need help fast

[shroomgrl79]

Hi my hubby just brought home 4 bay squirrels approx 5 weeks old they are all dehydrated I have nothing in the house except kaolectrolyte. Is that ok to give them or should i just do the teasp salt 3 teaspoon sugar to 1 quart water? please help.
p.s they are all warm and moving around very well. we are getting them formula soon just want to make sure they are hydrated before introducing the puppy formula. one more thing i have them in a rubbermaid container fairly big i have a heating pad wrapped in a towel on one side of the container it was such short notice i was not prepared any recomendations??

[Sarabi]

Hold On and a rehabber will be with you shortly, sounds like you have things under control for the moment, Good Job!:grouphug

[squirrel princess]

Hi my hubby just brought home 4 bay squirrels approx 5 weeks old they are all dehydrated I have nothing in the house except kaolectrolyte. Is that ok to give them or should i just do the teasp salt 3 teaspoon sugar to 1 quart water? please help.
p.s they are all warm and moving around very well. we are getting them formula soon just want to make sure they are hydrated before introducing the puppy formula. one more thing i have them in a rubbermaid container fairly big i have a heating pad wrapped in a towel on one side of the container it was such short notice i was not prepared any recomendations??

there is a homemade recipe for pedialyte i will see if i can find it:poke

[Feeze]

Here you are!
*If you can’t find Pedialyte at the store, here is a recipe for homemade Pedialyte:
--1 teaspoon salt
--3 Tablespoons sugar
--1 quart warm water
Mix all ingredients in warm water. Store in refrigerator.

[Feeze]

You may also want to replace the towel with a shirt. Their claws can get tangled in the loops of the towel with alarming result!:sanp3
Good luck!

[Mountain Mama]

Dilute the kaoelectrolyte to half strength and start giving it to the babies as long as they are warm. Someone will be along shortly with detailed information, but it is important to start rehydrating them.

What do you have to give them the kaoelectrolyte solution with? A small (3cc) syringe (without the needle, of course) with an attached nipple is the best thing to use.

Make sure that you help them urinate and potty afterwards, also. Do you know how to do this?

Bless you for trying to help these babies. We are here to help you. Welcome to TSB!

[squirrel princess]

Here you are!
*If you can’t find Pedialyte at the store, here is a recipe for homemade Pedialyte:
--1 teaspoon salt
--3 Tablespoons sugar
--1 quart warm water
Mix all ingredients in warm water. Store in refrigerator.

Geeze Louise:poke u beat me I just found it:thumbsup

[Apple Corps]

The home made recipe will work fine - test for dehydration by gently squeezing the skin behind the neck and letting go - the skin should rebound to its flat state in under a second. If it stays tented you need to rehydrate.

[shroomgrl79]

I actually do need to know how to stimulate them to go potty. I am not sure i just started rubbing down there...lol I am not sure what I am doing but nothing has come out I dont think I am doing it right...help? I really wana help these little guys this is my first time.

[Mountain Mama]

There are several ways to do it...the way that I do it is to use a Q-tip dipped in warm water and just to rub their genitals gently with it. Since your babies aren't hyrdated, you may not get anything the first time.

I am going to post a link for you that will give you a lot of great information. Please feel free to ask us questions and we will help you all we can.

http://www.squirreltales.org/#Section-B

[shroomgrl79]

You may also want to replace the towel with a shirt. Their claws can get tangled in the loops of the towel with alarming result!:sanp3
Good luck!


thanks for the heads up i will def get a t-shirts around the heating pad. I have baby blankets in there with it is that ok?

[Feeze]

Here you go!:thumbsup
Potty Time
A baby that is not fully furred will need help to pee and poo. Normally, the squirrel’s mother will lick the baby’s belly and bottom to stimulate him to go. Before and after feeding, use a warm, damp kleenex, cotton ball, or soft cloth to gently tickle the baby’s genital area. Do this until baby goes. NOTE: A dehydrated baby may not pee or poo until he has had several feedings of Pedialyte.

