Found two non-winged babies ...

[Insomniac190]

This morning at work my mom found two baby squirrels that don't even have their eyes open. She waited and waited to see if the mother would come back for them on and off most of the day then she finally decided to take them after she seen a Buzzard looming over them for a while. We figured maybe it tried to take them away and dropped them at some point.

Anyway, what we are most concerned with is helping them. We have never had a Squirrel before. We have Sugar Gliders, Dogs, Cats, Birds.

My mom got this Kitten Replacement milk she thought would be good at the time but then I read we should use Pedialyte .

For now we have them resting in a box (open top of course) inside of a fleece pouch our Sugar Gliders used to use but they have not used it in a long time and it is clean.

They seem okay but one looks like it was dropped maybe, his nose was a little bloody looking. They both ate the Kitten Replacement Milk and seemed comfortable and stable. But we really want to know what we can do to boost them health wise. Because we have no idea how old they are or how long they were in the position they were in before we got them.

Any help is appreciated. I will take a picture of them soon and edit it into this post.

I am going to start reading up on the guides but I figured I would start here. I am hoping we can raise them or at least get them healthy again to be released.

[foxsquirrels]

Hi Insomniac 190, Welcome to the Squirrel Board!:Welcome Glad to have you here. Sounds like you have your hands full. I have asked a member to post you some great information! Someone will be here to help you with whatever you need.:thumbsup :thumbsup

[FallensMommie]

Do not feed them Kitten Replacement milk, they need Esbilac....but yes you need to warm babies first before you can rehydrate them. Do you know how old they are?
Are they fully furred? Place babies in a container with cloths...NO TOWELS....and put a heating pad on low under half the container.





This thread will assist you in dealing with the first few hours of finding an injured or orphaned baby squirrel. In most cases we would urge you to find a qualified wildlife rehabilitator ASAP, but please follow these guidelines to stabilize and keep the squirrel safe:

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. [b] Find a Box or Container[b]
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.

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 subcutaneous fluids, which can only be given by a rehabber or vet.

[b] Supplies You Will Need: [b]
--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 tsp salt (teaspoon)
3 Tbsp sugar (tablespoon)
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 should be held upright 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.
__________________

[FallensMommie]

PINKY SQUIRRELS: THE FOUR MAGIC WORDS

WARMTH: a heating pad on low, under half their container (not under THEM) is best. Plastic tubs or terrariums are good because the environment is more humid and their skin doesn't dry out. When feeding a pinky, if your hands are warm you can use tissue paper to wrap and hold him...if your hands are cold, WARM a cloth or glove before picking up the pinky or you will chill him instantly.

HYDRATION: pinkies need hydration in the form of formula -- or Pedialyte in the beginning -- at least every 2.5 hrs. This means getting up at least once during the night. I get up twice, and it still means they will go 3.5 hrs sometimes without food but it's usually ok. If they look flat and skinny when you get up to feed them, you are not feeding OFTEN enough. Sorry kids, it's a rough gig those first 2 weeks.

CONSISTENCY: consistent heat.....consistent feedings....if your schedule is going to make you sporadic or unpredictable in caring for these teeny-weenies, give them to someone who has the time to care for them properly. If you don't have a heating pad, GET ONE, without an auto shut-off. Microwave disks are too unpredictable for pinkies and may cook them. Hot water bottles don't last nearly long enough for these fragile babies.

PATIENCE: Feed pinkies slo-o-o--owly. Very slowly. Teeny drop by teeny drop, preferably with a 0.5 (1/2) cc syringe or a 1cc at the LARGEST. Use a nipple attachment for best results. Go very, very slowly. If it takes you 15 minutes to get half a cc of formula into a pinky, yer doin' it perfectly. This is how we avoid aspiration, the #1 cause of death in pinkies and the reason why "some say" there is only a 50% success rate in saving them.

[FallensMommie]

Also you have to help them with their bathroom deeds. Take a warm cloth/qtip and wipe their gentials until the urinate and you will have to do the same thing to help them poop...rub their butts until they go...sometimes when you first find them it may take a day for them to poop.

[Insomniac190]

Thank you for the information. I am uploading pictures right now. I will get mom to pick up some Esbilac asap. Was it extremely bad that they had drank Kitten Replacement Milk? I hope it was not too dangerous. We want to do anything we can for them. One is a boy and one is a girl. I only took pictures of one because he was awake the other was still curled up in the sack. I had to use flash on him because the room has practically no lighting but I made sure it was the lowest flash.

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d64/InsomniacNC/101_1358.jpg

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d64/InsomniacNC/1-3.jpg

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d64/InsomniacNC/101_1352.jpg

[Sissy]

We can also help you find a rehabber in your area to take care of these babies if you would like us to.
:Welcome

[FallensMommie]

One or two feeding aren't going to hurt them but the KMR is a killer!

Here is a link to show pictures of squirrels on Esbilac vs. other methods:
http://www.squirreltales.org/sq-pics.htm

[Insomniac190]

BTW....You can usually find the powdered Esbilac (it's better, easier to use, and last a lot longer than the canned) at most major pet stores, some vets, tractor supply stores, feed stores, online, and some people have found it at Wal-Mart, but your chances are very slim. Your mom can also stop at a drugstore and go to the pharmacy and ask for a 1cc syringe (no needle) to feed it with. They usually give them to you for free.

When you get it, they must be started out on a diluted formula...

3 feedings 1 scoop Esbilac powder in 4 scoops water
3 feedings 1 scoop Esbilac powder in 3 scoops water
then all feedings 1 scoop Esbilac powder in 2 scoops water


Thank you. I will try that. Oh and if we need some info about a rehabber or whatever I will ask you guys. I think we will be able to take care of them though after we read everything. We love animals and we will do whatever it takes to take care of them. I would never just ditch them unresponsibly no matter what.

Judging by the age manual and my pictures I would say they are 3-4 or 4-5 weeks old. Would you agree?

[FallensMommie]

I am so bad about aging, but I think about 4 weeks old.

[FallensMommie]

I'm glad your in here Gamma. I'm off to bed but I can go to bed knowing he is in good hands with you :D




Good night and I hope you update us in the morning on how he is doing!

[Insomniac190]

I am about to go to bed myself. I will feel for teeth in the morning. Right now they are cuddled up together sleeping in the pouch. Thanks for all the help so far all of you. :bowdown

[skye]

What little darlings:D Bless you for taking them in and I wish you best of luck.:Welcome glad you joined us here.

[Insomniac190]

Just figured I would give an update. This morning when I fed them they really enjoyed it as opposed to yesterday when one of them hated being fed. He now grips the bottle and sucks on the rubber nipple type part. They ate really good and they seem to love the pouch. I gently put them in and they feel their way around then cuddle up to each other and we put a shirt around the outside of it so it feels more like a nest. I am going to do the 'rice buddy' thing later too.

[FallensMommie]

You can aspirate them w/ a bottle....you need to use a syringe w/out needle.
Please get to a pharmacy and pick some up...if you do aspirate them please tip their heads upside down and let it drain out. Aspirating formula can cause aspiration pneumonia which will lead to death.

[Insomniac190]

Going to get some now.

[FallensMommie]

Going to get some now.

Get no bigger than a 3 cc.

I keep losing my post :shakehead....lost 3 now!

The syringes I can buy locally are the ones with the plunger with the big black gasket/seal...they will tend to stick after a few feedings...they will get you by until you can order some others online. The O-Rings are the best as they prevent the stinking....if you can find them locally then great...ask a pharmacist in my area and the have no idea what you are talking about if you say O-Ring :shakehead

Chris's Squirrels and More carry the O-Rings...I would order from them and tell them you need them ASAP.

You can order some 1 cc's until you feel comfortable at feeding them without aspiration...slow is the key...plus they are nice if a younger baby happens to come into your life! I think your babies are around the age where they can go from 1 cc to a 3 cc so I would order some 3 cc's also.

