nothern flying squirrel (baby)

[red reddy]

cat brought home what appears to be (after some research) a baby nothern flying squirrel. He is not a baby baby, his eyes are open he has regular hair not baby hair. I have raised 3 other tree squirrels that were brought to me that fell out of their nest. I do know quite a bit about how to care for them. I was just wondering if this flying squirrel has any special requirements. I am not sure if he should still be bottle fed or not, he is approx 2.5 inches long, just his body, he has big teeth. not getting any response from him with the eye dropper. pet stores are closed so was trying to give him some water with just a pinch of milk in it. any advice

[gs1]

i really don't know where to start....

first he's got to get warm ..slowly and then hydrated... i'll give you those pages in a second...

i'd like to give you someones phone number for tonight but i'll have to do that in a pm...private message....

i'll be back with some instructions....

question for you ...is this flyer still eyes closed? as in baby or is he eyes closed as in shock....

edit: just read ..he's in shock....

there is very little hope for him unless you can get him antibiotics for the cat saliva ...(regardless of any visible scratches)....

be right back.

[gs1]

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


I FOUND A BABY SQUIRREL, NOW WHAT??

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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.

*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.[B]* 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.
__________________
Island Rehabber
NY State Licensed
Wildlife Rehabilitator



*please note toilet paper works better than tissue...more absorbant....

[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.

[gs1]

for cat bites (very deadly)

from this thread....http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=29778&highlight=antibiotics+bite


QUOTE=Jackie in Tampa]HI and welcome to TSB...
Posting a pic will help the rehabbers to advise you best.

Are you using Esbilac for Puppies?
Just Born?
Are you using a syringe to feed with?
Is it a baby girl or boy?

Cat bites can be deadly, you will need to get antibiotics ASAP.

Also, has your baby aspirated formula?
milk or bubbley milk coming from nose...sputtering etc?

How often are you feeding?
and how much?

With aspitation, as well as cat bite infection, the symptoms will be lethargy and loss of appetite, sometimes diarrhea.

The best ABs will be Baytril or Ciproflaxin...they are the same, one is for people and the other, baytril, is for animals..:thumbsup But the same!
Others that will work are
Flagyl/metronidazole,
SMZ-TMP also known as Bactrim, Sulfatrim, Septra
there are many that will work...please list what you can get your hands on and someone will tell you if it's safe.


Antibiotics need to be in date, not expired...
please call family and friends and see what they have available...
'cillans' are not recommended for rodents/sqs, but can be used...

things to have on hand if you can find ABs are

a syringe without a needle, 1 cc/ml is best {cc and ml are the same} with legible numbers
you can get this from any vet or most pharmacies...also feed stores.

You will also need a good probotic such as acidiopholis or yogurt, I use Dannon All Natural Vanilla Yogurt.
ABs destroy the natural gut flora and a probotic is needed to replenish them.

It is better to use a plastic sterlite container with a lid and many holes drilled in lid and high up on sides, cardboard will leach the moisture out of your sweetie and leave him dehydrated.

Please hurry, infections will kill baby sqs fast...do not wait.
If you know a vet that is kinds and understanding, please call and ask for meds.
Be careful, I am not sure sqs are legal in Indiana...they may conviscate him and euthanize..
where are you at county wise?
TSB has several reahbbers up there that may be able to assist you.

Please ask as many questions as you need to, we want to help you.
I am sorry to ask so many, but it will expedite help.:Love_Icon[/QUOTE]

[gs1]

private messaged you mrs skuls phone number....:grouphug

[Mrs Skul]

:wave123 Hi RedReddy
Do you still need help??? PMing You a Phone number to call me! :thumbsup I will go and read the history. :D

[Mrs Skul]

I just sent you a PM with some information. :thumbsup3Please call me if you need anything. Yes Northern and Southern Flying Squirrels Do need a little different Diet, Compared to Squirrels Gray, Red, or Foxer. They will need Protean WaxWorms, MealWorms, Freeze Dried Chicken Chunks, Chicken Chips, Boiled Egg, or Boiled Chicken. They also have a Sweet tooth. Be careful giving allot of sweets. :D
If this little one has marble size testicles he is weened. If Large he is a Adult! If he has little Pea size testicles, or none.
He is still a very young little Flyer. Call if you need help.
GoodLuck Christal

[gs1]

you need antibiotics.... i hope someone can comment ...

have you and mrs skul talked on the phone ...maybe she has advised already....

please be careful i think it's three days when they suddenly die because of cat bites/scratches etc....


also if using a vet please call ahead of time and ask them what they do (do they confiscate and put to sleep) or do they help and return to you????

different states & vets have different rules when dealing with wildlife....

[Mrs Skul]

Hi GS1 No She has not called me! :dono
I sure hope and Pray she gets him on the Antibiotic!

[winky2]

This is a native species so it should go to a rehab center for vet care, raising and release back into the wild. Here are some OR. wildlife rehab centers. American Wildlife Foundation has a full time vet 971-227-4036 and Audubon 503-292-6855. Please hurry so antibiotics can be administered before it's too late.

[Mrs Skul]

Thank you Winky2:thankyou
I know a License Rehabber in Origan if needed.
RedRun Called me about 11:am. I seen a picture and believe it is a Southern Flyer. We are working on Dosing the Antibiotic. (She said no blood and Cat just brings baby Squirrels to her to care for. +) AnyWay We will be putting on Antibiotic. :thumbsup I believe this little Flyer has just opened his eyes. She has been hydrating and is picking up Goat milk and Ordering FoxVally 32/40 Thanks Allot GS1 For all your help last night. :thumbsup3
You are Such A Squirrel Guardian Angel.:grouphug You are the best.
I will keep you all posted. Christal

[Jackie in Tampa]

spoke briefly, waiting for call back!:thumbsup
Thank you C & C!:bowdown :bowdown both of you!!!!!!!!:Love_Icon :Love_Icon

[Mrs Skul]

:thankyou Thanks allot Jackie for the help. :grouphug
Red Reddy :thinking I think I PM this information to you last night. :dono Hear it is again. :D
If you get a hold of Henryspets She can send it out quicker then Nick. It is both the same Price..
You need the Silicone Mothering Elongated nipples with the hole in them already. FoxVally 32/40 is the formula you need to order.:thumbsup3
Good Luck and I will talk to you Tonight.
Christal
http://henryspets.com
http://www.squirrelsandmore.com/
http://foxvalleynutrition.com/main/prod.asp
__________________

[winky2]

I have plenty of fox valley and antibiotics to share (no charge of course). If you want to meet me half way I'm available tonight or tomorrow. Just send me a PM or call if you have the number.

[Mrs Skul]

Hi Winky2
I did not know you were so close! I am sending you a PM with her number. If you can send me your number.
I can give it to her and hang on to it for in the future help in your area. :thumbsup3

[Mrs Skul]

:thankyou
:sad
RIP
Little Baby Flying Squirrel!
I am sad to say this Little Baby Flying Passed away late Last night. :Cry
Cindy I am so sorry for your loss! :grouphug

[pappy1264]

Awwww, poor little one, RIP sweet baby. I am so very sorry for your loss.