5 week old...

[Skeeter]

Hi there,

This is my first post. Last night while out for a jog with my dogs I found a sickly little squirrel on the sidewalk. Not injured...just cold, dehydrated and generally feeling/looking terrible. I didn't expect him to last the night but he was alive, just barely, this morning.

I've been keeping him warm all day with pop bottles and a puppy beanbag and have been giving him pedialyte every couple of hours...he is doing much better!!!

A couple of questions regarding his development and his feeding, which I hope to start tomorrow. Development....using a chart I found on the internet I'm estimating him to be 5 weeks old. He has fur everywhere, a straight tail, lower incisors but no uppers yet. He sleeps A LOT!!! Is this normal for his age or is it because he's been so depleted? What should I expect behaviourally at this age (and in the coming weeks)?

Regarding his feeding...I have a can of espilac. The wildlife rehabilitator I spoke to recommended weaning him on to this by mixing it with the pedialyte...25%-75%, 50%-50%, 75%-75%, 100%. If I understood her correctly I should be increasing the espilac with EACH feeding tomorrow??? This sounds very fast to me...is this correct? Also, how many feedings should a depleted 5 week old get and how much at each feed?

Body temperature...do I continue to add external sources of heat and if so, when can I stop doing this. I do have him in the house.

Elimination...do I need to stimulate a 5 week old or can he eliminate on his own?

I have dealth with his fleas. Does he need to be treated for internal parasites???

Other info...I'm in Ontario, Canada...he is a common black squirrel. I called 3 different rehabilitators today...all either full (or burnt out lol!). My intentions were not to rehab this fellow myself...but I won't see him die either. I plan on releasing him but I am concerned about how cold it will be when he's 12 weeks of age, and that finding food will be much more difficult for a baby on his own. I do NOT want to winter him over...but I don't want to send him to his death either.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!!

Kim

[Skeeter]

:wave123 :Welcome Glad to have you with us! :thumbsup We sure have some different views on some things that the rehabber told you. First, you never mix Pedialyte and Esbilac. The canned form of Esbilac does not have to be diluted.

Your baby sounds like it may be around 3-4 weeks old. The eyes should open around 5 weeks.

Here is a thread where someone in Ontario was looking for a rehabber. Check out post #100, and see if you can contact any of them.

http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10313&page=5

Hi there :wave123

His eyes are open...when he's not sleeping that is! But he looks rather immature...very babyish, if that makes sense. He's not active until I get him out to change the heat sources and give him the pedialyte.

So, if I've been rehydrating him all day...is he ready for undiluted espilac, straight from the can??? It's late now...this will likely be the last time I attend to him until the morning (other than to change the heat source...I do not have a heating pad).

Thanks for the list of rehabs...I will call around tomorrow!

Kim

[Skeeter]

Please, be VERY careful when feeding this baby. They aspirate very easily. You MUST feed it VERY SLOWLY, in an up-rite position, or on its tummy with its head tilted up. Only A drop or two at a time, until you get the hang of it.

Also, you need to use a syringe, and not a bottle. Too much formula comes out of a bottle, and your baby will aspirate.

This baby needs to be on heat and stimulated to go potty, at least until its eyes open, and usually a little longer.

Yeah, I'm worried about him aspirating :( But...I can only do my best until I can find someone with more experience to take him on. I do have a syringe and have been feeding him with this all day...upright position...tiny amounts at a time. Nothing has come out of his nose and he is breathing normally/quietly.

I will continue to stimulate him to eliminate. I've been using a q-tip dipped in warm water.

This is him...beautiful, isn't he!!!

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d7/kimngus2002/Squirrel1.jpg

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d7/kimngus2002/Squirrel4.jpg

[Skeeter]

I'm afraid your little one is going to have to be over-wintered. 12 weeks is too young (regardless, of what you've read :)) to release a baby. They are usually not released before 14-16 weeks of age, at the earliest, and in Canada it will definitely be too cold then, and will have no leaves left on the trees.

I was afraid of this. I cannot winter him over...hopefully I can find someone who can...sigh...

[Skeeter]

You can use a rice buddy. Get a sock, fill it 2/3's with rice, tie it shut, and microwave until warm. Just not too hot. You may have to set an alarm though, and redo it in the middle of the night, or at least check on it, because when it cools off, it could chill the baby.

Also, do not heat any Pedailyte or formula up in the microwave.

Well, your baby is probably 5 weeks old then. :D The top front teeth start emerging around 5-6 weeks of age.

