5 week baby refuses to eat and drink

[chipkoo]

I rescued a baby squirrel from a crow last thursday evening. the baby was lying on the ground on its back and its mouth was opening and closing like that of a fish while a crow was pecking at it. i got there just in time. but couldn't locate the mother or the nest so i brought it home.

The squirrel seems to be 5 to 6 weeks old and is an Indian squirrel which some mistake as a chipmunk. Compared to the gray squirrel or the fox squirrel this squirrel is smaller in size. this baby, which is a boy, is like a miniature squirrel..its fully furred and has 2 upper and lower teeth. The lower teeth are longer.

I placed it in a shoe box with a t shirt at the bottom and cut out a few small holes in the lid. I bought a dropper, a syringe, milk and other supplies. the baby was a little scared in the beginning and refused to drink the milk but by friday evening it mixed up well although it still refused to drink milk. So i fed it sugar water solution, he had about 1cc. i kept feeding the water at an interval of 3-4 hrs as i was scared of dehydration. the temperature here is touching 40 degrees.

By sunday the baby started recognizing and climbed all over us..never going too far but i was scared it might get lost in the house so discouraged a lot of movement. I placed some nuts namely peanuts, walnuts, cashew , resins and almonds in the box and found him nibbling on them once in a while although im not sure how much he took in. Tuesday night, the baby was very active and playful.

Wednesday morning, when i opened the box to feed, the baby was extremely lethargic and didn't move which scared the hell out of me. i tried to feed it milk and sugar water but it just wasn't interested. all it did was sleep. his posture changed. while he used to curl up and sleep, now he was sleeping in a sitting position. I felt his tummy was bloated. so i rushed him to the vet. However, the vets in my city are not well-informed about small animals. she asked me to keep feeding him water. He didn't drink any. At noon he vomited...clear water. there were 5-6 drops. he was lethargic and preferred to just sit wherever he was with his head hung low nose almost touching the ground. he made a clicking noise deep in his throat for a while. in the evening he vomited again...a single drop of water and his stool was slimy black and a while later he pooped a viscous translucent drop orange in colour. by 9 pm he had pooped 3 such orange balls. he just took in 3 drops of water since 7am. also he was lying on his tummy a lot with his 4 limbs stretched (you can see that in the attached picture). The clicking noise was not constant. it came on and off, mostly off.

I did a thorough search online...with the symptoms as keywords. I thought it could be pneumonia since he is refusing to eat and drink at all!!! and the clicking noise too. i fear i might have fed it the wrong way, although a part of me thought its not possible because he licks off the water drop by drop from the tip of the dropper and doesn't suck on it. But i may have forced a drop or two of milk on monday when i panicked since he wasn't drinking milk at all and i was worried about his survival.

This afternoon, i mixed 1mg of amoxicillin in 1cc of water and fed him 2 drops. A half hour later he started moving around a bit and by evening was sniffing around and was a little less lethargic. i offered him a grape and he licked it once. A half hour ago he licked 3 drops of milk off my finger.

Was it the right thing to do? i am desperate!! i don't want to lose the little thing!!

also, he doesn't like his box anymore. he keeps nibbling at the fenestration and wants to be lifted up. Once out, he loves to sleep tucked in, in my t shirt.

as of now, after those 3 drops of milk, i have put him back in the box and he is snoozing. what should i do next? Thanks in advance!

[Jackie in Tampa]

:Welcome :wave123
we have several members from your area with same type sqs...
you need heat, the baby needs help with that. Can you make a rice buddy?
a sock filled with rice and microwaved fror 30 seconds, you will have to reheat about every two hours...
if you can find a heating pad, set on low, that will work best.
In the USA we have some that turn off automatically, these are not good, same as rice buddy...not consistant.
What formula are you using?
do not use cow milk.
The rehydration solution we use has salt in it also..
here's the recipe
1 quart warm water
1 teaspoon table salt
3 tablespoons sugar
mix and store in refridgerator for 3 days

