Why is my 8 week old now having extreme diarrhea

[Straightfreefall]

Why is my baby squirrel having stomach issues and diarrhea badly. He had pneumonia a couple weeks ago and used betro to get rid of it and it worked and when he was on the Bay trail he had diarrhea but when he got off of it his poop hardened up. And he's been great attitude great energy yesterday he started acting weird and having diarrhea really bad yellow running sometimes gel like. He gets a Henry block every day and feed him 7% of his body weight with the Fox valley 2050. Someone please tell me how to help him

[SamtheSquirrel2018]

Why is my baby squirrel having stomach issues and diarrhea badly. He had pneumonia a couple weeks ago and used betro to get rid of it and it worked and when he was on the Bay trail he had diarrhea but when he got off of it his poop hardened up. And he's been great attitude great energy yesterday he started acting weird and having diarrhea really bad yellow running sometimes gel like. He gets a Henry block every day and feed him 7% of his body weight with the Fox valley 2050. Someone please tell me how to help him

Hi Straightfreefall and welcome to The Squirrel Board! What is the name of your baby Squirrel? I'm sorry to hear about the diarrhea! Is there a foul odor to the diarrhea? There are a number of possible causes for diarrhea. One would be from the change in the makeup of the gut bacteria from use of an antibiotic, in this case Baytril but most all antibiotics can result in diarrhea developing. I would recommend that you start some powdered probiotics with this possibility cause in mind! There are many brands of probiotics and most will work just fine. Henry's Pets sell a couple of different probiotics made for animals and one in particular, Bene-Bac Plus is my favorite because it is a gel that is easy to dispense. The other is Fox Valley LA-200. I have not used the LA-200 but it would be fine as well. Again, just about any probiotics will work and only a small sprinkle on food or a tiny piece of nut butter or in a small amount of water a couple of time a day is all that is needed. Here is a Henry's Pets website; https://www.henryspets.com

There is no definitive dosing strategy to the probiotics and what I do in cases of diarrhea is dose the tiny amount of Probiotic powder twice the first day, once the second day and then skip the next day and then every other day for 3 more doses. This is based upon my own experience and there are many ways to do this and most dosing protocols would be fine. Very small amounts of probiotics are all that would be necessary!

Another possible cause of diarrhea is endoparasites such as coccidia. That is why I asked about a foul odor to the diarrhea as several parasites an odor to the stool. Do you have a Veterinarian that has seen your Squirrel or do you know a Squirrel friendly and experienced Veterinarian who could see your Squirrel. One test that a Vet or some Rehabbers can perform is what is called a Fecal Floatation Test where a stool specimen is prepared a certain way and then examined under a microscope for eggs of the parasites. The parasites themselves are usually not present in the stool. On possibility is that you could ask any vet if they would simply perform a Fecal Floatation Test on a specimen of stool that you bring to the office and they may agree to do this even if they don't see Squirrels. It's worth a try!

Another possible cause for the diarrhea (and this is common, unfortunately) is due to improper mixing if the formula or use of spoiled formula; either the powder itself or the mixed formula. The powdered formula MUST be kept in the freezer and pulled out on to get powdered formula to mix a batch of formula. The formula powder must be mixed with hot water. I use water at 170 degrees F but just ensure that it is not near boiling. You can of course use hot tap water (usually around 120-135 degrees F but I use bottled water (but probably this is more me than necessity). The formula can be mixed in a glass container with a cap and only the amount of formula needed for the next 24 should be mixed as ALL mixed formula MUST be disposed of by 24 hours and ALL mixed formula except while using it to feed your Squirrel should be kept in the refrigerator. When initially mixing formula, you can shake the bottle and or mix vigorously with a spoon but avoid mechanical mixing as this is mentioned by the manufacturer although although I have never really found out why they say this. The formula after initial mixing appears well mix and this is where many have gone wrong and simply do a "quick-mix" and give it to the Squirrel. This should never be done as small particles of the powder still remain an are not in solution. These are very difficult for the babies to fully digest and the can pass into the intestine without any significant digestion begun and draw water into the intestine and diarrhea ensues! After mixing the formula, keep it in the refrigerator at least 4 hours and preferable 6-8 hours before using it for the first time (you can mix the night before and use it starting with the first morning feeding! The formula should be gently but definitively mixed prior to each feeding.

