New member needs urgent help

[Tickle's Mom]

Just took 2 babies home. cat got the Mom. Can I give them water right now. Just tried it to their lips for a sec but their really young and there was no mouth movement at all. About 1 or 2 at the most weeks old.


Uno is the new member. In Nova Scotia....originally posted in the sticky - Feeding Baby Squirrels ( I think)

[Tickle's Mom]

HELP

[UDoWhat]

I will start with some general info. Need to cut and paste some more but start with this .

Caring for Baby Squirrels

Warm the Baby (never feed a cold squirrel!)

Quick Methods:

-Cup the baby in your hands or under your shirt next to your skin.

-Fill a plastic bottle with very warm water. Wrap in a cloth, place next to baby, and cover him. Reheat every 2 hours.

-“Rice Buddy”: Fill a sock with 1 cup of rice or dried beans and microwave for 30 seconds. Place next to baby and cover him. Reheat every 2 hours.

A heating pad without a shutoff is essential for long term care.



Find a Box or Container. 
A shoebox will do for small babies. A baby that can walk will need a larger box with a lid (with holes) or a carrier. Put a clean baby blanket, flannel shirt, or piece of fleece in the bottom of the box. No towels or terrycloth. Squirrels can get tangled in the loops. Place baby on the material and cover him with one flap. If you have a heating pad, turn it on low and place it under half of the box (not IN the box!) so baby can move away if he gets too warm. You can use the plastic bottle or rice buddy described above, but these are only temporary methods until you get a heating pad, since they must be reheated every 2 hours and won't keep baby warm all night.


NOTE: Monitor his temperature so he doesn’t chill or overheat. His feet should feel warm to the touch.



NOTE: If the baby is injured, is having trouble breathing, has fly eggs on his fur, or is very emaciated or dehydrated, he needs emergency care..

Older squirrels will require a rabbit, ferret, sugar glider or large bird cage.




WEIGH BABY WITH A GRAM SCALE

ALL BABIES NEED TO BE STIMULATED TO URINATE AND DEFECATE WHEN ADMITTED AND UNTIL THEY EYES ARE OPEN (4 ½ to 5 ½ weeks old) Don’t stop until you visibly see them eliminating on their own. Urinary tract infections and kidney infections occur if their bladders are not emptied.

Cotton rounds or squares are great for this because they are very absorbent and you can tell if they have urinated.

Their urine may not be present or be very scant and dark if severely dehydrated. Their bowel movements may be black which is from the mothers milk.

For older babies that are too difficult to handle for stimulation place a puppy training pad on the bottom of cage or box so you can see amount and color of urine.

How to Check for Dehydration

Pinch the skin on the back of his neck. If it doesn’t spring back immediately, the baby is dehydrated. If the pinched skin stays up like a tent for more than a second, the baby is badly dehydrated. Other signs of dehydration: pale grayish gums, dry mouth, sunken eyes, whites around eyes showing, rough spiky fur, dry scaly skin, scant urine, dark urine, pale or grayish skin inside legs around groin area and deflated scrotum.


NOTE: If baby is badly dehydrated, he will need subcutaneous fluids (Lactated Ringers). The amount of subcutaneous fluid to be given cannot exceed 3% of body weight. (Ex- 100 gram squirrel should be given no more than 3cc’s four times a day for the first 24 hours) Stop when you see an improvement and animal will drink on own.

Rehydrate the Baby 

Most babies are dehydrated when you find them and must be rehydrated before you can feed them. Never feed formula or food of any kind to a dehydrated baby! Use either Pedialyte (unflavored), homemade Pedialyte*, or Lactated Ringers as hydration fluid.



*If you can’t find Pedialyte at the store, here is a recipe for homemade Pedialyte:
1 tsp salt (teaspoon)
3 Tbsp sugar (tablespoon)
1 quart warm water 
Mix all ingredients in warm water. Store in refrigerator.

Long term use (>24-48 hours) of pedialtye or other hydration fluids can cause death.



Proper Feeding Position

A tiny baby should be held upright in your hand. A baby with fur can lie on a flat surface on his stomach. A baby that can walk can be held upright or he can drink sitting up. Hold the syringe so the tip points UP to the baby’s mouth and the handle is down. Don’t let the baby get cold. Keep him wrapped up while he eats.



How to Feed Fluids/Formula
Use a plastic syringe (with or without a nipple). Never use pet nursers or doll bottles. They will choke the baby. Fill a coffee mug with hot water. Fill the syringe and place it in the mug for a couple of minutes. Squirt a drop on the inside of your wrist to make sure the liquid isn’t too hot. It should feel barely warm on your skin. 


Place the syringe tip on the baby’s lips (from the side) and squeeze out one drop for him to taste. Don’t squirt a steady stream. Let him swallow one drop before squeezing more. GO SLOW! It sometimes takes a feeding or two for them to catch on. Hairless babies are fed drop by drop. With older babies (once they catch on) you can squeeze slowly for one second, wait for him to swallow, then squeeze more.

