how active should my baby be

[tarakp]

hello, i am new to the forum and have a few questions. i found an approximately 6-7 week old baby on the ground 5 days ago. it was raining, the baby was wet and cold. i warmed her up with warm towels, fed her pedialyte (about 1 tbl. over a couple hours) and she perked right up. i have been feeding her the goats milk formula and my fv formula should be here on monday. she was eating very well (LOVES the goats milk mixture), peeing and pooping(firm) and she has been exploring a bit after every feeding. yesterday she played hard but then the next two feedings she immediately went right back to sleep. last night for her 4 a.m. feeding she did not want the formula, just wanted to explore and was kinda wild!!!LOL this morning she ate very well and went right back to sleep. i have given her some snap peas, cauliflower, grapes, apple and 2 almonds and she eats the grape and kinda just shreds the other stuff. i have these things in her box as well to nibble on which she doesn't do much. i am concerned that she is not running around enough. usually after every feeding she explores and climbs a little, for about 45 min. then goes to sleep but the last 18hrs. or so she has been less active than normal in the sense that she is playing harder and more coordinated but for less time. she has always slept a lot but it seems to me she is sleeping more than she has previously. pretty much sleeps til i wake her up to eat then explores/plays a little then back to sleep. is this normal??? i am going for some rodent block today because i know the first signs of mbd is sleeping a lot. i am fixing up a cage for her today with toys and a nesting box and hoping maybe it will stimulate her to a more active state. i have not had her outside in the sun much......4 cats are around and without a cage i didn't want to risk her getting away from me and something horrible happening. and it has been kinda chilly here and am worried about her getting cold....my vet said that is the # 1 killer of these babies!!! please advise this paranoid first time squirrel step mother because i really want to give her the best chance i can. LOL oh, i did try putting her box out under the tree where i found her and the mother never came for her.

[gs1]

:Welcome



hello, i am new to the forum and have a few questions.


:Welcome :Welcome


i found an approximately 6-7 week old baby on the ground 5 days ago. it was raining, the baby was wet and cold. i warmed her up with warm towels, fed her pedialyte (about 1 tbl. over a couple hours) and she perked right up.

:thumbsup

i have been feeding her the goats milk formula and my fv formula should be here on monday. :thumbsup


she was eating very well (LOVES the goats milk mixture), peeing and pooping(firm) and she has been exploring a bit after every feeding. :thumbsup


yesterday she played hard but then the next two feedings she immediately went right back to sleep. does not sound strange ..mothers don't even let them out of the (cramped!!!) nest until they're 10 weeks old at least....


last night for her 4 a.m. feeding she did not want the formula, just wanted to explore and was kinda wild!!!:D she's a tree squirrel they're nuts... :D

LOL this morning she ate very well and went right back to sleep. i have given her some snap peas, cauliflower, grapes, apple and 2 almonds and she eats the grape and kinda just shreds the other stuff.

i'm not a rehabber but i think all she needs right now is formula and a good block like henrys healthy blocks ...you can order them or make your own....http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=27994

but take out grapes unless they're peeled and the seeds/string is taken out....


i have these things in her box as well to nibble on which she doesn't do much. i am concerned that she is not running around enough. usually after every feeding she explores and climbs a little, for about 45 min. then goes to sleep but the last 18hrs. or so she has been less active than normal in the sense that she is playing harder and more coordinated but for less time.

i don't know but i think she's fine considering her age and what her siblings would be doing in their nest....

she has always slept a lot but it seems to me she is sleeping more than she has previously. pretty much sleeps til i wake her up to eat then explores/plays a little then back to sleep. is this normal???

probably fine

i am going for some rodent block today because i know the first signs of mbd is sleeping a lot.

the rodent block is good ...don't worry about mbd if she's on formula ... make sure the rodent block is a good quality ... i only like hhbs as the recipe above.

i am fixing up a cage for her today with toys and a nesting box and hoping maybe it will stimulate her to a more active state. :D



i have not had her outside in the sun much......4 cats are around and without a cage i didn't want to risk her getting away from me and something horrible happening.

don't let her outside they escape in a flash and up a tree ...plus hawks will be looking for food ...and cats ofcourse....even a scratch from a cat will need antibiotics ....


and it has been kinda chilly here and am worried about her getting cold....my vet said that is the # 1 killer of these babies!!!

so glad you've got a vet!!!

we have an excellent rehabber in illinois i'll pm you her number you can chat...


please advise this paranoid first time squirrel step mother because i really want to give her the best chance i can. LOL oh, i did try putting her box out under the tree where i found her and the mother never came for her.


