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MissDolittle
03-15-2006, 08:43 AM
One of the 2 babies keeps crawling off the heatingpad and wants to get cold,
is not feeling good at all. I put her back on Pedialyte, but does anybody have
an idea what could be wrong, what I could do? Everything appeared to be ok
last night, but this morning she was cold..but she drank a LOT of Pedialyte, no
sign of dehydration though.

tiffany&pepper
03-15-2006, 08:53 AM
thats not good
my baby Male isn't doing well either
what is it a full moon :dono
do you have a fanny pack you could put her in?
sounds silly but last thursday when my workers brought the baby grey to me I put him in a cotton (work) glove and stuffed him in my bra
good luck
SAndi

muffinsquirrel
03-15-2006, 09:05 AM
I fix my babies a fleece pouch,(a kid's fleece cap from the GoodWill or resale shop, etc., works great), stuff a few more pieces of fleece in it, and put it on the floor of the cage. I put the heating pad on the table, put a cake cooling rack half on/half off the heating pad, then put the cage on the rack, and cover the whole cage with a piece of fabric to keep the heat in. That way it doesn't get too hot right under them, and the rest of the cage stays somewhat warm if they do wander. (Maybe he's into Feng Shui, and the vibes just aren't good where you want him to stay! hehe)

Good luck with them.

muffinsquirrel

tiffany&pepper
03-15-2006, 09:12 AM
very smart idea
or maybe she having "hot flashes" lol:dono
sandi

island rehabber
03-15-2006, 09:14 AM
Miss Dolittle, is she pottying OK after you stimulate her, both peeing& pooping? If not she may be in decline and that's very bad. Don't let her get cold nomatter what...if she continues to crawl off the heat a vet visit may be in order. (Sorry!)

MissDolittle
03-15-2006, 09:31 AM
Thanks for the fast replies!

I have it set up similiar to your arrangement, muffinsquirrel.

Island rehabber, yes pottying is going ok too, the stool is a bit loose, but it's
not diarrhea.

She seems to come around a bit now, stays cuddled up with her sister in the
pouch and is warm now. I'll offer pedialye evey hour now, and so far she's
just sucking it down like crazy.

Secret Squirrel
03-15-2006, 09:47 AM
I have one baby also doing the same thing.
I heat a waterbottle (ziploc bag works too) and place the baby on the warm (I micro nuke mine) waterbottle. wrap the water bottle in a baby blanket or T-shirt first. I carry her around with me for a little while, while she is warming up.
Make sure the babys are in a small container...so they dont go to far, get cold and won't move! I also use a heating pad on low, place the container half on and half off the pad. But I don't use a wire rack, because it seems to warm better without....what ever works best for you.
Check the babys groin area where the legs meet the body. It should be nice and pink with vains visibal. Even with hair. If it's blue and you can hardly see the vains then the baby is way too cold. The cirulation slows down when baby gets cold. Heart is beating less reducing the blood flow.

FYI most new heating pads for humans have a 2 hour shut off feature for safety. (Wal-Mart)
How ever at a drug store ( CVS, Eckards) you can still purchase an ol' fashion one for under $10.00.

MissDolittle
03-15-2006, 10:04 AM
Don't you hate those auto shut off heating pads??? I paid a bit more and
bought me some good ones with 6 levels and a shut off I can set for 2 hours
or turn it off completely. They are not made of plastic but soft fabric and
are machine washable.

I have the babies in something like this, but the larger part is the bottom part:

http://www.pet-dog-cat-supply-store.com/shop/shop_image/product/5914e300044e538b0700d15e431256f9.jpg

with lots of soft pieces of fabric and the smaller front part is off the heating
pad while the larger part is on it. They do not attempt to crawl out of it yet.

Thanks for the tip where I can look if they are too cold, I didn't know that!

MissDolittle
03-15-2006, 02:27 PM
Update:

She is doing fine again, whatever that was this morning. She's a bit smaller
than her sister and doesn't have the eyes open yet, even though her sister
opened them 4 days ago. Is this normal or a reason for concern?