I'll just give you the list of general care for babies in a second! It's all on the site... such a helpful place!:D

[Feeze]

thanks for the heads up i will def get a t-shirts around the heating pad. I have baby blankets in there with it is that ok?
Should be fine, as long as it is not "loopy" like the towels. Just don't want your babies to lose their claws is all.:peace

[shroomgrl79]

also thank you all so much for the speedy replies I am forever greatful well so are the new addition to our family...well temporary. I dont know how I am going to beable to release these little guys i am already attached and Ive only had them for 2 hours...:dono

[shroomgrl79]

well can I just send you a pic of them. Now I am not so sure if I guesstimates there age correctly?

[Feeze]

That's perfectly normal, but they'll let you know when they're ready to go. They always do! Here's the care instructions I was telling you about. A lot of it you already know, but it may help clear some confusions.
Good luck with your babies!:thumbsup :Welcome to TSB!
Emergency Care for Baby Squirrels

Don’ts
Don’t try to feed the squirrel.
Don’t handle him more than you have to.
No loud voices, TV, music, or bright lights.
No children or pets in the same room!

1. Warm the Baby (never feed a cold squirrel!)

Quick Methods:
-Cup the baby in your hands or under your shirt next to your skin.
-Fill a plastic bottle with very warm water. Wrap in a cloth, place next to baby, and cover him. Reheat every 2 hours.
-“Rice Buddy”: Fill a sock with 1 cup of rice or dried beans and microwave for 30 seconds. Place next to baby and cover him. Reheat every 2 hours.

2. Find a Box or Container
A shoebox will do for small babies. A baby that can walk will need a larger box with a lid (with holes). Put a clean baby blanket, flannel shirt, or piece of fleece in the bottom of the box. No towels or terrycloth. Squirrels can get tangled in the loops. Place baby on the material and cover him with one flap. If you have a heating pad, turn it on low and place it under half of the box (not IN the box!) so baby can move away if he gets too warm. You can use the plastic bottle or rice buddy described above, but these are only temporary methods until you get a heating pad, since they must be reheated every 2 hours and won't keep baby warm all night.
NOTE: Monitor his temperature so he doesn’t chill or overheat. His feet should feel warm to the touch.


If the baby is injured, is having trouble breathing, has fly eggs on his fur, or is very skinny or dehydrated, he needs emergency care by an experienced rehabber or vet.

3. Rehydrate the Baby

Most babies are dehydrated when you find them and must be rehydrated before you can feed them. Never feed formula or food of any kind to a dehydrated baby!

Check for Dehydration
Pinch the skin on the back of his neck. If it doesn’t spring back immediately, the baby is dehydrated. If the pinched skin stays up like a tent for more than a second, the baby is badly dehydrated. Other signs of dehydration: pale grayish gums, dry mouth, sunken eyes, whites around eyes showing, rough spiky fur, dry scaly skin.
NOTE: If baby is badly dehydrated, he will need subcutaneous fluids, which can only be given by a rehabber or vet.

Supplies You Will Need:
--Heating pad without auto shut-off (if you don’t already have one)
--Pedialyte (any flavor)*
--Plastic syringes (1 cc size; no needles. Ask the pharmacist to get these for you) An eyedropper can also work.
These are available at most drugstores. You can also order supplies from Chris’ Squirrels and More. (http://www.squirrelsandmore.com)

*If you can’t find Pedialyte at the store, here is a recipe for homemade Pedialyte:
--1 teaspoon salt
--3 Tablespoons sugar
--1 quart warm water
Mix all ingredients in warm water. Store in refrigerator.

How to Prepare the Pedialyte
Use a plastic syringe (with or without a nipple). Never use pet nursers or doll bottles. They will choke the baby. Fill a coffee mug with hot water. Fill the syringe with Pedialyte and place it in the mug for a couple of minutes. Squirt a drop on the inside of your wrist to make sure the liquid isn’t too hot. It should feel barely warm on your skin.

Proper Position
A tiny baby can be held in your hand. A baby with fur can lie on a flat surface on his stomach. A baby that can walk can be held upright or he can drink sitting up. Hold the syringe so the tip points UP to the baby’s mouth and the handle is down. Don’t let the baby get cold. Keep him wrapped up while he eats.

How to Feed Fluids
Place the syringe tip on the baby’s lips (from the side) and squeeze out one drop for him to taste. Don’t squirt a steady stream. Let him swallow one drop before squeezing more. GO SLOW! It sometimes takes a feeding or two for them to catch on. Hairless babies are fed drop by drop. With older babies (once they catch on) you can squeeze slowly for one second, wait for him to swallow, then squeeze more.

