Air bubbles/foam

[Shedal525]

I have had these babys for app. 3 weeks and all has been going well until last night at the 10:00 feeding. There was a girl and a boy. the girl seemed to be doing better than the boy and was bigger, but last night she had an unexpected turn. She was barely breathing and color was off. Listened to her and I could here crackles when she was breathing. Within 1hr she had passed. The boy just opened his eyes and seems to be acting well but has decreased his feeding today, also when I get him to feed there is foamy/Air bubbles around his mouth. Need help and advice don't want to lose him to.:thankyou

[SammysMom]

Can you tell us what and how much you feed and how often?

[SammysMom]

Do you have him on heat?

[stepnstone]

Sounds like both aspirated on their formula, the boy will need anti-biotic.
What are you feeding, what are you using to feed with?

[Shedal525]

He was eating about 4 cc's every 2-3 hours, but now that's cut in half.
His box that he is in is half on/half off of a heating pad set on low.
He is being fed with a 5 cc O-ring syringe.
Everything we have been doing so far was information we received from
squirreltales.org.
From what I read, is Baytril the antibiotic I need to use?
He weighs about 55 grams. Just FYI, stools have been softer than normal.

[Shedal525]

Feedings are with Esbilac puppy formula with heavy cream. Formula off of squirreltails.org.

[island rehabber]

A 5cc syringe or larger will aspirate a baby squirrel almost as well as a kitten nurser bottle -- both are deadly. We advise that a 1cc syringe be used until babies are about 6-7 weeks old, and then you may graduate to a 3cc.

It sounds as if both babies were aspirated, but if you have Baytril and can get a 1cc syringe you may be able to save the little boy. Do you need a dosage for him? We can help with that.

ALSO: I don't know what formula you are feeding but "every 2-3 hours" may be WAY too often, resulting in the soft stools. I only feed pinkies (less than 2 wks old) anything as often as 3- 3.5 hours, never more frequently. Overfeeding will cause diarrhea -- the baby doesn't have time enough between feedings to digest the formula.
Right now he may need some hydration: make a mixture of
1 qt warm water
3 TABLEspoons sugar
1 TEAspoon salt

and offer it to him between feedings to keep him hydrated. Most importantly, however -- do you have Baytril?

[stepnstone]

There's your problem, syringe is too big. Should be 1cc, formula also needs to be changed.

[island rehabber]

OK, just saw your post on the Esbilac & cream. The Squirrel Board no longer recommends Esbilac for baby squirrels. In 2008-9, Esbilac changed its manufacturing process and baby squirrels and bunnies began to die by the thousands. The squirreltales.org website may not have been updated since then.

I would order Fox Valley 32/40 for Squirrels from this site: www.henryspets.com. They have fast shipping and are great to deal with. In the meantime you can stick with the Esbilac OR switch to a goats milk formula to be on the safer side until the Fox Valley is delivered:


One of our senior members who posts as Jackie in Tampa uses 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

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.

We're here -- we can help! :thumbsup

[Shedal525]

I have been feeding water in the morning and at once at night. I have some Pedialyte from when we frist got them to hydrate them, would that be better than the mix you gave me.

[island rehabber]

I have been feeding water in the morning and at once at night. I have some Pedialyte from when we frist got them to hydrate them, would that be better than the mix you gave me.

If you have the Pedialyte then sure, use it. Make sure you warm it up just as you would the formula. :thumbsup

[Shedal525]

I have some Baytril liquid.

[Nancy in New York]

Is the pedialyte already opened? I believe it only lasts in the regrig. 48 hours.

[Nancy in New York]

Why are you feeding pedialyte in the morning and the evening?
Can you email me some pictures?
****

[island rehabber]

Shedal525, if the Baytril liquid is marked 22.5 then here's the dose for a 55g baby squirrel:

0.03ml, twice a day (every 12 hrs)

0.03 is VERY VERY small....do you have a 1cc syringe to use, or even better a half-cc (0.5) diabetic syringe?

[Nancy in New York]

What you really need is a 1 cc syringe, give me the strength on the Baytril, see if there is a date on it.
The 1 cc syringe is an absolute MUST.
You can go to the drugstore and ask the pharmacist, and then order them on line. I will give you the links later and you also need nipples for the syringes.
You need to also make the goats milk formula and get them off of the esbilac.

[Nancy in New York]

Shedal525, if the Baytril liquid is marked 22.5 then here's the dose for a 55g baby squirrel:

0.03ml, twice a day (every 12 hrs)

0.03 is VERY VERY small....do you have a 1cc syringe to use, or even better a half-cc (0.5) diabetic syringe?


:thumbsup Go to this link, and double check to make sure you know where 0.03 is on the syringe.
Tell us the strength of the Baytril you have and the date.

[Shedal525]

Was not feeding Pedialyte twice a day it was water. The Baytril is 22.7 and it was picked up today at the vet's office. I have several 1cc syringes. Will get some fresh Pedialyte.

[Nancy in New York]

Was not feeding Pedialyte twice a day it was water. The Baytril is 22.7 and it was picked up today at the vet's office. I have several 1cc syringes. Will get some fresh Pedialyte.

Actually if they are not vomitting or have diarrhea, they are better off just having sugar water, with NO salt.

1 tsp salt (teaspoon)
3 Tbsp sugar (tablespoon)
1 quart warm water

Keep refrigerated.

BUT my question is, why are you hydrating them, do they seem dehydrated to you?

[island rehabber]

YAY -- you have a 1cc -- great! .03 would be the third tiniest, tiniest line up from the very tip of the syringe. You may pull up a little formula afterward and shake the syringe to mix it, so the baby doesn't get that awful taste straight on.

(Apologies -- I meant to say 22.7 before -- that's what happens when it's late and you're old and you rely on memory :shakehead)

[Nancy in New York]

YAY -- you have a 1cc -- great! .03 would be the third tiniest, tiniest line up from the very tip of the syringe. You may pull up a little formula afterward and shake the syringe to mix it, so the baby doesn't get that awful taste straight on.

(Apologies -- I meant to say 22.7 before -- that's what happens when it's late and you're old and you rely on memory :shakehead)


:rotfl I didn't even notice that Maura......but then again, it's late, I'm old and I relied you your memory....:poke

[Shedal525]

Thanks will keep you updated.:peace

[island rehabber]

Shedal525, how's the baby doing?