2 severely dehydrated squirrels just found

[rosewitch]

we are in minneapolis. they are just barely holding on. we are trying to find a rehabber. any suggestions? anything else we can do. we got a bit of water plus salt and sugar in but they arestill pretty limp.

[rosewitch]

I am worried that they might be too dehydrated for fluids. We started out with three but one of them died almost right away. They've each taken about 1 1/2 to 2 cc's of homemade pedialyte. I have called the squirrel rehabbers in the vicinity i found on the internet, no word back yet. I would take them to the wildlife rehabilitation center, but im afraid they would euthanize. The center doesnt take very small ones.

[Rhapsody]

The best thing to do is to warm the babies, check for any injuries and then hydrate them right away (use a 1cc syringe and go slow)........ give some homemade pedialyte every hour for six to eight hours and then you can start start feeding them some formula made from goats milk (if they are thoroughly hydrated).

+ Emergency Care for Baby Squirrels +

1. Warm the Baby (never feed a cold squirrel)
2. Place in tissue or shoe box w/ pieces of fleece
3. Rehydrate the Baby (feed pedialyte first 24 hours)

Homemade Pedialyte
1 cup warm water
1/4 tsp salt (teaspoon)
1 Tbsp sugar (tablespoon)

4. Feed slowly with a 1cc syringe - head UP tail DOWN
5. Keep warm at all time - fill bottle with hot water (cover bottle with sock)

____________


Homemade Goats Milk Recipe -

1 cup Goats Milk * (if can - dilute)
1/3 cup Full Fat Vanilla Yogurt
1/3 cup Heavy Cream (frig section)

(lasts 72 hours in frig)

[rosewitch]

Im offering them the pedialyte mixture every 5 minutes or so right no in shifts; if not being fed, they are being held right now.

[Rhapsody]

P.S.

If you have a heating pad the baby squirrels need to be placed on it for warmth...... turn it on low and place a fleece or soft blanket over the heating pad, then place the babies in the blanket so they can be kept warm.

If you do not have a heating pad you place rice in a sock (tie it off) and heat it in a microwave for 30 sec to warm it up them place in with the baby squirrels.

Or you can fill a few empty water bottles with hot water and then slide them into a single sock (each) and then place them in with the baby squirrels for warmth.

IMPORTANT: babies must be kept WARM and NEVER feed a cold baby.

[pappy1264]

Do you have them on heat? They need to be warm to be fed, not just heat from hands. Heating pad on low, some fleece or tshirts for them to snuggle in, plastic container.

edit: typing at the same time...lol

Also don't forget to try to stimulate them to go potty. All that fluid has to come out, too.

[Rhapsody]

Im offering them the pedialyte mixture every 5 minutes how much are they drinking every 5 minutes?

[rosewitch]

Theyre on a heating pad now.

[rosewitch]

Theyre drinking about one half to one quarter of a cc-- mostly swallowing, not sucking.

[Rhapsody]

Theyre drinking about one half to one quarter of a cc-- mostly swallowing, not sucking.Now I see why you are having to feed them the pedialyte every 5 minutes...... keep it up and go slow, we dont want to shock their little bodies.

[rosewitch]

Will do.

[rosewitch]

I think i'm losing a second one. his breath is becoming more irregular, and he's not moving at all.

[Rhapsody]

I think i'm losing a second one. his breath is becoming more irregular, and he's not moving at all.Hang in there and know that you are doing your best...... some times we just dont find them in time. :grouphug

[Rhapsody]

When you do the pinch test on the back of their shoulder how long does it take for the skin to drop?
And..... are their little tummies bloated at all?

[Nancy in New York]

Make sure the heating pad is set on LOW.
Any drop of water, do so in an upright position.

[rosewitch]

Their skin pretty much remains tented until you smooth it down. They dont look bloated to me-- in fact, they are extremely skinny. They dont seem to be retaining heat well, although theyre sort of wet still because they were found on a wet patch. Theyve each gotten about 3 cc's of the pedialyte and now im giving them a break on the warmth.

[Rhapsody]

I would dry them off and then keep them on the heating pad --just make sure the heating pad is on low and that there is a blanket between the baby squirrels and the heating pad...... they need to be kept warm (they do not need a break from the warmth).

[Rhapsody]

Theyve each gotten about 3 cc's of the pedialyte I would try to get them to take a little more of the homemade pedialyte in the next hour...... 3cc with in an hours time is hot enough to get a severely dehydrated squirrels out of the woods. :Love_Icon

[rosewitch]

I was giving them a break from trying to feed them, by putting them on the warmth. Sorry for being unclear. :)

Theyre both still breathing. I think that if I try to keep them any longer theyre going to die on me. I'm going to take them the wildlife shelter where I volunteer, and hopefully the shelter has a line on a rehabber for them. I'm not getting any call-backs. I'm crossing my fingers that they dont just euthanize the little guys-- all of our rehabbers are pretty much inundated with baby squirrels right now.