If fluids dribble out his mouth or come out his nose, you are going too fast. Stop and tilt the baby’s head down so the fluid drains out (support his head and neck like you would a human baby). Then wipe his nose and mouth with a tissue. Start over, slower. NOTE: There is now a chance your baby will develop aspiration pneumonia from inhaling fluid in his lungs. This is fatal. Please contact a rehabber or vet, or the people at The Squirrel Board, for assistance.


How Much Fluid to Feed
Give 1/2 to 1 cc every 30 minutes for the first 2 hours. Then give it every 2 hours around the clock. Do not feed Pedialyte for more than 24 hours. It is not a subsitute for formula. Refrigerate Pedialyte after opening. Throw away any open bottles after 3 days.

Check the baby every few hours using the “pinch test” described above. As baby rehydrates, he should “perk up” and become more active. Rehydrate all babies for at least 2 hours before feeding formula or food of any kind. Severely dehydrated babies should be rehydrated for 24 hours before feeding.
Note: If your baby will not take any fluids, he must go to a rehabber immediately or he will die.

Potty Time
A baby that is not fully furred will need help to pee and poo. Normally, the squirrel’s mother will lick the baby’s belly and bottom to stimulate him to go. Before and after feeding, use a warm, damp kleenex, cotton ball, or soft cloth to gently tickle the baby’s genital area. Do this until baby goes. NOTE: A dehydrated baby may not pee or poo until he has had several feedings of Pedialyte.

[squirrel princess]

well can I just send you a pic of them. Now I am not so sure if I guesstimates there age correctly?

are their eyes opened:poke they open at five weeks are you thinking they are older:thinking

[shroomgrl79]

Here you go!:thumbsup
Potty Time
A baby that is not fully furred will need help to pee and poo. Normally, the squirrel’s mother will lick the baby’s belly and bottom to stimulate him to go. Before and after feeding, use a warm, damp kleenex, cotton ball, or soft cloth to gently tickle the baby’s genital area. Do this until baby goes. NOTE: A dehydrated baby may not pee or poo until he has had several feedings of Pedialyte.

I'll just give you the list of general care for babies in a second! It's all on the site... such a helpful place!:D


well they all have full fur but there eyes are not open yet. they look like they are going to open any day now though. so i didnt know if I still needed to help them go potty.

[Feeze]

Here's a link to help you out.
http://www.scarysquirrel.org/special...rrelmanual.pdf
We do love pictures here anyway... can you post it? You could email it to me if you need help posting...

[Feeze]

well they all have full fur but there eyes are not open yet. they look like they are going to open any day now though. so i didnt know if I still needed to help them go potty.
Well, it wouldn't hurt.:) I'm not sure what age you need to stop doing it, but if they haven't opened their eyes yet... I would suggest trying this method 'till your sure.

[squirrel princess]

well they all have full fur but there eyes are not open yet. they look like they are going to open any day now though. so i didnt know if I still needed to help them go potty.

you still need to piddle:wave123 as I call it them:poke

[shroomgrl79]

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t97/shroomgrl79/IMG_0066.jpg

here they are.. how old do u guys think they are?

[squirrel princess]

3 1/2 weeks maybe:thinking

[Feeze]

Goodness, they look like their eyes are about ready to open. I would guess around 5 weeks. How adorable!!! You've certainly got your hands full with Four babies!!
Have you thought of names for them all?

[squirrel princess]

3 1/2 weeks maybe:thinking

By the way adorable:Love_Icon

[shroomgrl79]

not yet. i need to figure out ways to distinguish one from the other....lol

:crazy

[Feeze]

On second thought, those tails do look mighty thin.. I'd go with Donna's guess.

[Feeze]

not yet. i need to figure out ways to distinguish one from the other....lol
Yeah, that's the tough part. A lot of the people who have more than one on here, mark just behind their ears, though I'm not sure what they use...:thinking

[shroomgrl79]

oh that would be helpful let me know if you find out what they use. i will be very thankful :thankyou

[squirrel princess]

oh that would be helpful let me know if you find out what they use. i will be very thankful :thankyou

just get some non-toxic markers and put a small dot in the ear or when you feed you can have an extra box and put them as they are fed over into the other box:poke

[TexanSquirrel]

Good luck with them!

