Need some advice about orphan female squirrel 4-5 weeks old who is failing to thrive. Have had her and her sister one week. Another in litter died. No real knowledge of history. The first rehabilitator thought they both were black when she got them about 4 days prior to coming to me. The sister, who is doing fine now, had flakes all over her body as though shedding her entire skin. The flakes gave way to normal color coat without ever having any redness or rawness. Her eyes are opening and she is progressing normally.

The one in question was smaller on arrival but is now about one-third the size of the healthier one. She never shed her skin but has normal Eastern Gray Squirrel coloring. She was extremely thin on arrival with her ribs protruding a great amount, her head was boney and neck scrawny. She has very pale yellowish, loose, unformed stool most times. The amount/volume of stool passed is normal. Other times, there is a bit more consistency (still very pale) but still more loose than normal for a squirrel her age. She eats enough but without enthusiasm and with difficulty. Have changed her formula several times to see if that would help, which it seems not to have. I gave one pellet Sulph 12C crushed in Pedialite on the second day and saw an increase in appetite and better stool for about 24 hours. Then she went back to the same condition. Gave Sulph 30C after 2 days and again she improved slightly but slipped back. Yesterday (2 days after Sulph 30C) gave Calc Phos 12C. This morning she passed more stool than usual, still very loose and pale.

She is eating as much as the litter-mate but not gaining very much at all. She is not as skeletal as she was but remains very, very thin. She has no flesh-is hard to the touch. She can move about fine. I'm not sure "marasmus" is an appropriate term because all baby squirrels get rounded, bloated bellies at feeding which goes by the next feeding, but it would be the closest to describing what she looks like. Her belly is more bloated than the others at all times compared to the rest of her. It doesn't redistribute and create any flesh over her body or head like it does in normal bay squirrels. It is more than dwarfism. Her eyes are not opening. She isn't necessarily weak for her size but her size and energy level are far below normal for her age.

It has been a very bad orphan squirrel season with more losses to horrible conditions and situations than ever before. I always think this little one will not be alive for the next feeding and am surprised she is. Since she seems to be trying so hard I thought I better post her case here. I hope it's OK to inquire about squirrels! I don't mean to take advantage but if you have a suggestion it would be very appreciated.

Thank you.