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kschaffer1
09-12-2012, 04:04 PM
My baby squirrel is housed with his brother and a three story rodent cage. They have a blanket on each floor, water on two levels and food on the bottom floor. I clean out the blankets daily. Normally they are very energetic and excited. They are in my garage because it is shaded and not hot but warm. They have been there for about 2 weeks and have been happy. I take them out a few times a day to play. Today when I got home, my mom had moved them to the direct sunlight and Tommy was sprawled out with his belly up and his breathing was VERY rapid. I moved them immediately and I wrapped Tommy in a cool wet wash cloth and brough him inside with me. He is very lethargic and not interested in food. I am very worried. HELP!

:dono
SammysMom
09-12-2012, 04:06 PM
Cool him down with the cool washcloth and make sure he is hydrated. It is scary and can e dangerous. How old s he and how long was he out in the sun?
kschaffer1
09-12-2012, 04:07 PM
He is about 6 and a half weeks.I have no way of knowing how long he has been in the sun, I am going to guess and hour.
daniellenc
09-12-2012, 04:10 PM
Give him some sugar water he sounds like he overheated:( Maybe a teaspoon dissolved in a cup of water, give a few cc's between feedings for today and tomorrow, and keep him out of the sun:(
Chickenlegs
09-12-2012, 04:12 PM
How hot was the day? Heat stroke can be deadly. I hope getting some fluids into him and being in a cool place will help.
kschaffer1
09-12-2012, 04:13 PM
THANK YOU! He's already doing a little better. I was so scared. I love my squirrels :(
kschaffer1
09-12-2012, 04:14 PM
It's 9-something degrees in the direct sunlight. I gave him some water and I am preparing the sugar water. He's eating a little better but not much yet.
SammysMom
09-12-2012, 04:28 PM
I confess that I did the same thing to Sammy accidentally last summer. I cooled him and rehydrated him and he recovered. It was almost a fatal error on my part. He was drooling and very lethargic, but he recovered. Take your time and get him cool and hydrated. :grouphug :grouphug :grouphug
island rehabber
09-12-2012, 04:29 PM
Check out this sticky now -- it has lifesaving info on heatstroke in squirrels!

http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17785