Sick 7 month old Grey Squirrel

[Squirrllygirly]

My little Rocky started having problems breathing out of nowhere last night. My bf and I turned to some other posts on here for what to do. So far for the last 24hours he has been given a little echinacea and sovereign silver. I was finally able to get a hold of some 250mg cipro a little while ago. I need dosing information for him. He weighs around 1.5lbs. We have him a little "nest" of some clean shirts on top of a heating pad in his cage and a vaporizer next to the cage with a sheet around it. ANY other information would be helpful on what I can do for him. I hate hearing him struggle breathing. (He was clicking a bit last night but after being near the vaporizer all day, the clicking is gone and now it's more of a wheeze and URI type sound. He's been eating and drinking on his own today).

[Squirrllygirly]

I really need help with dosing ASAP so I can start my baby in his meds. 😩

[Rhapsody]

You are doing the right things for your sick baby, keep up the good work and I will see if I can get some one to come and dose the Cipro for you...... hang in there. (((hugs))) ♡

[SammysMom]

How many mg is the pill and how much does the squirrel weigh?

[HRT4SQRLS]

680 grams
250 mg Ciprofloxacin

[HRT4SQRLS]

You got this Gayle or do you want me to do it?

[SammysMom]

Sorry, sent info a while ago.

[HRT4SQRLS]

SammysMom


Squirrellygirly, I'm very concerned about Rocky. Older squirrels don't typically get aspiration pneumonia. Aspiration pneumonia is what the babies get from inhaled formula. While Ciprofloxacin is effective for treating aspiration pneumonia, I don't find it that effective against respiratory problems that older squirrels get. Definitely use the Cipro because that's what you have and it might help and it won't hurt.

Keep in mind that breathing problems could also be heart related.

I know this doesn't seem relevant but I have to ask about Rocky's diet. What does Rocky eat? It might not be related at all but the diet is so often the cause of illness in squirrels ... we always have to ask.

Let us know. I hope Rocky improves soon. He looks very ill in the pic. Poor guy.

[Nancy in New York]

Is there ANY possibility that he ate something he shouldn't have.
Does he have out of the cage time? If so is it always supervised?
Sorry to hear your little one is not feeling well.
Yes, please tell us everything he eats.
Prayers for little Rocky.

[Squirrllygirly]

I'm sorry it's taken awhile for me to get back on. I fell asleep for a bit since I haven't gotten much looking after my baby. He eats veggies, occasionally fruits, and nuts and seeds. I've already told my bf to quit giving him all the extra nuts and seeds he does. He is out of his cage most of the day since my bf is home. He is supervised during that time though he is sneaky when you glance away for a second. The only thing I could think that was out of the ordinary for him, was him going up and sniffing/trying to get his hands on an onion before realizing he didn't like the smell. He never actually ate it but I didn't know if it irritated his respiratory system. I thought maybe he ate the tomato wrong as well as a possible cause. Everything else he ate yesterday he's had before (broccoli, spinach, cauliflower, lettuce, tomatoes, bell peppers ). I do live in Lubbock and it is quite dusty in this area. We have had some crazy weather and a lot of peopl are sick with URIs. My bf spoke to an exotic pet store in town for advice before coming here, and they said a lot of their rodents have been having similar problems lately. I'm not sure if it's related at all, just grasping at straws at this point. My aunt has helped rehab squirrels in the past and still does but closer to the Houston area. She has been helpful with everything up until this point and was at a loss with my Rocky's symptoms and turned me to here.

[Nancy in New York]

I'm sorry it's taken awhile for me to get back on. I fell asleep for a bit since I haven't gotten much looking after my baby. He eats veggies, occasionally fruits, and nuts and seeds. I've already told my bf to quit giving him all the extra nuts and seeds he does. He is out of his cage most of the day since my bf is home. He is supervised during that time though he is sneaky when you glance away for a second. The only thing I could think that was out of the ordinary for him, was him going up and sniffing/trying to get his hands on an onion before realizing he didn't like the smell. He never actually ate it but I didn't know if it irritated his respiratory system. I thought maybe he ate the tomato wrong as well as a possible cause. Everything else he ate yesterday he's had before (broccoli, spinach, cauliflower, lettuce, tomatoes, bell peppers ). I do live in Lubbock and it is quite dusty in this area. We have had some crazy weather and a lot of peopl are sick with URIs. My bf spoke to an exotic pet store in town for advice before coming here, and they said a lot of their rodents have been having similar problems lately. I'm not sure if it's related at all, just grasping at straws at this point. My aunt has helped rehab squirrels in the past and still does but closer to the Houston area. She has been helpful with everything up until this point and was at a loss with my Rocky's symptoms and turned me to here.

