Baby fox squirrel ammonia urine & gulping when nursing

[Chippergray]

I noticed yesterday that my little baby fox squirrel was gulping like a fish when she was nursing. I read online that it could be feeding trance. But then I kind of noticed that her urine smelled a little strong. Covid really affected my sense of smell so I had my daughter to smell it a few minutes ago. She mad a disgusting face and said yes it smells really bad like ammonia. I don’t know if she’s got a UTI or what might be going on I have some Cipro here and I don’t know if I can take that. I mean, she seems healthy other than that. She’s still eating good. She’s urinating. The urine looks normal. I may have just called it early. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

[Mel1959]

I don’t think I’d start treating her with an antibiotic because of the smell of the urine. Try offering her some sweetened water in between her normal feeding times. Make sure it’s warm just like the formula. When squirrels are sick they typically stop eating and become lethargic.

The guppy mouth while eating is very common. Just tap her gently on the nose or move the nipple around in her mouth to bring her out of the trance.

[Chippergray]

I don’t think I’d start treating her with an antibiotic because of the smell of the urine. Try offering her some sweetened water in between her normal feeding times. Make sure it’s warm just like the formula. When squirrels are sick they typically stop eating and become lethargic.

The guppy mouth while eating is very common. Just tap her gently on the nose or move the nipple around in her mouth to bring her out of the trance.

Okay. The trance is weird though. She does it after each suckle. She will take a suck then gasp 3/4 times then repeat.

[Mel1959]

Yeah, I know, it is frustrating. Usually as they get older they outgrow it.

[Spanky]

I have found that rubbing their cheek while they nurse *sometimes* helps with the "guppy-mouthing".

I am pretty confident you've ruled out AP and there is no clicking, but I cannot help but ask the question? :embar

[Chippergray]

She now has cloudy urine. I started changing over to Fox Valley yesterday. They are doing half FV now & 1/2 EPR. She seems fine and eating good. But I’m worried.

[Chippergray]

I don’t think I’d start treating her with an antibiotic because of the smell of the urine. Try offering her some sweetened water in between her normal feeding times. Make sure it’s warm just like the formula. When squirrels are sick they typically stop eating and become lethargic.

The guppy mouth while eating is very common. Just tap her gently on the nose or move the nipple around in her mouth to bring her out of the trance.

Her urine has now turned cloudy.

[Mel1959]

Post what meds you have, the strength and the weight of the squirrel. Someone will need this information to guide you on proper dosage.

[Chippergray]

I have ciprofloxacin 500 tablets. She weighs 130 grams

[CritterMom]

It looks like your post got missed.

How is your baby doing? Did she some in extremely dehydrated? Looking for a reason for a UTI...

I am wondering if there is anything actually wrong here. My understanding is that your concern was fishy smell at first, when she was on straight esbilac. Now, as you are transitioning to fox valley you are seeing cloudy urine compared to before. The baby is still enthusiastically eating, though. Is all of that correct?

First, I have no idea what the fishy smell is, but I have seen multiple people on here over the last month or so mentioning this. I suspect that there is some product that is a part of the esbilac is causing this. It doesn't seem to be causing actual health issues.

Fox Valley has WAY more solids in it than esbilac. I compare it to going from 1% milk to half and half - it is why we recommend making that transition slowly, to give the stomach a chance to ease into digesting something much richer. Anything they eat is going to be reflected in the pee - when they eat acorns, it turns deep, rusty red! You *may* be seeing FV pee vs. esbilac pee.

And happily eating and acting normally is not something that is on the list of things to watch out for if you think they are ill. Babies have few reserves and have not yet developed the "hide any illness" adaptation prey animals have.

I will send you dosing for the cipro so you have it, but you might want to watch and wait.

[Chippergray]

It looks like your post got missed.

How is your baby doing? Did she some in extremely dehydrated? Looking for a reason for a UTI...

I am wondering if there is anything actually wrong here. My understanding is that your concern was fishy smell at first, when she was on straight esbilac. Now, as you are transitioning to fox valley you are seeing cloudy urine compared to before. The baby is still enthusiastically eating, though. Is all of that correct?

First, I have no idea what the fishy smell is, but I have seen multiple people on here over the last month or so mentioning this. I suspect that there is some product that is a part of the esbilac is causing this. It doesn't seem to be causing actual health issues.

Fox Valley has WAY more solids in it than esbilac. I compare it to going from 1% milk to half and half - it is why we recommend making that transition slowly, to give the stomach a chance to ease into digesting something much richer. Anything they eat is going to be reflected in the pee - when they eat acorns, it turns deep, rusty red! You *may* be seeing FV pee vs. esbilac pee.

And happily eating and acting normally is not something that is on the list of things to watch out for if you think they are ill. Babies have few reserves and have not yet developed the "hide any illness" adaptation prey animals have.

I will send you dosing for the cipro so you have it, but you might want to watch and wait.

She is eating good. Urine does not smell fishy but rather strong and on the acidic side similar to ammonia but not as strong. She is slimmer than the other two. She eats more than them but she metabolizes her food so much faster than them. While they’re still plump 3 hours after eating she slim again. Also, when I wipe her she does not urinate as much as them. They will soak 2 or 3 pieces of toilet paper and she only pees two or 3 drops whereas they pee 10-15 drops. Her pooping is normal.

[CritterMom]

Might she be peeing on her own in the baby box?

[Chippergray]

Might she be peeing on her own in the baby box?

Yes. They are all peeing and pooping in the box for sure. I still try to clean them after each feeding to try to keep their bedding as clean as possible.

[Chippergray]

Next time I feed her I’m going to do a video.

[Chippergray]

Here is 2 photos of her urinating. It’s not much at all. 3 drops this size is all I could get her to pee. My other 2 urinate so much but hers is just a few small drops. 324516324517

[Mel1959]

Her belly looks very bloated in that photo. I hope it’s the angle of the camera. Their tummies should never feel hard. They should feel like a squishy water balloon after eating.

If you think she’s not urinating enough try offering some water (with a little sugar added if needed) between feedings. As was already said, she could be urinating in her bed.