Treating a Grey Squirrel for Pneumonia (LASIX saved his life)

[Keith63]

Hi,
I just wanted to share information that may be helpful to others, one of my Grey's (9 weeks old) developed pneumonia very quickly due to an eye infection over the weekend, by the time I arrived at the Vet early Monday morning he was barely hanging on, his lungs were full of fluid to the point that he struggled for each breath, the Vet put him on 100% oxygen then x-rayed his lungs to give me the bad news, she stated that he wasn't going to make it and suggested that I let her put him to sleep, I said no and asked if there's anything we could try and just give him a chance and she said the only thing she could even think of would be (Lasix) so I said let's try, she gave him a shot of Lasix while I was there and then gave me a bottle to give him orally (see dosage below), she also gave me Baytril to fight the infection, he was basically in a coma for 12 hours but during this time his breathing started improving, after 24 hours he was up eating and moving around, by day 2 he was around 75% of his normal self, by day 3 he was well, I've lost several babies over the past few years due to pneumonia and this is the way that I will treat it from now on, I hope this helps someone!

Lasix (liquid by mouth) (0.01 ML) by mouth every 4 hours for first 24 hours then decrease to 0.01 ML every 12 hours for 5 days (this is to remove fluid from the lungs)

Baytril (antibiotic) give (0.06 ML) by mouth twice daily (every 12 hours) for 5 days (this is to treat the lung infection)

Dexamethasone (eye drops) this is to treat the eye irritation (one drop to the irritated eye every 24 hours)

[stepnstone]

Hi,
I just wanted to share information that may be helpful to others, one of my Grey's (9 weeks old) developed pneumonia very quickly due to an eye infection over the weekend, by the time I arrived at the Vet early Monday morning he was barely hanging on, his lungs were full of fluid to the point that he struggled for each breath, the Vet put him on 100% oxygen then x-rayed his lungs to give me the bad news, she stated that he wasn't going to make it and suggested that I let her put him to sleep, I said no and asked if there's anything we could try and just give him a chance and she said the only thing she could even think of would be (Lasix) so I said let's try, she gave him a shot of Lasix while I was there and then gave me a bottle to give him orally (see dosage below), she also gave me Baytril to fight the infection, he was basically in a coma for 12 hours but during this time his breathing started improving, after 24 hours he was up eating and moving around, by day 2 he was around 75% of his normal self, by day 3 he was well, I've lost several babies over the past few years due to pneumonia and this is the way that I will treat it from now on, I hope this helps someone!

Lasix (liquid by mouth) (0.01 ML) by mouth every 4 hours for first 24 hours then decrease to 0.01 ML every 12 hours for 5 days (this is to remove fluid from the lungs)

Baytril (antibiotic) give (0.06 ML) by mouth twice daily (every 12 hours) for 5 days (this is to treat the lung infection)

Dexamethasone (eye drops) this is to treat the eye irritation (one drop to the irritated eye every 24 hours)

I have known many (humans) prescribed Furosemide/ Lasix for fluid retention. Can't say it hasn't been, but I've not heard of it used in a veterinary setting.
I've had domestic animals in the same situation as you describe. Now I wonder why? It makes perfect sense in dire situations.