montreal baby needs help (Dollard des Ormeaux )

[gs1]

:grouphug


Hello,

I found a baby squirrel, I am trying to find someone in the Montreal, Quebec area who is registered to care for squirrels. The pet store gave me two numbers to call, but no one is calling me back. Can anyone recommend someone in the Montreal area.

I think he is 6+ weeks old. I gave him pedialyte today and mixed pedialyte with a bit of puppy formula in the evening. I would like to find someone who is capable of caring for him as soon as possible.

A. Keys,
Dollard des Ormeaux






where are you in montreal?

we'll need to do a new thread for you ...most important warm the squirrel slowly ....

then hydrate....

then formula 24 hours later ....

pedialyte only 24 hours ...

must rush ...will do you a new thread and post

silvana.toronto.


ps: in order to help you we'll need phone numbers ... can you please allow pms or post your email address?

i won't be on for a while or i'd give you mine first....


http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13090

[gs1]

This thread will assist you in dealing with the first few hours of finding an injured or orphaned baby squirrel. In most cases we would urge you to find a qualified wildlife rehabilitator ASAP, but please follow these guidelines to stabilize and keep the squirrel safe:

Emergency Care for Baby Squirrels

Don’ts
Don’t try to feed the squirrel.
Don’t handle him more than you have to.
No loud voices, TV, music, or bright lights.
No children or pets in the same room!

1. 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.

2. Find a Box or Container[b]
A shoebox will do for small babies. A baby that can walk will need a larger box with a lid (with holes). 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 skinny or dehydrated, he needs emergency care by an experienced rehabber or vet.

3. 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!

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.
NOTE: If baby is badly dehydrated, he will need subcutaneous fluids, which can only be given by a rehabber or vet.

[b] Supplies You Will Need: [b]
--Pedialyte (any flavor)*
--Plastic syringes (1 cc size; no needles. Ask the pharmacist to get these for you) An eyedropper can also work.
These are available at most drugstores.
[B]
*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.

How to Prepare the Pedialyte
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 with Pedialyte 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.

Proper 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
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.

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. NOTE: There is now a chance your baby will develop aspiration pneumonia from inhaling fluid in his lungs. This is fatal. Please contact a rehabber or vet, or the people at The Squirrel Board, for assistance.
__________________

(http://www.thesquirrelboard.com/forums/editpost.php?do=editpost&p=240763)


...

[gs1]

...
***While waiting for the Fox Valley to arrive...

Temporary Formula for Infant Squirrels – The Goat’s Milk Formula

Because of recent manufacturing issues, Esbilac and other puppy formulas are no longer being recommended for squirrels or other wildlife. The formula that TSB recommends, Fox Valley Day One, is currently available online at www.foxvalleynutrition.com (http://www.foxvalleynutrition.com/) and www.henryspets.com (http://www.henryspets.com/). But those require shipping and this baby squirrel needs food NOW.

One of our senior members who posts as Jackie in Tampa uses an excellent temporary substitute, and it can be assembled from locally purchased ingredients:

3 parts goat’s milk
1 part heavy whipping cream*
1 part vanilla yogurt

Formula will last 48 hours in refrigerator.

Goat’s Milk
This can be purchased at natural food stores such as Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods, and at most health food stores that sell groceries. It is a product for humans. Do not substitute commercial formula made for baby goats or other livestock sold at feed stores.

Goat’s milk is available fresh in a carton; evaporated in a can; and as a powdered milk. If you purchase either the evaporated or powdered versions, please blend them with water according to the package directions before using to make the formula.

Heavy Whipping Cream
This is found in small cartons in the grocery store near the coffee creamers and half and half. Regular heavy cream may be substituted if it is unavailable, but the heavy whipping cream has the highest fat content, and is preferred.

Yogurt
Yogurt has beneficial bacteria in it that soothes and settles digestion. Full fat yogurt is best, and a good choice that is very widely available is Stoneyfield Yobaby yogurt. However if it is unavailable, a low fat vanilla yogurt may be substituted. Avoid those that have artificial sweeteners in them. Vanilla and banana are both popular flavors, and the sweet taste of the yogurt helps to convince the baby to accept it.

