Squirrel keeps sneezing, getting more frequent and worse everyday. Help!

[suicune]

quick disclaimer: the squirrel i have with me is a Plantain Squirrel, and rather different from the typical squirrels found in the US and other places.

About 1 and a half months ago, a baby squirrel fell from a tree in my backyard as my dad was doing yard work and cutting down overgrown branches. Mom didnt come back, and no rehabilitators or sanctuaries around my area. Travel was also banned. 2 days later the baby opened its eyes, and today its getting even bigger, weighing about 35-40g.

Ive started weaning him off of milk, introducing semi solid foods such as mashed bananas and papayas. However, a few days ago, i think he choked(?) or aspirated some of the banana. He kept coughing, wheezing and having a hard time breathing for about 10 minutes, maybe 15. He then spat or sneezed it out, and everything was okay for approx. 1-2 days. However, recently, i have noticed that he started sneezing. Hes never really had a problem with sneezing before. Its getting worse day by day, becoming more frequent and overall just worse. Recently he started to become leas active. Im really worried. Is he sick? Did he get some sort of infection or pneumonia? Do i step in and do something or let it pass? If i step in, what should i do?

The only antibiotics i have at home with me right now is doxycycline hyclate (2mg per 1ml) from my other pets. Any other medicine would have to be ordered online and take many days, maybe 2 weeks to get here. Should i wait or give him the doxycycline? At what dosage? How many times a day?

Im very lost and worried. Please help!
314604314605

[HRT4SQRLS]

Welcome to The Squirrel Board

Thanks for helping the baby. I realize that Plantain squirrels are much smaller than the squirrels here. At 35-40g this is a baby and he definitely needs formula. Can you get goat milk? There is a temporary formula that can be made with goat milk, heavy cream, yogurt and egg. This baby is entirely too young to survive on mashed fruit.

The doxycycline is an excellent antibiotic for respiratory issues but I am equally concerned about the lack of calcium rich nutrition.

https://www.henryspets.com/1-baby-squirrel-care-guide/

This is a 6 page guide to baby squirrel care. On the 3rd page is the goat milk recipe.

[island rehabber]

Agree with the above. Sneezing can mean bordatella,a fairly common respiratory disease in rodents. Doxy is the drug for it. :great:great

[HRT4SQRLS]

I am going to send dosing in a Private Message. We don’t post dosing on the open board.

[HRT4SQRLS]

Dosing sent.

[HRT4SQRLS]

I looked up Plaintain squirrel as we aren’t familiar with them in the US. They are beautiful. :)
You are correct about the diet. Their primary diet in the wild is fruit, leaves, insects and even egg when they find it. This will be an acceptable diet when the baby gets older but for now the baby needs formula.

[suicune]

Welcome to The Squirrel Board

Thanks for helping the baby. I realize that Plantain squirrels are much smaller than the squirrels here. At 35-40g this is a baby and he definitely needs formula. Can you get goat milk? There is a temporary formula that can be made with goat milk, heavy cream, yogurt and egg. This baby is entirely too young to survive on mashed fruit.

The doxycycline is an excellent antibiotic for respiratory issues but I am equally concerned about the lack of calcium rich nutrition.

https://www.henryspets.com/1-baby-squirrel-care-guide/

This is a 6 page guide to baby squirrel care. On the 3rd page is the goat milk recipe.

Hi! Thanks for the response. Ive just given him the first dose of the meds, however i just realized i wasnt clear enough in my post. Apologies, i was writing it in a very frantic state. Ive had the baby for a little over a month now, and i do regularly feed it esbilac and other variations of goat milk (i ran out during the second week lol) mixed with just the slightest bit of coconut milk (like a very tiny amount). Im only starting to wean him off of the milk, introducing it every now and then. Thank you, again!

[HRT4SQRLS]

Hi! Thanks for the response. Ive just given him the first dose of the meds, however i just realized i wasnt clear enough in my post. Apologies, i was writing it in a very frantic state. Ive had the baby for a little over a month now, and i do regularly feed it esbilac and other variations of goat milk (i ran out during the second week lol) mixed with just the slightest bit of coconut milk (like a very tiny amount). Im only starting to wean him off of the milk, introducing it every now and then. Thank you, again!

Thanks for clarifying about the formula. He is such a tiny thing so I would continue to offer the formula.