New Baby Squirrel Seizure and Food Refusal

[piplool]

Hi, I'm new to the boards and two days ago I found a baby squirrel. It's pinkish on the legs, belly and has a brownish black spotting on his face, head and down his lower back. The eyes are still closed, and he hardly ever moves.

There is no rehabilitation center in my area, and the ones I have called hung up on me while clicking me over to another line. When I got the squirrel, there were no others in the area and the mother was missing. I waited for a few hours in my car watching and so far nothing or anybody showed up.

I have him in a shoe box, but I laid down a heating pad on Medium along with towels and blankets for warmth. I've been regularly checking on him, and he seems to be doing okay. That is, except when it comes time for feeding.

The body is quite wrinkly, and after looking online I figured it was dehydrated so I have been trying to feed it Pediatric Electrolyte Flavor Free Comforts For Baby to restore the body water. I use a syringe, not an animal bottle but the problem is that it never wants to drink it.

I've offered it every 3 hours so far, and it'll suckle the bottle and sip out some for a few minutes, but hardly takes any at all. In addition, lately the squirrel has been having seizure like symptoms. For instance, after I fed him last he would shake, his heart was going very fast and the sides of his lower body were pulsating very quickly and far from his body. It looked very scary. It only lasted a few minutes, but I'm worried about what is going on.

Please Help!!

[Pointy Tale]

I am not a rehabber,

WARM, DARK, QUIET,


Emergency Care for Baby Squirrels
Don’ts
Don’t try to feed the squirrel.
Don’t handle him more than you have to.
No loud voices, TV, music, or bright lights.
No children or pets in the same room!

1. Warm the Baby (never feed a cold squirrel!)
Quick Methods:
-Cup the baby in your hands or under your shirt next to your skin.
-Fill a plastic bottle with very warm water. Wrap in a cloth, place next to baby, and cover him. Reheat every 2 hours.
-“Rice Buddy”: Fill a sock with 1 cup of rice or dried beans and microwave for 30 seconds. Place next to baby and cover him. Reheat every 2 hours.

2. [b] Find a Box or Container[b]
A shoebox will do for small babies. A baby that can walk will need a larger box with a lid (with holes). Put a clean baby blanket, flannel shirt, or piece of fleece in the bottom of the box. No towels or terrycloth. Squirrels can get tangled in the loops. Place baby on the material and cover him with one flap. If you have a heating pad, turn it on low and place it under half of the box (not IN the box!) so baby can move away if he gets too warm. You can use the plastic bottle or rice buddy described above, but these are only temporary methods until you get a heating pad, since they must be reheated every 2 hours and won't keep baby warm all night.
NOTE: Monitor his temperature so he doesn’t chill or overheat. His feet should feel warm to the touch.

Note: If the baby is injured, is having trouble breathing, has fly eggs on his fur, or is very skinny or dehydrated, he needs emergency care by an experienced rehabber or vet.

3. Rehydrate the Baby

Most babies are dehydrated when you find them and must be rehydrated before you can feed them. Never feed formula or food of any kind to a dehydrated baby!

How to Check for Dehydration
Pinch the skin on the back of his neck. If it doesn’t spring back immediately, the baby is dehydrated. If the pinched skin stays up like a tent for more than a second, the baby is badly dehydrated. Other signs of dehydration: pale grayish gums, dry mouth, sunken eyes, whites around eyes showing, rough spiky fur, dry scaly skin.
NOTE: If baby is badly dehydrated, he will need subcutaneous fluids, which can only be given by a rehabber or vet.

[b] Supplies You Will Need: [b]
--Pedialyte (any flavor)*
--Plastic syringes (1 cc size; no needles. Ask the pharmacist to get these for you) An eyedropper can also work.
These are available at most drugstores.

*If you can’t find Pedialyte at the store, here is a recipe for homemade Pedialyte:

1 tsp salt (teaspoon)
3 Tbsp sugar (tablespoon)
1 quart warm water
Mix all ingredients in warm water. Store in refrigerator.

How to Prepare the Pedialyte
Use a plastic syringe (with or without a nipple). Never use pet nursers or doll bottles. They will choke the baby. Fill a coffee mug with hot water. Fill the syringe with Pedialyte and place it in the mug for a couple of minutes. Squirt a drop on the inside of your wrist to make sure the liquid isn’t too hot. It should feel barely warm on your skin.

Proper Position
A tiny baby should be held upright in your hand. A baby with fur can lie on a flat surface on his stomach. A baby that can walk can be held upright or he can drink sitting up. Hold the syringe so the tip points UP to the baby’s mouth and the handle is down. Don’t let the baby get cold. Keep him wrapped up while he eats.

How to Feed Fluids
Place the syringe tip on the baby’s lips (from the side) and squeeze out one drop for him to taste. Don’t squirt a steady stream. Let him swallow one drop before squeezing more. GO SLOW! It sometimes takes a feeding or two for them to catch on. Hairless babies are fed drop by drop. With older babies (once they catch on) you can squeeze slowly for one second, wait for him to swallow, then squeeze more.

If fluids dribble out his mouth or come out his nose, you are going too fast. Stop and tilt the baby’s head down so the fluid drains out (support his head and neck like you would a human baby). Then wipe his nose and mouth with a tissue. Start over, slower. NOTE: There is now a chance your baby will develop aspiration pneumonia from inhaling fluid in his lungs. This is fatal. Please contact a rehabber or vet, or the people at The Squirrel Board, for assista

[Pointy Tale]

I am trying to see which rehabber is online, please stay here, OK

[Pointy Tale]

Hi, I have a list of rehabbers in the San Diego County where you are located. Please see if any are close to you.

Please hang tight, I am looking for an online TSB rehabber for you too.

OK? Please stay there


California, Southwest region, San Diego County (Poway)..... 858-679-0211

Dick Wilkins, Bat Rescue
74224.1127@compuserve.com or help@batrescue.org
Wildlife Species: all bat species
California, Southwest region, San Diego County (San Diego)..... 619-225-WILD

Project Wildlife
info@projectwildlife.org
Wildlife Species: native birds and mammals
California, Southwest region, San Diego County (San Diego)..... 619-749-8160

Marvin Snell, Wildlife Center of San Diego
Comments: fax 619-749-8304

[gs1]

:grouphug

i'm not a rehabber either.

i'd guess the best to do right now is warm/dark/quiet as pointy tale has already posted.

someone will be on soon ... will you be willing to give him/her to someone who can help? we will see if any of our rehabbers/members are close by. At least they can help you. thank you so much for loving this little baby.

all the best ... will be praying for you...

i'd be so careful right now, he does sound dehydrated but please be so careful not to get fluid in his lungs...:grouphug

[Pointy Tale]

piplool- are you still there?

[Pointy Tale]

I understand the baby is on some kind of heat, but is his body cold?

[Pointy Tale]

Piplool, has the baby peed or pooped yet?

I'm not sure if you are there, I am going to try to pm you, OK, if you are there, please just let me know, OK.

[Pointy Tale]

I have just sent you a privite message:


Hi, I am not a rehabber, I am trying to find you one, online. Can you see the quick replies so far in your thread? If not, please just refresh your screen, OK. We can then talk in the thread.

[island rehabber]

hi piplool -- please give us an update on the baby's status. As mentioned above, he MUST be on heat at all times and must receive hydration one way or another. If you can't get him to swallow the Pedialyte from a syringe the only thing you can do is find osmeone who will administer sub-Q fluids -- a vet or rehabber. In the meantime, warmth is essential. Please let us know what's going on so we can help :)

[squirrelsrule&bunniestoo]

It is very possible that the squirrel has severe head trauma from the fall that is causing the seizures. In that case he will need some meds. for the swelling. I think a rehabber would be best to handle this if there is any way you can get him to one. Even if they are further away, they may be willing to meet you halfway or something. I would call anyone and everyone that is nearby and see if anyone can help.

For now, keep the baby in a warm quiet place and I wouldn't try to feed it anymore as you may aspirate him making his problems even worse.

[TinyPaws]

Any news?