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Thread: Sneezing

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Sep 2021
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    New Orleans, LA
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    Default Sneezing

    Hello. Little Toot Toot started sneezing (?) tonight for the first time ever.

    She is about five months old and has been incredible. She eats great (a full appetite even as she sneezes this evening), receiving meals prepared based on the Healthy Diet pyramid flyer, as well as Henry’s blocks twice a day. She also gets an in-shell hazelnut each day and an in-shell walnut twice a week. She weened off of formula about two weeks ago now (refused it completely while trying for a week). Has seemed to be in great health and wonderful spirits. (VERY spunky!)

    I looked up sneezing here and see posts referencing malocclusion, but I have absolutely NO idea how I could ever check for that! There’s no way I can get a look in there!

    I’m at a loss here, and worried.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    City Island, Bronx, NY
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    Default Re: Sneezing

    Hi, and congratulations on raising a healthy squirrel! Some questions:

    How often does she sneeze? Once an hour, once every 5 mins, or continually? Squirrels do a "pfffft!" thing as they sniff around their environment. Continual sneezing would suggest an upper respiratory infection, or trouble with teeth.

    Can you get a nice wooden skewer, like for shish kebab, and get her to bite on it? This is a good way to examine the state of her teeth. You want to check for malocclusion -- where the uppers and lowers don't line up properly and are not ground down the way they should be (we have lots of pictures of this). Catching malocclusion early gives you the best chance for treatment.
    Island Rehabber
    NY State Licensed
    Wildlife Rehabilitator


    "Ancora Imparo" (I am still learning)
    Michelangelo


    *
    If you can't afford the vet,
    You can't afford a pet.
    NEGLECT IS ABUSE.

    "Better one day in the trees, than a lifetime in a cage."

    '...and the greatest of these, is Love. '

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Sep 2021
    Location
    New Orleans, LA
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    Default Re: Sneezing

    It is a “pfffft” sound. She was doing it last night, and did it maybe five or six times in a period of about three minutes or so, but hasn’t done it at all this morning, though.

    I will try to get her to bite around a stick. She’s *such* a wiggle worm who never sits still so I know it’ll be difficult. But I’ll try!

    ( She’s never been burrito-able! No matter how hard I’ve tried! )

  4. Serious fuzzy thank you's to Templeton from:

    island rehabber (01-17-2022)

  5. #4
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    City Island, Bronx, NY
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    Default Re: Sneezing

    You'll be surprised to see how, once she thinks "bite the stick" is a great game, you can tumble her on her back and get a good look at those toofers. Have phone camera ready.
    Island Rehabber
    NY State Licensed
    Wildlife Rehabilitator


    "Ancora Imparo" (I am still learning)
    Michelangelo


    *
    If you can't afford the vet,
    You can't afford a pet.
    NEGLECT IS ABUSE.

    "Better one day in the trees, than a lifetime in a cage."

    '...and the greatest of these, is Love. '

  6. #5
    Join Date
    Sep 2021
    Location
    New Orleans, LA
    Posts
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    Thanked: 15

    Default Re: Sneezing

    Ok! I was able to get a skewer in her mouth to take a look (no chance of getting a photo, though) and the teeth appear to be normal length and lining up just fine!

    She also hasn’t made this sound since I made me original post, so maybe it was just a one-time thing, or a new sound she was discovering.

    I’m just such a worry wart!

    Thank you again for your help. Y’all are always so incredible here!

  7. Serious fuzzy thank you's to Templeton from:

    island rehabber (01-18-2022)

  8. #6
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    City Island, Bronx, NY
    Posts
    51,452
    Thanked: 17932

    Default Re: Sneezing

    Second-guessing ourselves and worrying makes us crazy, but it also makes us better squirrel moms and better rehabbers.
    Island Rehabber
    NY State Licensed
    Wildlife Rehabilitator


    "Ancora Imparo" (I am still learning)
    Michelangelo


    *
    If you can't afford the vet,
    You can't afford a pet.
    NEGLECT IS ABUSE.

    "Better one day in the trees, than a lifetime in a cage."

    '...and the greatest of these, is Love. '

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