I have a new baby!

[Caglemedic]

I got a call from a lady and picked up a boy, about 7-8 weeks old. He fell out of a tree, they found him on the ground and a nieghbors cat was going after it but did not get to it. No external trauma noted, good neuro's, he is dehydrated and was a little hypoglycemic but is improving quickly. He has a cough/sneeze so he apparently aspirated and I have him on a broad spectrum antibiotic.

My question is as he possibly comes around, what is going to be different with his ehab since he was not youbg. I have had a critical care teenager but not this stage. Any advice since he should be on his own soon.

[foxsquirrels]

Really, not much of anything should be different. He may not be as friendly as if you'd raised him from a younger age. I don't release my babies until they are 14 to 16 weeks old. Were there any other young squirrels around where you found him? Sometimes they fall out of the nest or go searching one right after the other, especially if they are hungry. Good luck with your new baby!

[Caglemedic]

THe only thing I see is his cornea appear white, the pupil part. So I am believing it's a brain injury or cogenital. I will test his eyes later.

[Caglemedic]

I have no idea, she said they saw the squirrels playing then heard a screach then saw him fall.

[PBluejay2]

I got a call from a lady and picked up a boy, about 7-8 weeks old. He fell out of a tree, they found him on the ground and a nieghbors cat was going after it but did not get to it. No external trauma noted, good neuro's, he is dehydrated and was a little hypoglycemic but is improving quickly. He has a cough/sneeze so he apparently aspirated and I have him on a broad spectrum antibiotic.

My question is as he possibly comes around, what is going to be different with his ehab since he was not youbg. I have had a critical care teenager but not this stage. Any advice since he should be on his own soon.


Please take no offense, but I have some questions. How long did the lady have the squirrel before she called you? It's always good to assume dehydration, but what indicates hypoglycemia? You say he has or is developing aspiration pneumonia? Did the lady try to feed him formula before you received him? Usually at seven-eight weeks they can gobble formula without aspirating, but even if they get some in their nose they don't usually inhale it into their lungs. What makes you think the antibiotic is necessary? Finally, what broad spectrum antibiotic (Baytril, Sulfatrim?) and are you sure of dosage? I apologize for all the questions, but these things can be important.

[Caglemedic]

Please take no offense, but I have some questions. How long did the lady have the squirrel before she called you? It's always good to assume dehydration, but what indicates hypoglycemia? You say he has or is developing aspiration pneumonia? Did the lady try to feed him formula before you received him? Usually at seven-eight weeks they can gobble formula without aspirating, but even if they get some in their nose they don't usually inhale it into their lungs. What makes you think the antibiotic is necessary? Finally, what broad spectrum antibiotic (Baytril, Sulfatrim?) and are you sure of dosage? I apologize for all the questions, but these things can be important.

None taken. I gues she knows about me and how I have worked with the wildlife rescues around here. She had him for one day, said he drank water. I gave him pedialyte (SP?) one third with two thirds water and some sugar. He is sneezing a wet sneeze. Its like the rescues I have done before when they have aspirated. I just guessed at hypoglycemia because it is often an overlooked problem with animals and humans. I know animals are different but my gut instinct said he needed just a little more, but not much. The antibiotic is as a precaution for internal injuries that might result in infections and just in case he did aspirate, it can help slave off pnuemonia. I have him on a small dose of nitrofurazone, its a broad spectrum commonly used for small birds with respiratory and digestive infections. There is no warning against the use of it with squirrels. My rats are currently being treated on it for a respiratory infection they got from the store. If he makes it through the night, I will start easing over to formula. Tomorrow I will see about getting him baytril but all this has been since 9:30 tonight.

[Caglemedic]

So he is a lot more alert, moves away from stimuli. But he refuses to take anymore fluids.
What should I do next? I tried a little formula and that was a no. Do I place him with a waterer and food bowl? He loves scrathes under his chin and cuddles. I would assume he would have aggressive behavior but he doesn't. I am gonna ewar the gloves at next check up.

So any suggestions?

[Caglemedic]

GOING TO EMERGENCY, HE IS VOMIING NOW>

[Caglemedic]

I am a dumb butt, sometimes. I started this thread last night in he non-emergency because after I brought the baby home, he responded REALLY well to warmth and Pedialyte mixture.

Okay, it been a few months since my last rescue. Got a call from a lady, (I recently put an ad in our local on-line ad because I noticed around here it's hard for anybody to find help. So since I know you all I figure I can send people in the right direction. It says, warm your baby then call me ASAP.) Anyways, this was actually a lady I had picked up a rescue from last year.

They were in thier yard Wensday afternoon, say squirrels bouncy around the trees, and heard a screech. Soomething about a cat was nearby but didn't get the baby yet. so the were giving it water, no warmth. I told her to make a sock buddy and meet me.

He is about 7 weeks old, he was hypothermic and very lethargic. I added a tiny bit more sugar, I just was thinking his electrolytes and glucose level had to be rock bottom. He has no apparent external trauma, no apparent broken bones, some wet sneezes like he has aspirated. So the only thing I have is Furizite, (nitrofurazone), it's or birds for respiratory infections. I don't normally just vary and give anything I have, I have stopped it immediately. Its put in the water and I used half that for my regular water in diluion of my pedialyte mix.
So he was doing great, but in the middle of the night refused water immediately. So I added a little bit of kitten formula ( generic, sorry it's all I had from last rescue, kittens). He had about two cc's and vomited. It had appearence of small amout of blood, less that .03cc and he had diarreah. So I am dumping everything, making the homemade formula for pedialyte from this website( 1qt water, 2 TBSP sugar, 1 TSP salt) and keeping warm and quite.
Oh yeah his pupils have a whitish glare, I know in emergency medicine (disabled paramedic 9 years) that can reflect either brain injury or congenital issue.
So I do not have any Baytril, and I am waiting further instructions as I follow your protocol and don't vary my dumb butt from it.

[island rehabber]

caglemedic I just saw this -- can you update us on the baby and let's see where we go from here?

[island rehabber]

I am merging this thread with the one in Emergency Life-Threatening, which I didn't see until now....

[Caglemedic]

Sorry for the confusion, he took just a few drinks of the homemade pedialyte, (I sure wish I had that a long time ago, you guys are really amazing). He is cuddling but is not having any difficulty breathing at this time. He is a big boy but appears to have lost weight recently. I will get a picture of him soon. I want to become a rehabber but my hubby fell apart when my last baby died. So tough martial arts cop can'y handle squirrels sick. Last night I had to practically fight my husband to let go of the baby.

[island rehabber]

I want to become a rehabber but my hubby fell apart when my last baby died. So tough martial arts cop can'y handle squirrels sick. Last night I had to practically fight my husband to let go of the baby.

glad he's still with us, caglemedic. Keep him warm, and continue to hydrate him. If he looks as if he's lost weight, that is most likely dehydration and fluids MUST be replaced before you do anything -- no antibiotics, no nothing until he is HYDRATED, ok? :thumbsup Then we'll start him later in the day on some diluted formula. Check his nose for blood from when he fell, make sure he can breathe ok. As for your tough hubby I have one of those too.....he doesn't handle it well at all when my rehab babies fail or die. Men want to step in and fix things; it's really hard for them to go with the flow. But we love 'em anyway. :D

[Caglemedic]

I just love you guys on here! You always help and do not judge, even if we make a mistake. You all are so great!:jump

I'll keep you informed.

[Caglemedic]

Yep, he is not tenting bad, his skin slowly goes back down. But it as bad when I got him.

My biggest problem is I am used to treating humans, I was a damn good medic and taught a lot of people here in Marion County. I was old school, even if I was young. It helps a lot bcause you have to think outside of the box, so animals are easier, except for medications.

[Caglemedic]

Okay, he has left sided good pupil reaction but the right has fixed dialation. Has obviously has brain injury but there is good equal movents of lower limbs.

[Caglemedic]

He passed away with respiratory problems.

[Nancy in New York]

Oh, I am so sorry. I know that I always say this when a little one dies, but I know that he died loved and warm at least. I truly am so sorry for your loss.:grouphug :grouphug

[Jackie in Tampa]

:grouphug
R.I.P.Baby Squirrel