2 Questions - Flat tongue nursing & white milky eyes

[Baxied]

I picked up 6 babies from a great TSb member this weekend and have a couple of questions. The first - what the heck is this "flat tongue nursing"? I have a little guy who nurses with his mouth wide open. He does not grip the syringe or nipple at all. I am really afraid of aspirating him, so I just go drop by drop into his little mouth. So far so good, but is there anything that I can do to help him get the hang of nursing properly?

This same little guy and his brother each have a milky, white eye. I searched and found that it is most likely from malnutrition or an injury from a fall. Is there anything that I can add to the Fox Valley to help them with this problem?

[Anne]

Sounds like you are doing every correctly. This is more than likely a "time will heal" situation. Baby may have some injury/problem that can't be seem. Patience in large doses.:D

[m&bs mom]

I think the "flat tongue" might be what they call guppy mouth. I have 2 that do this and sometimes if I move the syringe away or move the syringe around in their mouth, it will stop. We do have to repeat this several times each feeding.

White discharge is usually tears. Do they seem to be in any pain? I am sure someone else will chime in.

[m&bs mom]

Sorry...just reread. Is it a discharge or is the actual eye white? If the eye is white, it could be that he is blind.

The one we have now that had a white eye has now turned very cloudy, not so white anymore. Vet thinks that he is totally blind in that one eye, possibly from an injury before we got him.

Good luck.

[Baxied]

The eye is totally white on one squirel and spotty white on the other one. I am hoping that it improves with time.

Yes! He moves his mouth like a guppy! I have tried tapping his head, moving the syringe, etc. but to no avail. Maybe he will improve with age.

Thanks!

[m&bs mom]

I can't say for sure that the guppy mouth will improve. I have 4 babies right now, 2 of which guppy mouth really bad. They are up to 18cc each, 4x a day. It usually takes me an hour to feed because these little buggers guppy the entire time. Sometimes I will take a damp cloth and wipe their mouth and they snap right out of it...but not for long!

I also used a spray called vetericyn for eyes. It did clear up the white eye that we had but left it cloudy. The vet figured that my little guy had an infection in the eye, prior to opening it, that this medication would work well in getting rid of the infection. We figured from the beginning he would be blind and the vetericyn wouldn't hurt. By the way....this is safe to use on the body as well as eyes and in/around the mouth area. It is OTC and I love this product. Safe on all animals and humans too.

Fingers crossed the eye improve for you....and them too!

[Baxied]

Yes, it takes me forever to feed the little guy as he guppies continually. I have tried everything to get him to quit, but he just won't.

I will certainly try the vetericyn since it won't hurt. I hate that they may be blind, but luckily it is only in 1 eye of each. Maybe they will be able to be released.

Thank you so much for responding!!!