I figured it's the same as with humans, some are bigger than the others and
some develop faster than the others.

island rehabber
03-15-2006, 05:29 PM
So glad to hear she's doing better! Hopefully by tomorrow she'll be ready for her formula again. As for the eyes opening, I've had siblings that didn't open their eyes in the same week so I don't think that's anything to worry about....do watch that this little one gains weight steadily, though, and that she is thriving. Good luck with all your squirrel babies!

island rehabber
03-15-2006, 05:30 PM
very smart idea
or maybe she having "hot flashes" lol:dono
sandi

Oh man, I can relate!!!! LOL

nutz4squirls
03-15-2006, 05:46 PM
I think we all need to meet tonight in the rehab chat room to discuss squirrel problems. Is 7:30 alright with everyone that needs help. That's eastern time. Nutz (Chris)

MissDolittle
03-15-2006, 06:12 PM
I'm in the chat already, but I'm not sure how long I can stay, still have a
husband who wants attention and caring too hehehe.

I just fed the babies again, one is doing marvelously, but the one from this
morning, after drinking 15 cc of pedidalyte every 3 hours, has diarrhea with
mucus AND is dehydrated after all this pedialyte???

I only know that when kittens have that, they usually have feline leukemia
and will decline slowly, it's never a good sign. What does it mean for squirrels?

I just love this forum, finally a place where I can go to with the little questions
and get help so fast if something is up, thank you thank you thank you :bowdown .

CliffordandDaisy'sDad
03-16-2006, 08:34 AM
MissDo, how is that baby doing today?

Secret Squirrel
03-16-2006, 11:19 AM
If the baby is still dehydrated you may concidering doing SubQ. Some rehabers like the proccedure, some steer away form it. What is best for the baby is what matters. Do you know anyone in your area or vet that can administer the Ringers lactate by SubQ?
Good luck Momma...keep us posted!

MissDolittle
03-16-2006, 05:21 PM
I will go to the vet tomorrow and see what she says, get some ringers too.
If she thinks it needs to go under the skin, I'll have her show me how to do
it right. But she is doing better, but all quite right. Thanks you all for your
concern :).

MissDolittle
03-17-2006, 01:42 PM
She had to be put down...she had a collapsed lunge and an infection she
probably got during the fall from that tree while it fell. She was too far gone
to do much about it, but shorten her suffering.
The vet did offer me a inhouse treatment, but I do not have $500 to cover
that. That vet is more interested in designer furniture in her waiting room
than the saving animals...grrrrrr.

Her sister is eating a piece of apple right now and hopping around, curls
the tail already, no worries there.

Secret Squirrel
03-17-2006, 04:47 PM
Miss Doolittle,

It is sad to hear about the little girl. I am glad you took her to the vet, even though the outcome was a hard one. At least the baby suffers no more. God Bless you and everything you lay your hand to.

Squerly
03-17-2006, 04:53 PM
I'm sorry Mrs. Doolittle. There seems to be just to damn much heartache going on around here lately. :(

NatureGirl
03-17-2006, 05:04 PM
I'm sorry about the baby girl, MissDolittle. So sad. Squerly's right, there's just been to many deaths lately. :sad My prayers are with you. I'm glad she didn't have to suffer anymore though. That's good, and now she's gone to join the other squirrels at the rainbow bridge. God Bless!

MissDolittle
03-17-2006, 05:36 PM
Thanks Squerly and NatureGirl :Love_Icon .
I have to see the entire situation from the opposite side or I wouldn't be
able to do it. If I get 2 babies and can raise and release one that never
would have had chance otherwise, it's worth the heartache. In a rescue
you just don't get happy healthy animals usually. So I do this with a laughing
and a crying eye, but the laughing one is much louder :o.

sparkysmom
03-17-2006, 06:03 PM
Sorry Miss doolittle. Don't know of anything else to say. Very sad day in squirrelville today.

Momma Squirrel
03-17-2006, 06:28 PM
Miss Doolittle, hate to hear the bad news. I too think there has been too much sorrow the past couple of days. But you are very right in the fact that you gotta keep doing it for all the ones that do make it and then make it easier for the ones that you know won't. Thank you and all the rehabbers and all that do this for such selfish reasons :Love_Icon

Squirrelly
03-17-2006, 10:36 PM
Miss Dolittle, :sad I'm very sorry to hear about your baby girl. Every single one is so special and unique. Thank you for being the kind of person that can help these little creatures and show them love. What greater gift can we give? You have given of your time and even more, of your very soul. To endure such heartache for the well being of others, takes a very special person. You, and all rehabilitators, are very special. Hats off to you all! Janet

MyBackyard
03-18-2006, 09:24 AM
Sorry to hear about your poor baby squirrel.

