Need help with baby Squirrel found tonight

[angie Z]

We kept hearing a squeaking noise outside, and went outside to find out what is was, and found a baby squirrel crawling around on the ground. Only 1 eye is open, and the other is scratched on the skin just below the eye. We are unsure how to take care of it and are looking for any kind of help. We have a put it next to a water bottle with warm water, and on a blanket in a box. We have read not to feed it, so we havn't nor are we handling it.Just asking for as much help as we can to figure out the best way to take care of it.Putting it back under the tree to become something elses dinner is not an option for us.We live in S.D. and are in a very rural area, with nothing close by to get any kind of food tonight.

[4skwerlz]

You're doing good so far....

Keep him warm, dark, and quiet for now. A rehabber will be here in a few minutes to help. Hang in there; don't go away!

[HHRP]

Hang in there someone will be on soon. Don't worry you will be getting plenty of information really soon!

[4skwerlz]

Below you will find info on first steps to caring for a baby squirrel. You need to find out if he's badly dehydrated or starved, as this can cause death. It's okay to handle him. You don't have to worry about him biting you, or rabies or any other diseases. To handle a baby this age, it's usually best to wrap him up in an old t-shirt and hold him to your chest firmly, then examine him slowly and gently without scaring him. Keep the lights low and everything quiet.


Emergency Care for Baby Squirrels

Don’ts
Don’t try to feed the squirrel.
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
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.

Supplies You Will Need:
--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. 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.

[angie Z]

The baby is not dehydrated.

[4skwerlz]

So he passed the pinch test, that's good. The scratched eye could be from the fall. Do you see any other injuries? Does he seem alert and active?

Can you take a picture of the baby? Even a cell phone pic helps. If you can't post it, please email it to deerskie@yahoo.com and I will post it for you.

This will help determine if the baby is stable enough to wait 'til morning when we might be able to find someone to take the baby, assuming that's what you want.

[angie Z]

will e mail u pictures, Squirrel seems to be doing well, hes sleeping mostly, got a lil annoyed at having his picture taken.

[4skwerlz]

will e mail u pictures, Squirrel seems to be doing well, hes sleeping mostly, got a lil annoyed at having his picture taken.

Got your email but the picture wasn't attached. Maybe try again...

[angie Z]

Pictures have been emailed, please let me know if you received them.

[4skwerlz]

Got 2 more emails; still no pics attached.:thinking

Are you sure you attached them? Is it possible they were too large?

[angie Z]

did you get them this time?

[4skwerlz]

Got them! He looks pretty good.

You said you had no way to get any kind of formula, especially tonight. You can offer plain water with a little fruit juice in it. Otherwise, I think you're okay until morning.

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[angie Z]

ok i want to keep him so whats the best way for me to do that

[4skwerlz]

ok i want to keep him so whats the best way for me to do that

You'll need formula for him first thing tomorrow morning. He'll be very hungry.

Order Fox Valley 20/50 from Henry's (link is below, in my signature), or from Nick at Fox Valley Animal Nutrition http://foxvalleynutrition.com/main/home.asp

you'll also need 1 cc syringes.

While you're waiting for the formula to arrive you can make a temporary formula:

1 cup goat's milk
1/3 cup heavy cream
1/3 cup Dannon vanilla yogurt (the regular kind; not "light")
Mix well and keep in a covered plastic or glass container in the refrigerator. Replace after 48 hours.

For a temporary syringe, you can use a glass eye-dropper, or a plastic syringe from your local drug store. Be careful with those; go very slow as they tend to stick and you don't want to aspirate him (get formula in his lungs). The good syringes (Sklar 1 cc) will make that easier.

You'll also need a no-auto-shutoff heating pad. You can try your drugstore to see if they have them, or order them online as well. In the meantime, you'll have to make "rice buddies" per the instructions posted earlier. Be very careful he doesn't get cold.

It will also help to be able to weigh him so you can calculate how much formula to feed and monitor his growth. If you have a kitchen scale, that works. Walmart carries them, or you can order them online too.

[angie Z]

how much is the puppy milk?

[angie Z]

cuz im broke till thuresday or friday

[4skwerlz]

how much is the puppy milk?

Fox Valley isn't puppy milk; it's actually made for squirrels and bunnies and possums.

One pound of the powdered formula costs around $11 for a pound, plus around $5-6 shipping, depending on who you order it from. Syringes are less than .30 cents each.

But you'll need to get the goat's milk, cream, and yogurt tomorrow morning.

[angie Z]

ill see what i can do

[Jackie in Tampa]

goats milk canned or fresh.....$4
yogurt..$1
heavy cream...$2
please try, ty!:Love_Icon

[Mrs Skul]

:wave123 AngieZ
What a cutie little Foxer Baby. :Love_Icon
JoSchmoe Is in your neck of the woods and she rehabbs if you need so help! Good luck with the little one. :thumbsup5

[jo_schmoe]

Hi Angie!
Welcome to TSB! Great people and tons of awesome info!
I am near you so if you need any help with this guy....just say the word.
He looks to be about 5 weeks or so...so he will need to be fed about every 3-4 hrs. Will you be able to stay at home with him?? ALso...because he is a foxer...he will formula feed until he is about 11-12 weeks old.
If you need some formula...and depending on what town you are in....I can probably get you some. Let me know. I am heading off to work...but I will PM you my cell number.

[mandibair]

Hi Angie,
Just checking to see how your squirrel is doing?

[MsOakley]

If you feed the goat's milk recipe be sure you heat it up. The best method is to put some hot water in a small bowl, pour some milk in a small jar (baby food jar works great) and set it in the heated water. Test the temperature on your skin before feeding. It should feel the same temp as your skin, not colder or hotter.

[jo_schmoe]

I am not sure if Angie is with us still. She had called me to come and get the squirrel....and as I was on my way down south I got a phone call from her son saying that they had found a rehabber somewhat close that had room for him...so.....YEAH!
I hope he is doing well.
I've got one empty cage left....so any squirrels up north are welcome to it! Maybe I will find another mutant Red squirrel that needs a mama! :D