Diseases That The Japanese Squirrel Can Suffer From

The Japanese squirrel is a rodent that every child would like to have as a pet. If you decide to adopt it, or you already have one, know that they can get sick.

Fortunately, the craze for keeping squirrels as pets is waning, especially the Japanese squirrel, very handsome and playful, but totally unfit to live in captivity.

In fact, a squirrel cannot be treated like a cat: they are very fragile and fearful animals that can get sick easily, especially if they previously lived in the wild.

The Japanese squirrel ( Tamias sibiricus ) weighs around 100 grams and has a tail that measures almost as large as its body and which helps it balance. It is also known as Siberian chipmunk or borunduk and has black and white stripes on the back. It survives between 8 and 12 years.

If, despite this information, you are still determined to adopt one, you should also know what diseases a Japanese squirrel can suffer from. We talk about it in this article.

Diseases that the Japanese squirrel can suffer from

It’s hard not to love these little rodents: they are among the animals that children like most. But the truth is, they don’t have very good relationships with humans. In fact, they only get close if you feed them.

These rodents are very susceptible to certain diseases, so it is good to recognize them and take the animal to the vet so that it can be treated properly. The most typical ailments that Japanese squirrels suffer from are:

• Tooth Overgrowth : Japanese squirrels, like most rodents, grow teeth throughout their lives. The lack of materials on which to file the teeth in captivity causes them to take on a very uncomfortable size for the animal. So much so that they can prevent them from eating normally. If this has happened to your squirrel, you will need to go to the vet to have his teeth filed.

• Alopecia : Hair loss in rodents is more common than it seems. This breed of squirrels are prone to alopecia, which is caused by small parasites that settle on their coat. If you notice excessive hair loss, you should go to the vet right away.
• Pneumonia : rodents are very sensitive to temperature changes, and even more so to air conditioners. If you live in areas where air conditioning is needed, avoid placing it near your squirrel’s cage. However, you can put a small house inside the cage, where it can shelter from drafts.
• Anger : These rodents can have anger and the most worrying thing is that they can pass it on to humans. If you have caught the squirrel in its natural habitat, it is advisable to have a thorough examination by the vet so as not to risk.

• Stress : Japanese squirrels are extremely nervous and solitary rodents, which makes them incompatible with other pets such as cats and dogs. Children are also not good friends of squirrels, as they will try to play with them too much, causing stress.

How to take care of these rodents

The first thing to do if you have decided to adopt a Japanese squirrel is to have him examined by a veterinarian, so that he can diagnose any diseases. Subsequently, it is advisable to have a check-up at least once a year, a bit like other pets such as dogs or cats.

The cage should be large enough so that the squirrel can run and move around without problems. Inside you should put branches and leaves to play with, preferably from trees with little resin.

Providing the cage with good shelter is essential to prevent the animal from feeling nervous. You can put some cloth or straw so that he makes his own bed. This will make it easier for him to adapt to life in captivity, but be aware that these types of animals will never feel 100% comfortable behind bars.