Inhaling the nipple?!

[bleu7102]

So, I've got a little girl, almost 3 weeks old. I just started using a nipple on the syringe during feedings a couple days ago, before we were just doing the drop by drop in the mouth. Well, she has started *inhaling* the nipple when eating. Like, this long nipple looks like it has to be halfway down her throat! Do most squirrels do that while eating? Is she just becoming that much of a hog?! I just pull it out a little and try to keep it from going so far in her mouth, just keep her sucking on it from about halfway down and not the entire thing. I just ordered some new syringes and nipples from Henry's last night, and I think those might not be as long. So maybe that will help.
Just wondering if that is common. Sorry to post and run, off to bed now, but I'll check here tomorrow :)

[island rehabber]

So, I've got a little girl, almost 3 weeks old. I just started using a nipple on the syringe during feedings a couple days ago, before we were just doing the drop by drop in the mouth. Well, she has started *inhaling* the nipple when eating. Like, this long nipple looks like it has to be halfway down her throat! Do most squirrels do that while eating? Is she just becoming that much of a hog?! I just pull it out a little and try to keep it from going so far in her mouth, just keep her sucking on it from about halfway down and not the entire thing. I just ordered some new syringes and nipples from Henry's last night, and I think those might not be as long. So maybe that will help.
Just wondering if that is common. Sorry to post and run, off to bed now, but I'll check here tomorrow :)

Very common with strong, healthy eaters -- so congratulations on having one of those! :D Just be sure the nipple is well stuck on the syringe and that you are not pushing the plunger too hard. A good rule of thumb is "push gently....wait....wait....push gently....wait...etc". This gives the baby time to swallow what she is Hoovering up. :D

[stosh2010]

My two boys also "swallowed the Nipple" Remember that the baby should be fed with the syringe at a 45 degree ab[ngle with plunger low and nipple high, to avoid any aspiration. If they bubble thru the nose,, you are feeding too fast. Immediately invert the little one ...head to the floor position... and gently pat them on the back to clear the air way. Aspiration CAN cause pneumonia... YIKES.

[Sweet Simon's Mommy]

Mine took the whole thing, went right into the tummy, nice and slow.

[bleu7102]

Okay, good to know she's not the only one! I figured she wasn't, but didn't know if it was something good, bad, or just whatever.
Oh yeah, we're doing the whole very slow feeding, and holding it at an upward angle :)
I'm slightly afraid when she swallows the nipple sometimes, it almost looks like she's choking a bit, maybe? Like her sucking gets really slow. But I don't know if it's that she's choking or just leisurely sucking like she should, nice and slow. When she does that I just pull the nipple out and let her rest a moment. But I worry that maybe she's actually suckling like she should and I'm interrupting a good thing when I take the nipple out.
Anyhoo, yeah, I'm probably obsessing about this a bit too much..... :skwredup

[Sweet Simon's Mommy]

do they look like these??

[stosh2010]

Remember a squirrels skull has some distance between the incisors and the back of the mouth....

[bleu7102]

The nipples are just like this,
http://www.squirrelsandmore.com/rehab-supplies/squirrel-rehab-supplies/elongated-nipples-by-petag.html
And I'm using a 1cc syringe.