One of my babies may be crashing! Help please.

[squirlnewb]

I got home from work today and my baby girl squirrel seems very lethargic. She is breathing slowly and seems to have a hard time crawling.

This happened very suddenly. At 4 am she was climbing all over me and running around the cage with her brothers.

She also has blotches of sticky fur all over her body. As if someone sprayed her with a soft drink.

I looked at her brothers and they are also starting to show blotches of sticky fur.

Any ideas what could be causing this? Or why the decline in health happened so suddenly?

The all eat 4 times a day. About 5-6 cc's of puppy milk replacer. It is not Esbilac as I can't find any in my area. The closest place to get it is about an hours drive. I will go get some tomorrow.

She does not look dehydrated. Skin test is normal.

My camera battery died while I was taking pictures to upload here. :(

Any advice would be appreciated. I will charge the batteries now. Hopefully she makes it that long. I will also try pedialyte while I wait for some replies.

[Mars]

I would mix a few drops of honey into warm water and see if you can get a few cc's into her.

[squirlnewb]

I gave her some homemade hydration fluid and went to the store to pick up some pedialyte. I went to three pharmacies and they had none. I came back 50 minutes later to giver her more fluids...

she looks more energetic than when I left. She was able to climb my shirt up to neck and hang on without falling.

I have her set up in a little box with some t-shirts and 2 warm water bottles.

She may have just been dehydrated. Should I be hydrating them even if they're on formula?

The stickiness must be urine. I see no other explanation. I clean their faces after every feeding... this stickiness was mostly on her back and rear end. Same with the other 2. They always sleep curled up together.

I gave her a bath. Is urine bad for their skin? Why would she be lethargic?

I will try honey water in an hour. I don't want to over hydrate her. I will keep a close eye on her and use the honey if I see her get weaker again.

Any ideas on why she would crash so fast? under 9 hours?

[squirlnewb]

Also, when I got home to feed them I noticed that the other 2 were suckling/licking her back. I checked all their privates and there is no sign of them being suckled on.

[squirlnewb]

Also, I had been giving them a dish with apple slices and bananas twice a day. I was told that this may cause them to become diabetic if I feed them too much fruit. I didn't give them a dish of fruit before work today. Could it just be lack of sugar? Could she be diabetic after only 3 days?

I also have a bowl of plain cheerios in the cage. The cheerios are always sticky by next feeding. I just assumed they were peeing in the cherrios.

[squirlnewb]

It's possible that it was a leftover piece of banana somewhere. I'm just reporting what I thought was odd about their behavior when I got home.

Also, I can't tell if she pooed today. She pooed on my arm at 4am this morning, but since there are 3 of them, I can't tell if she went all day. She hasn't pooed since I fed her and put her in a seperate box @ 6pm.

[squirlnewb]

Yes, I have calcium pills. How many do I give them? Do I just mix it in with their forumla?

I checked the other 2. I smelled their sticky spots and it doesn't smell like fruit. It pretty much smells like the rest of them. haha.

I noticed that it's in the same pattern on the other 2. A circular spot in back of the neck and another one just above the left hind leg.

The other 2 are still very active. they run around the mesh of the cage and follow me around the cage when I go down. They climb up my pants all the way to my neck.

I will keep an eye on the other ones.

I'm not sure if she's peed or pooed since 4am. All three of them were together so I don't know which is which. She hasn't peed or pooed since I fed her at 6pm.

Her eyes are clear. I will go check her gums right now.

[squirlnewb]

I checked her gums and they are nice and pink. When I took her out to check her gums I placed her back in the cage while I reheated the water bottles. She seems much better than before. She even climbed the cage all the way to the top. I put her back in her heated box and she fell right back asleep.


Was there a reason you took her away from the others? It may cause her more stress being all alone, and away from them, plus the babies will keep each other warm when they snuggle.

I didn't actually take her away from the other ones. I just put her in a shoe box with 2 warm bottles of water in it and set it in the cage. The other 2 are busy playing and running around the cage.

That's what I meant by giving her a bath. I washed her with a warm cloth and then dried her in my shirt.

I will go wash the others now.

[squirlnewb]

The tums I have are Tums Extra 750mg mint flavored.

Non medicinal Ingrediens: atrificial and natural flavors, corn starch, FD&C blue 1 Al. lake, FD@C yellow 5 Al. lake, mineral oil, sodium hexametaphosphate, sucrose, talk.

