new to all of this and have questions..

[heatwave1717]

Four baby grays fell from a tree in my friends yard about 8 days ago. Two of them survived the fall and i have been trying my best since to help these cute creatures. They are very young. tiny pink and hairless at first. I have kept them in a shoebox with a heating pad under half of the box. they sometimes can be warm to the touch and i wonder if that is not good ( one of my questions) also i have been feeding them kitten formula and pedialyte seperately every 2-3 hours. I'm afraid that they may have asperated a few times during the first feeding there is a very fant clicking sound when they breath. but they are crying and making noises which i feel is a good sign. They seem to be doing well though, very active, growing hair, and their ears are now popping up. also their tails are sticking straight up and twiching away.

i have photos of what they looked like when i first found them to just a day ago.
first day
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c355/BBST/P1060001.jpg
week later
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c355/BBST/P1060065.jpg

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c355/BBST/P1060076.jpg


http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c355/BBST/P1060079.jpg


http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c355/BBST/P1060079.jpg (http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c355/BBST/P1060077.jpg)

[4skwerlz]

Clicking means aspiration pneumonia. You're going to need antibiotics for them really quick. A rehabber will be here shortly to help. Hang on and don't go away...

[heatwave1717]

thank you so much for responding, i only hear the clicking when i hold them right up to my ear. doubt that makes a difference.
can i find the antibiotics at a vets office?
someone told me that they will take them away if i take them there.
i hope these cuties pull through.

[4skwerlz]

I see you're in Central Florida. Lots of resources there, and good rehabbers. I PM'd a couple of them. You should be getting some help very shortly.

Don't go away.:thumbsup

[heatwave1717]

thanx again. ill be here.

[Jackie in Tampa]

:Welcome :wave123 Hello
I am in Tampa, I have had baby sqs before and may be able to help you...
Florida is a legal state!:bowdown
If you are close to me, I am willing to take a look at them for you...
If they have aspirated and have fluid in their lungs, you will hear a clicking intheir chests with every breath, consistantly with every breath.
Baby sqs also make alot of crazy loving sweet sounds from their mouths, similar but def you can tell the difference...one will be sporadic and the other will be from chest and consistant.
I have some of supplies on hand and also sq friendly vets.
Good Luck, they sure are beautiful little pinkies:grouphug
Glad you found TSB, you can find alot of great info here.
Have you seen our Forum on baby Sqs?
http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=56
You will find three articles in purple text, they are full of knowledge. All were written by very experienced rehabbers!

[heatwave1717]

Thank you Jackie! I am located in lakeland. they sound aspirated and im worired about pneumonia, but they have done so well this past week, growing and seem to be thriving. I may take you up on the offer, however if you know anyone else that is possible closer to me i would greatly appreciate it, Again thank you so much.

[Jackie in Tampa]

Please switch them to Esbilac as soon as you can...KMR does not have the proper nutrition for baby sqs...Esbilac can be bought in the Pet store , Tractor Supply, feed stores and some vets offices. It comes in the ready to use can{good for 72 hours, but can be froze into cubes} and the powder...I like the powder for economical reasons.
I do not know of anyone in Lakeland, however Tori maybe in Orlando.
I will try to PM her now. Good Luck:grouphug

[PBluejay2]

I'm in Northwest Florida, around Destin. Tallahassee is a 2 and a half hour drive for me, but if you could meet me there, I'll come take care of them. I'm a rehabber who has raised well over a hundred. Others can "vet" me if you like.

[Jackie in Tampa]

:wave123 PBJ, she is 40 minutes from me..I was in lakeland on Monday night...went to pick-up pinkies and they were mice when I got there!:rotfl but they were cute and healthy!:rotfl
I think I am about 6 hours closer!tinfoil
I have a wildlife vet that is 24 hours and not far from I-4 in Tampa. Florida Veternary Specialists, FVS 813-933-8944. The bomb:thumbsup
I am willing to look at them.

[heatwave1717]

Thanks again Jackie, i would really appreciate having someone look at my babies..(thats funny about the mice, everyone i knew thought thats what the squirreles were at first) I have grown so attached to them. (peanut and jellybean) Thanx for the recommendation. Shannon.

[island rehabber]

:Welcometo the Squirrel Board, Shannon! You are so lucky to be in Florida and near enough to several of our wonderful rehabbers. I gotta leave on vacation this morning but you are in great hands with Jackie and PBlueJay2 :bowdown:bowdown

[Jackie in Tampa]

Goodmorning...
I guess there maybe other options ..but here are the ones I can think of...

Take them to vet and PAY and they will treat them and give them back to you...
Take to vet and relinquish rights, and babies will get medical attention and then placed with rehabber...you can leave a donation for their care if you wish, but no money required.
Or take them to local rehabber and go from there..
If they have pnuemonia, you have no other choice but meds...they will die without anti biotics.
I am not trying to scare you, but every hour counts and they are struggling needlessly. It also makes it harder on the person that must do the rehab, when they get sick, it takes alot to bring them back...

I am hoping you got them to FVS lastnight!:thumbsup
or at least to a rehabber...I did PM Tori and hoping she may be closer...
or available. South Tampa is NOT far from where you are in Lakeland, and I can verify pnuemonia etc....and there is no better hospital for wildlife anywhere in the Southeast than FVS.
Please keep us updated...and again good luck.

[island rehabber]

Goodmorning...
I guess there maybe other options ..but here are the ones I can think of...

Take them to vet and PAY and they will treat them and give them back to you...
Take to vet and relinquish rights, and babies will get medical attention and then placed with rehabber...you can leave a donation for their care if you wish, but no money required.
Or take them to local rehabber and go from there..
If they have pnuemonia, you have no other choice but meds...they will die without anti biotics.
I am not trying to scare you, but every hour counts and they are struggling needlessly. It also makes it harder on the person that must do the rehab, when they get sick, it takes alot to bring them back...

I am hoping you got them to FVS lastnight!:thumbsup
or at least to a rehabber...I did PM Tori and hoping she may be closer...
or available. South Tampa is NOT far from where you are in Lakeland, and I can verify pnuemonia etc....and there is no better hospital for wildlife anywhere in the Southeast than FVS.
Please keep us updated...and again good luck.

:goodpost:goodpost:goodpost

[mudmaiden]

I was just reading this thread and I noticed you referred to the fact that you are feeding them kitten formula...I may have missed it if someone else told you this,but please make sure you switch to puppy formula as the kitten is bad for them....best of luck with them...they are cuties!!!!

[heatwave1717]

Thank you all so much!! First thing this morning i went out and found some esbilac puppy formula. Hopefully this will help with their constipation problems they have experienced. I just wish i would have known better sooner. I have spoken with a local rehabber and have made plans to take my babies for a visit.

One of my babies ( i have forgotten to mention this earlier) has a twisted front leg, possible broke from the fall. heres a photo.. anyone have any ideas?

Once again thanx to all of you for taking time to help me help these furry little creatures. Im so glad to be a part of TSB!

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c355/BBST/P1060090modified.jpg
This is the best picture i have of it... poor jellybean

[longshotgamble]

Aw, I love pinkies! Good luck with these babies and get used to no sleep.
I think I slept 4 hours a week when my Peanut & Butter were that age; either paranoid that I left the door open and Cletus, the Bloodhound, was in there sniffing them out or that the heating pad malfunctioned and the babies were cold. (They should be warm to the touch; just so ya know) My better half would call me at work convinced that he had aspirated them, so I would spend hours worried while at work.
Sounds like your getting great advice and enjoy them; they grow up WAY too quick.

[wheezer]

Welcome:Welcome
You are in the best hands with Jackie:thumbsup I hope they are well today:grouphug

[Jackie in Tampa]

:dono i never heard a word...i am still here and willing to do whatever...have meds and vets! :grouphug

[heatwave1717]

Longshotgambel i know exactly what you mean about constantly worrying and no sleep, But they are such cuties and so worth it.

Jackie i found someone in lakeland/winterhaven that will be helping with my pinkies from now on. Thank you for the concern and willingness to help.