How to Feed a Pinkie?

[Rhapsody]

What is the best way (nipple) to use when feeding a pinkie? I am asking as I have never had a pinkie (the youngest of the 5 babies I have raised was 3 weeks old) and I want to make sure I am stocked with the proper supplies in case I get the opportunity to care for any pinkies this squirrel season.

I have:
Mothers Silicone Nipples & Four Paws Nipples
O-Ring Syringe: 1cc 3cc 5cc

:thankyou


P.S.
beside the heating pad and lots of fleece (which I have)
is there any thing else I should buy in case I get a pinkie?

[island rehabber]

If you're coming to the Gathering I will be blabbing on about Pinkies on Saturday morning -- but untl then here is what I use, it's actually an opossum kit. The yellow nipple is rigid but perfect for controlling every teeny drop of formula so you don't aspirate the pinky. I have it here on a .5cc syringe -- sometimes pharmacies will give you one if you ask for a 'diabetic syringe'. Here is the little piece I wrote on pinkies a while back, too:

PINKY SQUIRRELS: THE FOUR MAGIC WORDS

WARMTH: a heating pad on low, under half their container (not under THEM) is best. Plastic tubs or terrariums are good because the environment is more humid and their skin doesn't dry out. When feeding a pinky, if your hands are warm you can use tissue paper to wrap and hold him...if your hands are cold, WARM a cloth or glove before picking up the pinky or you will chill him instantly.

HYDRATION: pinkies need hydration in the form of formula -- or Pedialyte in the beginning -- at least every 2.5 hrs. This means getting up at least once during the night. I get up twice, and it still means they will go 3.5 hrs sometimes without food but it's usually ok. If they look flat and skinny when you get up to feed them, you are not feeding OFTEN enough. Sorry kids, it's a rough gig those first 2 weeks.

CONSISTENCY: consistent heat.....consistent feedings....if your schedule is going to make you sporadic or unpredictable in caring for these teeny-weenies, give them to someone who has the time to care for them properly. If you don't have a heating pad, GET ONE, without an auto shut-off. Microwave disks are too unpredictable for pinkies and may cook them. Hot water bottles don't last nearly long enough for these fragile babies.

PATIENCE: Feed pinkies slo-o-o--owly. Very slowly. Teeny drop by teeny drop, preferably with a 0.5 (1/2) cc syringe or a 1cc at the LARGEST. Use a nipple attachment for best results. Go very, very slowly. If it takes you 5 minutes to get half a cc of formula into a pinky, you’re doing it perfectly. This is how we avoid aspiration, the #1 cause of death in pinkies and the reason why "some say" there is only a 50% success rate in saving them.


@M J Mandrano
July 2008

[Rhapsody]

Thanks for the information... the yellow nipple you have is very similar to the mothers silicone nipples I have on hand for tiny babies and I can always get a few smaller syringes from my mother who has them for injections she has to take for diabetes (no needles).

:thankyou

[pappy1264]

I 'think' the nipple IR has is more rigid then the silicone nipples (and skinner, too.) Chris' Squirrels and More has a very tiny nipple kit (hard plastic, with a rubber tip) that I use for very small critters. It is a good way to get a baby started that isn't enthusiastic about nursing, as it is easier to get into their mouth, but you would want to get the one IR has, as well. (Speaking of which, IR, can I ask where you go that?) One thing I also have, you know the things that keep your coffee cup warm, I use one for keeping the water glass on to keep that water nice and hot to make sure the formula stays at a constant temp. (make sure you have a therm to keep in there too, to make sure it isn't too hot, some work better then others.) I also ALWAYS make sure I have those hand warmers (just in case you loose power for any reason).

[Jackie in Tampa]

all great advise...
I know Rhapsody has experience and just wants to be ready and a refresher,,,
I just wanted to add, for the newbies........
NEVER TILT BACK OR LAY craddled like a human baby...always head up and tail down....NO DEVIATION.
Slow is key as all have said!:D
:Love_Icon
baby squirrels are fragile and the greatest thing on earth since Phillip!

[Rhapsody]

Chris' Squirrels and More has a very tiny nipple kit (hard plastic, with a rubber tip) that I use for very small critters.

Are these the ones you are talking about?
http://www.squirrelsandmore.com/product/856/mini-nipple-set.htm
I thought about getting them with my last order, but I was afraid the tip (nipple) might come off while the babies were sucking.

I might add this set to my supplies - What do you all think?
http://www.squirrelsandmore.com/product/14004/chris-favorite-squirrel-nipple-set.htm

[pappy1264]

Yes, those are them. They are good to have for very small critters (and in the case of pinkies, sometimes you have ones you cannot get to suck or they are too weak, these come in very hand for those times! Again, in the case of pinkies, you would want to switch over when they are starting to nurse good. And you NEVER KNOW when you might get a pinkie mouse or flyer!!!!)

Never used them, but was thinking of getting some myself, I have heard they are good.

[Kat762]

When I worked for a vet and had pinkies he would give me " tomcat catheters ) which yes are catheters, but the end is so tiny and the tube gets wider towards the end so you can even snip it as the baby grows and takes more formula.If you know a vet who would sell them to you they're cheap, you can probably find them online too.It was the tiniest opening I ever found and it is fairly piable, not hard and the end of it fits on the tip of a syringe.I found a vid of one being used
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ik98vvjGFZ8&feature=player_embedded

[atlantasquirrelgirl]

I use the same nipple that Pappy does on pinkies; it's a flyer nipple. You are not supposed to use it after 3 weeks because they can swallow the little rubber tip.

[asweetdiversion]

What is the best way (nipple) to use when feeding a pinkie? I am asking as I have never had a pinkie (the youngest of the 5 babies I have raised was 3 weeks old) and I want to make sure I am stocked with the proper supplies in case I get the opportunity to care for any pinkies this squirrel season.

I have:
Mothers Silicone Nipples & Four Paws Nipples
O-Ring Syringe: 1cc 3cc 5cc

:thankyou


P.S.
beside the heating pad and lots of fleece (which I have)
is there any thing else I should buy in case I get a pinkie?


I can't BELIEVE you asked these questions, you were reading my mind I swear! I was going to ask this same line of questions just the other day. Thanks so much for this wealth of knowledge, everyone.

[asweetdiversion]

I ordered the sets just a few minutes ago, great posting Oh plus an antler.