[FallensMommie]

MBD came to mind at first but the other thing I wondered about is aspiration! What are they drinking during the time you are at work, and from what? Do you see any diarrhea at all?

[squirlnewb]

No it doesn't look like post 11. It really looks as if something sticky got into their fur and dried.

As for kitten fur syndrome. Their fur is not that soft and is only sticky in splotches. The treatment for it also seems like what I've been doing minus rehydrating. That document seems to be for older squirrels.

[squirlnewb]

MBD came to mind at first but the other thing I wondered about is aspiration! What are they drinking during the time you are at work, and from what? Do you see any diarrhea at all?

That's what came to mind to me also. I don't think it would be aspiration. I don't hear any clicking noise when they breathe.

I do have a water bottle set up in the cage (like for hamsters) but I haven't thought them how to use it and have never seen them try. I change the water everyday anyways, just in case. Should I remove it? Should I be giving them extra water on top of their regular feedings?

Their poo is solid brown pellets. No diarrhea.

[squirlnewb]

They are currently going without food or water for 9 hours a day. My fiance feeds them at 8-8:30am before she leaves for work and I feed them when I get home @ 6pm.

We feed them every 4-5 hours between 6pm and 8am.

6pm, 11pm, 3 or 4am and 8am

[FallensMommie]

That's what came to mind to me also. I don't think it would be aspiration. I don't hear any clicking noise when they breathe.

I do have a water bottle set up in the cage (like for hamsters) but I haven't thought them how to use it and have never seen them try. I change the water everyday anyways, just in case. Should I remove it? Should I be giving them extra water on top of their regular feedings?

Their poo is solid brown pellets. No diarrhea.


Okay good :thumbsup I was just hoping not to hear a water dish were they could dunk their heads into.

[squirlnewb]

WOW. What a difference. She was the most energetic yet when I went down. She was climbing all over me and "grunting" while I was stimulating her to go to the washroom.

She pooed a solid pellet and a few drops of clear urine.

I'm really not sure what happened. I think I'm going to start giving them each 1 cc of hydration fluid when I get home and feed them 30 minutes later. This was so scary. I was so afraid I would lose her.

Should I start teaching them to use the water bottle? I was afraid to teach them in fear that they might aspirate.

I also think it's the forumla I'm giving them. I'm so dissapointed in the local support in this city. No Esbilac, no rodent blocks, no Zupreem monkey chow, no active rehabbers.

Thank god for this board and people like you.

I will keep a close eye on them. The store that supposedly carries Esbilac powder opens @ 8am tomorrow. I will call then to make sure I don't waste an hour long drive. Otherwise, I will start calling stores and vets in Ontario.

Thank you all again very much. You are the greatest!

[squirlnewb]

also, since I gave her a bath and she has dried, her fur looks much better.

[jme2323]

good job, going out of your way and all to get them the right food! montreal is beautiful, but i guess not super squirrel baby friendly!?

thanks for taking such good care!! :flash3 enjoy your babies!

[squirlnewb]

Update:

The store we were thinking of didn't have any Esbilac either... we bit the bullet and drove accross the border and found some at the Petsmart in Plattsburgh, NY.

The squirrels are doing wonderful this morning. What is the proper way to get them on the Esbilac formula?

Is there a different mixing method than instructed on the box?

[rippie-n-lilgirlsmom]

If they were already on formula put them right on the esbilac.

[squirlnewb]

Even if it was a different formula? I shouldn't try diluting it anyways?

Maybe just dilute it less and go faster.



Mix and handle the formula as follows: 2 parts of water to 1 part of Esbilac Powder, and 1/4 part of heavy whipping cream. By whipping cream I mean real cream that is found in = pint cartons in the dairy case, not substitute whipped creams. Mix in a small jar what you think you will use in 2 to 3 days. Refrigerate mixture and the powder, too. Warm only what you will need each feeding to a little better than room temperature. This is your full strength formula.

Initial Rehydration and Formula Introduction Schedule: do not fail to follow the schedule below. This schedule will continue hydrating the baby and also will introduce the formula gradually so that the baby doesn't react adversely to a new food. The proportions noted in this schedule are based on a 3 cc syringe. If you are using a different size, then adjust the amounts accordingly.

