Results 1 to 8 of 8

Thread: Change in behavior

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Apr 2020
    Location
    Pennsylvania
    Posts
    5
    Thanked: 1

    Default Change in behavior

    Hello,

    I have a 11 week old squirrel that I have raised since she was about 3 weeks old. With the help of the Squirrel Board, I have been able to keep her alive and well. However, today she has become less active and appears to be breathing heavily. She doesn't feel overly warm, I don't hear any clicking sounds, she is down to taking formula only once a day, so I'm not sure what's wrong! I do have antibiotics on hand, Baytril and Amoxicillin, if needed. She hasn't been in any fights or been exposed to anything different lately. I was reading that you should not use puppy liners, but I have them below the cage to catch the droppings, not up where she has access to it. Not sure what to do and I'm not sure what is wrong. Any advice is appreciated!

    Thank you in advance!

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Dec 2015
    Location
    East coast of Florida
    Posts
    9,781
    Thanked: 12707

    Default Re: Change in behavior

    I’m not sure what might be going on. What are you feeding her besides the formula 1 time a day? Which formula?

  3. Serious fuzzy thank you's to Mel1959 from:

    Animal Lover 85 (06-04-2020)

  4. #3
    Join Date
    Sep 2017
    Location
    Cumming, GA
    Posts
    1,052
    Thanked: 1792

    Default Re: Change in behavior

    First thought.. possible dehydration. Check her water bottle to make sure it is working. Tap the metal ball on the end until you see bubbles in the bottle. I do this every day.
    Add a water dish to the cage. Some babies have problems with water bottles so a dish is a good back up.
    Give her formula once per day, along with blocks and healthy foods, but also offer some pedialyte in a syringe at a different time of day.

    Check her teeth. Watch her when she is eating to make sure is doing okay, and is not twitching or jerking her head when chewing (like in pain).

    Look for her feces, and see what they look like. Check her bottom for diarrhea.

    You might want to move her to a smaller enviroment (like a ventialted tub) to monitor her actions and pooping and peeing.

  5. Serious fuzzy thank you's to Javarat from:

    Animal Lover 85 (06-04-2020)

  6. #4
    Join Date
    Apr 2020
    Location
    Pennsylvania
    Posts
    5
    Thanked: 1

    Default Reply

    Thank you for responding. I have been feeding her the Fox Valley Formula 20/50 as well as 1-2 Henry's Healthy blocks. She also gets a variety of apples, carrots, broccoli, sweet potato, and some blueberries. I am worried about her though because she didn't eat her block tonight and she just loves those. I can't imagine that she has pneumonia because she has not aspirated. I'm not sure what to do. Can you give squirrels antibiotics prophylactically? If so can you please let me know the calculations for how much to give her? It's PO and not an injectable.
    Thank you!

  7. #5
    Join Date
    Apr 2020
    Location
    Pennsylvania
    Posts
    5
    Thanked: 1

    Default Reply

    Thank you! I will check her water bottle, though I did offer her pedialyte today but she didn't want anything to do with it. I will add the water dish though.
    I will monitor her for the other symptoms you mentioned to see if anything else is going on.
    Thank you!

  8. #6
    Join Date
    Apr 2012
    Location
    somewhere else
    Posts
    510
    Thanked: 698

    Default Re: Change in behavior

    Quote Originally Posted by Animal Lover 85 View Post
    I was reading that you should not use puppy liners, but I have them below the cage to catch the droppings,
    Is her pee getting on them? I would remove them and put newspaper.

  9. Serious fuzzy thank you's to Grinderhead from:

    Animal Lover 85 (06-04-2020)

  10. #7
    Join Date
    Apr 2020
    Location
    Pennsylvania
    Posts
    5
    Thanked: 1

    Default Re: Change in behavior

    Quote Originally Posted by Grinderhead View Post
    Is her pee getting on them? I would remove them and put newspaper.
    Yes, she is urinating on them. I will replace with newspaper. Thank you!

  11. Serious fuzzy thank you's to Animal Lover 85 from:

    Grinderhead (06-05-2020)

  12. #8
    Join Date
    Apr 2020
    Location
    Pennsylvania
    Posts
    5
    Thanked: 1

    Default Re: Change in behavior

    Good morning everyone,

    I just wanted to add a quick update for Miss Sandy Cheeks. She seems to be feeling better this morning, although maybe not 100%, at least has improved. She is eating now. She's peeing. She does not have diarrhea. I replaced her bedding with newspaper. She is still reluctant to drink though. We will have to work on that. Thank you to everyone who responded and helped yesterday!

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •