View Full Version : Bloated Baby
aj910
08-01-2010, 03:55 AM
I found a baby squirrel a week ago, he's about two to three weeks old. This is my first time raising a squirrel, so I'm learning as I go. He has been eating and using the bathroom pretty well this week, but today he seems to be bloated. I think he's dehydrated as well, I say that because his ribs, back bone, and hips started sticking out, and when I lift the skin between his shoulder blades, it stays standing. I an worried because his belly is huge, to the point where it looks likes it probably hurt. He is pooping a little, and when I put him in warm water and rub his anus, he passes a little gas, but the bloating doesn't seem to be going down. Can someone please help me.
CritterMom
08-01-2010, 05:03 AM
What are you feeding him?
Don't feed more food until the bloating goes down, and if he is dehydrated, that needs to be dealt with first.
Make sure he is warm. His container needs to be mostly set on top of a heating pad on low. Cpld babies won't function properly.
Rehydrate. Instead of formula, either pedialyte or a homemade version:
1 tsp salt
3 Tbsp sugar
1 quart water
Keep in fridge but give to squirrel warmed up. A little at a time, then let him rest then more, and so on. Hold off on the formula until he is rehydrated - it may take you many hours to get there.
What formula do you have?
aj910
08-01-2010, 09:26 AM
I'm a young guy with no kids, but I was so worried about him that I got almost no sleep last night. I think I now know how parents feel when their kids are sick. Anyhow, He ended up using the bathroom several times throughout the night, and his bloating is definitely going down, so that is good, but he seems to be dehydrated still, so I need to tackle that issue. He is skin and bones, but he is peeing real well, so I am confused. I am feeding him KMR, It's made by PetAg, and is the kitten equivalent of Esbilac. I was told to give him that because it has a higher fat content. As far as feeding him goes, how much should I feed him, I weighed him the other day, and he weighed 1.6 oz. Just a couple of drops, and since I'm only going to feed him Pedialite, do I give him the same amount as I would the formula? Does he look like skin and bones because he is dehydrated? I'm sorry I'm asking so many questions, but like I said I have never done this before, and I want to make sure I get him good and healthy. Thanks for all your help.
CritterMom
08-01-2010, 09:52 AM
OK, this is where I tell you everything you are doing wrong. Lots of people out there will give you advise and it is ften wrong. The people here know what they are doing - we have rehabbers that have raised literally hundreds, so please heed my advise.
KMR. Wrong. I'm sorry, I know you already bought it because someone gave you bad advise. The nutrients are designed for kittens, which are strict carnivores, and of course, squirrels are not. The formula of choice is on,y available online. It is called Fox Valley. You can get it at www.foxvalleynutrition.com or http://henryspets.com. Both will ship overnight to you - henryspets is a TSB member who also sells the syringes and nipples you NEED to feed a baby squirrel, and they are just a few cents each. I cannot urge you strongly enough to get this formula; it is literally the difference between success and failure.
In the meantime, you need something to feed him besides the KMR. You have two choices - one is First Born puppy milk replacer that is widely sold at Walmart. They sell little cans all mixed up and powder - you can buy a can for a few dollars and it will last until you get your Fox Valley.
Second choice means you have to buy goats milk, heavy whipping cream (the stuff in the little cartons in the milk dept) and WHOLE MILK yogurt, not low fat or no fat. Jackie, who gave us this recipe, references Dannon but I cannot find it in my area. If you have the same problem, look for "Yobaby" by Yoplait - it is made for infants and is whole milk yogurt. Recipe:
Jackie (Jackie in Tampa) has graciously offered her temporary replacement formula recipe.
Jackie's Goat Milk Recipe
1 cup goats milk
1/3 cup heavy cream
1/3 cup dannon all natural vanilla yogurt
Mix well and keep in a covered plastic or glass container in the refrigerator. Replace after 48 hours.
If his skin is tenting he needs to have dehydration fluid as I described in the previous post, either homemade or pedialyte. Do you have a 1cc syringe? You can buy at Henrys but for now go to your pharmacist and beg - tell him/her that you have a newborn kitten that is tiny that you need to feed. They will usually give you a few. They are poor quality but better than nothing. If you pull the plunger all the way out and put a tiny bit of olive oil on the black rubber plunger, they work better. Use this to feed both formula and dehydration fluid. Please get him rehydrated ASAP - you have to do it a little at a time so start immediately and then begin working on the other. And let us know if this is too much and you need to find someone to take him.
Are his eyes open yet?
You need to read this:
http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11782 Much important info.
Oops - PS: I, too, bought KMR for my squirrel initially - perhaps we speak to the same people!! I had paid a chunk of change for the big can of powder. I donated it to my local animal shelter - it is expensive and they were very happy to get it.
mpetys
08-01-2010, 10:09 AM
Hi. Hopefully some experienced rehabbers will be on here to answer your questions. I am a beginner at this having just had my first baby squirrels in January. But I will tell you what I know.
The KMR is not recommended. The best formula is FoxValley 32/40. It is manufactured specifically for squirrels. You can order it at the following two places: www.foxvalleynutrition.com and www.henryspets.com. Let them know you need it asap and see what can be done for quick shipping. I ordered from Fox Valley and received it the next day. Henry's Pets was not selling it at the time.
This baby needs to get rehydrated before starting formula. If the baby gets rehydrated before you can get your formula in; below is a temporary replacement recipe offered by one of our members, Jackie (Jackie in Tampa):
Jackie's Goat Milk Recipe
1 cup goats milk
1/3 cup heavy cream
1/3 cup dannon all natural vanilla yogurt
Mix well and keep in a covered plastic or glass container in the refrigerator. Replace after 48 hours.
Please note, this website has several links that still mention Esbilac and we need to keep these links active as they do contain excellent information so please keep in mind that Fox Valley is now the formula of choice for raising baby squirrels.
Please note that the pedialyte and formula should be administered with a 1cc syringe.
Here is a good link with information on caring for babies:
http://www.thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8889
One other thing is to keep the baby warm. Keep the baby in a box with some fleece fabric or t-shirt fabric. You don't want to use bath towels as their nails can get caught in the loops. Put a heating pad under half of the box. This way if it gets too warm, the baby can move to the other side. Monitor the heat until you know you have it right. Make sure your heating pad is not the kind that shuts off automatically after 2 hours or so or you will find a cold baby. I bought mine for $15 at local grocery store. Provide your baby with a "rice buddy". I took one of my husbands white athletic socks and filled with rice. Tied the top off with a knot. Put in the microwave for a short time. I don't remember but try 15 - 30 seconds and check for heat. Someone please give the correct information for time. I wrapped a piece of t-shirt material around mine. Place in box. My babies cuddled with it. When it feels like it is starting to cool, if it is on the side with the heating pad underneath, I just turned mine over as it was nice and warm and toasty.
Michele in Tampa
mpetys
08-01-2010, 10:11 AM
Okay, I found an excellent previous post by TSB member Mars. I am cutting and pasting because it has a lot of good information in clear concise wording.
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. Find a Box or Container
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.
3. Decide Who Will Care for the Baby
The Squirrel’s Mother—If the squirrel seems healthy, you might be able to return it to its mother—the best choice. The folks on The Squirrel Board can tell you how to do this.
Rehabber or Vet—If reunion with mom is impossible, the baby will have the best chance to live if you contact an experienced rehabber. The Squirrel Board folks will be happy to help you find someone nearby.
Yourself—If you’re thinking about taking care of the baby yourself, please remember:
--The squirrel will have to be fed every few hours—night and day.
--You will need supplies that will cost at least $250.00.
--If the baby gets worse, it will need emergency vet treatment, which is expensive.
--It is illegal in most states to possess a wild squirrel for any reason.
--Most squirrels eventually turn wild and will have to be released.
--Most squirrels raised by the people who find them die within 2 weeks.
If you still want to raise this baby yourself, the folks on The Squirrel Board are here to help.
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.
Rehydrating a Baby Squirrel
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!
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.
Supplies You Will Need:
--Heating pad without auto shut-off (if you don’t already have one)
--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. You can also order supplies from Chris’ Squirrels and More. (http://www.squirrelsandmore.com)
*If you can’t find Pedialyte at the store, here is a recipe for homemade Pedialyte:
--1 teaspoon salt
--3 Tablespoons sugar
--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 can be held 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 assistance.
How Much Fluid to Feed
Give 1/2 to 1 cc every 30 minutes for the first 2 hours. Then give it every 2 hours around the clock. Do not feed Pedialyte for more than 24 hours. It is not a subsitute for formula. Refrigerate Pedialyte after opening. Throw away any open bottles after 3 days.
Check the baby every few hours using the “pinch test” described above. As baby rehydrates, he should “perk up” and become more active. Rehydrate all babies for at least 2 hours before feeding formula or food of any kind. Severely dehydrated babies should be rehydrated for 24 hours before feeding.
Note: If your baby will not take any fluids, he must go to a rehabber immediately or he will die.
Potty Time
A baby that is not fully furred will need help to pee and poo. Normally, the squirrel’s mother will lick the baby’s belly and bottom to stimulate him to go. Before and after feeding, use a warm, damp kleenex, cotton ball, or soft cloth to gently tickle the baby’s genital area. Do this until baby goes. NOTE: A dehydrated baby may not pee or poo until he has had several feedings of Pedialyte.
Good luck and thanks for trying to help this little baby.
Michele in Tampa
mpetys
08-01-2010, 11:20 AM
**bumping**
aj910, I hope you get a chance to check in and let us know how your little one is doing. If you have any questions at all, please ask.
Michele in Tampa
aj910
08-04-2010, 12:13 AM
He is doing better, the bloating is down, and I'm real careful now with how much I give him. Thanks for all the help though, Carl (the squirrel) and I really appreciate it.
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