Squirrels

Malocclusion

SignsDrooling, refusing hard food, overgrown incisors keeping the mouth from closing, weight loss

PreventionProvide chew wood and seeds in the shell to wear down teeth. Check incisor length once a month

Heatstroke

SignsLying limp, rapid breathing, drooling, hot body, seizures

PreventionKeep room temperature at or below 28°C. Avoid direct sun; set up a cooling plate in summer

Hypothermia / torpor (pseudo-hibernation)

SignsIn winter: cold body, curled up and motionless, shallow breathing, sluggish response

PreventionKeep room temperature at or above 20°C in winter. Install a pet heater in the cage

Metabolic bone disease

SignsWobbly hind legs, fractures easily, abnormal gait, loss of appetite

PreventionAvoid a sunflower-seed-heavy diet; make species pellets the staple. Provide sunlight or calcium supplementation

Enteritis / diarrhea

SignsSoft or watery stool, soiled rear, reduced appetite, weight loss, dehydration

PreventionKeep fresh vegetables and fruit to small amounts. Keep bedding clean and avoid sudden diet changes

Dermatitis / hair loss

SignsScratching, dandruff, patchy hair loss, red skin, scabs

PreventionFully change bedding at least once a week. Avoid high humidity; have the vet test for mites

Fracture / dislocation

PreventionUse a floor that keeps feet from slipping into wire-mesh gaps. Prevent falls from high places

First aidDo not handle; place in a small box, dark and quiet. No splint needed. See the vet the same day

Tail skin degloving

PreventionNever grab the tail. When catching, wrap the whole body in a towel

First aidDo not replace the stripped skin; press the bleeding area with clean gauze and see the vet the same day. Dead tissue will need amputation

Broken nail / bleeding

PreventionRemove frayed threads from fabric hammocks. Trim nails regularly

First aidPress with gauze for several minutes to stop bleeding. If it does not stop or the foot is not used, see the vet the same day

Bite wounds (cage mates)

PreventionAdult chipmunks should be housed alone. Always separate during breeding season and fall

First aidWash the wound; see the vet if pus or swelling appears. For deep wounds, see the vet the same day and ask about antibiotics

Salmonellosis

RouteOral infection from hands that touched feces or urine

PreventionAlways wash hands after care. Do not eat right after cleaning the cage

Dermatophytosis (ringworm)

RouteContact (bald patches, fur, bedding)

PreventionGet a test when you see hair loss or dandruff. Wear gloves when cleaning

Leptospirosis

RouteContact with water or bedding contaminated by urine

PreventionReplace urine-soaked bedding immediately. Do not handle with cuts on your hands

Tularemia / plague

RouteFleas and bites from wild ground squirrels (the reason for the import ban)

PreventionDo not touch wild individuals. Do not buy smuggled animals

Food

• Chipmunk / prairie dog pellets as the staple, 1–2 times a day
• Side foods: hay (the staple for prairie dogs) and small amounts of vegetables
• Seeds and nuts only as treats, a few pieces a day

Water

• Water bottle, changed daily. Check daily that the bottle is not clogged
• For animals that cannot use a bottle, also provide a heavy ceramic dish

Toys & play

• Items that work the teeth, such as chew wood and walnuts in the shell
• Branches and thick rope for climbing up and down
• Exercise wheel for chipmunks only: solid surface, 20 cm or more in diameter

Nest, bed & hideout

• Wooden nest box mounted high. Entrance sized to the body
• For prairie dogs, a dark tunnel or box in place of a burrow

Bedding & litter

• Thick layer of hardwood chips or paper bedding
• Avoid softwood (cedar, pine) chips
• Do not use cotton or synthetic nesting material; it tangles around toes

Cage / housing material

Tall wire cage. Mesh 1.5 cm or smaller to prevent escape

Size & space

Chipmunks: 80 cm or more in height. Prairie dogs: 80 cm or more in width

Layout

• Platforms at varied heights with the nest box near the top
• Floor as a tray with bedding, not wire mesh
• Keep the food dish and water bottle away from the nest box

Placement notes

• Out of direct sun and away from air-conditioner drafts
• Out of sight of dogs and cats, quiet, and not where people walk past

Exercise, free-roam & walks

• Before free-roam time, close windows and doors and block gaps
• 30–60 minutes a day. Never look away; do not let it get behind furniture
• Let prairie dogs run on the floor; do not let them climb high

Temperature & humidity

Temperature20–26°C. Torpor below 18°C; heatstroke above 28°C

Humidity40–60%. High humidity causes skin disease; dry air harms the airways

Summer & winter

• Summer: air conditioning plus a marble or aluminum cooling plate
• Winter: heater and insulation in the nest box. Watch for sudden cold snaps

Nail trimming

Once a month. Wrap in a towel and clip only the tips. If difficult, have the vet do it

Brushing, skin & coat care

Lightly with a soft brush during shedding season. No sand bath needed, but give sunlight

Other care

Check incisor length and color once a month. Orange is normal; white is abnormal

Protection from predators

• Never keep in the same room as dogs, cats, or ferrets
• Do not take out onto the balcony; crows and snakes will target it
• In summer, guard against mosquitoes and mites. Cover the cage with insect netting

Foreign-body ingestion

Stuffs cotton, thread, and plastic into cheek pouches. Use paper nesting material only and clear away small items during free-roam time

Being stepped on

Runs fast around your feet, so shuffle your feet during free-roam time. Check it has not crawled under the sofa or a floor cushion

Getting pinched

Many accidents involve being caught in doors. Do not open or close doors during free-roam time and keep drawers fully shut

Falls

Climbs curtains and falls. If it does not move, drags a leg, or has a nosebleed after a fall, see the vet the same day

Escape

Escapes through mesh gaps or when doors open. If it gets loose, close off the room and set out an open cage with the nest box and favorite food to recover it at night

Safe release procedure

1. Stop moving and wait a few seconds for it to let go
2. If it does not let go, lower its body toward a cloth or the cage
3. Blow gently on its muzzle or let its feet touch the floor
4. Once it lets go, put it straight into the nest box and leave it alone for a while

After the release

Wash under running water for 5 minutes and disinfect. If there is swelling, heat, or pus, see a doctor. Ask about tetanus too

What to tell the vet & what to bring

Species, age, diet, photo of stool, weight changes. Details of any fall or bite

Checking consciousness, breathing & heartbeat

• Breathing: chest movement. Normal is 60–100 per minute
• Heartbeat: place a finger on the chest. 200–300 per minute
• Consciousness: call its name and touch the body to check the response

Stopping bleeding

• Press with clean gauze for 5 minutes
• For tail or leg bleeding, gently compress at the base
• If it does not stop, keep pressing and transport

Transport

• Line a small box with cloth; stick heat packs on the outside of the box
• Keep dark and quiet; transport by car without jolting