my sick squirrel

[whodey011]

I have had a squirrel for over a year. I have raised him from a baby. Recently he has started losing his hair. His tail has gotten real thin, his sides are losing hair and he is losing hair on his belly. I am wondering if he needs a multivitamin or something that he is not getting from outside. If I let him free he would never survive. Do you have any suggestions? I do not have very much money either. I love Wally and would like to make him better. I need help! Please!

[rippie-n-lilgirlsmom]

It sounds like it may be diet related give me an idea of what his diet consists of?
Get him some vanilla ensure, take away his nuts pecans wallnuts ect..get him lots of green veggies to eat.
I or one of the other rehabber will be waiting for a responce.
Also do you have a full spectrum light for him?
He should be getting calcium in his diet.

[whodey011]

He eats critter mix, sunflower seeds, peanuts, corn, walnuts, pecans, cherry tomatoes, grapes, mandarin oranges and was eating cherries. I do not have a light for him. What kind of green veggies should I feed him? My niece brought some of her sugar gliders food over and he wouldn't touch it. He wouldn't even eat out of the bowl. She orders special food for them. I really appreciate the help.

[rippie-n-lilgirlsmom]

Ok get rid of the sunflower seeds, & peanuts today.
Get him a full spectrum light ...do you have a Big Lots? They sell them for around 20$. Or take him outside for atleast an hour everyday.
This is not something that can be questioned he HAS to have it. He could be in the early stages of Metabolic Bone disease.
Squirrels get it from not having enough calcium plus they need the sun or artifical sun to absorb the calcium. They cannot get it through a window either.
Get him a light and lots of green, brocolli, kale, calliflower...
You can also get him something called Prime in the pet store its actually for birds but squirrels use it with sucsess.
I appreciate you looking out for his well being...if you are like most people you live in a state where its almost impossible to get help for squirrels so you must keep him on a stict diet untill he feels better, and then you will have to watch what he eats. He can have Pumpkin seeds (unsalted only) everything should be unsalted.
Stick around here and keep us up to date on his health.

[whodey011]

Thank you for your help. I went to a lady on the internet and she said she wouldn't help me get him well, just set him free. Wally is very sweet, to me. He loves to play with me, he acts like he is tearing me up but he is playing. My niece loves watching us interact, he is so cute. My sister trims his nails so that he doesn't tear me up by running around my body. I do take him out most days and walk around the yard with him. I will make sure he gets outside until I can get him a light. How should I give him the ensure? Should I get another water bottle? Replace the water with ensure? How much should I give him? If I get the stuff from the pet store, is that all I should feed him besides greens? What about fruit? He loves strawberries, mandarin oranges, grapes, pretty much whatever fruit my daughter eats, he likes. He is so cute. He doesn't like to get his hands wet. If you give him juicy fruit he drops it after he has had what he wants and he starts shaking his hands and licking them off. He will grab my wrist and wrap his arms around it and hold on for awhile, it is like he is hugging me. He really likes pecans. Will they hurt him? I hate to ask so many questions, but I want to help him. I read about that MBD and I don't want him to die. I really appreciate all your help. Thank you for taking the time to help me.

[rippie-n-lilgirlsmom]

Your welcome thank you for caring enough to look for answers.
He can have fruit but minimum, get as many veggies in him as possible.
Do not feed him human junk food. Get the light its very hard to get enough sunlifght during a trip around the yard.
20$ is a small price to pay now if he gets sick you will have to live with a very sick guy 20$ is a small price to pay.
The ensure he can drink from a bowl do not take away his water source.

[rippie-n-lilgirlsmom]

I went to a lady on the internet and she said she wouldn't help me get him well, just set him free.
By the way I forgot to mention does he seem happy with you, does he long to be outside? I would let it up to your squirrel to decide.