[Rhapsody]

That would be great if a center could take them...... they sound like they need fluids sub-q if they are going to make it, but in the mean time dont stop giving them the homemade pedialyte --its their only chance atm. :grouphug


:Love_Icon :Love_Icon :thankyou :Love_Icon :Love_Icon

[Nancy in New York]

Just a thought, if the center can sub q them, would they give them back to you. I am afraid since they are so busy with babies, nobody is really going to take the time to help them as much as you would...:dono

[Jackie in Tampa]

let me look
ty for the heads up rhap

[Jackie in Tampa]

someone please PM ratman to this thread, he is close close, not sure what he can do, but he is right there near her
brb
looking for more


where is jo schmoe?

[Jackie in Tampa]

sabelson works with a reahbber, she is also close...
can someone Pm her as well...
i type slow and my PC is slow...
ty

[CritterMom]

someone please PM ratman to this thread, he is close close, not sure what he can do, but he is right there near her
brb
looking for more


where is jo schmoe?

She is in North Dakota...

[Jackie in Tampa]

Pashen is close and I think she will be best bet so far...
call tjhis number NOW before they close..
it's Goldenvalley human society...ask for Robin directly talk to her ..mention TSB...maybe need to be discret...just ask for Robin...
hurry before they close//
good luck..she is only miles away...763.522.4325
please let me know if the info is correct, I have sloppy writing all over the place..

[Jackie in Tampa]

She is in North Dakota...O:shakehead duh, I knew that..:shakehead :dono

[Jackie in Tampa]

I also have wrc in roseville written down..
651-486-9453
that's all I have wiythout serious digging...
let me ck one other place...
nope that is all I have...




oral hydration saves lives...keep trying..everydrop counts..warm and slow is key...ty

[Rhapsody]

I sent PM's to both Ratman & Sabelson ............ :thumbsup

[Jackie in Tampa]

I sent PM's to both Ratman & Sabelson ............ :thumbsupTY carolyn..
I have to step away..
I hope one of these peeps can help...:grouphug

[sabelson]

Hi, I'm a rehabber in Minneapolis and might be able to help. I also volunteer at the Wildlife Rehab Center in Roseville. They don't euthensize babies unless they are on the brink of death or have terrible wounds that cannot be fixed. Otherwise they warm them and give them fluids ASAP and see how they respond. If you need my help, I've sent you a private message with my phone number. Hope they are doing ok. Sounds like you are doing a great job of warming them and getting them some fluids.

[Jackie in Tampa]

Hi, I'm a rehabber in Minneapolis and might be able to help. I also volunteer at the Wildlife Rehab Center in Roseville. They don't euthensize babies unless they are on the brink of death or have terrible wounds that cannot be fixed. Otherwise they warm them and give them fluids ASAP and see how they respond. If you need my help, I've sent you a private message with my phone number. Hope they are doing ok. Sounds like you are doing a great job of warming them and getting them some fluids.http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/11/11_7_104v.gif thank you!!!!!!!!

[Ratman]

Where are you located? I am in Eagan,MN

[Jackie in Tampa]

has anyone heard back from rosewitch?
thank you ratman and sabelson..
i hope she calls either of you..:bowdown :bowdown
ty rhapsody too

[sabelson]

I am in St.Louis Park. I have not heard from her. I am guessing she might have taken them to the Humane Society. They use independent rehabbers once they are stabilized.

[Ratman]

They'll be in good hands if she did.

My wife grew up in St Louis Park right by the police station on Minnetonka/West Lake Street area.

Glad your close :) I'm an amateur rehabber so it's nice to know we have a Pro close by.



I am in St.Louis Park. I have not heard from her. I am guessing she might have taken them to the Humane Society. They use independent rehabbers once they are stabilized.

[sabelson]

Ratman, I also am new at this - not a pro. This is my second summer. Just recently received my official DNR permit.

Funny your wife grew up in SLP. So did I - about a mile from the police station.

Sharon

[Ratman]

I have the manuals here and have studied them but haven't taken the test, But I have successfully rehabbed several squirrels back to the wild, in fact my Lucky Lou who I released back in April 2008 visited me this morning as I was leaving to work.