MissDolittle
03-18-2006, 01:51 PM
Thanks again for the kind words :).

This is Molly, the survivor:

http://www.amazes.us/album/albums/userpics/10001/molly.jpg

CliffordandDaisy'sDad
03-18-2006, 02:07 PM
Alright MissDo, whatever you do don't spoil her. ;)

:D

Secret Squirrel
03-24-2006, 08:42 AM
Miss Do,
I was wondering how Molly is this morning? I hope she is better.

MissDolittle
03-24-2006, 09:48 AM
I'm so sorry Secret Squirrel, I posted in the thread with the lice about it and
totally forgot I had other threads with Molly.

Unfortunately she passed away about 2 hours after the chat. She did not
make a sound, didn't show any pain, no seizures or cramping as I see so often,
but she just fell to sleep and didn't wake up.

I so appreciate your help yesterday, first time I didn't have to go through
this by myself, thanks to everybody who held my hand and Molly's paw!

Squirlgirl
03-24-2006, 10:05 AM
I'm soo sorry! We were all pulling for her! You tried so hard, did all that you could. I thought about her all last night. I feel like she was one of my own. Now, she can look down on us all and give us the strength to help the next baby in need. :Love_Icon

MissDolittle
03-24-2006, 10:19 AM
Thank you again!! Milly, the lil one, is doing all the right things...drinks her
syringe with the exact amount she is supposed to, not more, not less but the
5% of her body weight..she doesn't asperate at all compared to Molly who got
the exact same syringe and nipple, wanted to see if it the nipple was the
problem, but it wasn't.

Milly nibbles on the rodent block and grapes and apple pieces...she does not
sleep all day and is starting to pull pieces of cloth around and drags it into her
lil wooden house..I'm confident about her :).


I'm soo sorry! We were all pulling for her! You tried so hard, did all that you could. I thought about her all last night. I feel like she was one of my own. Now, she can look down on us all and give us the strength to help the next baby in need. :Love_Icon

MissDolittle
03-24-2006, 12:44 PM
Here she is:

http://www.amazes.us/album/albums/userpics/10001/milly.jpg

Squirlgirl
03-24-2006, 01:07 PM
GO MILLY!!!!:crazy She sounds just perfect! I bet its with a little help from her guardian angel!!! I'm soo glad to hear that she is doing well....you made my day!!!:thankyou

becky3b
03-24-2006, 01:17 PM
Sorry about your squirrel. Glad to see the lil milly make it. How old is Milly. I made a trip to the vets today and my Flash weighs 112grams or 4 ozs. I still dont know how old he is, his eyes are not open, ears are off the head,and he is full of fur

island rehabber
03-24-2006, 01:30 PM
I'm so sorry about Molly, MissD...she must have come to you with more severe problems than anyone knew, poor baby. Millie looks great -- keep up the good work with her!

Squirrelly
03-24-2006, 05:17 PM
:sad I'm very sorry about your little Molly. I wish you the very best with Millie. Please keep us informed as to Millie's progress. Janet

MissDolittle
03-24-2006, 06:15 PM
Thank you :). Milly made a new friend....I don't know if this is the best thing
to happen, but Butters, my Lab, is doing this for 4 years with every baby
animal I let him take care of (he is 5 years old). Milly climbs on his head
and crawls under his ear, lol.

I never let him close to the squirrels before and I probably will not let this
continue, because I can't let her get used to dogs if I want to release her. :nono

Finnegan was a bad example hehe.

Here he is watching out that she doesn't fall..keeps pushing her back into the
middle with his nose when she gets too close to the edge:

http://www.amazes.us/album/albums/userpics/10001/millybutters.jpg

Here he takes care of an entire litter of orphans, wrapped himself around
them, tail and all, for hours on end, cleaned them, stimulated them...he did
that with every orphaned kitten we had, hundreds by now:

http://www.amazes.us/album/albums/new/catsdogs/kittensoutside17.jpg

and this was 2 days ago with a fosterkitten that has found a great home
yesterday :). Everybody wants to sleep on his head hehe:

http://www.amazes.us/album/albums/userpics/10001/sallybutterskopf.jpg

Squerly
03-24-2006, 09:42 PM
What a GREAT dog. :grouphug

Momma Squirrel
03-25-2006, 06:59 AM
Miss Doolittle looks like you are very blessed with a wonderful bunch and a full house. Glad you are there for all the little critters. :thankyou