Rapid breathing and some clicking

[Tkern]

I found a baby squirrel and have had him for 1 week and 2 days. He was fine until yesterday. He very suddenly started to breathe very rapidly and I can hear some clicking in his breathing. He seems to be some better today, a little more active and is eating better. I believe him to be about 7 weeks old. He is eating about 10 cc at each feeding and he is nibbleing on grapes, avacadoes, and pecans. I am afaraid that he may be getting pnemonia. I do have some antibiotics(generic sulfameth+trim 400+80 MG, for Bactrim 400+80 MG) in the house, I just don't know if I can give this to him and if so how much. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Momma Squirrel]

:Welcome and thank you for taking care of this little one and rescuing it. I am no expert so I will try my best to get someone here quickly to help you. sit tight and someone will be here shortly.

It has been very busy the last few days and weeks.

[foxsquirrels]

Checking to see if a member is on board that can dose the sulfatrim. Will be back with you shortly!:Welcome

[rippie-n-lilgirlsmom]

Do we know the weight of baby?
Another question was he given any pedialyte for rehydration, when babies are dehydrated they won't want to eat.

[Tkern]

We have given him pedialite. But this afternoon he ate his puppy formula without incident. He actually took 10 cc's at about 3:30.

[island rehabber]

Tkern, listen for actual wheezing, clicking, or a popping sound with EACH BREATH. Squirrels do make little 'pft' noises and clicky sounds once in awhile, which is normal. Unless he is actually making sound with each breath, you may have nothing to worry about and don't want to go giving him meds if he doesn't need them. The fact that he was better and ate well today is a major positive thing.

[rippie-n-lilgirlsmom]

:thankyou thats what I thought because he ate that he may not be sick although you can never be to careful!:thumbsup

[Tkern]

I am 90% positive that he is sick. He has been sneezing/sniffeling also. I do not hear any wheezing but the popping is there.

[rippie-n-lilgirlsmom]

Is he on a heating pad?

[ShesASquirrelyGirl]

I do know that Tri-meth sulfa suspension and Bactrim are both ok for rodents, but I do not know the dosage = /
Working on finding that out unless someone else can help!

[island rehabber]

Tkern, I will PM you with the dosages for Sulfatrim and Bactrim if I can find them.

[rippie-n-lilgirlsmom]

IR Loop helped me yesterday and T. said she would not administer unless really needed.

[island rehabber]

Thanks Rip....I agree that unless something is really wrong you don't want to go filling up the baby with chemicals....
Squirlgirl can tell you (although she'd never blab) that I called her in a panic the night I got the Almond Bros because I swore they were clicking. But it was their little sucking noises:Love_Icon I was hearing, and I was panicking because they were my first pinkies of the season. :shakehead

[rippie-n-lilgirlsmom]

I was panicking because they were my first pinkies of the season.

__________________

You can always count on those to cause your brain to malfunction.

[Tkern]

He seems much better today. He is still eating good and he seems to be more energetic today. Thanks to everyone for the suggestions.

[rippie-n-lilgirlsmom]

:wahoo :wahoo :alright.gif

[heyjamai]

I wonder if he could have aspirated on the formula? (Got liquid in his lungs from eating too fast?) I found this online:

http://www.rainbowwildlife.com/baby-squirrel.htm

"Pneumonia: This is not usually seen upon arrival but can occur after an inexperienced person has fed an animal and repeatedly aspirated the animal. Aspiration happens when the squirrel drinks too fast and the fluid goes up into its nose, and sometimes into the lungs. If it gets into the lungs, then pneumonia can result.

If a baby does aspirate the liquid, you will see it bubble out of his nose.

To prevent this from causing pneumonia, immediately tip the baby forward so that his head is down.

Hold him securely and allow the fluid to drain out of the nose. There is no need to pat the back, as there is nothing to dislodge. Let gravity remove the fluids.


When the baby is calm again and the nose is clear, resume the feeding.

Sometimes pneumonia will happen in spite of your efforts. Symptoms of pneumonia can be a clicking sound in the throat area, open mouth breathing, or a runny or congested nose. If these symptoms are present, take the animal to a veterinarian or an experience wildlife rehabilitator immediately."