Pneumonia ALREADY!??

[Melf]

I found a baby squirrel earlier today looks like 6-7 weeks. I thought it might be rabid or something bc it kept chasing my kids around the yard and trying to get into the house so I called animal control they sent an officer out who said it wasn't rabid just abandoned SO he said I could call and get someone to pick him up tomorrow (his suggestion was keep him!)? I made pedialyte and the goat milk stuff. Well this is his (it is a boy) 3rd feeding today (1st 2 only pedialyte) and first time drinking the goat milk/yogurt stuff and he started doing this weird gulping thing! Now he seems fine but I'm so worried! Did he aspirate ALREADY I used a 1st but he was so hyper..does he already have pneumonia? And what should he sound like? He makes little noises but I thought that was normal. His stool is normal haven't seen any urine yet. What antibiotics can I give him it's past 5

[Melf]

I'm on exit 1 GA 15 minutes from Jacksonville FL. I can't watch him die please is there a # to call? I'm going to call a vet..

[gs1]

i'm sure we've people in jacksonville.....:grouphug

i'll send you a phone number of someone who will know.....

cls.

don't worry for now....:grouphug


ps: the thing when he's drinking is probably just guppy mouth ... it's a thing they do....

[Melf]

OK..I just read about the squirrel "feeding trance" it describes exactly what he did.:crazy I'm still anxious though I wish there was audio of pneumonia in squirrels so I know what sounds are NOT normal. I was leaning towards getting him through the next 6 weeks and then doing a gentle backyard rehab (I've spent all day doing nothing but reading about squirrels) because he follows s everywhere in and out of the house..I figured since he knows the backyard he can stay here but after this I don't know!..

[CritterMom]

No, no. I think what you are seeing is something we call "guppy mouth" - is that what it looks like - a fish gulping air at the water surface? That is a weird feeding trance that some squirrels just do. Mine did. I would pull the syringe out of his mouth and tap him on the top of the head to get his attention again. Others wiggle the syringe back and forth in the mouth. Just make sure the guppy nonsense has stopped before you continue to feed - and you may have to do it over and over again to stop him!

Use a small syringe and control the milk flow - I wrap a finger around the plunger so they can't suck it dry immediately. THAT is when they aspirate. If that happens - they start sputtering and milk bubbles out the nose, immediately tip them so the nose is pointing straight down and let gravity help to drain the sinuses. But if you control the milk flow and go slowly, you shouldn't have problems with aspiration and resulting pneumonia.

[CritterMom]

Pneumonia sounds like a "click" at EVERY breath coming from the chest.

[gs1]

melf i can't pm you ... i think it's cause you're too new....

there's an excellent rehabber 30 mins from you that can at least give your little guy a once over....

she's also has some excellent formula - fox valley - you could buy from her (:hidechair she's blast me for that ...she always wants to give away ... lol... )

anyway if you email me at (no spaces) silvana 2065 at hotmail.com i can let you have her info.....

hugs.cls.

[Melf]

Yes I'm too new joined when I found him this morning :thumbsup
He did not have any formula coming out of his nose and I don't believe he as the click noise *sigh of relief* I am emailing for the rehabber contact # would love to meet up and YES buy some foxy food! Since the ER visit is over I won't reply in here but :thankyou :grouphug :thankyou

[Scooterzmom]

A lot of the babies do that guppy thing. Heck! Even my son did
:) He used to go and just make like he was sucking but wouldn't ... had to tap him under his feet to "wake him up" .. so I did the same thing with my baby squirrels :D