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Thread: Re: Aspiration pneumonia

  1. #1
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    Default Re: Aspiration pneumonia

    Posted in another person's forum: https://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/...tion-pneumonia
    Post#9

    Quote Originally Posted by Biancitaafores52 View Post
    I have a rescue antelope ground squirrel, found her when she was just a pinkie on the ground at our neighborhood park. We’ve had her for about 3 years she has had breathing problems that started a long while back but I wasn’t sure what It was we took her to a vet in October of this past yearand got antibiotics I forgot exactly what medication but she hasn’t gotten any better, upon doing more reasearch I found that she has aspiration pneumonia and I cannot take her to the vet anymore because none will take squirrels and that vet I went to isn’t open anymore WHAT CAN I DO ?! Or get she’s very lethargic and has clocking noises isn’t eating well because she can only breathe through her mouth and I cannot get my hands on Baytril or any other antibiotics. Please help I want to help her but I’m out of options on what to do? i also heard it can help to use a humidifier what can i use? I had went on amazon and got something called EquiSilver Respitory Solution could this work and how do i give it to her?
    Step-N-Stone
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    TubeDriver (08-16-2019)

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    Default Re: Aspiration pneumonia

    I doubt this is aspiration pneumonia. That is caused by introducing organic material into the lungs by vomiting or by sucking formula so hard from a syringe that to comes out the nose. They will often then inhale it into the lungs where it grows bacteria and voila - aspiration pneumonia. Adult animals normally don't eat like maniac like babies on formula so they don't usually aspirate. That said, antibiotics to treat a respiratory infection are in order.

    We can help you to properly and precisely dilute and dose many human antibiotics for your squirrel. Call your friends, get on FB, and ask around what leftover antibiotics you can find available. You will likely only need ONE pill. Cipro would be good, and it is very commonly given to women for urinary tract infections so you may find some. Doxycycline would be good but if you find some it must not be past the expiration date (other antibiotics are much more forgiving in this area). Write down what you can find and come back and list them here so we can see the choices.

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  5. #3
    Biancitaafores52 Guest

    Default Re: Aspiration pneumonia

    okay to exactly how can i get these medications i don't seem to have any leftovers neither do family or friends. When i wasn't home my mother would care for her and syringe feed her i'm figuring she did it wrong and had no idea that she was and this maybe developed overtime, the last time we syringe fed her was to give her the meds that the vet has prescribed last october...
    As for leftover meds I can't get a hold of any, my family nor friends seem to have. I only did find Fluconazole Tablet 150 mg ( unopened) but it says to discard after 3/15/19.. Is there anything i can get from my local pharmacy or store?
    Last edited by Biancitaafores52; 08-16-2019 at 08:52 PM. Reason: update

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    Default Re: Aspiration pneumonia

    The Fluconazole is an anti-fungal. It sounds like your squirrel probably needs an antibiotic. Some fish/aquarium stores sell FishFlox which is Cipro. Both the 250mg or 500mg versions can be used. If you get that, we can provide dosing directions.

    https://www.walmartpetrx.com/p-5528-...yABEgLvYPD_BwE


    Quote Originally Posted by Biancitaafores52 View Post
    okay to exactly how can i get these medications i don't seem to have any leftovers neither do family or friends. When i wasn't home my mother would care for her and syringe feed her i'm figuring she did it wrong and had no idea that she was and this maybe developed overtime, the last time we syringe fed her was to give her the meds that the vet has prescribed last october...
    As for leftover meds I can't get a hold of any, my family nor friends seem to have. I only did find Fluconazole Tablet 150 mg ( unopened) but it says to discard after 3/15/19.. Is there anything i can get from my local pharmacy or store?
    See my wild squirrel adventures in the thread "Squirtle's yard!":
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    island rehabber (08-17-2019)

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    Default Re: Aspiration pneumonia

    Can you give us some more info on your squirrel?

    What diet does she eat? Try to list everything and what she gets the most of.

    Where does she live? Indoor or outdoor?

    I am trying to figure out what the problem could be. Again, it may be a pneumonia of some kind but aspiration is very unlikely. It sickens and kills very quickly - days, not months. Aspiration in October would have resulted in illness in October...

  9. #6
    Biancitaafores52 Guest

    Default Re: Aspiration pneumonia

    Quote Originally Posted by CritterMom View Post
    Can you give us some more info on your squirrel?

    What diet does she eat? Try to list everything and what she gets the most of.

    Where does she live? Indoor or outdoor?

    I am trying to figure out what the problem could be. Again, it may be a pneumonia of some kind but aspiration is very unlikely. It sickens and kills very quickly - days, not months. Aspiration in October would have resulted in illness in October...
    We give her rodent food, fruits/berries, pumpkin seeds or any unsalted seeds we find at our local store but it mainly consists of rodent mix as a base. She is an indoor we occasionally take her out but we've kept her indoors most of the time since she's been sick. Shes been losing hair around her eyes as well I saw online that the discharge in her eyes could be stress.
    And I'm not quite sure what it could be then i could try to upload a video of how she is breathing and looking.

