Urgently need advice! Please help!

[mgee76]

My beloved Selma who we released last summer returned yesterday looking frail, skinnier than usual but with a full belly. Her nipples are small and tight, not at all like they look when she's given birth so I don't think it's related to that? She has diarrhea or something going on down there, fluid and irritation of some sort. She is moving slowly, eating slowly... she doesn't look good and I'm falling apart because I have to try to do something.

I'm guessing it's an infection or parasite, given the diarrhea, but I really am not an expert.

I think I need a Hail Mary. She will come to me and let me touch her and take food from me, so I think I can administer something orally but I'm not sure about anything that takes more than 1-2 applications, so probably Albon is out. I'm willing to try anything because she really does not look well and it reminds me of a similar squirrel we loved and lost a few years ago (she had a large tumor in her bladder, RIP).

I have access to various medications and will do whatever I can to get more or specific ones if you think it'd work.

Please help. You can call or text me at 402-641-7101.


https://imgur.com/e4d3D9S

Shortly after eating a couple small pieces of avocado, she climbed into the tree and went about halfway up, struggling, then stopped to rest for a long while. I think she has moved back into the nest at the top of the tree that she made last year.

[mgee76]

I'm wondering if it isn't possibly Pyometra.

If I don't get any advice, I will probably just start giving her Baytril and saying prayers.

[supersquirrelgirl]

BUMPING this post to get visibility.

Agree with you that something is off. Her lower back is arched up with hind legs extended. She is moving very delicately.

Possible UTI ??

[SamtheSquirrel2018]

My beloved Selma who we released last summer returned yesterday looking frail, skinnier than usual but with a full belly. Her nipples are small and tight, not at all like they look when she's given birth so I don't think it's related to that? She has diarrhea or something going on down there, fluid and irritation of some sort. She is moving slowly, eating slowly... she doesn't look good and I'm falling apart because I have to try to do something.

I'm guessing it's an infection or parasite, given the diarrhea, but I really am not an expert.

I think I need a Hail Mary. She will come to me and let me touch her and take food from me, so I think I can administer something orally but I'm not sure about anything that takes more than 1-2 applications, so probably Albon is out. I'm willing to try anything because she really does not look well and it reminds me of a similar squirrel we loved and lost a few years ago (she had a large tumor in her bladder, RIP).

I have access to various medications and will do whatever I can to get more or specific ones if you think it'd work.

Shortly after eating a couple small pieces of avocado, she climbed into the tree and went about halfway up, struggling, then stopped to rest for a long while. I think she has moved back into the nest at the top of the tree that she made last year.

Hi Mgee:
I'm sorry that you have not yet had a response to this thread (thanks for the Bump SSG!)!
I'm sorry about Selma and what you have described sounds very concerning. I have a few questions; you wrote that "she has diarrhea or something going on down there, fluid and irritation of some sort." Does this mean that the fluid may not be loose stool or that it may not even be coming from the rectum and may originate from the vagina or elsewhere such as leakage from an abscess? Does the fluid seem consistent with liquid stool? Is the fluid bloody or black in color? If Coccidia, your suggestion of Albon may certainly be appropriate but it sounds as if you do NOT have this available. When you state she has a "full belly," does this mean that it is distended (pushing out so to speak) and is her abdominal skin tense or is it soft and you can fairly easily push in on the abdomen/ This may be a mass inside the abdomen, an intestinal obstruction (and it is not unusual to see diarrheal stool occur that originates from the intestine distal (after or below the obstruction) to the obstruction. If this is the case, it is a surgical emergency! Do you have access to a Veterinarian for Selma? I would strongly recommend this! Also, while Selma's nipples don't have the appearance suggesting pregnancy or nursing, it may be that Selma is pregnant and having a miscarriage or one of the babies is stuck in the "birth canal." There may also be an infection in the uterus. Pyometra is usually thought to be a hormonally mediated condition that is usually fatal without surgical intervention! I do not know the likelihood of this condition developing in a Squirrel and I have never seen this in a Squirrel but it probably can occur! Could the fluid you are seeing be from the bladder and might there be a Urinary Tract Infection. If this is the case, the Baytril would be a very good choice of antibiotic! If/when Selma comes down from the tree; please try to find out definitively where the fluid originates and please describe it in detail. If you have not actually examined her abdomen when she first showed up, hopefully you can do this now and find out if it is really protruding, soft or hard, tender (does pushing on the abdomen seem to cause discomfort) or nontender. Please also check to see is there is anything protruding from the anus which might indicate a rectal prolapse (where the rectum falls through the anus) and anything protruding from the vagina.

Again, I am so sorry for Selma's current situation and I apologize for you not having received an immediate response to your very concerning thread!