When an animal has diarrhea, usually there is more than loss of water and electrolytes are also lost. Electrolytes are Sodium, chloride, potassium and the like. Squirrel with diarrhea will need to have regular replenishment of plain water and also some electrolytes! Pedialyte is an option for replenishing some plain water and electrolytes and this can be given between formula feedings. In fact, you can hold off formula for 8 hours and replace the formula feeding with a couple of Pedialyte feedings as sometimes when diarrhea is already present, the formula itself may aggravate it but do NOT hold the formula more than the 8 hours and only once. Again, this advice is based upon my experience along with some knowledge of physiology and nutrition but I am NOT a Veterinarian.

One very good electrolyte supplement for fluid and electrolyte therapy during periods of diarrhea is Fox Valley Dia-stat which is also available from Henry's It can be very effective for fluid and electrolyte replacement and these solutions also may help "tone down" the gut and directly have the effect of reducing diarrhea! One big caution is to NEVER mix any electrolyte containing solution such as Pedialyte or Dia-Stat with formula! Formula should contain ONLY the powdered formula and the plain, fresh water it is mixed with!

Please keep on with update on your Squirrel I thank you for your care of your baby Squirrel and for the love that you bestow upon him!
Regards,
SamtheSquirrel

[Straightfreefall]

So I have 4 baby squirrels and the one with the problems is blu he weights 153g and is the sweetest. His stool became regular about 3 days after finishing baytrll treatment. And he gets powdered probiotic every other day. The formula should be fine as is consistently stored in fridge and mixing it should be fine as well as all the other others have had the same stool since the beginning of the Fox valley day one 50/²⁰. Just so you have the full background o found all four in the nest in a tree that had to be removed as it was a hazard to somebody's house the storm had already broken it in half and they were living in the other half tried to get the mom to come back and get them and couldn't get her to come back actually left the tree standing for two days hoping she would come back so by the time I got them they were all dehydrated ordered Fox valley almost immediately after getting them but it took a week to get here so use the esbilak that was suggested on this form. Followed almost every instruction in warning that this form gave me got back from work one day and blue had gotten under the stuff in their pin and was at the bottom of the container basically on the heating pad with the only thing between them the plastic from the container and then the fabric from the heating pad I cried for hours cuz I thought he was dead like literally wouldn't move nothing just look like skin and Bones it killed me literally one of my tears hit him in the face and his mouth barely moved and I sat there for hours just giving him drop after dropped slowly as possible until he came back like didn't put the dude down for 4 days almost and he just stayed with me constantly so I can make sure he got rehydrated and fed properly and all of that he ended up catching pneumonia my cousin got me some Bay trail the basement took almost 2 weeks to get here and I was scared he wasn't going to make it so I ended up getting human antibiotics and it was dosed out by somebody on this board based on blues weight ran that treatment and the pneumonia didn't seem to go away got the patrol got that dosing information and the pneumonia went away after 4 days no more clicks nothing full of energy loving life his stool went back to normal and it was normal for a little over a week and a half and now he's having a diarrhea issue and yes it stinks very bad. I will literally do anything to keep this dude happy and healthy like whatever I need to do just give me the info please.

[SamtheSquirrel2018]

