Baby squirrel help?

[StacyRocksXO]

OK, so I went to a 'pet photos with Santa' this weekend, and a vet tech had a baby squirrel -- about 5-6 weeks old. When he started to grow hair, she got allergic. She showed me how to feed him, how much to feed him, and I bought my own heat pad.
He is doing fine. I feed him every 4 hours. I have raised 2 clutches of baby bunnies (mother made nest in back yard, I have a playful dog that killed one of the babies) and some baby kittens (one died... they were too young).
My first baby squirrel.
She gave me a bottle, formula, a carrying cage, and I'm using about 5 of my shirts in there. I have a heating pad under the cage.
I read immediately when I got home. I read that you should feed them with a 5cc syringe with a syringe nipple at the end (purchased at a pet store). She said he gets it up his nose, and he does, and I read this leads to pneumonia.

My questions are:
How much CC syringe should I get?
Where can I buy the syringe nipple?
Should I have the heat pad on low, medium, or high (I have it on medium. I feel it every hour or so)?

Thank you.:thankyou

[LittleFootsMama]

OK, so I went to a 'pet photos with Santa' this weekend, and a vet tech had a baby squirrel -- about 5-6 weeks old. When he started to grow hair, she got allergic. She showed me how to feed him, how much to feed him, and I bought my own heat pad.
He is doing fine. I feed him every 4 hours. I have raised 2 clutches of baby bunnies (mother made nest in back yard, I have a playful dog that killed one of the babies) and some baby kittens (one died... they were too young).
My first baby squirrel.
She gave me a bottle, formula, a carrying cage, and I'm using about 5 of my shirts in there. I have a heating pad under the cage.
I read immediately when I got home. I read that you should feed them with a 5cc syringe with a syringe nipple at the end (purchased at a pet store). She said he gets it up his nose, and he does, and I read this leads to pneumonia.

My questions are:
How much CC syringe should I get?
Where can I buy the syringe nipple?
Should I have the heat pad on low, medium, or high (I have it on medium. I feel it every hour or so)?

Thank you.:thankyou

1 cc syringes, anything bigger will likely cause aspiration, and go slowwwwwwllllly... If he's getting mad at you and grunting because you're going too slow, thats a good speed :)

You can order really good nipples online, but for the immediate you can get a set of nipples at the pet store - there is one that is long and skinny, that will be your best bet until your good nipples can arrive.

Heating pad on low is probably your best bet, and make sure baby is able to move off the heading pad if they need to - so only have the heating pad under half of the cage

Also make sure your heating pad is not an Auto Off that will turn off after X amount of hours, it has to stay on at all times

[LittleFootsMama]

Btw- this is an awesome thing to have, helps you make sure babies cage isn't too hot or too cold and it's pretty cheap!

http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2753002&utm_source=googleproduct&utm_campaign=2753002&utm_medium=cse&mr:trackingCode=08CB2C64-C881-DE11-B712-001422107090&mr:referralID=NA

And here is a link to really good nipples - http://www.squirrelsandmore.com/product/14004/chris-favorite-squirrel-nipple-set.htm

[astra]

:Welcome
I will be really quick (got to go), but some of the basics are:

5cc syringe is way too huge for them. He will aspirate on it in no time.
1cc srynges are the best! Some ppl manage with 3cc, but that is for very experienced ppl. 1cc syringes will give you much more control so that no aspiration happens.

Feeding must be done very, very slowly. They tend to become very ravenous, and it's important not to let them control the syringe. As they say, if he gets a bit mad at you for being so slow - you are doing it slow enough.

Never feed in a lying on his back position - either on when he is sort of on his stomach, with his head up, or burrito him. Always upright.

Syringes can be bought at http://www.henryspets.com.
In the meantime, a lot of members suggest going to a pharmacy store (CVS etc) and ask for 1cc syringes (tellll them you have a rejected kitten to feed ). They will work till you get yours from henryspets.

Heating pad should be not the auto-shut off. Position it under half of the container, so that if it gets too hot, he will move to the side that doesn't have the pad underneath it. (just keep an eye on him as often as you can).

What formula are you feeding him??... Fox Valley is the best, can be purchased on henryspets.com as well, or from foxvalleynutrition.com. Henryspets can overnight stuff.

Very soon experienced ppl will be here with more details

[astra]

this formula can be used till you get Fox Valley:

Jackie's Goat Milk Recipe
1 cup goats milk
1/3 cup heavy cream
1/3 cup dannon all natural vanilla yogurt

Esbilac recipe has been changed and it's been causing serious issues in squirrels. So, it might be better to use Jackie's recipe till you get the FV.

Is he hydrated?... if he is dehydrated, he might not eat very well. Make sure he is not dehydrated.

I think, you mentioned some shirts that you gave him?... are those t-shirts?... jsut make sure whatever fabric that is it is non-loopy, so that his nails don't get caught. T-shirts and fleece are great.

[island rehabber]

Great advice everybody :thumbsup-- StacyRocks you've got it all right here. 1cc syringe, nipple, Fox Valley Day One for Squirrels 20/50 formula. We're right here if you need us! :wave123

[Pierre]

Regarding his getting formula up his nose--if he does that again with you, first hold him with his head down for a few minutes to let the formula drip out his nose. Wipe any drips. This will hopefully help stop the formula from getting into his lungs.

With your new 1cc syringes, the chance of this happening decreases significantly.

Since you said he got it up his nose with the vet tech also, keep listening to his breathing and if it ever seems labored, he breathes with his mouth open, or you hear a clicking noise, let the experts here know ASAP as he will need antibiotics for the pneumonia.

Snuggle and kiss him lots! :) And the crew here loves pictures....
:Love_Icon :Love_Icon :Love_Icon

[StacyRocksXO]

He is doing good! I am feeding this pre made stuff that the vet gave me... it's called pro-biolic?? But I guess I'll get fox valley, I will use a 1cc syringe, and try to do everything right.

Pray for me!!! :dono

[Jackie in Tampa]

:wave123 Hi Stacy, I am in Tampa if I can help with anything!
:Welcome Welcome to TSB!

[StacyRocksXO]

He's doing good! I just got a 1 cc syringe, and the bottle nipple fits perfectly at the end! I fed him 1 time like that, and he got NONE up his nose! YAY! :thumbsup

[Jackie in Tampa]

Great, hold him straight up, never tipped back...slow is key... and never allow them to controll the flow...keep light pressure on plunger so he doesn't aspirate himself!
Thank you for helping a baby sq!:bowdown