Trying to rehydrate starved baby

[cjshores]

Approximately 10 week old baby was found and guessed to have been without food for mabey a week?! (Don't know if that's possible, but he was trapped in a boat that had been parked for that long.) Terribly dehydrated, I am trying to get Pedialyte in him but he throws it up whenever he gets more than a few sips down. I have helped quite a few abandonded babies successfully, but have never seen one throw up. Is this a symptom of dehydration / starvation? He has improved since I got him, about 20 hrs ago. I am currently just squeezing a few drops in as frequently as I can, every 20 mins or so. Any more than that and he throws it up. Any more ideas? Sub-Q fluids are not easy to get to from here. Any more ideas? How long does he need to be on Pedialyte before he gets formula? I've got the Fox Valley stuff ready to go. Thanks for the help.

[island rehabber]

Approximately 10 week old baby was found and guessed to have been without food for mabey a week?! (Don't know if that's possible, but he was trapped in a boat that had been parked for that long.) Terribly dehydrated, I am trying to get Pedialyte in him but he throws it up whenever he gets more than a few sips down. I have helped quite a few abandonded babies successfully, but have never seen one throw up. Is this a symptom of dehydration / starvation? He has improved since I got him, about 20 hrs ago. I am currently just squeezing a few drops in as frequently as I can, every 20 mins or so. Any more than that and he throws it up. Any more ideas? Sub-Q fluids are not easy to get to from here. Any more ideas? How long does he need to be on Pedialyte before he gets formula? I've got the Fox Valley stuff ready to go. Thanks for the help.

You're doing great so far if he's improving! This is VERY difficult to treat and drop by drop, as you're doing, is the only way. Extremely emaciated/dehydrated babies will throw up everything you try to give them. If you really can't Sub-Q, which would be very helpful right now, then I would continue the Pedialyte drop by drop until this evening when you should make a 1:4 solution of the Fox Valley. He needs some kind of nourishment and the Pedilalyte has too m uch sodium to continue for more than 24 hrs or so. Keep him as warm as you can, too -- he can't waste precious calories on staying warm.

[Jackie in Tampa]

pedi should only be used 24 hours max...
is he totally holding his own temp?
gotta make sure they stay warm...
sometimes it does take three days to really get the to recover from dang near starving..
yes I had a sq that was alone for 5 days...with nothing.
If he is warm I would start drip drip of very diluted FV...
he needs nutrition to start to recover...fv is hydrating
just go slow, no aspiration
do you need any help?if so where are you? we have lots of fl helpers/members

[Jackie in Tampa]

IR is a faster typer...
I think we said same!:thumbsup
thank you for helping:bowdown

[island rehabber]

Great minds think alike, Jackie.....:D :thumbsup

[cjshores]

Wow, you guys are fast! Yes, he is getting better. I will start the diluted Fox Valley soon, slowly of course. I do have local support here. She had never seen the throwing up thing he's been doing. He actually has not thrown up since the wee hours this morning. Thanks for being there - I do love these little guys so much.

[island rehabber]

Wow, you guys are fast! Yes, he is getting better. I will start the diluted Fox Valley soon, slowly of course. I do have local support here. She had never seen the throwing up thing he's been doing. He actually has not thrown up since the wee hours this morning. Thanks for being there - I do love these little guys so much.

I had three like yours last year, cjshores. I believe it happens when they are truly, severely emaciated. :(
We love 'em too -- you came to the right place. :D :thumbsup

[Kristal]

My kits were all super dehydrated when they came. I did not have any puking, but it did take 3 days to get a real pee out of them. So that is another thing that is par for the course with dehydration.

[cjshores]

An update on the dehydrated baby - continues to improve, but he won't take anything if it's not from my syringe. He's old enough to eat harder things, lap from a saucer etc. but he won't. Also, I have seen peculiar behavior: a "tick" or an uncontrolled twitch kind of thing. He does lick avocado from my fingers, but he won't pick anything up for himself. I am worried I might have an invalid who won't be releasable. Something else interesting, I watched him stop and pee, then he turned around an immediately started lapping it up. Another dehydration behavior I assume? Just thought you guys might want to know - you guys are the greatest for being there for support.
Thanks.

[island rehabber]

I'd say this poor little one is still in Extreme Survival mode, doing that. He's afraid he'll never have another drop to drink....this will take time. How is the movement in his forepaws? Does he have a grip or are his forepaws limp? I have seen it where they are so weak from dehydration/emaciation that they barely move their legs and certainly doin't pick anything up for days. My Calypso was like this; now she's free in the trees. :)

[cjshores]

You are right, he doesn't do much with the paws, he will attempt to hold a little. Still improving though, he climbed for the first time today. I was afraid he might not at all. Eating pretty good, he just won't stay at it as long as I would like.

[Skul]

If he's eating, that's a good sign.
Has he started drinking by himself, or still needs you to help?

[Anne]

Just saw your post. Let me know if I can be of any help.