[whodey011]

We don't just walk around. I let him out there quite awhile. He doesn't respond to other squirrel sounds, he acts like he doesn't even hear them. He knows his name and acts happy to be with me. I sometimes wonder if he would be happier loose. We have wild cats around that have babies alot. There are red tail hawks that hang around our neck of the woods. I've seen them swoop down and take pigeons out of the air. I got him a walnut off the tree. He chewed off some of the green around it and stopped. We cleaned it up and he still didn't know what to do with it. If we break it, he eats it. I am more attached than I thought. I will get him the light and some greens and some of that food. Our pet store is having a going out of business sale and everything is 50 percent off. I'll see what the want for a light and go from there. I'll let you know how he is doing. Thanks!!!!!!!!

[rippie-n-lilgirlsmom]

Ok one other thing make sure he has something to chew on to grind down his teeth.

[FLUFFYTAILNUT]

Awww..poor thing he sounds alittle under the weather..poor thing..and a good mama you are...he's a good baby..did you get the lamp yet? Is there any way you can leave his cage in front of a window..with the direct sunlight coming through..I do it that way..I leave the window wide open..and the breeze..mine will sit there sniffing. I keep the bedroom door closed...and the air conditioner is still on in the room( he's still in his cage..but has the protection and comfort of his cage(no, eagles or red tailed hawks) we have those rotten birds that would love to gobble him up..too..any ways...what about giving him some Esbilac puppyformula.. with Baby rice cereal mixed w/mashed fresh banana's ,and sugar free apple sauce..a few table spoons of heavy whipping cream in a bowl..as a nice treat...to get him back to eating again..?
Mine loves it...as soon as he see's me coming with that...he turns wrong side out..and get's all into it......., "Bean" is about 4 months old..he's I guess...a teenager ..lol..he's not fat ..he runs all over me...literally..and physically..LOL...no, different than the rest of my family...(2 kids)
Well..I hope he's feeling better soon...
Rachel...........:thumbsup :dono
It's an idea...

[4skwerlz]

Wally's diet is definitely deficient in calcium and other nutrients. Here's a list of some healthy foods:

Healthiest Foods: (these should be most of what he eats)
Mazuri rodent block (or other rodent chow)
collard greens
mustard spinach
papaya
turnip greens
tofu, w/calcium sulfate
parsley, fresh
beet greens
dandelion greens
Chinese cabbage
looseleaf lettuce
figs (fresh)
kale
chickory
yogurt, low-fat, plain or fruit flavored
Cheerios or other fortified cereal

At least once a week, give:
boiled egg with the shell on (for protein, calcium, and vitamin D)
valencia oranges or lemon slices (for vitamin C)

Healthy Treats:
dried figs
green cabbage
watercress
endive
grapes
celery
green beans
red cabbage
crabapple
garlic
radish
swiss chard
pear
apple, with skin
pineapple
winter squash
watermelon
honeydew melon
cucumber
cherry
romaine lettuce
strawberry
broccoli
apricot

Occasional Treats Only:
brussels sprouts
cauliflower
carrots
cantaloupe
summer squash
apple, without skin
seedless raisins
almonds
pumpkin
zucchini
alfalfa sprouts
peach
asparagus
banana
sweet potatoes
walnuts
nuts of any kind

He probably should have a calcium supplement for a little while, just in case he is starting to develop MBD. You can buy calcium pills for less than $4 at the drugstore or Walmart. The ingredient should be Calcium Carbonate 600 mg (nothing else). You can let him nibble on the pill or grind it up to a powder and sprinkle it on some yogurt. 2 pills per week for a while.

If Wally won't eat the healthy foods, try smearing a little "natural" peanut butter or some molasses on it. That will get him nibbling on it. Then gradually get rid of the peanut butter or molasses.

Don't give up. Squirrels HATE new foods. But once you get them to nibble them, they usually LIKE them. Today's YUCKY FOOD is tomorrow's FAVORITE, so keep trying.

Give him EXTRA outdoor time, because sunlight is necessary for him to make vitamin D and avoid MBD. Also get a full-spectrum light for indoors. Good luck.

[Gabe]

Good list of foods. I would increase his protein and fat levels by using this list.
Try some scrambled or raw eggs, yogurt this is non low fat, mealworms.