Please get back to us in the morning, and we will continue to help you. :thumbsup

If you go jogging in the morning, please keep your eyes open for siblings. Where there is one, there is usually more out there needing help. :grouphug

Good Luck and THANK YOU SO MUCH for saving this PRECIOUS baby! :bowdown :bowdown :grouphug


Thanks very much for your help!!! I do have a thingy for the microwave...it's the multi-coloured thing in the pics. It's for puppies but is working well for the baby. I have been heating it for 30 seconds...he loves it ;)

I hate to say it but I suspect that if there were siblings that they are dead now. It's been quite cold here through the night...and 24 hours ago he was in rough shape. Nearly dead this morning and that's spending the night indoors (I thought just wrapping him up was enough of a heat source...I was wrong...thankfully he didn't die!).

I will post again in the am with an update ;)

kim

[Skeeter]

Oh, God love him!!! :grouphug He is GORGEOUS!! :Love_Icon :Love_Icon :Love_Icon

It sounds like you're doing a FANTASTIC job! :thumbsup Just hang in there, and we'll try our hardest to find a rehabber for you, and let us know about the ones that were listed in the other thread. :thumbsup :thankyou :thankyou :thankyou

Do you want him???!!! LOL :D

He's gotten me all broody with his cuteness :Love_Icon

Kim

[skye]

Oh what a little black darling so cute. Best of luck to you and hope little guy does well and soon can fine someone to help you out and raise this precious baby. Bless you for saving him:)

[JudyB]

Oh Gamma.... Go get him, take a road trip!!!! Lol......:rotfl :rotfl :rotfl :rotfl :rotfl :rotfl
Hes beautiful.... bless that little baby and bless you Kim for saving his life! :grouphug

[Carol]

OH HE IS PRECIOUS!!!! :Love_Icon Welcome, Kim!! :Welcome

I am from Ontario also,:wahoo but only have backyard visitors that I feed..Are you anywhere near the London area? I've heard of "Salthaven" if you are in that area? Ontario is rather large...so not sure I can help because you may be nowhere near here...but the link to that site is:

http://www.salthaven.org/found-mammal.php

(I hope it's ok to post a link here) I've never dealt with these people, but recently read of them in our local paper here. They seem very dedicated!

Ooooh, I just found another link of Ontario Rehabbers (I think!)
http://www.owren-online.org/findawlrehabber.htm

I LOVE your little baby! You are doing an AWESOME job keeping him alive and bless you for caring!
:grouphug

[Skeeter]

OH HE IS PRECIOUS!!!! :Love_Icon Welcome, Kim!! :Welcome

I am from Ontario also,:wahoo but only have backyard visitors that I feed..Are you anywhere near the London area? I've heard of "Salthaven" if you are in that area? Ontario is rather large...so not sure I can help because you may be nowhere near here...but the link to that site is:

http://www.salthaven.org/found-mammal.php

(I hope it's ok to post a link here) I've never dealt with these people, but recently read of them in our local paper here. They seem very dedicated!

Ooooh, I just found another link of Ontario Rehabbers (I think!)
http://www.owren-online.org/findawlrehabber.htm

I LOVE your little baby! You are doing an AWESOME job keeping him alive and bless you for caring!
:grouphug

:wave123 Carol!

I'm actually in London ;) Salthaven was the first place I called...they are full. Also called Bea Jones of London (not taking anything this season) and Carol Clarke of St Thomas and she is full as well. Apparently there's another place in St. Thomas called "Call of the Wild"...I will give them a call. But...I just found out that a vet tech friend is raising some orphans so I've got an email in to her to see what her longer term plans are for her babies...and maybe mine can go along with hers???

Anyway, he looks soooo good this morning :wahoo He is strong and active when I feed him. And last night when I attended to him the last time before going to bed he was actually booting around his little carrier so I'm hoping for good things for him :Love_Icon :Love_Icon :Love_Icon

Kim

[Momma Squirrel]

:wave123 you have done a terrific job with your little one, he is beautiful :thumbsup Good luck with finding him a winter home and keep us posted.

[Jackie in Tampa]

:thumbsup :grouphug :bowdown :thankyou :D

[luvs squirrels]

Best of luck with him. He is absolutely precious.

http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/11/11_9_16.gif (http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_ZSYYYYYYYYUS)

[Carol]

:wave123 Carol!

I'm actually in London ;) Salthaven was the first place I called...they are full. Also called Bea Jones of London (not taking anything this season) and Carol Clarke of St Thomas and she is full as well. Apparently there's another place in St. Thomas called "Call of the Wild"...I will give them a call. But...I just found out that a vet tech friend is raising some orphans so I've got an email in to her to see what her longer term plans are for her babies...and maybe mine can go along with hers???

