Squirrel in China

[ekperkin]

Hi, a neighborhood kid found a baby squirrel and I decided to take it home with me to try to keep it alive. I live in China and at my location they don't have any centers to care for it. I am trying to care for it and I have having trouble getting it to eat. I can't buy goat's milk here and Esbilac is very expensive (has to be shipped). I have given it some sugar/salt water (very diluted). It is crawling around and has energy. I found it several hours ago. What should I do? I see that I shouldn't feed it soybean milk or cow's milk. Also, I think it is between 3.5 weeks and 5 weeks old.

[stosh2010]

If he is less that 5 weeks old the eyes will be closed. Need to get him warm and quiet. You can only use pedialyte( water,sugar,salt) for 24 hours because of the salt in the solution. Use a heating pad under half his box. If no pad make a Rice_Buddy from an old sock,filled with rice, tie off end, heat in microwave. CAUTION !!! Remove sock --squeeze to stir rice around... and place against your cheek...if too warm/hot wait a minute--squeeze again--hold to cheek. When warm,place in squirrels box, wrapped in fleece or t-shirt...NO TOWELS OR TERRY CLOTH. Their claws will catch on towels and they can hurt temselves It will stay warm for about 15-20 minutes. then REPEAT.

[farrelli]

Wow, what a bad situation. I know that we have one baby on here who's been on soy milk for awhile and is holding on. Do you have access to yogurt? Or anything like Ensure? I'm just trying to think of something. Most Asian cultures don't have a genetic history of dairy farming, so they tend to be lactose intolerant, as such, I would think that it'll be hard for you to find something good.

[stosh2010]

Emergency Care for Baby SquirrelsDon’ts
Don’t try to feed the squirrel.
Don’t handle him more than you have to.
No loud voices, TV, music, or bright lights.
No children or pets in the same room!

1. Warm the Baby (never feed a cold squirrel!)
Quick Methods:
-Cup the baby in your hands or under your shirt next to your skin.
-Fill a plastic bottle with very warm water. Wrap in a cloth, place next to baby, and cover him. Reheat every 2 hours.
-“Rice Buddy”: Fill a sock with 1 cup of rice or dried beans and microwave for 30 seconds. Place next to baby and cover him. Reheat every 2 hours.

2. [b] Find a Box or Container[b]
A shoebox will do for small babies. A baby that can walk will need a larger box with a lid (with holes). Put a clean baby blanket, flannel shirt, or piece of fleece in the bottom of the box. No towels or terrycloth. Squirrels can get tangled in the loops. Place baby on the material and cover him with one flap. If you have a heating pad, turn it on low and place it under half of the box (not IN the box!) so baby can move away if he gets too warm. You can use the plastic bottle or rice buddy described above, but these are only temporary methods until you get a heating pad, since they must be reheated every 2 hours and won't keep baby warm all night.
NOTE: Monitor his temperature so he doesn’t chill or overheat. His feet should feel warm to the touch.

Note: If the baby is injured, is having trouble breathing, has fly eggs on his fur, or is very skinny or dehydrated, he needs emergency care by an experienced rehabber or vet.

3. Rehydrate the Baby

Most babies are dehydrated when you find them and must be rehydrated before you can feed them. Never feed formula or food of any kind to a dehydrated baby!

How to Check for Dehydration
Pinch the skin on the back of his neck. If it doesn’t spring back immediately, the baby is dehydrated. If the pinched skin stays up like a tent for more than a second, the baby is badly dehydrated. Other signs of dehydration: pale grayish gums, dry mouth, sunken eyes, whites around eyes showing, rough spiky fur, dry scaly skin.
NOTE: If baby is badly dehydrated, he will need subcutaneous fluids, which can only be given by a rehabber or vet.

[b] Supplies You Will Need: [b]
--Pedialyte (any flavor) OR the recipe below (the homemade version is actually preferred)*
--Plastic syringes (1 cc size; no needles. Ask the pharmacist to get these for you) An eyedropper can also work.
These are available at most drugstores.

*Here is a recipe for the homemade version of Pedialyte hydration fluid:

1 tsp salt (teaspoon)
3 Tbsp sugar (tablespoon)
1 quart warm water
Mix all ingredients in warm water. Store in refrigerator.

How to Prepare the Pedialyte
Use a plastic syringe (with or without a nipple). Never use pet nursers or doll bottles. They will choke the baby. Fill a coffee mug with hot water. Fill the syringe with Pedialyte and place it in the mug for a couple of minutes. Squirt a drop on the inside of your wrist to make sure the liquid isn’t too hot. It should feel barely warm on your skin.

Proper Position
A tiny baby can be held in your hand. A baby with fur can lie on a flat surface on his stomach. A baby that can walk can be held upright or he can drink sitting up. Hold the syringe so the tip points UP to the baby’s mouth and the handle is down. Don’t let the baby get cold. Keep him wrapped up while he eats.

How to Feed Fluids
Place the syringe tip on the baby’s lips (from the side) and squeeze out one drop for him to taste. Don’t squirt a steady stream. Let him swallow one drop before squeezing more. GO SLOW! It sometimes takes a feeding or two for them to catch on. Hairless babies are fed drop by drop. With older babies (once they catch on) you can squeeze slowly for one second, wait for him to swallow, then squeeze more.

If fluids dribble out his mouth or come out his nose, you are going too fast. Stop and tilt the baby’s head down so the fluid drains out (support his head and neck like you would a human baby). Then wipe his nose and mouth with a tissue. Start over, slower. NOTE: There is now a chance your baby will develop aspiration pneumonia from inhaling fluid in his lungs. This is fatal. Please contact a rehabber or vet, or the people at The Squirrel Board, for assistance.

[stosh2010]

we can give better advice if we can SEE A PHOTO.here on TSB....do you have some ??
I will post them for you here-- until you figure out our system... e'mail to
stosh@jpcfl.com
Please type your THREAD name in the e-mail message line...thanks

[island rehabber]

:Welcome ekperkin. Wow, this is a tough one for sure. Some suggestions:

*rice milk -- if it comes fortified with calcium and B12 it could work for the baby squirrel. You'd need to add a source of protein, but it would work in an emergency. Can you get that, easily?

*Ensure or some other type of adult liquid food supplement. What do you have there that would be similar?

*Puppy formula OTHER THAN Esbilac. Maybe there is a domestic (Chinese) brand for lactating puppies that is far more affordable?

I'll keep thinking...

[stosh2010]

Meet our TINY Chinese Fuzz-Head !!

[SammysMom]

What a pretty color! Is there Royal Canin puppy milk available in China? That is not a bad alternative if it is.:Welcome :grouphug for helping this baby!

[Anne]

:Welcome What a pretty baby squirrel! It will be interesting to watch it's growth and changes. Hope you find a suitable formula for this baby soon.:wave123

[stosh2010]

NOW ....we need his name...maby something 'LOCAL" ???
Phonetically I like Mínǐ zhàndòujī
In Chinese it's Tiny Fighter...

[stosh2010]

Have you been able to locate any formula or milk replacement ?
I hope all is well !!!