To get the air out of syringes fill the syringe with a little formula then push back out and then fill...this method take the air bubble out :D


1 cc Oring Syringe:
http://www.squirrelsandmore.com/product/425/1cc-slip-tip-oring-syringe.htm

3 cc Oring Syringe:
http://www.squirrelsandmore.com/product/427/3cc-luer-lock-oring-syringe.htm

[Insomniac190]

I figured I would give you all an update. I should have done this before but I have been so busy with everything and spending time with the Squirrels.

I have some pictures but they are not up to date.

Before I put the pictures up I will just start by saying how things are going.

So far they are doing very well. We have an extra room we use for storage but we have everything out of there now and we have their cage and a recliner against the wall near the cage. During the day on weekends we let them out for a lot of the day so they can free roam and play and I go in there throughout the day to let them climb around on me lol. One of them likes to do what I call "Body Surfing" where he jumps on my shoulder then he slides down my back and he just loves rubbing up against stuff like my shirt or the chair or even his cage bars. This one in particular seems to bond with me a lot but when I go in there usually Mom goes too and she would feed them with the syringe while I play with them after that.

One is kind of quiet and nervous kind of but they play together and sleep together. The one that likes to climb on me is the more outgoing and daring one lol.

But I recently started playing around while he is on top of the cage and he likes to chase my hand and nibble on my fingers some but not hard at all. Now is this gonna make him mean or does he maybe know I am just playing? I make sure to be very gentle and slow. I know they get wilder when they get older but hopefully right now he is just playing and he only nibbles on my fingers if I am playing with him by kinda of doing my hand up like a claw he stands up and grabs my hand and kind of plays with my fingers.

One of them loves this Teddy Bear and even sleeps curled up on it with the other Squirrel. We have a lot of Pecan trees in the yard so we got TONS of those and we break the shell some so he can get to it a little easier but sitll gives him something to go after. Same with the unsalted peanuts in the shell.

Sorry about all the typing I just kind of wanted to give an update of sorts so you guys and girls know I did not just get irresponsible or something.

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d64/InsomniacNC/2-4.jpg

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d64/InsomniacNC/3-2.jpg

This is an old picture. When we rub one side of his neck he rolls over and puts his arm up.

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d64/InsomniacNC/RolledOver.jpg

Over the weeks they have become bigger and bigger every day and every day their tail gets a little bushier and they become more outgoing and wanting to play and climb around.

I might try to take some new pictures sometime soon because they are bigger and older than those pictures.

[digiandchipper]

Do your little ones go outdoors, in a cage, EVERY day for a couple of hours, and/or under Full Spectrum Lighting from morning until dusk? The Healthy Diet, and lighting are VERY important so that your little ones don't develop MBD (Metabolic Bone Disease) and die a horrible death.

What Gamma said!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So important, let us know right away!

And thanks for the update, they sound SOOOOOOOo sweet!!!!:thumbsup

[SkwerlGirl]

Insomniac, I'm in NC---please check your email, I just sent to you!

Please let me know if I can help!!!:thumbsup

[Insomniac190]

I usually go out and sit with them out back with their other cage (a slightly smaller one that is more portable, their normal one is too big to carry). We have a big cage in their room that they sleep in and for food other than that they free roam in the room that we have child proofed pretty much nothing electrical with a big window. We still give them the milk but I am not sure how long I should give it to them as in the age. Are they not supposed to have it after a certain period of time? They love the formula and Ebsilac stuff. I will remove all peanuts ASAP we only started doing that recently so it was good to know now. But them having Pecans wont hurt right?

There is a lot to learn about them. I am still reading up on many guides and books because I want them to be the best they can be and for them to be happy.

Someone gave us a Squirrel call as a joke gift recently but should I use it or would it be cruel? I did not know how it affects them or if it would make them look around for another non-existant Squirrel they might think they hear.

[SkwerlGirl]

How are they??

Updates, please! :poke