It has been recently discovered that very small pinky squirrels may do better digestively if, instead of being given Fox Valley formula straight, mix the Fox Valley 50/50 with the Goat’s Milk Formula assembled WITHOUT the heavy whipping cream.

*It is recommended that when just starting to feed a new baby that the first feedings be made without the heavy whipping cream. This will give their digestive systems a chance to acclimate from mama’s milk to our substitute without the harder-to-digest whipping cream. Once they accept the formula and are eliminating properly, the whipping cream can be gradually added in.

When your Fox Valley formula arrives, please transition your babies to the new formula slowly, by blending the Goat’s Milk Formula with the blended and liquefied Fox Valley formula, increasing the ratio of Fox Valley with each feeding until you are no longer using the goat’s milk.

[A Keys]

Hello,

Thanks for getting back to me so fast.

I have to go to work today and won't have access to the internet. If you could call or text or me numbers of rehabbers in the area that would be greatly appreciated.

thanks!

Ann-Marie
514-516-5999

[squirrelfriend]

Astra is in Montreal. I pm'd her hopefully she can help.

[A Keys]

Thanks, I am online at work today. If you hear anything, please given then my number 514 516 5999 -Ann-Marie

[A Keys]

Also, someone in my area has offered to take him and raise him as a pet. I was hoping to find a rehabber to release him into the wild. Any thought?

[gs1]

Also, someone in my area has offered to take him and raise him as a pet. I was hoping to find a rehabber to release him into the wild. Any thought?

only if she plans on getting extensive insurance to cover her for all the plastic surgery she'll need when he decides he wants to be a wild squirrel ...in about 1 years time....

ok ...that was sarcastic... :D but!!! we've several members here with that problem...wilding up.... or hormonal problems... tree squirrels/red squirrels are not good pets...they're very destructive to homes.... and to owners... get very attached to only one owner and aggressive to others....

it's a 20 year committment ... no vacations...

if someone can take them for a few months and then do a soft realease (in their yard - meaning large cage and a few weeks getting used to the outdoors) and then feeding them over winter as the squirrel is free and comes back for food then that is ideal!!!

if they have lots of trees and few cars/cats/dogs in their area it's even better.....:thumbsup

[gs1]

this is our beloved rama .... king of costa rica.... he's a typical squirrel .... actually more sweet than most, even at this age ....

totally adores his mum ...and mostly adores his dad too ...except when he gets hormonal.....

here's he's still taking a syringe of formula just cause he likes it...

http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=27141&page=342

[stosh2010]

this is our beloved rama .... king of costa rica.... he's a typical squirrel .... actually more sweet than most, even at this age ....

totally adores his mum ...and mostly adores his dad too ...except when he gets hormonal.....

here's he's still taking a syringe of formula just cause he likes it...

http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=27141&page=342

Raising a Squirrel is a BIG commitment....if the squirrel gets very attached to one person (typical) and that owner wants to take off for a few days...it will be hard for a stranger to care for the squirrel in a safe manner. Also squirrels are creatures of habit--and can get very confused and AGITATED by routine changes and especially strangers in the house.
In reality >> the expression -- "Owned By My Squirrel" is No Exaggeration.
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The link to Rama Rota's thread is just below:

[A Keys]

Thanks for all the advice. I just dropped off the baby with a co worker who had experience with squirrels. He will keep it indoors and release him in early spring.

I told the man, Olivier, who wanted to keep him as a pet to join this site. He wants to become a volunteer rehabber.

Thanks everyone! Keep up the good work!

[Kristal]

Is this resolved? I just got you guys' PMs about it. I will try calling her to find out what's happening.

[Pris]

Thanks, I am online at work today. If you hear anything, please given then my number 514 516 5999 -Ann-Marie

Hey Anne! I sent to you a message, but I don't know if you still have the same number. I need a little help here with 4 babies. Thanks!