Squirrels are typically medium-sized and are typical representative animals in cold temperate coniferous forests and mixed forests. They have strong limbs with sharp claws, and their claws are hooked at the end. The body weight is usually around 350 grams, and the female individuals are slightly heavier than the male individuals. Squirrels have a slender and agile body, with a body length of about 18-26 centimeters. Their tails are long and thick, measuring more than two-thirds of their body length but shorter than their body length.
Squirrels are small mammals belonging to the order Rodentia
Red Devil Squirrel
. There are more than 200 species of squirrels around the world, and they generally have a slender body with a large, bushy tail. They have large eyes and a hairy face. They have a pair of upper incisors, and there is a gap between the incisors and molars due to the absence of canines and premolars, which allows them to open their mouths sideways. Their limbs are well-developed, and their fingers and toes are generally equally developed. The front limbs have 4 toes, while the hind limbs have 5 toes, both with claws but no hooves. The size of their body varies depending on the species, but they are generally larger and more chubby than typical mice. Squirrels are active and agile, and when they live in the wild, they quickly hide in dense forests or bushes at the slightest disturbance. Squirrels have a complex diet and enjoy eating fruits
tree bark
, and tender shoots, and occasionally, they also steal small
bird
eggs
. Squirrels are diurnal and are active throughout the day, jumping and climbing around within a wide range. Because squirrels have incisors, they need to chew on tree bark or the hard shells of plant fruits to wear down their teeth, otherwise their incisors will continue to grow and prevent them from eating.
Suggestions for small pet lovers to raise, red devil squirrels will also recognize their owners after being raised for a long time. If raised by hand from a young age, they will be gentle and lively and very affectionate towards their owners. However, it is not necessarily better to start raising squirrels when they are smaller. Squirrels under 30 days old are difficult to raise for beginners. Carelessness could result in the loss of their fragile little lives. It is best to choose squirrels that are about 50 days old. By this time, they have already been weaned, have some resistance, and can feed themselves. It is relatively easy to raise them and ensure their survival.
Diarrhea
Mildewy-soft stools, such as soft stools caused by eating too much fruit. Soft stools during nursing are normal for unformed mice. Mildewy is an individual lactobacillus body. Half a tablet at a time, three times a day, continue feeding for three days after recovery.
Mammy love-Gently softening caused by imbalance of intestinal flora, forming lumps. Half a bag at a time, three times a day.
Golden bifurcation-Dry bodies of three kinds of probiotics, can regulate the proportion of bacteria in the intestine.
Celebrate streptomycin-Severe diarrhea, gelatinous, bacterial enteritis. (Injection, one-tenth at a time, twice a day for particles, sunflower brand. Mix one-fourth of a bag with glucose, twice a day.)
Montmorillonite powder-Assisting in the treatment of enteritis and diarrhea, because the drug does not pass through the blood, but acts directly on the intestinal mucosa, thickens and promotes intestinal mucosa repair. So the treatment of diarrhea is slightly better. And the side effects are small. But the harm of excessive is constipation. If you think it is troublesome, you can directly feed this for quick results.
Fluid and salt-To prevent dehydration in SS.
Glucose-To supplement the energy of SS during illness. SS may not digest well and may not eat anything. Then feed glucose first.
Intestinal diseases should be treated in a timely manner, otherwise there is a possibility of developing prolapse
[Hematoma]
Most likely to occur on the squirrel's paws, may be sprained or scraped, generally does not matter, squirrels have a strong ability to heal themselves. If it is a soft lump, gently rub it and let it resolve on its own.
However, squirrels generally do not allow you to touch them because of pain, so if squirrels are unwilling, it doesn't matter if you don't rub them. If it is hard, puncture it with a small needle, squeeze out the hematoma, flush with levofloxacin, and apply erythromycin ointment. If it does not interfere with the squirrel's movement, there is no need to worry about it. [Distinguish between hematoma and fracture lump, do not knead the fracture lump, feed calcium, and rest.]
1. Food
It seems that squirrels eat seeds from the Sciuridae family of plants, but they also eat a significant amount of insects in nature, so it is best to feed them some animal food as well. Walnuts, chestnuts, and other nuts are their favorites. Biting through the hard shells is not only a game for squirrels, but it can also help wear down their teeth. It is best to regularly feed them these types of food. If artificial feed is the main diet, it is also necessary to supplement it with apples and other foods.
2. Cage
Squirrels are very active and particularly enjoy climbing trees. They need a spacious and tall cage to provide them with vertical space. Since squirrels are accustomed to building nests in trees, nest boxes should be installed at a high position in the cage. Nest boxes for birds with entrances at a high position can be used as substitutes. Squirrels move very quickly, so be careful when opening and closing the cage to prevent them from escaping. If they do escape, try to avoid grabbing them suddenly to prevent getting bitten.
3. Other
April to May is the breeding period for golden squirrels and Hokkaido squirrels. Each breeding period, they can have 4-5 baby squirrels. Breeding conditions are similar to those of rats. It is recommended to start raising baby squirrels when they are 35-60 days old. Initially, they can be fed with warm milk (30-40°C) using a straw, 3-5 times a day. Gradually, switch to milk-soaked bread or other soft foods. Even if they are only raised after they have grown, as long as you train them patiently, they can become very close to humans and climb onto their owners.
Dietary Taboos
Avoid eating meat and eggs, as they have a significant impact on the gastrointestinal digestion system. Avoid raw vegetables: carrots, potatoes, beans, ginger, scallions, garlic, chili peppers, etc. Limit consumption of certain fruits and vegetables: napa cabbage, rape, lettuce, asparagus, lotus root, cucumber, tomatoes, eggplant, bananas, oranges, watermelon, pears, etc. Avoid eating preserved dried fruits, candied fruits, unripe or processed nuts, as they are hard to digest. Avoid beverages, especially carbonated drinks. Tea (there have been reports of squirrels dying from eating tea leaves). Cat and dog pet food (because it contains meat). Apple seeds and cherry pits (toxic to squirrels). Avoid eating insects, although they are nutritious, eating them can increase squirrels' wild instincts. Avoid eating chocolate and foods containing caffeine, as these can make squirrels overly excited, which is not good for their physical or emotional well-being. Serious cases can lead to fast heart rate death or heart failure death.
1. Seasonal hair loss: Most animals experience hair shedding in spring and autumn.
2. If animals have diseases such as folliculitis or eczema, or are infested with a large number of dog lice and fleas, it can also cause excessive hair loss. (This situation requires medical treatment)
3. Hair loss caused by human factors: Many families use adult soap or shampoo, or even washing powder and detergent to bathe animals. Because the skin of most animals tends to be medium-sized, and adult washing products are relatively alkaline compared to their skin, it can cause dryness and itching of the skin, allowing mites, bacteria, and fungi to take advantage, leading to skin diseases and ultimately hair loss.
4. Deficiency in vitamins and minerals in the body. (Supplement)
5. Natural environmental factors such as sunlight exposure and temperature also affect hair growth. If animals are not exposed to sunlight for a long time and are kept indoors all year round, it can also cause minor hair loss throughout the year.
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