possible pneumonia in flying squirrel

[virginia_arce2280]

This is my second time rehabilitating a baby squirrel. first time was a success with eastern gray squirrel, but now have a southern flying squirrel aprox 4-5 weeks and weighs 20 grams That we rescued from our cat. He didn't have any bite marks, but seemed to be in shock and we thought he was dying and we warmed him with a blow dryer and he immediately perked up and started running around. He has seemed very lethargic, and I spoke with a rehabber today who is working on getting me trained, and said I had been feeding too much and to drop down to less than 1 cc every 2.5 hours. today he aspirated and is now making a clicking noise. The only antibiotics I have are amoxicilin or cephalexin. Can you please help me to know what to do? The closest rehabber is 2 hours away and I don't have a car. and it's 10 pm.

[Nancy in New York]

This is my second time rehabilitating a baby squirrel. first time was a success with eastern gray squirrel, but now have a southern flying squirrel aprox 4-5 weeks and weighs 20 grams That we rescued from our cat. He didn't have any bite marks, but seemed to be in shock and we thought he was dying and we warmed him with a blow dryer and he immediately perked up and started running around. He has seemed very lethargic, and I spoke with a rehabber today who is working on getting me trained, and said I had been feeding too much and to drop down to less than 1 cc every 2.5 hours. today he aspirated and is now making a clicking noise. The only antibiotics I have are amoxicilin or cephalexin. Can you please help me to know what to do? The closest rehabber is 2 hours away and I don't have a car. and it's 10 pm.

Can you post your email, I want to send you something. I will let you know when I get it and then you can go into your post and delete it, OK? After your post you will have 15 minutes to delete.:thumbsup

[Mrs Skul]

:wave123 Hi Virginia
Any time you have a Cat caught Baby you need them on ANTIBODIC. You can loose them in 24 to 48 hr if not on something. We recommend Baytrill. Have you started any of the Antibiotic yet? Did Nancy Help you out with the dosing? What formula are you using?
We recommend FoxVally. Esbilac in no longer recommended for Squirrels. We Have had a lot of Trouble with Babies Dieing from Diarrhea, Bloat.
Hear is a Temporary Goat Milk Recipe for you to use until the FoxVally comes in.

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 on-line at www.foxvalleynutrition.com and www.henryspets.com. But those require shipping and this baby squirrel needs food NOW.
Hear is 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
StonyField makes a Full Fat Yogurt, it is Called YoBaby. This is found in the Organic refrigerated area.
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

[virginia_arce2280]

I have been feeding esbilac with the heavy whipping cream and he seemed to get constipated and have bloat. I am having to stimulate him to poop and his eyes are wide open. I haven't started anything yet, because I was waiting to hear back. Unfortunately, I am without transportation and money at this point. If Amoxicilin or cephalexin will work, that's what I have. Also I do have grape fruit seed extract which is a nutribiotic, don't know if that will help. I will try to see if I can get my mother-in-laws car to get the right milk for him. Also, the rehabber in Gainesville said I needed to get Hypericum 30c and Lachesis 30c for the trauma. Where in the world can I get that?
Thanks in advance for all of your help

[Jackie in Tampa]

hi.in your case the amoxy will have to work until you can find something better...
can you call me
keflex is really not ideal for pnuemonia...more for urinary tract stuff..
amoxy is not ideal either..it is very hard on the sqs digestive tract...meaning he needs probotics, anything, acidiopholis, yogurt, etc
it is also hard on immmune system...
you should get Fox Valley formula...
sometimes if you do not amke the esbilac well in advanced, it will not be completely dissolved and can cause bloat...just thinking here...
no more blowdryers please...like a hot loud tornado...poor kid
my advise right now is get him/her super hydrated...the amoxy is gonna hurt his belly...
can you get me a weight?
make sure the ABs are fresh
you are going to need a small lidded jar
a legible 1 c/ml syringe
I also need to know what amoxicillan tablet you have, the miligrams.
I am terrible slow typer,

to diagnose pnuemonia...you will here clicking crackling popping sounds WITH EVERY BREATH, whether sq is active or asleep...every breath...
otherwise we will be adding grief to something we haven't diagnosed properly..
Hoping someone can help as I am not LR...just a sq friend...with 867 sqs:D

[virginia_arce2280]

Okay, so, I was able to get the goats milk formula, free syringes, and free antibiotic Baytrill. He's had one dose and this evening seems to be doing worse. The clicking in his breathing is more and he is breathing 145 or more, (it was so fast, sometimes I wasn't sure I got them all) a minute. I am not sure what is normal. He didn't want his 7:30 feeding and just wants to sleep. I know I need to keep him hydrated. What's the best thing to give him at this point. I'm keeping him on a rice sock and wrapped in a receiving black and right next to me all the time so I can watch him and sometimes even on my chest. He seems weak, but will wake up every now and then to move around.
Any suggestions?:shakehead I feel I may lose him.

[cuteascnb]

how is he doing???

[virginia_arce2280]

no changes, breathing rapidly and clicking a lot, I tried a couple of more times to feed, but no interest. If I uncover him, he'll quickly wake up and try to find a warm spot. I've got him on my chest right now wrapped in a blanket and on a warm rice sock.

[virginia_arce2280]

I gave him antibiotic around 5 pm (it was the first dose), when can I give him another dose? I was hoping I could give him one more before I go to bed around 10 or 11? Would that be okay?

[virginia_arce2280]

I just tried to give homemade rehydrating solution and he actually perked up and licked it a few times and then went back to resting on his sock. Looks like it's going to be a long night

[Nancy in New York]

I gave him antibiotic around 5 pm (it was the first dose), when can I give him another dose? I was hoping I could give him one more before I go to bed around 10 or 11? Would that be okay?

OK, what antibiotic did you decide on? How much did you give?

[virginia_arce2280]

It was baytrill, I mixed it like Jackie told me too, but it's too late, I just lost him. He just started gulping for air and he just past right now.

[Nancy in New York]

It was baytrill, I mixed it like Jackie told me too, but it's too late, I just lost him. He just started gulping for air and he just past right now.

Oh no, I am so very sorry for your loss....:shakehead
:Love_Icon :grouphug :Love_Icon

[astra]

oh no... how sad...:grouphug :Love_Icon :grouphug

[virginia_arce2280]

It is sad. I am thankful though to have had him for the 6 days that we did. I homeschool my 4 children and it was such a wonderful learning experience. We learned so much about flying squirrels, that we never would have if it hadn't been for him. The kids named him Rikki Tikki. Thanks to everyone who helped. I still have a 14 week old grey squirrel that we reallly enjoy.

[Jackie in Tampa]

Rest in Peace Sweet Squirrel:Love_Icon
:grouphug Virginia :grouphug

[SquirrelPower]

hi virginia, sorry to hear about the squirrel dying.

If the Cat got it, it might have had internal organ injury or something. Doesn't need to have open bite marks to have it's little ribs crushed or something.