however this is recommended for no more than 24 hours straight. With diarehha and vomiting, you must offer this.
In order for baby to do well, you must also feed formula...can you find Royal Canine, this will work. I will PM other indian members to advise what they have found there.
Alternate between the hydration solution and the formula, making sure both are warm...never feed a cold baby either, always make sure they are warm, otherwise their organs are not fully operational, also will cause bloat.
Feed baby in an upright position, never tilted back, go slow. WE recommend a 1cc syringe with out a needle.
Amoxicillan is not choice, but will work. You must use a probotic with antibiotics...ABs strip the natural good gut flora. I use full fat all natural yogurt, any flavor is ok. Some members use acidiopholis.
If bubbles or fluid does exit nose, tip head/nose towards floor and allow to drain from lungs and nose, whipping gently so not to reinhale.
Slow is key...
A normal healthy baby of this age would be drinking 5ccs every 5 hours, I think...judging from his size. TSB uses the 5% body weight rule, do you know his weight?
Cardboard will also suck the moisture from your baby, especially when adding heat..a plastic container with holes or a small covered cage is better, a bird or rat cage with small space between the bars.

Sorry so long, just want you to get prepared better, thank you so much for helping him...and especially the vet care, without ABs your little one would fail. DOg /animal wounds are usually deadly if untreated.
Someone will come soon with more info..
I will go private message our other India members..
PRIVATE MESSAGE IN UPPER RIGHT CORNER.
good luck...:grouphug

[Jackie in Tampa]

here are some links with baby sq care tips
http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21626

http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11782

http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=24132

[Jackie in Tampa]

here are some links to indian palm squirrels
http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=15594&highlight=chickoo

http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=27219&highlight=aida

[chipkoo]

I have taken all the necessary steps like keeping the baby warm with the help of rice buddy..he loves to snuggle but he sits all the time..he doesn't curl up like he used to before. Sometimes he lies flat on his tummy as shown in the last 2 pics i posted in my earlier post. also, I wonder if so much warmth will dehydrate him?
I have got the puppy milk but he refuses to have any. i would say he appears suicidal. He is better movement wise since this noon when i fed him the amoxicillin solution but his appetite has not improved at all.
the main problem is he doesn't let me feed it any kind of fluids let alone solids. I don't want to force feed as I am worried of causing pneumonia. i am already administering amoxicillin as baytril is not available here. i hope the proportion is correct- 1mg amoxicillin + 1cc water. i am giving him 2 drops of this solution every 6 hrs. since evening he is clicking his teeth...I hope its just because he is teething and nothing serious.

[aida]

Hi there ,

Glad to hear that you rescued her . I am also in india and recently rescued one squirrel too .

For formulas which are available here
1. Meralac [ brand Merapet ]
2. Royal Canin
3 . Samolac

I have used Meralac for him when he was 3 weeks old as none other formula was available . Now i m using samolac , he is approximately 8 weeks old .

One thing i want to tell you that after looking the size of your baby i dont recommend giving him any solid food yet .

You should confirm everything before trying even what i say after confirming the same from jackie , they were a great help when i found my baby chip char .:Welcome

[aida]

Please dont give him grape . as my chip choked on it and i had to take him to vet and get it removed . It was hard and very traumatizing for him and me . And regarding 1 cc syringe if you dont get a 1 cc syringe without needle then get a 2 ml syringe it is widely available . I dint get 1 ml syringe widout needle till date in this area .

[Jackie in Tampa]

sitting up with head down and chittering teeth are indications of pain...
has he fallen? does he appear bloated?
are his ears laying down?
I would make sure he is hydrated by gently lifting the skin between his shoulders, if it stays tented he needs to be hydrated, if it relaxes, he is good. Start fomrula, making sure it is very warm, almost hot.
Sometimes drop by drop will save a life...
I would have to have the strength of the amoxy and the weight of your squirrel in grams..then I could help you dose the medicine better. You will need a legible 1 cc syringe to administer the medicine correctly. according to aida they are hard to find, a 2 cc will work if clearly lined with measurements.
Babies need nutrition or they die, so please continue to try to feed him.

[chipkoo]

Thanks Aida and Jakie for the super quick response,

Yes, i looked around for a 1cc syringe but to no avail so i tried using the 2cc one, but the liquid tends to squirt out instead of coming out slowly in the form of drops [maybe i don't know how to handle it well :( ]. So I bought a nasal spray bottle which has a squeezy bottom and a rubber nozzle. As the drops come out one by one, he licks them off. i always feed him in a semi upright position i.e. he is almost standing vertical to the ground in my palm.

