my squirrel is not eating!

[roushie]

he isnt eating and he is making a clicking noise. i dont know what to do and im really worried. at 12 A.M. he only had 2 ccs when he normally eats 5ccs now.just now at 4 he only wanted 1 cc . someone please help im really really worried:shakehead

[Abacat]

I think your squirrel has pneumonia, and needs antibiotics ASAP. I sent a PM to a member here...I don't know your location but you need to get the squirrel to a vet or rehabber quickly, the squirrel's life depends on it.

I'm on my way to work, but here's a link to check if any of these rehabbers are close to you... (scroll to Mississippi)
http://www.tc.umn.edu/~devo0028/contactA.htm#ms
Good Luck, I'm sending prayers.

[roushie]

im supposed to talk to a rehabber again today. im not really sure when her office opens. its 5 am here. im so worried. is there anything i can do?

[Abacat]

I don't know how close a relationship you have with the rehabber, but I would call as soon as you can. Keep the baby warm on a heating pad, low heat...and make that call ASAP.

Is this the first time you've noticed any symptoms? Has the baby been reluctant to eat before this? If this is the first symptoms you have a small window of time, if there have been symptoms you haven't picked up on, it could be more advanced...either way antibiotics are needed quickly.

I'll check back when I get home tonight, sorry I can't be more help. I did send a PM to someone nearby, don't know if they are close enough to help you or not...but if you are already working with a rehabber they should be able to get the antibiotics into the squirrel IF you make that call.

[squirrelsrule&bunniestoo]

If he has pneumonia, which it sounds like he does, he NEEDS antibiotics. He needs to get to the rehabber ASAP! The should open no later than 9 AM. Just hold tight till then. I would NOT try to feed the baby again. If he has pneumonia, he is not going to be sucking the milk down like he should, and would be 10 times easier to aspirate, which would make the situation much worse. He will not starve to death in a couple hours, so just hang in there until you can get him help.

[squirrelsrule&bunniestoo]

I would call the rehabber now and if they don't pick up, leave a message. Make sure you say that it is an emergency and you think your baby has pneumonia. If you leave a message and don't hear anything back by 9, call again and keep calling every hour or so until you get an answer. Is this a home rehabber, or a wildlife center?

[roushie]

i just called and left a message.... im in tears i want him to be ok..

he has never done this

[squirrelsrule&bunniestoo]

Don't worry, everything will be alright. He just needs to get some help. I am sure the rehabber will call back soon. Your little guy will be OK, he just needs some meds. I have had MANY squirrels come in with pneumonia and 8 in 10 pull through just fine. These are squirrels that are VERY sick with clicking so loud you can hear it when you put them down and walk away :shakehead . Is your little tyke on heat? That would help him feel better. He should have a heating pad set on low. Put it under his cage, not in with him as it might get too hot in with him. If you do not have a heating pad, you can use hot water bottles or make a rice buddy (fill a sock with rice and heat it up in the microwave).

Is your little tyke warm to the touch? Is he staying on the heat or trying to get off the heat?

[Abacat]

:grouphug Try not to worry. We are here for you, but your squirrel does need those antibiotics quickly. Is it a home based rehab facility or a wildlife center as SR&B2 mentioned?

[squirrelsrule&bunniestoo]

I checked out the I need help thread, and it seems like the rehabber is at a wildlife center. I think it is a 9-5 center :shakehead because they were closed at 5 AM and 7 PM :shakehead . They will have the antibiotics he needs though. Just hang in there until 9. Can you get the baby to the center? It may be best just to show up at 9 AM if it is a center. If it is a place like the center where I volunteer, they are not going to meet you, any time. My center will not pick up any animals, everything is brought to them. If it is a home rehabber, though, you do not want to just show up at their house, so double check before going.

[roushie]

this rehabber is actually a vet. and she offered to meet me half way but the plans fell through last time because she had meetings all day.

yes he is on the heating pad and he is staying on it and snuggling with the stuffed animal i put in there.he is warm to the touch.


the clicking isnt extremely loud its kind of faint. you can tell he is struggling to get air though. it just really started happening at four(2 hours ago for me) so i hope i caught this early.


he still tries to move around a little bit. he just seems exhausted and doesnt really want to open his eyes.

[4skwerlz]

Check your medicine cabinet. Do you have any leftover antibiotic prescriptions for humans??

[roushie]

no antibiotics in the house. :shakehead

[roushie]

i have the little man in his box next to me. im so worried you guys:shakehead i want him to be ok. i have my laptop too so im going to be here until the vet calls me.

[4skwerlz]

Couldn't the vet just arrange for you to pick up a prescription at her office? or at another vet office? It really is important to get SOME antibiotic into the squirrel right away.

Do you have any friends or family that live nearby that might have leftover prescriptions?

[Abacat]

I don't know if you have a humidifier, but maybe if you had one in the room where the squirrel is it might help him breathe easier...

I do have to leave for work now, but take care and try not to worry too much.
I'm hoping your baby gets those meds soon, he'll feel so much better once the meds start working. :grouphug

Please keep us posted, I'll check in later when I'm home.

[roushie]

my husband has to go to work soon so im going to get him to drop me off at my parents and if i dont hear back from the rehabber then im going to a vet and talking to them. the only thing is that its illegal to have a squirrel even though im just giving him temporary care.

[4skwerlz]

Just call the nearest vet, tell them you are just rehabbing the squirrel and planning to release him and it is an emergency. You need trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (also called TMP-SMZ, Bactrim, or Sulfatrim)

[squirrelsrule&bunniestoo]

Snuggling with his little stuffed animal on the heat and being warm to the touch are both very good signs :thumbsup . I think you have caught the pneumonia early and your little tyke will be just fine. Try not to worry. I know the feeling just watching and waiting and hoping and praying everything will be OK, it is not too fun :grouphug . Your little guy does not sound as though he is in serious condition yet though, and I think he will make a speedy recovery once he gets to the rehabber and gets his antibiotics. I hope you get a call back real soon. If the person is willing to come and pick him up or meet you half way, that is a very good sign, it shows they truly care :thumbsup .

[squirrelsrule&bunniestoo]

4skwerlz, I really think that Roushie should wait and get the squirrel to the rehabber this morning. We do not want to risk overdosing the baby or underdosing and leaving the rehabber with no idea how much the baby has gotten. I do not think Roushie has a weight on the squirrel, so noone can dose the squirrel. I really feel that a rehabber is the best way to go with this little tyke. The little guy will be fine until 9 AM. Most vet offices don't open until 8 AM anyways, so it won't save much time and the risk of error is MUCH greater. Plus, they aren't going to just hand over antibiotics. I had a hard time getting some when I first got my permit, and I had a permit!

[roushie]

4skwerlz, I really think that Roushie should wait and get the squirrel to the rehabber this morning. We do not want to risk overdosing the baby or underdosing and leaving the rehabber with no idea how much the baby has gotten. I do not think Roushie has a weight on the squirrel, so noone can dose the squirrel. I really feel that a rehabber is the best way to go with this little tyke. The little guy will be fine until 9 AM. Most vet offices don't open until 8 AM anyways, so it won't save much time and the risk of error is MUCH greater. Plus, they aren't going to just hand over antibiotics. I had a hard time getting some when I first got my permit, and I had a permit!


i dont have a weight on him. if she doesnt call by 9 30 i will take him to a vet and get antibiotics. i just really want to wait for the rehabber because she works with squirrels everyday

[roushie]

well you guys im about to leave. i will get on here and update you guys a.s.a.p.


im hoping and praying for the best!!

[island rehabber]

we're hoping and praying for you, too!! :thumbsup

[4skwerlz]

SR&BT, I hope you don't mind me trying to help; when I came online there was no one else on TSB.

You are right that a rehabber would be best, but we know sometimes they never call back, and the vet was apparently busy all day. I just wanted Roushie to explore all the options, as a whole day can go by waiting for people to call you back....and then it gets even harder to find help after 5 p.m.

Of course if Roushie had to use human antibiotics, one of our TSB rehabbers would have calculated the dosage for her. I've done it myself with a rehabber's help, and it wasn't that hard. I personally wouldn't let the lack of a gram scale stop me from getting some ABs into a baby with aspiration pneumonia.

[squirrelsrule&bunniestoo]

I don't mind you trying to help 4skwerlz. Abacat and I were on from 6:30 to now trying to help Roushie while she waited for the rehabber, though. I did not intend to have Roushie wait all day for a rehabber. I told her to call and leave a message with the rehabber then call every hour or so starting at 9. I made it clear that the squirrel needed help this morning/early afternoon. If we weren't getting anywhere, I would have suggessted trying to get antibiotics another way. I am VERY MUCH opossed to dosing antibiotics without a scale. That is probably from all the screw ups I have seen at the wildlife center where I volunteer. They weigh one creature in the bunch and then dose them all based on the one's weight... it never turns out good. I would have recommended getting the antibiotics another way if we hadn't gotten anywhere and we would have dosed the squirrel without the scale, but it would be a risk of overdosing or underdosing the squirrel. Just by looking at the squirrel, he could weigh anywhere from 80 grams to 120 grams. We have no way of knowing without a scale. I wouldn't want to guess unless it was a last resort. Using human antibiotics wouldn't have been the best bet either, that would have been even riskier. I would have suggessted the vets and if that didn't work then try to find a feed store that has the antibiotics (I guess they carry some antibiotics for livestock?).
Good luck with the little tyke Roushie. I am guessing you are taking him to the rehabber now :dono . Hopefully the little tyke will be feeling all better in a couple days after getting his antibiotics.

[roushie]

I'm patiently waiting for a phone call.I'm on the internet on my phone. He seems to be doing better. The clicking noise isn't that bad anymore its still there but its not as loud.. Iam just worried about him not being able to eat.

[squirrelsrule&bunniestoo]

I hope you hear back soon :grouphug

[digiandchipper]

I can't believe they haven't called yet....how is your baby now?

[roushie]

I finally heard from her. Ironically I have to take him to the vet that I use to take my dogs to. I'm giving him to a rehabber that works at the vet.she sid the vet would give him his medicine and stuff for free. I'm giving him to a rehabber now because I think he should be with other squirrels. I will keep you guys updated.

[squirrelsrule&bunniestoo]

:wahoo That is great news :wahoo . I am sure he will do well once he gets his meds. Good job with the little tyke :thumbsup .

[Buddy'sMom]

I'm so glad you were able to connect with that rehabber, and the baby will now get the meds he appears to need. :thumbsup What a scary morning you have had!! Yikes. But you jumped quickly into action at the very first sign of trouble and he should be just fine with some antibiotic to head pneumonia off at the pass. They usually respond quickly.

It's also good that he can be with other squirrels. :wott Especially since it is so late in the season -- he may need to be overwintered and will be better socialized for the wild if he has squirrel friends (vs. human friends :) ) during that time.

You have done very well by your little one, saving his life and finding the best place for him to grow up. :bowdown Very hard to wave goodbye, I'm certain. But --- job well done! :thumbsup And now you know what to do --- and where to find help -- in case another little one comes your way.

:grouphug :Love_Icon :grouphug

[roushie]

It was very hard to say goodbye. I just know it was the right thing to do.the vet that pointed me to this other vet said she would love for me to be a rehabber. It felt so good that I helped save the little mans life.

[Buddy'sMom]

:grouphug :grouphug :grouphug

That sounds like a good idea. Perhaps one of the rehabbers would let you work with them a bit and learn from them. When they are very busy with baby season (usually spring and late summer/early fall) they are usually very glad for assistance --- or for additional rehabbers in the area. :thumbsup I don't know the rules and requirements in your area, but the local rehabbers would be able to help you understand that, too.

In the meantime, stick around here! It's a great place to lean .... and have fun!

:grouphug :Love_Icon :grouphug

[Abacat]

:alright.gif roushie!
You have great instincts, and you put your feelings aside; for what was best for your baby, helping to save his life. :bowdown Not alot of people out there will do that, I think you'd make an excellent rehabber. :thumbsup It's very rewarding, yet draining... (emotionally speaking).
Please keep us posted if you can. :grouphug

(Man, I was dying at work to check in on your baby, I just couldn't it was crazy today... :sorry
But my thoughts and prayers were with you.)

[Secret Squirrel]

WOW...what a flurry of members coming together !!!!:thumbsup Way to go folks!!!!:grouphug

Roushie, is the rehaber going to give you up dates on your little man ?? I sure all is well with him....and you too. It can be very stressful knowing the life of a baby is in your hands. I remember very well my first baby.
You did a very good thing by getting him the help he needed. Thank you.
Best wishes :grouphug

[roushie]

Thanks so much. I went back to the vet and seen him one last time. That helped a lot. Yes I will get updates from the rehabber. I have to call her though but I understand she is a busy woman. I will definitely be sticking around. I am so glad that I found this forum. Thanks so much everyone

[Buddy'sMom]

....In the meantime, stick around here! It's a great place to lean .... and have fun!....

:osnap Well, that was SUPPOSED to say "a great place to learn"!! :rotfl :rotfl

But TSB has very broad shoulders and, as you found this week, it is ALSO a great place to LEAN. :alright.gif :alright.gif

[island rehabber]

:goodpost so true.....

roushie, you did GREAT, and as for the vet wanting you to become a rehabber? That's exactly how I got into all this......:sanp3 :D :thumbsup