[Mountain Mama]

shroomgrl, you will need to invest in a scale that will weigh the babies in "grams". This will help you determine how much they weigh, and if they are gaining enough weight.

BTW, kiss your heart goodbye. It's gonna be stolen, if it hasn't been already...

[shroomgrl79]

I actually have an electric scale. my husband shoots in competitions and reloads his own bullets...Is that ok to use. It weighs in grams...

Ok so one of the little guys pooped on his own but it was a golden brown kind of a soft stool not runny at all just soft. and there is more poop in the container. that kinda looks like mouse droppings. what is a normal stool?

[shroomgrl79]

shroomgrl, you will need to invest in a scale that will weigh the babies in "grams". This will help you determine how much they weigh, and if they are gaining enough weight.

BTW, kiss your heart goodbye. It's gonna be stolen, if it hasn't been already...


oh ya my heart is already gone...They have it. I also have a 5 month old son so i just adopted 4 more and my hands are fuller then ever but I can so tell its going to be worth it, I also see I am going to have to invest in hand sanatizer...lol

[squirrel princess]

When you weigh x's that by 5% and that is what you feed them in cc's
example 84 grams x 5% = 4.2 cc.s:poke

[shroomgrl79]

:wave123 :Welcome Glad to have you with us! :thumbsup Does your hubby have any idea what happened to Mommy? If she's alive, she's probably searching frantically for her babies. :( Is there any way you can take them back to where they were found, put them in a shallow box, with a rice buddy, and go hide and watch (to make sure no predators get them) and see if Mommy comes for them, tonight or early tomorrow morning? It's not to late for them to be reunited if possible. If not, do you want us to try an find a rehabber for you to take them? 4 baby squirrels is going to be very expensive and time consuming to raise them until it's time for them to be released.

Here is a little info to help you judge their age....

3-4 weeks
Fur: Richness of coat all the way down from the top of the head to the tail; long silky blonde hairs on abdomen.
Underside of tail is not furred. More active.
Eyes: Well developed eyes showing more natural appearance. Eye slit is relaxed and look ready to open. Eyes
open around 4-5 weeks average.
Ears: Ears well developed and normal looking
Teeth: End of third week, lower incisors have emerged.
4-5 weeks
Fur: Thicker fur all over, tail begins to get a little bushy
Eyes: Open but sleepy looking. Generally open one at a time.
Teeth: Upper incisors evident around 5-6 weeks. Adult squirrels will have 22 teeth, 4 incisors and 18 molars.
Activity: Begin to walk awkwardly, still sleeping a lot.

They are going to need to be fed 6 times a day, about 3-4 hours apart, and one time during the night. You must fed them in an uprite position and VERY slowly, or they will aspirate, and develop pneumonia, and die. First give them their hydration fluid very warm, but not hot. Then tomorrow they will need to be fed Esbilac Puppy milk replacer. I would get the powdered, instead of the liquid. Make sure you STIR it, and don't beat it, as you don't want any bubbles in the formula. You can make it up ahead of time, and put it in the fridge to sit. That helps the bubbles to "settle". They are going to try and suck very fast. You must not let them do that. You must control how much formula they get. You can give them a few drops, and then take the syringe out of their mouth, or you can put your pointer finger and middle finger UNDER the push part of the syringe, and very slowly and gently slide your fingers down the "tube". You have to start them out on a diluted formula....

3 feedings at 1 part esbilac in 4 parts water
3 feedings in 1 part esbilac in 3 parts water
3 feedings in 1 part esbilac in 2 parts water
3 feedings in 1part esbilac in 1 part water.

This also must be served very warm, but not hot.

Here is another very good link, with pictures, that will be a big help to you.

http://www.scarysquirrel.org/special/pets/infant/squirrelmanual.pdf

We're here to help you though this. If you have any questions at all, please don't hesitate to ask. :thumbsup :Welcome



well I will tell you the story of how we got these guys. My hubby is a boat mechanic and they got a boat in from missouri (we live in nebraska)2 days ago on a trade in. well he went to clean the boat out today and woulndnt you know it there was a nest with 3 lil boys and 1 girl in the side panel. so I dont think going to missouri to put these guys back is an option. also I am a stay at home mom so I have the time and money. I just need a little help. my hubby has raised turkeys,racoons and burow owls. So he knows how to deal with alot of this kind of stuff he grew up in the country. me on the other hand i grew up in the city and have no clue. My sister is a vet tech and has a friend that works for a wildlife refuge we have here and they will train me on how to care for these guys the right way so they dont get attached and I can keep them till they are ready to go bye bye and i can be trained (foster) other types of wildlife species later if I wanted to as well. I am very excited. :wahoo
oh one more thing thank you for the time in responding and the link you sent.

