[CENTER]March 23rd 2021 ....I was walking off my back porch to the check the mailbox after packing up a few items to go off for a few days to a funeral of a family friend (whom passed suddenly) a few counties away.....
Well, I come back inside and I'm trying finish packing, my boyfriend comes inside to hurry me along, and tell me that he had seen where the neighbors dogs had gotten ahold of two baby squirrels that were already long gone (I'll leave out his details) , so I'm all over here like .. He then reminds me of the bad storm we had the night before (VERY high winds) and how they most likely were knocked from the nest "since dogs cant climb trees and most squirrels dont fly".......
We get packed, out the door & everything/everybody in the car; seconds before pulling away, I had alot of snack wrappers & etc trash I didn't want to ride with the whole way, & said "hold on let me get out & throw this away real quick. "
Well I THANK GOD EVERYDAY I DID.
(We have our trashcans beside our back-porch which stops where the driveway starts)
I'm approaching the trash cans, and I see a tiny ball of fur on the ground... I go to move it with my shoe lightly (seriously thought it was a rabbit or something DEAD) and THE THING MOVED. IT WAS ALIVE!!!
I scooped this little precious thing up and immediately noticed how cold and frail it was. It stayed curled up in a ball the whole time it was in my hands and wasn't moving much But it was still alive & it still had a shot, so me being me, I was going to doing anything I could in my power to keep it alive and thriving!
Long story shorter, we put her in a box and due to unforchante circumstances, had to keep her in the box untill around 6 weeks because after we had left for the funeral, we had to stay at a hotel for a good 2 months, and I was literally doing all I could at the time to keep it fed, warm, safe & happy!
I hopped online, and found this very site. I went out and got the syringes, Pedialyte, Esbiliac Puppy milk, and a fleece jacket (All I had besides the cardboard box at the hotel!) & made it work! I always turned to this site for questions and answers, and so far it has proven itself, because I still have my love bug Ava & she is absolutely the center of my world! She is SO spoiled, and is often thought of as the first Grandchild of the family!
[B]
When I tell you that I thought I had saved this squirrel.... I'd never been so wrong...
Soooo, fast forward... Its now July, we are home. Ava is in a Ferret Nation Double Unit WITH the 3rd Add-on, so its technically a triple unit, she has a homeade hammock she enjoys and is usually a happy, busy, stashing, stuffed animal slamming, deer antler chewing Queen! She is very spoilt, and very loved. My mother ended up passing as well not long after the family friend and Ava has been my go-to!
She has helped me TREMENDOUSLY get through this hell of a rough time I've had these last few months & I want to ensure she will continue to STAY happy! Although, I DO have a few questions, and would like to receive any and every tip, trick and hack I can to ensure she gets the quality of life that she gives!!
Her cage is [25 W x 63 H x 36 L] with an additional unit, which is a total of [25 W x 87 H x 36 L] ... I am concerned however the plastic trays that sit on the racks has become an obsessive chewing toy and I'm not sure why.... She has plenty of sticks, toys, and two deer antlers, as well as a toilet paper roll (She enjoys shredding these). Is there any way to stop this behavior?
Also I see her nibbling at her paws alot, and sometimes her arms. I know they like to groom themselves, which she has always done a good bit... but her finger is starting to miss hair, and looks like her knuckle on that finger is larger than the others?
She also had a small, small raised patch (maybe a bump?) on both arms under the last pad- its down her wrist not as close to the foot, and it had some much thicker, longer, and white hairs growing out of this raised area? I thought maybe it could be an ingrown hair? However, I do see her nibbling at the site on both arms alot and I'm not sure what to do about it ?
AND sometimes she has sneezing fits at night. Ive NEVER heard it during the day, maybe once if all during the day, but at night she will be dead asleep, and start sneezing. I've checked for Malocclusion but her teeth seem to be in the right places and shes all the time chewing- but she used to chew the sticks and deer antlers, and now shes wanting to completely chew through her plastic trays in her cage.
She is almost 6 mo now, are there any things I should be prepared for? Or any tips on anything?
Please DM or reply, however is easiest. Again, I'm new here, so please tread lightly. I just want to learn what I can do to keep Mrs.Ava happy & healthy!
I am looking to change her diet because shes been putting on a little bit of weight too. So a healthy diet of things I can get at the veggie side of the store, or a specific diet that gives her everything that she needs would be super helpful as well!
Sorry for the super long post, and I appreciate any and all suggestions/help/tips ♥
♥Long Live & Long Love the Squirrels!♥
XOXO,