So I have 4 baby squirrels and the one with the problems is blu he weights 153g and is the sweetest. His stool became regular about 3 days after finishing baytrll treatment. And he gets powdered probiotic every other day. The formula should be fine as is consistently stored in fridge and mixing it should be fine as well as all the other others have had the same stool since the beginning of the Fox valley day one 50/²⁰. Just so you have the full background o found all four in the nest in a tree that had to be removed as it was a hazard to somebody's house the storm had already broken it in half and they were living in the other half tried to get the mom to come back and get them and couldn't get her to come back actually left the tree standing for two days hoping she would come back so by the time I got them they were all dehydrated ordered Fox valley almost immediately after getting them but it took a week to get here so use the esbilak that was suggested on this form. Followed almost every instruction in warning that this form gave me got back from work one day and blue had gotten under the stuff in their pin and was at the bottom of the container basically on the heating pad with the only thing between them the plastic from the container and then the fabric from the heating pad I cried for hours cuz I thought he was dead like literally wouldn't move nothing just look like skin and Bones it killed me literally one of my tears hit him in the face and his mouth barely moved and I sat there for hours just giving him drop after dropped slowly as possible until he came back like didn't put the dude down for 4 days almost and he just stayed with me constantly so I can make sure he got rehydrated and fed properly and all of that he ended up catching pneumonia my cousin got me some Bay trail the basement took almost 2 weeks to get here and I was scared he wasn't going to make it so I ended up getting human antibiotics and it was dosed out by somebody on this board based on blues weight ran that treatment and the pneumonia didn't seem to go away got the patrol got that dosing information and the pneumonia went away after 4 days no more clicks nothing full of energy loving life his stool went back to normal and it was normal for a little over a week and a half and now he's having a diarrhea issue and yes it stinks very bad. I will literally do anything to keep this dude happy and healthy like whatever I need to do just give me the info please.

Thanks for your response, Straightfreefall and please say hello to Blue and the other three baby Squirrels for me. For diarrhea, the primary issue is that there is loss of water and most likely electrolytes as well! Please go back to my recent post where I discussed treatment with rehydrating solutions such as Pedialyte (this or generic equivalents are available at most every pharmacy or grocery store) or Fox Valley Dia-Stat (this would need to be ordered from Fox Valley or from Henrys and a link to Henry's was provided in that same post of mine). I would also suggest holding off on the formula for 8 hours and in its place, give balanced (rehydrating solution containing plain water and electrolytes and give that instead of the formula. This may significantly help with the diarrhea and then gradually after the 8 hour period go back to feeding the formula but dilute it with half and half with fresh bottled water and mix thoroughly. Continue this with your calculated volume of more diluted formula for the next 12 hours BUT alternate this dilute formula and the Rehydrating solution. NEVER mix formula with the rehydrating solution or with anything but water! Over the next 24 hour period you should gradually transition back to the regular strength of the formula (gradually decrease the added water until by the end of that 24 hour period, the formula is back to its regular concentration (1 part powder and 2 parts water) and the extra water you added is phased out. I would also like to suggest that one scheduled feeding in that 24 hour period of transition back to regular strength formula that is scheduled closest to noon be replaced with a "feeding" of Rehydrating solution instead of the Formula. Hopefully, during this 48 hour modified diet period of no formula and only rehydrating solution for 8 hours, then the next 12 hours using properly mixed formula (1 part powder and 2 parts water) that is then diluted further with half formula and half additional water, then the next 24 hours where the formula feedings are gradually returned to there normal concentration (1 part powder to 2 parts water) except that the feeding closest to noon be replaced with rehydrating solution. If there are any questions or this is unclear in any way, please post your concerns immediately and do NOT change anything until and unless you agree on this plan and you have no further questions about it!

Going back to possible endoparasite infection such as from Giardia or Coccidiosis, ideally a fecal floatation test should be done. Smelly, foamy, watery stool is classic for Giardia but it relatively unusual for a baby Squirrel to get this in the first place but certainly not unheard of but it is also unusual that Blue be the only one in the "nest" to have these signs of intestinal parasites (assuming all of the babies are housed together)!

As I mentioned in my recent post; simply asking a Veterinarian to do a Fecal Floatation Test without seeing the Squirrel (assuming that Blue cannot be seen by the Vet or the Vet is not Squirrel friendly) may be extremely beneficial if a diagnosis can be confirmed! This test can be done quickly in the office with minimal wait! There are treatments for coccidia and for Giardia if that is what is going on. There may be justification for trying one form of treatment if the diarrhea continues after the 48 hour period of formula modifications and use of rehydrating fluid or before if the situation worsens. Are all fours Squirrels kept together? If so and none of the other have similar symptoms it bespeaks at least a little bit against parasites but the other side of this would be to separate Blue from the others just in case Blue does have parasites as these can easily spread to his brothers and sisters!

Please provide frequent updates!

Regards,
SamtheSquirrel

[SamtheSquirrel2018]

Hi Straightfreefall:
How is Blue doing?
Regards,
SamtheSquirrel