GO SLOW If fluids dribble out his mouth or come out his nose, you are going too fast. Stop and tilt the baby’s head down so the fluid drains out (support his head and neck like you would a human baby). Then wipe his nose and mouth with a tissue. Start over, slower. Feeding with a too large syringe, feeding too quickly or using incorrect feeding position can cause aspiration.

NOTE: There is now a chance your baby will develop aspiration pneumonia from inhaling fluid in his lungs.

NOTE: Never tube feed an infant squirrel.

INTRODUCING FORMULA

Start introducing formula after the animal has been hydrated and you notice the urine output increase and the color lighten. You will also see a significant increase in their activity as they become more hydrated. Make the formula as instructed on the package. Start by introducing feedings consisting of 2/3 water and 1/3 formula for 3-4 feedings. Then 1/3 water and 2/3 formula for 3-4 feedings. As long as the animal is tolerating it well go to full strength.

For emaciated animals you will need to hydrate longer and introduce formula slower. If the animal is severely emaciated you can use PediaSure, or Vital HN instead of regular formula. These are easier to digest for them and should be introduced the same way. After several days to a week she the animal has recovered you can switch them to the regular formula.

Marty, More to come as I get info together.

[gs1]

tickles mom where is unos thread ...cannot find it...does she know to come on here???

also she can't feed if they're not warm.... and not hydrated first....

i know ...duh... but she might not know that and it's dangerous....

:grouphug

edit: found it... :) ... and she did get help from you guys... and rehabber info ... hope it helped them... :grouphug

[UDoWhat]

Try to get the babies to get some of the hydration fluid in them. As listed below:

Homemade hydration fluid recipe:

Re-hydration fluid:
1 teaspoon salt
3 Tablespoons sugar
1 quart water.

When they have had a few feedings of hydration fluids or pedialyte, you may begin the temporary Goatmilk formula. Mix it as the recipe indicates but for the first few feedings you will need to transition the formula slowly.

Jackie (Jackie in Tampa) has graciously offered her temporary replacement formula recipe.

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

Mix well and keep in a covered plastic or glass container in the refrigerator. Replace after 48 hours.
Please note, this website has several links that still mention Esbilac and we need to keep these links active as they do contain excellent information so please keep in mind that Fox Valley is now the formula of choice for raising baby squirrels.
__________________


More to come. I will need some info on these babies. I will post more on general care next.





EDIT: Transition to formula as suggested here:

INTRODUCING FORMULA

Start introducing formula after the animal has been hydrated and you notice the urine output increase and the color lighten. You will also see a significant increase in their activity as they become more hydrated. Make the formula as instructed on the package. Start by introducing feedings consisting of 2/3 water and 1/3 formula for 3-4 feedings. Then 1/3 water and 2/3 formula for 3-4 feedings. As long as the animal is tolerating it well go to full strength.

For emaciated animals you will need to hydrate longer and introduce formula slower. If the animal is severely emaciated you can use PediaSure, or Vital HN instead of regular formula. These are easier to digest for them and should be introduced the same way. After several days to a week she the animal has recovered you can switch them to the regular formula.

Marty

[UDoWhat]

This is some info on what to feed and what NOT to feed. I may be duplicating some info here. Are you still with us Uno?? I will check back in the morning. This info should get you started along with the other previous posts I have made tonight. I have made 2 other posts here. Please check the info in the previous posts in this thread. Sorry I did not see this in time.

Marty

This is a "sticky" originally posted by Island Rehabber.

PLEASE DO NOT FEED THE SQUIRREL COW'S MILK -- SCALDED OR ANY OTHER WAY!! It will cause most squirrel babies to sicken from diarrhea, and then die. It is NOT USED by the vast majority of licensed rehabilitators, wildlife centers or wildlife veterinarians.

In light of the recent problems rehabbers have been experiencing with Esbilac formula, it has been decided that the best alternative is Fox Valley 32/40.
http://foxvalleynutrition.com/prod/d...p?CID=1&PLID=1
Nicholas P. Vlamis, President (Nick)
(800) 679-4666
If you call in your order and tell him you need it quickly he'll be happy to oblige. He can ship to you regular post 3-5 days and overnight. He's very nice and very easy to work with.
In the meantime you will need to feed your baby a home-made formula, but please for the sake of the baby, do not feed this for more than 4-7 days. It's a great temporary replacer milk but it lacks certain vitamins and minerals that the babies need to thrive. This recipe will ensure that your baby will be well nourished until your order from Fox Valley arrives. Jackie (Jackie in Tampa) has graciously offered her temporary replacement formula recipe.
Jackie's Goat Milk Recipe
1 cup goats milk
1/3 cup heavy cream
1/3 cup dannon all natural vanilla yogurt

Mix well and keep in a covered plastic or glass container in the refrigerator. Replace after 48 hours.
Please note, this website has several links that still mention Esbilac and we need to keep these links active as they do contain excellent information so please keep in mind that Fox Valley is now the formula of choice for raising baby squirrels.

Please don't add your squirrel to the list of damaged and/or dead babies who were fed scalded milk!