Re: Laying around not eating and sneezing help
Originally Posted by
Rock Monkey
I would treat immediately with the antibiotics that you have.
Antibiotics are hard on a squirrel's system, we do not recommend giving antibiotics without determining first
what it is we are attempting to treat. Antibiotics will do nothing for the treatment of MBD!
Originally Posted by
Lisap
Her breathing is labored She eats nuts sweet potatoes zucchini.
~ She gets a tiny calcium supplement in a tablespoon of water
each day because she had a deficiency of it
Nuts rob the body of calcium! Giving a calcium supplement and feeding nuts is counter productive.
Sweet potato, zucchini, should only be fed in liminted amounts as they both are high in fats, starches, and oxalates.
Originally Posted by
CritterMom
How many milligrams of calcium per day?
Her diet is really not good at all.
The above question needed an answer!
A squirrel has a high calcium requirement, an improper diet void of this daily nutritional requirement will lead to Metabolic bone disease.
Symptoms of MBD: general body soreness, activity levels decline, lethargy, drop in appetite, labored breathing. (indication of pain)
Untreated MBD can lead to increased severity to seizures and or paralysis, death if not treated.
Originally Posted by
Rock Monkey
Between the labored breathing and lethargy that strongly suggests that the squirrel may have aspiration pneumonia.
There are many illnesses that this can be credited to as well as pain that causes the same.
Originally Posted by
Rock Monkey
Don't mean to step on any toes, but AP is serious stuff.
You are stepping on toes when an educated experienced member is already helping and asking pertinent questions that goes unanswered due to your constant bumping of posts with your consistent Aspiration pneumonia theories. Everything is not AP!
Mbd is serious and Yes, AP is serious! So where are the pertinent questions you should be asking to make this determination before your deciding an antibiotic should be given?
Aspiration Pneumonia Symptoms:
Early stages include a barely audible rhythmic ‘clicking’ sound coming from the nose or chest, coinciding with inhaling and exhaling. A caregiver might notice a mild vibration or rattle in the chest. Squirrels with more severe and advanced cases of aspiration or pneumonia may have labored, shallow, and difficult breathing. The squirrel may breathe through an open mouth rather than through the nose. The respiratory rate may be abnormally rapid or slow. They may be weak and even collapsed. Coughing is possible, but not common.
Lisap, The diet strongly suggests a calcium deficiency.
Please examine both symptoms listed and elaborate on what you are experiencing with your squirrel.
Last edited by stepnstone; 01-23-2021 at 10:32 PM.
Reason: spl
Step-N-Stone
State Licensed
Wildlife Master Rehabilitator