Help!

[Sparkletuss]

I rescued a baby squirrel from work the other day, I think he is about 5, 5 and half weeks old. He was eating often and well and was very vocal until today...... Now he's very lethargic, breathing quite heavily and making little squeaks every now and then, especially when i pick him up, he also isn't interesed in his food. Ive listened to his chest and it doesnt sound the like clicking of pnemonia.... any advice at all would be great as Ive never looked after a squirrel before......

Thankyou.

[Sparkletuss]

He has also, just this second been sick.

[Milo's Mom]

What have you been feeding him and how have you been feeding him?

[Sparkletuss]

Its puppy milk, made from goats milk and i was at first using a syringe, then i tried him on feeding bottle with teats.

[Jackie in Tampa]

can you post a pic?
do you mean vomitted?
will he swallow?
you need to start rehydration..
here's a recipe for homemade pedialyte
1 quart warm water
1 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons sugar
keep in fridge for upto 3 days, then pitch.
try to get him to flush out his system with this, never using for more than 24 hours.
what formula are you using?
how long have you had him?
is he on heat?
do you have a vet?
sorry for all the questions, they will help the rehabbers assess.

[Sparkletuss]

Its ok, I just want him to be ok...

Yes he's vomitted 2 or 3 times now. He was swallowing just fine. I have made the recipe for homemade pedialyte about 5 mins a go, but i havent done anything with it because Im not sure what to do with it. Ive had him for 3 days now. He is next to a radiator, in a box full of cut up cloth and a hot water bottle. The vet is closed today.

[Sparkletuss]

A friend at work raised a orphan a couple of years a go a recommened 'Top Life Formula puppy milk' and thats what he has been eating.

[Sparkletuss]

Now he has vomited he doesnt seem to be breathing as heavily but still looks like he is going to be sick and not moving much.

[Jackie in Tampa]

although he is not clicking...a baby bottle/nurser has been the culprit of many many aspiration cases..
I would stick with the syringe..
I perfer a 1cc syringe and hold the baby upright, never tilted back.
Is he staying warm? it's sooo important, especially if this is aspiration pnuemonia..

Did you see any formula coming from his nose at any time?
Can you get any anti biotics if needed?
Enrofloxacin is choice {baytril, ciprofloxacin, same med}
It is for human and critters.

If not, what can you get Rx wise..

I am not diagnosing your sq, just trying to look ahead if it is determined to be the cause of his lethargy and vomitting..

Can you taste the formula and make sure it is not bad? sour?
I am unfamiliar with this formula.. I neveer reheat formula either, always using fresh each feeding.
I do not heat formula up in the mmicrowave, I heat a mug of water and float a small jar of formula in the water.

can you get goats milk at the grocery market, canned or fresh?
and some yogurt, any flavor will work.
A heating pad will be a better more consistant heat source also.

someone will be here soon to help more.:grouphug

[Sparkletuss]

although he is not clicking...a baby bottle/nurser has been the culprit of many many aspiration cases..
I would stick with the syringe..
I perfer a 1cc syringe and hold the baby upright, never tilted back.
Is he staying warm? it's sooo important, especially if this is aspiration pnuemonia..

Did you see any formula coming from his nose at any time?
Can you get any anti biotics if needed?
Enrofloxacin is choice {baytril, ciprofloxacin, same med}
It is for human and critters.

If not, what can you get Rx wise..

I am not diagnosing your sq, just trying to look ahead if it is determined to be the cause of his lethargy and vomitting..

Can you taste the formula and make sure it is not bad? sour?
I am unfamiliar with this formula.. I neveer reheat formula either, always using fresh each feeding.
I do not heat formula up in the mmicrowave, I heat a mug of water and float a small jar of formula in the water.

can you get goats milk at the grocery market, canned or fresh?
and some yogurt, any flavor will work.
A heating pad will be a better more consistant heat source also.

someone will be here soon to help more.

I didnt see any coming from his nose, but thats why i got the bottle, because i was scared of pushing to hard on the plunger. The milk smells and tastes ok. I have been warming it like you say... (dont own a microwave).... Im sure I could get those meds and goats milk..... But the formula i have been using has goats milk in it.

[Jackie in Tampa]

Usually puppy formula can be used..
but even here in the USA, we have sub standard brands that are not nutritionally as good as other brands..
Using these lesser brands , we usually see lethargy and diarrhea first...
We do have some UK members, hoping they can help with verifying the formula or suggesting something that will work for sqs..
I am not saying what you are using isn't good, as I do not know that.

If it is AP, he will go down hill fast...try to score some mds today, just in case, to have on hand..
Not sure how to heat a rice buddy if you do not have a microwave...ugh..

[cam]

Hi, here is a link to website dedicated to the rescue and rehab of squirrels in the UK, they can put you into contact with rehabbers in your area and may even be able to find a vet who is willing to look at a squirrel, they are very helpful

http://www.squirrels.info/about.htm#contact

just be careful who you tell about the website and the fact you have a squirrel as it is actually illegal to keep a grey squirrel without a liscence which you can apply for through natural england

http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/regulation/wildlife/species/nonnativespecies.aspx

hope your little one is ok