Poor Baby

[Chrisaudit]

I have a sweet little baby that my dogs got ahold of. He definately has a broken leg, but I see no blood. He was breathing quite heavily, but has now calmed down. He is resting but is aware of his surroundings. I have tried to give him water with a plunger type applicator, and have given him some seeds, nuts, and berries. Of course he is not eating but he seems much more calm and is lying right down. What do I do now I am frightened of shock.
Please Help

[island rehabber]

I have a sweet little baby that my dogs got ahold of. He definately has a broken leg, but I see no blood. He was breathing quite heavily, but has now calmed down. He is resting but is aware of his surroundings. I have tried to give him water with a plunger type applicator, and have given him some seeds, nuts, and berries. Of course he is not eating but he seems much more calm and is lying right down. What do I do now I am frightened of shock.
Please Help

The treatment for any kind of trauma or shock is Dark, Warm, and Quiet. Give him a box or container to lie in and some old t-shirts or sweats to snuggle into. Keep him away from noise and, of course, the dogs. We have a few squirrel experts here who live in your area....just have to sort thru the names and see if they can help you. For now, don't worry about him eating or drinking....just Dark, Warm and Quiet. :)

[Sciurus1]

Thanks for coming on to help this little one.
Do not offer the animal food, but keep it warm and in a dark quiet place, away from children and pets.
Someone will be with you shortly. S1

[island rehabber]

Chrisaudit, I have PM'd as many Canadian members here as I could think of, because they may know of squirrel-friendly vets and/or rehabbers in your area. In the meantime, try this: http://www.wildlifeinternational.org/EN/public/emergency/rehabresults.cfm?Specialties=Mammals&Country=CA&Prov=Ontario&City=Toronto&Submit=Search

[4skwerlz]

Since your baby is injured, you probably don't want to pick him up, but just let him rest quiet for now. If you end up keeping him for awhile, below are some emergency care instructions. If you have to feed fluids, perhaps you can feed him in his box or cage so you don't injure his leg.

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.

Overnight you must use a heating pad without auto shut-off .

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 he 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.
Note: 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!

How to 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 emergency care by a rehabber or vet.

Supplies You Will Need:
--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.
*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.

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.

4. Feeding a Baby Squirrel

Before your baby can be fed any type of formula or food, ask yourself these questions:
-Is the baby warm and dry? His feet should feel warm.
-Is the baby healthy? His gums should be a bright, healthy pink color.
-Is he active? Baby shouldn’t be limp, stiff, or seem weak. He should be lively when awake.
-Is he in a safe place? He should be in a box with a heat source, covered with a blanket or t-shirt, and in a quiet room with all children and pets locked away.
-Is he breathing easily? Listen closely. Breathing should be regular and easy, with no clicking or wheezing.
-Is he completely rehydrated? All babies should have fluids for at least 2 hours before trying to feed them.
If the baby passes all these tests, he is ready to be fed.

The folks at TSB can give you complete info on feeding.

[Chrisaudit]

Thank You for all your information, I called sereval of the numbers of wildlife rehabilitators in the area. I only got through to one, the humane society in toronto. they suggested we bring the squirrel in for assesment. However the humane society in toronto is about an hour away. I do not want to move the baby right now. I have him in a dark comfortable place right now and he is more relaxed. He is not in shock from what I can tell, so I will just wait to hear what you all suggest. I have him covered I am going to get a heating pad now for warmth. Thank you all again for your help, please keep the info comming. If possible I would love to nurse him to health and release him back to his mother? Is this possible.
Again Thanks
Christine

[island rehabber]

Thank You for all your information, I called sereval of the numbers of wildlife rehabilitators in the area. I only got through to one, the humane society in toronto. they suggested we bring the squirrel in for assesment. However the humane society in toronto is about an hour away. I do not want to move the baby right now. I have him in a dark comfortable place right now and he is more relaxed. He is not in shock from what I can tell, so I will just wait to hear what you all suggest. I have him covered I am going to get a heating pad now for warmth. Thank you all again for your help, please keep the info comming. If possible I would love to nurse him to health and release him back to his mother? Is this possible.
Again Thanks
Christine

Christine, if his leg were not broken I would be more than happy to help you return him to good health. But that leg needs to be set if it is broken, or it will not heal and the squirrel will be crippled. I can only encourage you to keep trying until you find veterinary help for this baby. Things like dehydration can often be 'cured' by anyone who can follow instructions, but even rehabbers don't usually set fractures.....that's a job for a vet. :peace

[Chrisaudit]

Hello,
Thanks again for all your help with my little baby, unfortunately we found a wildlife vet in our area, who indicated it was actually his spine that was broken, and they could not operate. He was in alot of pain so we had to put him down. I am very sad, I was hoping to return him to his Mother , very naive on my part but I can still dream of happy endings.
Again thank you ,
Chris

[rippie-n-lilgirlsmom]

I am very sorry for him.

[Baby's Mom]

So sorry. :grouphug

[tatcat]

:Welcome chris and so sorry bout the lil one!!!:sad