Kerry_Perkins
07-09-2024, 10:51 AM
Hi, everyone
Last night our little guy succumbed to his advanced Pox. (The main thread is here. (https://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?70706-Squirrel-Pox)) We had him in our care for a week. We found, and tried, a number of home remedies discovered on internet searches, and ultimately learned that for wild ones, basic care is the best care.
His eyes were completely swollen from the start, so he could not see. I believe he was, at times, able to see shadows or detect movement.
Housing:
First we had him in a cat carrier. This was small, but enough room for his blanket nest, water bowl, food, and space to pee. I have an XL dog crate, which we lined with cardboard to prevent escape attempts, and moved the entire carrier into the crate, with the door open. We left him alone to decompress, and he soon located his food and water sources. We never changed their locations or moved things around. I had nests inside the carrier and outside next to it, and he established a little routine of switching to different nests at different times of day.
Blanket nest construction:
I used inexpensive fleece blankets, the felt kind you buy in a roll. Thicker was better: too thin, and the nest would collapse and he'd be unable to get back in. If thin is all you have, double it up so it holds its shape. He also didn't like the one that was "furry" feeling, although individual squirrel tastes may differ. I avoided anything with loops so he wouldn't catch his nails in them.
I folded it into a pocket -- Illustrated instructions can be found here (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lPf-_V81PWV4M7vnYnXRFcJZvm9v9uVp/view), and are attached to this post.
1. Cut fleece blanket into quarters
Material should be thick so the pocket holds its shape;
if you can only find thin blankets, double up two quarters.
2. Fold corner-to-corner.
3. Fold one corner into the middle
4. Tuck the other corner into the two layers of the first
5. Pull down top layer of the loose corner to open the pocket
6. This creates a snug pocket nest with a large "driveway" to help him find it.
Hygiene:
Our squirrel was extremely timid and emotionally sensitive. Any large move or attempt to handle him would cause him to panic and freeze up for a couple of hours. (Only apple slice would "reset" him.) So bathing and powdering him with Gold Bond were out of the question, as was treating his sores with peroxide. To not traumatize him with handling and constriction, the best I could do was to change his nests for clean ones, wipe away his pee, and remove his droppings.
Nutrition:
For the same reason as the bathing, syringe feeding was not an option: He would have to ingest everything voluntarily. We tried an "immunity-boosting nut paste" recipe, exotic fruit, unsalted nuts, Ebsilac (https://www.petsmart.ca/dog/food/milk-replacers/esbilac-puppy-powder-milk-replacer-from-newborns-to-6-weeks-5339807.html?fmethod=Search), and Mazuri Rat and Mouse food (https://www.petsmart.ca/small-pet/food-treats-and-hay/food/mazuri-rat-and-mouse-food-71441.html). He rejected everything except apple slices and unsalted nuts -- although I suspect the Mazuri would have succeeded if he had encountered it before. I'm giving the rest to our other squirrel friends and they seem to enjoy it.
Supplements:
These were another money pit and a big fail. We bought MCT oil, Coconut puree, Colostrum capsules, and Quantum SuperLysine+. All of them altered the taste of his food too much and he would not eat anything. I'll be adding them all to my personal regimen, so they're not wasted. As I write this, my order of Fox Valley 20/50 was just delivered. I'm not sure I'm willing to take that.
Rescuers will always chase miracles, following one false hope after another, going in circles out of compulsion to try just one more thing. Always feeling like you're not doing enough.
What ultimately worked best for him, overall, was safety, warmth, and predictability. He knew where his food was, no one was going to steal it from him, and he could relax knowing he didn't need to defend himself: nothing bad was going to happen to him.
He was an absolute joy to have, and we came to love him very much.
Last night our little guy succumbed to his advanced Pox. (The main thread is here. (https://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?70706-Squirrel-Pox)) We had him in our care for a week. We found, and tried, a number of home remedies discovered on internet searches, and ultimately learned that for wild ones, basic care is the best care.
His eyes were completely swollen from the start, so he could not see. I believe he was, at times, able to see shadows or detect movement.
Housing:
First we had him in a cat carrier. This was small, but enough room for his blanket nest, water bowl, food, and space to pee. I have an XL dog crate, which we lined with cardboard to prevent escape attempts, and moved the entire carrier into the crate, with the door open. We left him alone to decompress, and he soon located his food and water sources. We never changed their locations or moved things around. I had nests inside the carrier and outside next to it, and he established a little routine of switching to different nests at different times of day.
Blanket nest construction:
I used inexpensive fleece blankets, the felt kind you buy in a roll. Thicker was better: too thin, and the nest would collapse and he'd be unable to get back in. If thin is all you have, double it up so it holds its shape. He also didn't like the one that was "furry" feeling, although individual squirrel tastes may differ. I avoided anything with loops so he wouldn't catch his nails in them.
I folded it into a pocket -- Illustrated instructions can be found here (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lPf-_V81PWV4M7vnYnXRFcJZvm9v9uVp/view), and are attached to this post.
1. Cut fleece blanket into quarters
Material should be thick so the pocket holds its shape;
if you can only find thin blankets, double up two quarters.
2. Fold corner-to-corner.
3. Fold one corner into the middle
4. Tuck the other corner into the two layers of the first
5. Pull down top layer of the loose corner to open the pocket
6. This creates a snug pocket nest with a large "driveway" to help him find it.
Hygiene:
Our squirrel was extremely timid and emotionally sensitive. Any large move or attempt to handle him would cause him to panic and freeze up for a couple of hours. (Only apple slice would "reset" him.) So bathing and powdering him with Gold Bond were out of the question, as was treating his sores with peroxide. To not traumatize him with handling and constriction, the best I could do was to change his nests for clean ones, wipe away his pee, and remove his droppings.
Nutrition:
For the same reason as the bathing, syringe feeding was not an option: He would have to ingest everything voluntarily. We tried an "immunity-boosting nut paste" recipe, exotic fruit, unsalted nuts, Ebsilac (https://www.petsmart.ca/dog/food/milk-replacers/esbilac-puppy-powder-milk-replacer-from-newborns-to-6-weeks-5339807.html?fmethod=Search), and Mazuri Rat and Mouse food (https://www.petsmart.ca/small-pet/food-treats-and-hay/food/mazuri-rat-and-mouse-food-71441.html). He rejected everything except apple slices and unsalted nuts -- although I suspect the Mazuri would have succeeded if he had encountered it before. I'm giving the rest to our other squirrel friends and they seem to enjoy it.
Supplements:
These were another money pit and a big fail. We bought MCT oil, Coconut puree, Colostrum capsules, and Quantum SuperLysine+. All of them altered the taste of his food too much and he would not eat anything. I'll be adding them all to my personal regimen, so they're not wasted. As I write this, my order of Fox Valley 20/50 was just delivered. I'm not sure I'm willing to take that.
Rescuers will always chase miracles, following one false hope after another, going in circles out of compulsion to try just one more thing. Always feeling like you're not doing enough.
What ultimately worked best for him, overall, was safety, warmth, and predictability. He knew where his food was, no one was going to steal it from him, and he could relax knowing he didn't need to defend himself: nothing bad was going to happen to him.
He was an absolute joy to have, and we came to love him very much.