An hour back i again gave him approx. 4 drops of amoxicillin. Later i fed him the sugar salt solution and he had a good 1cc to my relief since he hasn't touched a drop since yesterday. Due to this his mouth is turning a bit grey instead of pink which it used to be 2 days back and i am afraid he is dehydrated as the skin at the back of his neck is tenting up for a second or two before retaining normal position.

I don't plan to feed him formula tonight but rather just hydration syrup. How often and how much should i feed him?

His teeth are getting bigger...could that be the reason for the clicking his teeth together?

He hasn't fallen or sustained any injuries as he is always under my watchful eyes. He was bloated up till this morning. Now he looks quite frail almost malnutritioned. My guess is he over ate the nuts tuesday night while in his box at night which resulted in bloating and stomach ache. However, I could be wrong.

So my question is...How often and how much of the hydration syrup should i feed him?

Thanks!

[aida]

I have taken all the necessary steps like keeping the baby warm with the help of rice buddy..he loves to snuggle but he sits all the time..he doesn't curl up like he used to before. Sometimes he lies flat on his tummy as shown in the last 2 pics i posted in my earlier post. also, I wonder if so much warmth will dehydrate him?
I have got the puppy milk but he refuses to have any. i would say he appears suicidal. He is better movement wise since this noon when i fed him the amoxicillin solution but his appetite has not improved at all.
the main problem is he doesn't let me feed it any kind of fluids let alone solids. I don't want to force feed as I am worried of causing pneumonia. i am already administering amoxicillin as baytril is not available here. i hope the proportion is correct- 1mg amoxicillin + 1cc water. i am giving him 2 drops of this solution every 6 hrs. since evening he is clicking his teeth...I hope its just because he is teething and nothing serious.
Also Please do not forget to stimulate his genitals for peeing and pooping else he will bloat and die. when i was a rookie i made this mistake with chip's sister and she died. so please it is really important. his stomach will feel tight if he is bloated. after feeding him take a warm wet cloth or tissue and gently rub his genitals he will poop and pee and will feel better.

[chipkoo]

I have tried patting his genitals with a damp cloth since day 1 but he has never peed or pooped. However, he pees and poops on his own but after a while, not immediately after eating or drinking. Do i still need to stimulate him?

[aida]

Yes you will have to do it even if he dont do it in starting but eventually he will do . And after a while he will have the habbit of doing his business after every feeding .

Regarding the position to feed him and how to handle the syringe i ll send you the link to my image . Using dropers to feed him is very dangerous coz it aspirates them . So try using the syringe after looking the image i m gonna send if you arent able to do with syringe then its ok to use dropper as it is a crucial time for him to get food .

[CritterMom]

To make the syringe a little easier to use, pull the plunger completely out of the tube and rub it with some cooking oil, then push it in and out of the tube a few times to lube the inside of the tube.

Make sure the dehydration fluid is warm - you want it as warm as the formula. How often depends on how much he takes, but I would do small amounts very frequently - not much sleep coming up for you. Make sure he is warm, too. Also, do not be afraid to hold him or put your hand in his enclosure and cup him in them. He is used to brothers and sisters and a mama, and the contact is GOOD for them.

[chipkoo]

The picture would be very helpful.

Thank you Aida.

[chipkoo]

Thanks CritterMom,

The contact is not a problem, since he has literally spent the last 2 days tucked in my t shirt. I have been singing to him and i think he likes that.

Thanks for the tip on making the plunger smoother. I will try it ASAP.

and I AM sleep deprived...big time! but I don't really care. I just need chipkoo to get well very very soon!

[aida]

Try grabing syringe in your fist and then slowly push plunger with thumb hold syringe as tight as you can so that there is alot force which resist the accidental pressing of plunger instantaneously .

[aida]

Can you tell me when did he had something as feeding and how much ?

[chipkoo]

Great! Thanks! i will try doing this the next time i feed.

i am posting his latest pic, taken 2 minutes back. Is it normal for babies to sleep like this? or is it because tummy cramps or some other problem?

[chipkoo]

He hasn't taken a feeding in three days now. the last time i fed him was on Tuesday. He had about 1 cc and then refused to eat anymore.

