Little red is sick and throwing up

[Stevelisa]

We're caring for a 2nd little red, she's about 4 months old. She was a rescue a lady found at about 8 weeks our guess, found near a fast-food stand, barely moving and dehydrated. The lady was unsure what to do and asked if we could help. In the last 8 weeks, we've fed her baby goat formula, she bounced back to full of energy after 1-2 weeks. Her health, fur, skin and energy seem great. She has grown well, getting close to adult size now. Full of beans, loves to get out and run in the house every day.

This morning she began throwing up a bit, not eating much, and become less active this afternoon. She's thrown up a few times today so far. Her vomit is light mush and smells a bit like nuts, nothing vile. We're getting worried what this could be?

We stopped the formula about a week ago, as she was gradually resisting it. We started her gradually on some HHB 3 weeks ago, lettuce, berries, watermelon, slice of fresh pear or apple, some nuts... likes all that. Has a water bottle on side of her pen. Oh and we've given her a few spruce-cones that she likes to tear apart for the seeds inside. A week ago she began stashing items in a corner pile of her pen.

Wondering what she has eaten to get sick like this, or what we've done wrong. Any thoughts? 4 of us caught covid 2 weeks ago and have it pretty good. Can squirrels catch colds from us?

[CritterMom]

It is certainly possible that she could have gotten covid. It is also very possible that she stashed something that went bad and she ate it and it made her sick. The Henry's food has no preservatives and that could be the problem. Reds stash a LOT - it is part of their makeup, so you simply MUST clean their stash out daily so they don't HAVE a stash. It will help with behavioral issues too.

I would make sure you keep her nice and warm, and would begin giving small amounts of hydration frequently. You need to replace the fluid loss from the vomiting without triggering more vomiting, so use many small amounts to do that.

[Stevelisa]

Thank you, we cleaned it all out. she’s been drinking a bit of pedialyte from her bottle on her own so far this evening. Then gets back in her fleece blanket. But she’s staying at the bottom level of her pen which is 5 ft tall, to be where the bedding is I guess, whereas she’s always slept at the top level. So we moved her things down there. It’s warm enough and she seems normal body temp so far.

[Stevelisa]

Update….Coco is still sleeping more than usual but today ate a bit of some fruit slices. We’re giving her some pedialyte by syringe to get fluid in her. No more throwing up since this morning. Tonight she came out of her blanket 15 mins to jump around a bit and escaped out on me, sqwalked a lot when I put her back in. Her little redness highness is coming back I hope 🥲☺️, she went back to sleep.
Can’t upload a pic from my iPhone, will try from my pc tomorrow

[Stevelisa]

Coco has recovered and back to her red-lightning speed and healthy appetite. Thank you again CM

[Stevelisa]

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coco, shes about 4 months, one of her favorite spots to sit behind me at my desk.

[CritterMom]

She is adorable. I am so glad she is okay.