[SammysMom]

I'm wondering if it isn't possibly Pyometra.

If I don't get any advice, I will probably just start giving her Baytril and saying prayers.

If it is pyometra, clavamox is the best antibiotic from what I've seen. If you can possibly bring her indoors to administer treatment on a regular schedule, I would suggest doing that. I have helped a number of people treat pyometra and if that is what is happening, having her spayed is probably the best way to proceed. Obviously, if that isn't possible, I understand.

[SamtheSquirrel2018]

Hi Mgee:
I'm sorry that you have not yet had a response to this thread (thanks for the Bump SSG!)!
I'm sorry about Selma and what you have described sounds very concerning. I have a few questions; you wrote that "she has diarrhea or something going on down there, fluid and irritation of some sort." Does this mean that the fluid may not be loose stool or that it may not even be coming from the rectum and may originate from the vagina or elsewhere such as leakage from an abscess? Does the fluid seem consistent with liquid stool? Is the fluid bloody or black in color? If Coccidia, your suggestion of Albon may certainly be appropriate but it sounds as if you do NOT have this available. When you state she has a "full belly," does this mean that it is distended (pushing out so to speak) and is her abdominal skin tense or is it soft and you can fairly easily push in on the abdomen/ This may be a mass inside the abdomen, an intestinal obstruction (and it is not unusual to see diarrheal stool occur that originates from the intestine distal (after or below the obstruction) to the obstruction. If this is the case, it is a surgical emergency! Do you have access to a Veterinarian for Selma? I would strongly recommend this! Also, while Selma's nipples don't have the appearance suggesting pregnancy or nursing, it may be that Selma is pregnant and having a miscarriage or one of the babies is stuck in the "birth canal." There may also be an infection in the uterus. Pyometra is usually thought to be a hormonally mediated condition that is usually fatal without surgical intervention! I do not know the likelihood of this condition developing in a Squirrel and I have never seen this in a Squirrel but it probably can occur! Could the fluid you are seeing be from the bladder and might there be a Urinary Tract Infection. If this is the case, the Baytril would be a very good choice of antibiotic! If/when Selma comes down from the tree; please try to find out definitively where the fluid originates and please describe it in detail. If you have not actually examined her abdomen when she first showed up, hopefully you can do this now and find out if it is really protruding, soft or hard, tender (does pushing on the abdomen seem to cause discomfort) or nontender. Please also check to see is there is anything protruding from the anus which might indicate a rectal prolapse (where the rectum falls through the anus) and anything protruding from the vagina.

Again, I am so sorry for Selma's current situation and I apologize for you not having received an immediate response to your very concerning thread!

Being at work and using my phone always brings on the typos! I meant to also ask you if you have any other antibiotics beside the Baytril?

Thankyou Sammysmom for your comments and possible option for an alternative antibiotic.

And I also intended to sign my original post but I can't now because my 15 minute editing window has closed!

Regards,
SamtheSquirrel

[JLM27]

Is it possibly parasites? Has a stool sample been tested?

[BigNibbler]

How good is your relationship with her. Is there any possibility of bringing her nest w babies, and her down and inside?
Can you inspect her nest to see if she has babies... when they are very young, her nipples will appear as they remained from a prior pregnancy... not yet distended.
Just tiny buds.

Are you able to use a pole to deliver ab laced foods to her very close to her nest?

[mgee76]

Thank you all for the input. Very informative and I will be more prepared in the future. I should have posted her first instead of the Facebook page.

I think I missed my window not trying to catch her initially (when I recorded that video and took pictures). She came down just enough to take a grape treated with Baytril after that, but went slowly back up into the nest she built last summer and I haven't seen her since. I'm afraid I probably won't see her again.

It's very painful saying goodbye. I appreciate you all.

[SammysMom]

I'm so sorry to hear that she hasn't been down. Maybe try to get up to the nest?
I see you posted both here and the FB group yesterday. I'm sure sorry we couldn't help in either place. If you can, get clavamox or, augmentin is the human version of amoxicillin/clavulanate and either can be dosed if we are given the strength.
My number is 203.214.7427 if texting or calling is quicker, should you get the meds and need dosing.

[supersquirrelgirl]

Very sorry to hear this update but I believe its too early to say goodbye. I have a yard full of fox squirrels and they fight hard to live! I know this is a "Need a Favor" moment but keep checking on her. You already gave a dose of Baytril (Enro) which should have some positive effect. Have another dose ready if she does come down (either Baytril or Clavamox).

If you don't mind, can you PM the Baytril strength and dose amount you gave ??

Mr.SSG

[supersquirrelgirl]

Hi MGee,

Was thinking of Selma and yourself and wondering if you had a chance to see her again ?? From your last post, I was hoping that Selma would come again.

Mr.SSG