[chipkoo]

he was fond of the hydration fluid till wednesday but didn't have any till an hour back since then.

[aida]

It is really bad . 3 days are too much . Should i call you right now ?

[chipkoo]

Yes please!

[CritterMom]

Aida is right. If all you can do is get a couple drops in him at a time, do it, and repeat it every 15 minutes. He desperately needs food but he MUST be rehydrated or he cannot digest it.

[aida]

You should keep him warm . As they are not able to maintain their body temperature , so you have to check if he is cold then use a hot water bottle . And try to feed him only after making him a little warm . Dont feed a cold baby .

[chipkoo]

Thanks for the call Aida,

I will try your tips and keep you all posted. Going to feed a bit of yogurt now with a well lubricated syringe.

[aida]

Not a problem . You just hang in there and try your level best , he will be fine soon . And the way he is sleeping is normal , just keep him warm if he is cold . One thing more they hate light when they sleep .

[chipkoo]

I felt his tummy was a bit bloated this evening at 7. Its close to midnight now. and he has been somewhat lethargic since. i tried stimulating him so that he peed and pooped but to no avail. He is not drinking milk, just had about 5 drops but is hungry for the hydration fluid. he was biting the tip of the syringe and holding on to it. but i am not sure if i should be feeding him so much of liquid when i can see his tummy bloat. The tummy is not hard but rather soft. I am attaching a couple of pics. i apologize for the poor light quality but i still hope you are able to see the problem.
Also i don't know if his organs, (the black balls) have also enlarged or is it just my imagination. they are about .8cm to 1cm in length right now.
He is refusing to get back in his box or my lap ; instead he is lying on my bed on his tummy and makes the distinct high pitched sound every once in a while. I don't know what that means. is he in pain or hungry or something else?
I think he is also panting a bit like a dog with his mouth close although his feet are quite cold. lately he has been trying to jump off the bed.

i know they are a lot of problems but i guess it'll be a while before i will be able to take care of him single handedly.

[aida]

I felt his tummy was a bit bloated this evening at 7. Its close to midnight now. and he has been somewhat lethargic since. i tried stimulating him so that he peed and pooped but to no avail. He is not drinking milk, just had about 5 drops but is hungry for the hydration fluid. he was biting the tip of the syringe and holding on to it. but i am not sure if i should be feeding him so much of liquid when i can see his tummy bloat. The tummy is not hard but rather soft. I am attaching a couple of pics. i apologize for the poor light quality but i still hope you are able to see the problem.
Also i don't know if his organs, (the black balls) have also enlarged or is it just my imagination. they are about .8cm to 1cm in length right now.
He is refusing to get back in his box or my lap ; instead he is lying on my bed on his tummy and makes the distinct high pitched sound every once in a while. I don't know what that means. is he in pain or hungry or something else?
I think he is also panting a bit like a dog with his mouth close although his feet are quite cold. lately he has been trying to jump off the bed.

i know they are a lot of problems but i guess it'll be a while before i will be able to take care of him single handedly.
He is soo.. cute .:)
his genitals looks fine to me :thinking . lets see what others have to say. you also pm to jackie and IR . BUT YOU NEED to get the formula Meralac or samolac , anyone. He needs it badly. Keep all of us updated.

[chipkoo]

Yeah will get the suggested food asap. No matter how much i try he just wont pee. maybe he does it later when i am not watching. Also i am scared of giving him a rash or a burn. Any suggestions or youtube links on how to stimulate effectively?

[aida]

Can you plz tell me where was crow pecking him ? If he is making a high pitched sound then he is intense pain or some thing is wrong as they dont make sound unless there is any problem . Is he feeling cold or extreme hot ? He desperately needs formula . He seems so weak .

[mudmaiden]

Is pediasure available by you?...I just had a 6 week old baby grey who came to me severely dehydrated and refused formula. I started her on pediasure and she gobbled it down. I slowly added formula and now she is doing great. Just a suggestion.....

[island rehabber]

Appears to be a spammer, Jackie. Well we can keep your expert advice and delete their idiotic Microsoft crap link :rotfl They've already been banned.....

[Bravo]

Yep, ignore, Jackie... this might not even a be a actual person, could be a spambot running a script that copies and pastes text while providing links elsewhere.