Anyway, he looks soooo good this morning :wahoo He is strong and active when I feed him. And last night when I attended to him the last time before going to bed he was actually booting around his little carrier so I'm hoping for good things for him :Love_Icon :Love_Icon :Love_Icon

Kim

Oh Kim! I LIVE in ST.THOMAS! SMALL WORLD!! Well, not right in the town itself, but just off of Wellington Road South. (I'm only a 15 min. drive from the 401 highway) HOW NEAT!:D That's funny how we both thought of Salthaven first! They seem so nice from what I've read/heard about. Too bad they are full...:sanp3 But that does sound like a wonderful lead you have on the Vet Tech friend!! I really hope she can help!! I've read Carol Clarke's name before on a list...but haven't heard of Call of the Wild...(I'm fairly new to Squirrel World...lol...but have fallen in love with my backyardigan friends!!!!:Love_Icon:Love_Icon:Love_Icon) I've had one I've been able to feed by hand so far...I'm just learning about rehabbers around here too...I've always wondered what I'd do if I found a little one like you did! (trust me, and ask my hubby - I'm always on the look-out!!) You've done so well so far, and he's sounding even stronger thismorning!!! WOO HOO!:wottI just love squirrels so much...they have me wrapped around their little...ummm, "paws!" As people say on here.."I'm OWNED!" lol..If I don't have that food out by 7am each morning...I have them sitting around the patio or on the fence looking in the window as if to say, HURRY UP LADY!!! hee...
I don't know how much I spend on peanuts, pecans, walnuts, filberts and almonds each month...but every penny is worth it knowing they are eating well and have some food over the winter here. :Love_Icon

If I think of anything or anyone else around here that may be able to help, I'll let you know right away! Just prayin' that vet tech friend can help..sounds like rehabbers around here are very busy!!!!!

[squirrelfriend]

I live in Mississauga ONT. I can take him. How far away are you from me?

[Skeeter]

Skeeter...If there is any way you can get this baby to squirrelfriend, he will be in the BEST of hands! :thumbsup :thumbsup

Maybe...but it would be a 4+ hour trek and I hate the entire Toronto area...nightmare to drive through.

Still waiting to hear from my vet tech friend...will let you know as soon as I can :thumbsup

He seems to be doing well...very strong and active when I feed him...BUT...I haven't been able to get him to pee/poop yet. I changed his bedding today and didn't see/smell any evidence of it either. That said, I've only been feeding him esbilac for 24 hours and only in small amounts so perhaps he just hasn't had enough to pass??? Got a good feed in this evening...several cc's. Will try again before going to bed.

[Skeeter]

Just an update on my little guy...I was able to find a licensed rehabilitator who was willing to take him on :jump She has a lovely, large property which backs onto farmland and woodlot. She has heated outbuildings and aviary-type enclosures and has been involved in rescue for many years. I felt very good leaving him in her capable hands ;)

Thanks so much for all the advice that I got on here :thumbsup It's a great resource for those of us who need quick answers!!!

Good luck little man...I will miss you :Love_Icon :Love_Icon :Love_Icon

Kim

[Carol]

OH I am so happy, thrilled, relieved and kinda sad all at the same time!! I'll miss hearing about him...Such a sweetie...I hope he does well! Just think of the 2nd chance of life you gave him...:Love_Icon whenever you miss the little guy:grouphug ! awww...I love happy endings!!

[Skeeter]

OH I am so happy, thrilled, relieved and kinda sad all at the same time!! I'll miss hearing about him...Such a sweetie...I hope he does well! Just think of the 2nd chance of life you gave him...:Love_Icon whenever you miss the little guy:grouphug ! awww...I love happy endings!!

Thanks, Carol ;)

I'm very sad, and worried...and a bit emotional :shakehead ...but he is a wild animal and life for them is uncertain at best. His destiny is his destiny...and I'm glad I was able to help him over his first hurdle ;)

You know, I help with dog rescue and have had a bunch of foster dogs come through but somehow I can keep enough of an emotional distance from them that I don't fall apart when they leave. But something about a nursing infant stirring up the maternal instincts...little guy sucked me in pretty much instantly :Love_Icon

Kim

[Skeeter]

:wahoo FANTASTIC NEWS!! :alright.gif :wahoo I'm SO HAPPY you found a PERFECT place for your PRECIOUS little one! :multi WAY TO GO!! :wott

Now, this better not mean you're leaving us. :nono We won't be happy! :( Please stick around! :D

Well, maybe I'll pop in now and again ;)

Thanks again for all your help :grouphug

Kim

[skye]

I am glad you found help for the baby God Bless you for saving him:thumbsup