Feeding #1
Put the tip of the syringe in the jar of formula and pull into it 1/2 cc of the formula. Take the syringe to the sink and add 2 and 1/2 cc's of plain water. Give the baby all it wants.

Feeding #2
Into the syringe put 1 cc of the formula - add 2 cc's of plain water.

Feeding #3
1 and 1/2 cc's of the formula - add 1 and 1/2 cc's of plain water.

Feeding #4
2 cc's of the formula - add 1 cc of plain water.

Feeding #5
2 and 1/2 cc's of the formula - add 1/2 cc of plain water.

Feeding #6
You have reached full strength formula which you will continue to feed.

[rippie-n-lilgirlsmom]

No just mix it regular. What kind was he taking? The chart above is if he has never been on formula.

[squirlnewb]

Ok. I will give them full strenght now then.

Here is what I was giving them before:

Mammalac Info:

currently mixing the current formula as instructed on the box. 100ml water and 3 tbsp formula. Should I be making a thicker formula to make up for the lost nutrition?

Mammalac (Our current Formula)
--------
Protein: 22%
Arginine: 1.21%
Fat: 23%
Fibre 0.25%
Sodium: 0.65%
Calcium: 1.15%
Phosphorus: 0.85%
Iron: 90mg/kg
Manganese: 48mg/kg
Zinc: 110mg/kg
Selenium: 0.3 mg/kg
Vitamin A: 15,000 IU/kg
Vitamin D: 2,000 IU/kg
Vitamin E3: 100 IU/kg
Thiamine: 12mg/kg
Riboflavin: 20mg/kg
Niacin: 50mg/kg
Vitamin B12: 50 ug/kg
Biotin: 250 ug/kg
Ascorbic Acid: 100mg/kg


Same mix ration as Esbilac.

[rippie-n-lilgirlsmom]

Did you buy the powdered Esbilac or the canned which is premixed? No need to make it stronger, mix according to directions.
Powdered esbilac should have came with a scoop.
1 scoop powdered esbilac & 2 scoops water.
If it didnt have a scoop, you can use a different scoop of some sort.

[squirlnewb]

Yeah. I got a large container of Esbilac powder. It's the exact same mix ratio as my previous formula.

The squirrels loved it.

I also got some Forti-Diet Rat and Mouse blocks, some vitamins for their water and some sterilized beef bones for calcium.

[squirlnewb]

They're poos are bigger than ever. haha. It's a little soft but they are still solid pellets. A little bit mor yellow to it.

I've only given them one feeding of Ebsilac and then went for a walk to in the park and picked up 2 logs and set them up in their cage. It's been 45 minutes and they're still running around and climbing all over the place. :D

I got Oasis Vita-Drops High Potency Multivitamins for Hamsters, Rats, Mice @ Gerbils.

Vitamin A: 20,000 IU
Vitamin D3: 1,350 IU
Vitamin E: 40.0 IU
Vitamin C: 175 mg
Vitamin B12: 0.015 mg
Vitamin B2: 7.75 mg
Niacinamide: 65 mg
d-Pantothenic acid: 15 mg
Vitamin K: 0.005 mg
Folic Acid: 2.0 mg
Biotin: 0.5 mg
Choline: 60 mg

[squirlnewb]

Hey everyone! :wave123 This is squirlnewb's fiance. I just wanted to drop in and say :thankyou to all of you!! You are all wonderful, amazing people. It's not often you find a group of complete strangers willing to take the time to help and care. Sorry that I cannot write more often, I have just started a new job that uses all of my energy and life is quite hectic right now with the babies :D . But I have been reading your posts whenever I have a minute or two, and really really appreciate all the help and advice. I am not working tomorrow so I will try to take some more pics, cause you guys seem to enjoy them :) . Take care everyone, and again, :thankyou !!!

Alison

[squirlnewb]

Hey everyone! It's Alison. As promised, here are some pics we took today. Hope you like them. All 3 babies are fantastic, and they run around and play for about half an hour after we feed them :thumbsup .
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y174/oierpunk/2close.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y174/oierpunk/2pyj.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y174/oierpunk/3box.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y174/oierpunk/3cage.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y174/oierpunk/3close.jpg

[skye]

How sweet:D great pics and good luck with your babies. Hope to hear more about them and see more pics:thumbsup