very, very fine powder I find that they remain gritty.

I wonder if maybe some of the experts might suggest the emergency calcium treatment since it seems she has not had blocks anyway. It is something she absolutely needs for the future. Besides, should she need any surgery you would want her to be up to par and strong for that. She will need a proper calcium intake anyway.

[HRT4SQRLS]

I agree. Giving some calcium per the emergency Metabolic Bone Disease protocol would probably be a good idea. I hope she didn’t get a lot of pine nuts or Brazil nuts. Both a VERY bad for squirrels. The pine nuts could definitely lead to MBD. The Brazil nuts can lead to poisoning if they consume enough. Brazil nuts can also be toxic to humans if not limited.

Have you seen white tears in the eyes or vague respiratory symptoms?
I see you are giving GasX? Is that for bloat and swollen abdomen? Sometimes teeth issues (odontoma) cause them to ‘mouth breathe’. They aren’t efficient mouth breathers so they swallow air.

[Klebswife]

Hello. I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who responded to my cry for help.
Hermionie went to see Dr. Zellnar this morning and we have, unfortunately, gotten the worst of all possible news. Hermie has cancer. It is inoperable. We are spoiling her and holding her and loving on her until tomorrow afternoon when we will release her from her pain. My pain has only just begun.

I hope that one day another needy, little squirrel will come into my life.

I am devastated.

Thank you to all.

[HRT4SQRLS]

Oh Shannon, I am so sorry to hear that. :grouphug

We never want to hear that. I’m sorry that you heard that dreaded word about your beloved Hermie.

[RockyPops]

:Love_IconHermie:Love_Icon

Thank you for taking care of him for so long!

[Chirps]

I just saw this thread, and can only imagine the pain you're feeling right now. Poor Hermie, and poor you to have to go through this. But you are a good squirrel Mom to do what's best for her. SO HARD. But she appreciates your love and care throughout her life and this final act of love. My heart hurts for you.

[Scooterzmom]

I can't tell you how sorry I am to hear these news. My heart breaks for you just at the thought of what awaits today. :Cry You are an angel on earth for this little one for taking such good care of her, and for that, I am sure she will become yours when she goes to her maker. Try to remember that she will be free, and she will remember you, just as you will always remember her. :grouphug

If you need support, if you need to talk, please don't hesitate to come right back. This is a family here, and we're all there to support each other.

[Papabear90]

Shannon, I am so sorry to hear about your baby!!! If you need someone to talk to, I'm always here.... and would love to talk to you. This was heartbreaking to read (may have even cried), my condolences. I know it's hard, but it's better than her suffering.

:hug