I'm Jeff and my wife (Joanne) graduated from SLP High (Go Orioles!) in 1982


Ratman, I also am new at this - not a pro. This is my second summer. Just recently received my official DNR permit.

Funny your wife grew up in SLP. So did I - about a mile from the police station.

Sharon

[rosewitch]

The second one died before we got out the door. :( the last squirrel i took to the WRC-- Sabelson, are you an orphan outreach volunteer? I didnt decide on an age for these ones, but they were pretty small, about 70 grams. What age do they give these to at-home rehabbers?

He was still alive and squirming when we left him there. They should sub-q him, and depending on his age, either try to give him to a rehabber, or keep him.

Thanks for all of your replies. I'm sorry I was already gone-- I didnt think it would be safe to wait any longer, I'd already watched 2 of them go.

[Ratman]

You did all the right things :) Again they felt the love of a human being that really cares :) That says it all :)


The second one died before we got out the door. :( the last squirrel i took to the WRC-- Sabelson, are you an orphan outreach volunteer? I didnt decide on an age for these ones, but they were pretty small, about 70 grams. What age do they give these to at-home rehabbers?

He was still alive and squirming when we left him there. They should sub-q him, and depending on his age, either try to give him to a rehabber, or keep him.

Thanks for all of your replies. I'm sorry I was already gone-- I didnt think it would be safe to wait any longer, I'd already watched 2 of them go.

[rosewitch]

Thank you for your kind words, ratman. In the future I will keep you in mind! I am also trying for a permit--I am hopeful to pass the test and all by next squirrel season. We should network-- I seem to be finding squirrels everywhere, and a fast response can really make the difference!

[sabelson]

Yes, I do outreach for WRC and they called to see if I'd come in and take 2 squirrels after you dropped them off. They must have had another lone squirrel to go with yours.

By the way Ratman and Rosewitch, the DNR process is not speedy just so you know. I took the test beginning of March thinking I'd be licensed by spring but they are very slow to get around to sending your test results (many months) and scheduling an inspection (many more months). It was 5 months from taking the test to permit and that was with a lot of e-mails and phone calls (which were never returned) asking what the hang-up was. The Wildlife Rehab Center finally had to step in and ask that the permit be expedited so I could do orphan outreach for them. Good luck with it all. Nice to know others in the area so we can network.

Ratman, I graduated Park in 1978. My youngest just graduated from there in June. Do you know about the All School Reunion this Saturday?

Sharon

[Ratman]

My wife will be meeting 2 of her friends there this Saturday. They are looking forward to seeing old SLP people :) So if by chance you run into a Joanne Wolfe Babey, that would be my wife :)



Yes, I do outreach for WRC and they called to see if I'd come in and take 2 squirrels after you dropped them off. They must have had another lone squirrel to go with yours.

By the way Ratman and Rosewitch, the DNR process is not speedy just so you know. I took the test beginning of March thinking I'd be licensed by spring but they are very slow to get around to sending your test results (many months) and scheduling an inspection (many more months). It was 5 months from taking the test to permit and that was with a lot of e-mails and phone calls (which were never returned) asking what the hang-up was. The Wildlife Rehab Center finally had to step in and ask that the permit be expedited so I could do orphan outreach for them. Good luck with it all. Nice to know others in the area so we can network.

Ratman, I graduated Park in 1978. My youngest just graduated from there in June. Do you know about the All School Reunion this Saturday?

Sharon

[Ratman]

You can contact me at (Jeffrey Babey-Ratman) jbabey@comcast.net



Thank you for your kind words, ratman. In the future I will keep you in mind! I am also trying for a permit--I am hopeful to pass the test and all by next squirrel season. We should network-- I seem to be finding squirrels everywhere, and a fast response can really make the difference!

[rosewitch]

P.S. Nancy, your syringes came in handy! I think I forgot to thank you for that care package.

I'm hanging on to your e-mail ratman, just in case. :thankyou

[pappy1264]

So sorry to read another passed. Sabelson, so do you have them now?

[Jackie in Tampa]

small world...:thumbsup
Thank you all, the baby is getting help:)

[rosewitch]

Just an update, for anyone who was wondering-- I got an e-mail saying from the WRC today saying that the little guy's still alive and well, despite an upper respiratory infection that's going around the center. They got him some littermates and he's in residence. I shall see him next Tuesday when i go in to volunteer. :D

[island rehabber]

Just an update, for anyone who was wondering-- I got an e-mail saying from the WRC today saying that the little guy's still alive and well, despite an upper respiratory infection that's going around the center. They got him some littermates and he's in residence. I shall see him next Tuesday when i go in to volunteer. :D

:thumbsup great news!!!