7 month old squirrel gasping for air

[Jenjenrkmrt]

It's a lot to write so instead of telling the story I'm just gonna jot down what's been going on with Chester the last 3 days...

Saturday- around 5pm he was fine
5:30... Gasping for air, face and chest looked wet, face swelled. Tried to get him to see if he was choking but he spazzed and wouldn't come to me which is very unusual.

Sunday morning- not gasping but labored breathing, face still swelled, both eyes closed, still won't come to me but does drink every few hours. Added Tums and tiny amount of Benadryl to his water bottle and covered cage to keep it dark.

Monday- seems to be doing better but still not doing good. I did catch him eating a spinach leaf with extra calcium and a shelled walnut. But I don't know what's caused this and I've got to figure it out quick.

[Spanky]

That age is prime for MBD (Metabolic Bone Disease) to set in if their diet is calcium robbing so this is what comes to mind first.

And this is speculation, but indicating he is eating foods with extra calcium suggests he is eating a calcium robbing diet (lots of seeds, nuts, dried corn, etc.) and maybe no rodent blocks at all. It is not possible to feed a calcium robbing diet but then compensate for that by providing "extra calcium". It just does not work that way... just like we cannot eat all kinds of fatty and processed foods and have a diet coke and expect to stay healthy. Good news is that is this is MBD it can be reversed, but will take months to fully recover.

Hopefully I am wrong, but maybe listing his complete diet can help eliminate MBD as a possibility?

https://henryspets.com/emergency-treatment-for-mbd/

https://henryspets.com/what-is-metabolic-bone-disease/

[Jenjenrkmrt]

He does have pecans and walnuts, but also flower buds, spinach leaves, romaine leaves, kale, acorns, sunflower and pumpkin seeds. Ive tried rodent blocks and they hate them.

[TomahawkFlyers]

I agree with Spanky that this just might be aspiration pneumonia.

Go here now: https://henryspets.com/emergency-treatment-for-mbd/

See what antibiotics you can get from your medicine cabinet and your friends. Weigh the squirrel, come back here and give Spanky the weight and the meds you have found, including the strength of each one. You will get dosing - and you must take care of it immediately or the little guy will pass away.

Jamie

[TomahawkFlyers]

Then figure out how to get blocks in him - Henrey's has much more attractive blocks than run-of-the-mill rodent blocks.

Jamie

[Spanky]

He does have pecans and walnuts, but also flower buds, spinach leaves, romaine leaves, kale, acorns, sunflower and pumpkin seeds. Ive tried rodent blocks and they hate them.

He hates them only because he would rather have junk food over healthy food.

Most toddler if given a bowl full of gummy bears and capt'n crunch would eat that versus a bowl full of broccoli, carrots and asparagus. Same principal applies here... Walnuts, pecans, acorns, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds in a captive squirrels diet.. other than as treats... will result in MBD and they will die.

I promise a squirrel with a bowl full of rodent block available will not starve themselves to death, but like a toddler spoiled on unhealthy junk food they will do everything to make you beleive they are starving.

[Jenjenrkmrt]

He's actually out of bed and running around today. He just looks like he feels better. But still constantly making the sneezing sound and cleaning his face.

[Jenjenrkmrt]

I'm going to order Henry's rodent blocks but can't till tomorrow, then it will be a few days b4 I get them so what other foods can I give him until then?

[Spanky]

Food Pyramid:
https://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?44440-Healthy-Diet-for-Pet-Squirrels

[Jenjenrkmrt]

Just wanted to post an update. Chester still does the sneezing thing, mostly in the mornings but every day has shown more and more improvement. He actually looks healthier now than he ever has and is finally back to his old psychotic self. Thank u guys so much. My heart couldn't have handled losing him or any of the other brats.