You need to only feed nuts as a snack, and in very limited quantities.
STOP the bell peppers. (night shade vegetable)
We have had several squirrels get sick after eating
them. NOT sure it it was related, but a it was a common denominator.
From an old thread.

Awhile back, a couple of squirrels got really sick and one even died - it was finally decided that it was the bell peppers that was the culprit. I think they can be apt to grow mold inside and so for that reason, it was decided to put them on the do not feed list.

Your little one needs a quality block.
I feed mine Henry's Blocks for Picky eaters.
http://www.henryspets.com/squirrel-diet/

Here's a list of foods that are recommended.
You can freely feed groups 1 and 2 and in limited
quantity from group 3.

http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/s...-Pet-Squirrels

I hope your little one is feeling better today.

[Squirrllygirly]

Thank you for the dosing and food advice. My little booger is doing much better this morning after the 1st dose of cipro! His breathing is much better and he's up and moving around a little this morning. He even looks better and doesn't have so much of the "sick face" anymore.

[Rhapsody]

Good to here he is feeling better. (((hugs)))
Thanks to SammysMom for dosing.

[stepnstone]

You need to only feed nuts as a snack, and in very limited quantities.
STOP the bell peppers. (night shade vegetable)
We have had several squirrels get sick after eating
them. NOT sure it it was related, but a it was a common denominator.
From an old thread.


You little one needs a quality block.
I feed mine Henry's Blocks for Picky eaters.
http://www.henryspets.com/squirrel-diet/

Here's a list of foods that are recommended.
You can freely feed groups 1 and 2 and in limited
quantity from group 3.

http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/s...-Pet-Squirrels

I hope your little one is feeling better today.

Your need to read up on Metabolic bone disease and the importance of calcium
in squirrels. All the nuts and seeds will deplete calcium levels which will cause it
to be leached from their bones. MBD cripples, mbd kills!
One can not maintain their needed calcium levels with vegetables alone.
"Captive" squirrels need to be fed and eating a quality rodent block!

[Squirrllygirly]

You need to read up on Metabolic bone disease and the importance of calcium
in squirrels. All the nuts and seeds will deplete calcium levels which will cause it
to be leached from their bones. MBD cripples, mbd kills!
One can not maintain their needed calcium levels with vegetables alone.
"Captive" squirrels need to be fed and eating a quality rodent block!

I've already ordered the Henry's blocks online as well as picked up some rodent blocks from the store to use until the others get here. He has been chewing on deer antlers and has been given calcium supliments up until this point. It's good to know about the Henry's blocks though so I don't have to keep buying all these supliments separately and adding them to food or water.

[Squirrllygirly]

My little Rocky seems to have some more energy (almost back to his normal self) and it munching on lots of healthy veggies. He is still wheezing pretty consistently though. Is there anything else I can do for that, or just keep giving the cipro?

[HRT4SQRLS]

Just curious... are there any environmental factors that might be causing this wheezing. Wood shavings, candles, air fresheners, etc.

Does he have a sleeping pouch, nestbox or cube? Have you checked it recently? I removed one a couple weeks ago that was disgusting. The girls had hauled food into the cube and it was molding. When I pulled the fleece out of the cube it was 'smoking' with mold spores.

To rule out allergies, you could try Benedryl for a few days to see if it helps.

Also, If there are no factors that could be causing allergic reactions, I would consider a course of doxycycline for atypical respiratory infections.

[Squirrllygirly]

Just curious... are there any environmental factors that might be causing this wheezing. Wood shavings, candles, air fresheners, etc.

Does he have a sleeping pouch, nestbox or cube? Have you checked it recently? I removed one a couple weeks ago that was disgusting. The girls had hauled food into the cube and it was molding. When I pulled the fleece out of the cube it was 'smoking' with mold spores.

To rule out allergies, you could try Benedryl for a few days to see if it helps.

Also, If there are no factors that could be causing allergic reactions, I would consider a course of doxycycline for atypical respiratory infections.

I have liquid children's benedryl. Any idea on the dosing for that?

If that doesn't work, how would I get a hold of doxycycline?

[HRT4SQRLS]

I'll send a Private Message.