Aspiration?

[Bugsie]

I was feeding Bugsie tonight and apparently not paying much attention and I believe I aspirated him. After it happened he was still trying to get back to the syringe to drink but he was making a gurgling noise. It didn't come out his nose but I still flipped him over. He gurgled for about a minute. If he was going to get aspiration pneumonia when would his symptoms start? I am scared to death now.

[4skwerlz]

Hopefully he won't get sick.....but why don't you go ahead and get the antibiotics you will need tomorrow morning, just in case. That way, if he gets sick you'll be able to treat him immediately. Aspiration happens.....prompt treatment once symptoms of pneumonia begin is the key.

Symptoms: "clicking," lethargy, loss of appetite, not maintaining body heat, generally not feeling well

For tonight, keep him very warm.

[Bugsie]

Can you get antibiotics at a co-op I can't take him to the vet. It is illegal to have them in Tennessee and since he can't move his back legs they will know I am not going to release him.

[Bugsie]

I don't have any but...my chinchilla had a cold this past spring and the vet gave him baytril and i just threw away the extra last month:soapbox :soapbox :soapbox I guess even though my chinchilla is perfectly healthy I could take him in and say he has been sneezing and that the baytril worked great last time:dono

[4skwerlz]

That might work.

Some human doctors will call in a prescription for TMP-SMZ (Bactrim) if you call them and say you have a urinary tract infection. (Cheaper than a vet visit.) I used some leftover human TMP-SMZ for my Hazel when we thought she had pneumonia. However, you should double-check with one of our TSB rehabbers if this antibiotic would be okay for a baby squirrel.