Chipmunk Help

[Lillypad112]

Hello Everyone!

I apologize as I am making a thread for a chipmunk rather than a squirrel but I can not find answers anywhere and I am worried. I have had a chipmunk for over 7 years now and they have been healthy and thriving. Long story short, we were not able to release this chipmunk into the wild and thus decided to raise the chipmunk as best we could. About a week ago we noticed the chipmunk was not their normal self. They started sleeping a little bit more and didn't seem to be as active. Their condition has now changed and they are barely moving, sleeping a lot, and we are very worried.

Their eyes are closed, we are able to move them around (where before they could be a little skittish), the body feels a little cold to touch, and they are shaking in the way as if their heart is beating so quick or breathing so quick that their upper body (and what looks like their whole body at times) is pulsing. They are still eating every so often slowly and seem to still be taking a drink of water (though I have not been able to watch the chipmunk for a long time, the few times I have seen their head near their water spout). I have tried to find some answers, including pneumonia, although I have not heard any clicking. Today they seem to be wanting to burrow under their bedding.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you.

[CritterMom]

What is the diet?

[Lillypad112]

What is the diet?

Mostly almonds and walnuts, occasional fruit like grapes and raisins, lettuce grown from our garden, tomatoes, yogurt (very small amount every once a month or so), a small piece of meat like chicken usually every other week, a rare french fry thrown in—also a market medley types of food, grains and pellets, sunflower seeds etc. No big changes to his food, nothing new, nothing suddenly gone.

[CritterMom]

Have you ever read about Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD)? Squirrels require a fair amount of calcium in their diets combined with a relatively low amount of phosphorus and standard foods are just the opposite. The first thing I would try doing I getting some calcium into him and see if there is any change in his behavior. The easiest way is to buy a bottle of fruit flavored Tums - the indigestion stuff is all calcium and is flavored.

https://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/...dated-3-31-09)

Please bear in mind this is written for a 1 to 1.5 pound squirrel - I would cut all of the numbers for recommended amounts at least in half or 1/3 for a chipmunk.

Get the Tums. You can see if he will just nibble on a tablet, but if not you can mash it up and mix with water or even hide it in a tiny blob of peanut butter. If you begin to see improvement over the next couple days you know what the problem is and we can help work with you on diet so it doesn't happen again.

[Lillypad112]

Have you ever read about Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD)? Squirrels require a fair amount of calcium in their diets combined with a relatively low amount of phosphorus and standard foods are just the opposite. The first thing I would try doing I getting some calcium into him and see if there is any change in his behavior. The easiest way is to buy a bottle of fruit flavored Tums - the indigestion stuff is all calcium and is flavored.

https://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/...dated-3-31-09)

Please bear in mind this is written for a 1 to 1.5 pound squirrel - I would cut all of the numbers for recommended amounts at least in half or 1/3 for a chipmunk.

Get the Tums. You can see if he will just nibble on a tablet, but if not you can mash it up and mix with water or even hide it in a tiny blob of peanut butter. If you begin to see improvement over the next couple days you know what the problem is and we can help work with you on diet so it doesn't happen again.

Thank you. I thankfully had some tums available. He seems to be having trouble standing fully on his back legs and not fully stable but seems to be nibbling on the Tums. I will monitor him for the next couple of days. Thank you again.