Sick baby - back arching, clicking

[SaraK]

I have an approximately four week old baby squirrel found yesterday morning. I rehydrated her for 12 hours with Pedialyte, 0.5-1cc every half hour. She was doing very well, active, healthy looking, skin turgor was almost back to normal. I left her around 1:30 and came back at 4:30 to start her on Esbilac. I found her lethargic and unwilling to take either Pedialyte or formula. Her breathing is staccato, she will stop for a few seconds then take a sudden deep breath. She is also arching her back and opening her mouth. I have given her a few drops of honey as well as pancake syrup mixed with water, but she still keeps arching. Otherwise, she has urinated several times and had two bowel movements in the last hour and a half. What's wrong with her, and how can I help?

There is a little popping sound when she breathes out, like she's got a stuffy nose. I don't know if she could have pneumonia yet, I haven't even had her 24 hours. If she does, how do I treat it?

[island rehabber]

It does sound like pneumonia to me, SaraK, but the back arching is a seizure. I have seen squirrels in hypoglycemic distress arch their backs like this, so it is good that you gave her the syrup. However, I'm afraid if she doesn't get a good antibiotic quickly (Sulfatrim or Baytril) with a (double) loading dose, it may be too late. Prepare yourself; I am sorry.

[Jackie in Tampa]

:grouphug

[SaraK]

Where would I be able to get an antibiotic for her? And what dosage?

My cat was recently prescribed Baytril for a respiratory infection. I have it in tablets, could I crush them and put them in water for her?

If she makes it, how do I make sure I don't aspirate her again? I have been watching her very closely for it coming out her nose, or spitting it out, she hasn't done any of it.

[island rehabber]

SaraK -- did the honey & syrup improve her at all? Hoping......
If you PM me with the exact strength of the Baytril you have I can help with the dosage.

[SaraK]

She seems to have perked up a tiny bit, she's crawling in and out of her nest, although she is still very weak.

I wasn't able to get a hold of the Baytril yet, but her breathing has returned to normal, a bit shallow, and she's stopped clicking. I think she may have just had something in her nose and it's cleared now, but I'll keep a close eye on her. Should I give her the Baytril anyway? I can get Baytril from my mother, who is a doctor, but it will be in human strength.

There were two other things that my mother suggested may be wrong with her. She thought I may have given her too much Pedialyte and I've unbalanced the electrolytes, which would lead to weakness and the seizures. She's also been urinating what seems a ridiculous amount for such a tiny animal, which lead my mum to think that maybe she has a kidney injury. Apparently there is a particular type of kidney injury that makes the victim not urinate for a long time, and then suddenly start urinating copiously. So now I'm mostly just waiting to see if she improves.

[4skwerlz]

She thought I may have given her too much Pedialyte and I've unbalanced the electrolytes, which would lead to weakness and the seizures.

Too much Pedialyte can cause sodium poisoning, as your mother said. It is high in sodium. We have had several squirrels with Pedialyte overdoses on TSB. Copious urination is a sign. She will now actually be dehydrated. Can you get some plain water, or sugar-water into her? Also keep her very warm, with extra heat, as dehydration and hypothermia are a deadly combination.

[Apple Corps]

SaraK - yes - you dissolve the Baytril tablet in water - how much do you think you lil fuzzer weighs?

Also - get a small (1/2 or 1 cc) syringe - no needle.

[Apple Corps]

ASSUMING your fuzzer is about 3 ounces:

Dissolve a 100 mg Baytril tablet in 10 cc of tap water.

The FIRST dosage would be .07 cc delivered orally.

.04 cc delivered every 12 hours thereafter for about 10 days.

Please post back with your weight estimate and I'll adjust the dose calcs.

[SaraK]

Thanks for all the help everyone. :grouphug

Unfortunately, right after I posted last, she took a sudden turn for the worse. Her temperature start fluctuating and she was limp and unresponsive. I started calling around to find if there was a wildlife rehabilitator in my area, and I found one in the next town. I took her there immediately and was told to call back later to find out how she's doing. I'll let you guys know what I find out.

[Abacat]

:Welcome SaraK
You did the right thing, Thank you for caring about the baby. Sending prayers for the little one...:grouphug

[Apple Corps]

Prayers for a good outcome :grouphug :grouphug

[SaraK]

I just called them back and they told me she didn't make it. I'm not 100% sure these people knew what they were doing - I brought her in in obvious distress and they told me they'd "warm her up and feed her". Then they just left her while they saw their other appointments - they're a vet's office. I'm afraid they might not have known what was wrong with her.

If I get a baby squirrel again, how can I avoid giving it too much Pedialyte? Should I give it 0.5cc every half hour for two hours, then start alternating it with sugar water? Or lengthen the feedings out to every hour? Is there an exact schedule of how to do this? And how do I know when it's hydrated and I can switch to Esbilac? My baby's skin was still tenting after 12 hours, so I couldn't tell whether she was ready or not. And are there any other signs of aspiration besides bubbles coming out of the nose? I watched really carefully for that, and she got pneumonia anyway.

[Mars]

Not easy questions to answer as each situation can be very different. If you are considering training to become a rehabber perhaps we can find some one near you to train with. Or perhaps you would be interested in attending a conference?

this thread may start to answer some of your questions.

http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8889