[Feeze]

Oh my! Those poor babies. I am so excited for you! That's quite a generous offer this wildlife refuge has given you. So kind of them to let you take care of these babies yourself. Of course, YOU'RE awesome too for taking them in!:thumbsup Good luck not getting too attached to them ;). Take lots of pictures!

[Buddy'sMom]

:Welcome You're doing great ...and have had very good advice tonite!

That's quite a story -- one of our most unusual, I must say :) . Their poor squirrel-mommy. Went out for a bite to eat and came back to find her whole neighborhood GONE! :eek: They are probably pretty dehydrated after their long journey without mom, so make sure that they are nicely hydrated before starting on the Esbilac formula. [Test: Pinch the skin behind their neck. It should fall away quickly if they are hydrated. If it stays up for a little while, baby is still dehydrated.]

It's great that you will have some local advice and support with your sister and the refuge. Feel free to ask ANY question here.

There are a few additional articles here that you might find helpful (:thinking assuming you have time to read with a 5 mo old and four 3-4 week old babies :dono maybe not :D ):
http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=56

The Esbilac puppy formula should be available at large pet stores, sometimes at smaller ones and at vets. If it's not readily available where you are, it can be ordered from www.squirrelsandmore.com -- Chris will send it out to you right away. And you can get syringes and nipples there too. (Syringes also can be obtained at many pharmacies, though some will give you a hard time.) If you need to order the formula, Just Born puppy formula is available at Walmart and you can start with that.

:grouphug :Love_Icon :grouphug

[skye]

Oh how sweet good luck with them babies. Bless you for taking care of them :thumbsup

[shroomgrl79]

well I have alot of support here on my end but I would never have been able to get started off in the right direction if not for all you wonderful people. I thank you so much. most other forums would have told me to not even try if ive never done it before and to give them to a better place but all of you have totally helped me and I am confident that I will do great and these lil guys are going to luv me just like they love there lil mommy.

My husband bought some puppy formula on the way home from work tonight he bought the esbilac and nipples and all that stuff. they are doing much better now to drinking pedialyte oh and I got all of them to go potty...yeah for me I was so worried about being able to do it right, there was nothing to it. thanks everyone. I will post more pics as the lil ones grow. I imagine I will have more questions for all of you cause lets face it I could ask everyone I have here but its always nice to have that 2nd opinion you know just to make sure I am being told the right stuff. thaks again everyone.....mjs

[Apple Corps]

You really are about to have your HANDS FULL :jump :jump

[Mountain Mama]

SG, Thank you again for taking on the challenge of raising 5 babies at once. Not sure which of them is going to be easier!

I know you are overwhelmed with information right now, but I do want to point out something that is very important, and will save you a lot of heartache in the future. You may have overlooked it in all of the links we sent you.

The position that you feed the babies in is VERY important. These little guys can suck formula into their lungs very easily (aspirate) and that can quickly lead to pneumonia and death. If you will feed them in this position, then it will help prevent aspiration. If one of them does apsirate (and it does happen to the best of us...), turn him upside down breifly to allow the formula a chance to drain. You'll hear us say it a million times...the key to feeding them is to do it sloooooowly.

You're an angel for doing this. Thank you again for taking care of God's little creatures.

[shroomgrl79]

The main thing that you have to remember is to feed them SLOWLY. They will try to suck like they haven't been fed in days. Once you get the feeding process down, you'll do FANTASTIC! :wott Can't wait to see more pics! :thumbsup :D

Just a thought....You can also paint their little nails a different color to tell them apart. :D Now, let the fun begin! :jump



thats a great idea. I am going to find some nail polish right now...
things are going very well. I am so used to getting up with my son to feed (I nurse him)that this is no big deal but I did have to start setting my alarm everytime I need to feed the lil guys and girl. my son sleeps thru the night now. no biggie. I love there little sounds they make. to cute. :Love_Icon