:thumbsup

[tarakp]

thank you soooooo much for the detailed response and the rehabber info!!! i was raised on a farm and been around a lot of domestic babies and had to help a baby raccoon once and several birds....but never a squirrel. i had no idea what to do...thank god for the internet!!! LOL my boyfriend thought i was being paranoid but i know how fast things can go down hill with babies!! i just checked on her and she was wide awake nibbling on some cauliflower!!! i can't wait for the fv formula to get here!!! it will make me feel better. she did sniff and mouth the rodent block i got for her....had to go to petsmart today...didn't want to wait for an internet order!!! LOL got the one that starts with an M. squirrels are AWESOME and i would do this again!!! this experience has definitely made me want to look into helping a local rehabber...whether it is going to get an animal for them or helping clean cages and syringes or whatever. i am sure they are pretty protective over their animals, i know i would not let just anyone handle and feed this one i have!!! LOL i am really looking forward to the day i can see this one out in the trees living the life of a squirrel with other squirrels!!! i really had no idea how awesome these animals are. always knew they were cute and smart but........

[gs1]

thank you soooooo much for the detailed response :thumbsup

and the rehabber info!!! did you contact her (kathie) because as you know they can go downhill fast.... also she'll tell you all about the laws in your state etc... i told her about you.

by the way near which city are you?

also towels: they can get their claws caught in them ...better tshirts and fleece... fleece is better easier to clean...:) if they break a claw they could become non releasable (worst case).

i was raised on a farm and been around a lot of domestic babies and had to help a baby raccoon once and several birds....but never a squirrel. i had no idea what to do...thank god for the internet!!! LOL my boyfriend thought i was being paranoid but i know how fast things can go down hill with babies!!

so true!!!

i just checked on her and she was wide awake nibbling on some cauliflower!!! i can't wait for the fv formula to get here!!! it will make me feel better. she did sniff and mouth the rodent block i got for her....had to go to petsmart today...didn't want to wait for an internet order!!! LOL got the one that starts with an M.

which brand is it?


squirrels are AWESOME and i would do this again!!! :D

this experience has definitely made me want to look into helping a local rehabber...whether it is going to get an animal for them or helping clean cages and syringes or whatever.

let us know the city and we'll see if anyone is around....

i am sure they are pretty protective over their animals, i know i would not let just anyone handle and feed this one i have!!!


true but also happy to have help... and once you're trusted ...who knows....and maybe you'll think about becoming a rehabber yourself if only for squirrels.


LOL i am really looking forward to the day i can see this one out in the trees living the life of a squirrel with other squirrels!!! i really had no idea how awesome these animals are. always knew they were cute and smart but........ yep...:D


:)

[tarakp]

just an update......got her to a rehabber who has two other babies she can be raised with. sure enough she had an upper respiratory issue!! she had been sneezing a few times when i had her but no breath sounds....i am a gemologist so i did peek up her nose earlier with my jewelers loupe!!! LOL which btw worked very well....but i saw no sign of "gunk"!!!! 10x loupe for those interested....easy to hold and works really well....except it would fog up after a minute from millies breath!!! LOL anyway, by the time i got her there her one eye was glued shut.....that was a first!!! after her initial assessment she got a dose of antibiotic and some eye salve....i could not have done this for her.....she is doing very well so far in her new home under the supervision of someone who knows what they r doing....just glad i could save her from SURE death and give her a chance.........now, to get on with moving to my new home and finding a local rehabber to work with so i can learn to rehab these babies....i'm HOOKED!!!!! LOL i do have to admit though...sleeping thru the night for the first time in nearly two weeks was DIVINE!!!!!!! LOL

[gs1]

:D :thumbsup

sleeping through the night is nice huh??? :D