  10. #7
    Biancitaafores52 Guest

    Default Re: Aspiration pneumonia

    Quote Originally Posted by TubeDriver View Post
    The Fluconazole is an anti-fungal. It sounds like your squirrel probably needs an antibiotic. Some fish/aquarium stores sell FishFlox which is Cipro. Both the 250mg or 500mg versions can be used. If you get that, we can provide dosing directions.

    https://www.walmartpetrx.com/p-5528-...yABEgLvYPD_BwE
    Alright i'm heading to my local to my local stoer right now. Tyhank you ill be back with an update

  11. #8
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    Default Re: Aspiration pneumonia

    Whoa. Stop! They won’t have that in the store. It would probably only be available online.

  12. #9
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    Default Re: Aspiration pneumonia

    When you say she eats rodent mix, what is that? Is it a nut/seed mix or an extruded pellet?

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    Default Re: Aspiration pneumonia

    Quote Originally Posted by HRT4SQRLS View Post
    When you say she eats rodent mix, what is that? Is it a nut/seed mix or an extruded pellet?
    We need a prairie dog person to check this out - their diet is very different from the tree squirrels...although they feed the PD colony at the Tucson Sonoran Desert Museum the Teklad blocks...

    Also, it is possible that one of the specialty fish places in Las Vegas *may* have the Fish Flox and I would get on the phone with all of them to check. There are a bunch of specialty fish places in Las Vegas - a lot of those casinos have insane aquarium set ups in them and if ANY fish places are actually going to stock this, Las Vegas would be the place to look for them...

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    HRT4SQRLS (08-17-2019)

  15. #11
    Biancitaafores52 Guest

    Default Re: Aspiration pneumonia

    Quote Originally Posted by HRT4SQRLS View Post
    When you say she eats rodent mix, what is that? Is it a nut/seed mix or an extruded pellet?
    Both it has seeds and pellets. A vet told us that would be a good food for her since she is considered a rodent

  16. #12
    Kaatej14 Guest

    Default Re: Aspiration pneumonia

    I think my baby squirrel has pneumonia she started making a clicking noise today she just opened her eyes what do i give her and how much?

  17. #13
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    Default Re: Aspiration pneumonia

    Quote Originally Posted by Kaatej14 View Post
    I think my baby squirrel has pneumonia she started making a clicking noise today she just opened her eyes what do i give her and how much?
    Is your baby lethargic? Decreased appetite? Is the clicking constant? How long have you had her?

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  19. #14
    Biancitaafores52 Guest

    Default Re: Aspiration pneumonia

    Quote Originally Posted by HRT4SQRLS View Post
    Is your baby lethargic? Decreased appetite? Is the clicking constant? How long have you had her?
    If my squirrel doesn’t have aspiration pneumonia do you know what it could mean when you head about 4-5 clicks then she inhales through her mouth. I’m very scared to take her to the next available vet they said they’d have to put her under to see what’s wrong but they don’t understand that she’s too weak and doesn’t need that. I ordered the flux pills online but it’s taking a lot longer than expected I don’t want to see her like this I’m going to upload a video of her and maybe it will help .

  20. #15
    Biancitaafores52 Guest

    Default Re: Aspiration pneumonia

    Quote Originally Posted by Biancitaafores52 View Post
    If my squirrel doesn’t have aspiration pneumonia do you know what it could mean when you head about 4-5 clicks then she inhales through her mouth. I’m very scared to take her to the next available vet they said they’d have to put her under to see what’s wrong but they don’t understand that she’s too weak and doesn’t need that. I ordered the flux pills online but it’s taking a lot longer than expected I don’t want to see her like this I’m going to upload a video of her and maybe it will help .
    https://youtu.be/OOyLzzjlpQM

  21. #16
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    Default Re: Aspiration pneumonia

    Quote Originally Posted by Biancitaafores52 View Post

    My opinion that baby obviously has AP, the "extra" loud click is it's struggling to breathe.
    It is also dehydrated by it's appearance. Ab's for pneumonia is the only answer and below was the best advice.
    Unfortunately time is not in baby's favor.


    Quote Originally Posted by CritterMom View Post
    Call your friends, get on FB, and ask around what leftover antibiotics you can find available. You will likely only need ONE pill. Cipro would be good, and it is very commonly given to women for urinary tract infections so you may find some. Doxycycline would be good but if you find some it must not be past the expiration date (other antibiotics are much more forgiving in this area). Write down what you can find and come back and list them here so we can see the choices.
    Step-N-Stone
    State Licensed
    Wildlife Master Rehabilitator


  22. #17
    Biancitaafores52 Guest

    Default Re: Aspiration pneumonia

    Quote Originally Posted by stepnstone View Post

    My opinion that baby obviously has AP, the "extra" loud click is it's struggling to breathe.
    It is also dehydrated by it's appearance. Ab's for pneumonia is the only answer and below was the best advice.
    Unfortunately time is not in baby's favor.
    Alright thank you

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