Help! Newborn baby squirrel problem, possibly fatal

[Jfasano]

My brother recently in a car engine found two baby squirrels in a leaf nest. The car was recently sold to a friend of his so the mother was towns away already, not knowing what to do he gave them to me.

I have had one squirrel in the past but he was much older and we rehabbed him
Correctly and currently lives in my yard.

Extensive further research lead me to believe these babies to be 10 days old today, when I got them they were 4 days old.

Upon getting them my husband and I noticed a slight size difference, assuming possibly one was the runt or maybe born later then it's sibling. Anyway, they were both growing and forming new features excellently, even starting to grow hair. This morning we realized that the smaller one (Chestnut) hadn't pooped since 5AM yesterday morning. We also noticed he is dehydrated and has been all day. We have been giving him (or her) unflavored pedialite every two hours and he has only been allowing us to administer 1cc. He barely opens his mouth to feed but he yawns and opens wide. He is not complaining but is looking very lethargic. We decided to soak him in warm water and rub his sides/stomach/genital area to help stimulate him. He pooped two small poops but unlike his sibling they were brown/yellow and one piece (not bright yellow and pellety). Chestnut has been peeing a lot and it has been clear. Other than that he has not pooped in the last two days. He is getting very skinny and I am very concerned. Could his dehydrated appearance be due to his rapid weight loss? His temperature has been keeping constant and we are constantly checking them. Chestnuts sibling (the bigger of the two.. Lieutenant Bushytail) has been growing, eating, pooping and peeing regularly. He has doubled his size in the last 6 days and is very energetic, strong, and graying. Chestnut was growing up until two days ago, now he is becoming skinny and consistently dehydrated. His bones are beginning to show and his skin cery loose. Why would this happen & What do I do??! I will be devastated to lose my new buddy :(

Also, around 1 this afternoon I went to feed them and Chestnut had dry blood all over his face which came from his nose. At around 8 he had a runny nose but no blood. Everything I have read on this web page and the Internet has been different or combined symptoms than what chestnut has. Help please!!

[MollyBear361]

Any idea what type of squirrels these are? What have you fed them? Are they on a heating pad, half on half off under the container??

[island rehabber]

jfasano, I'm sorry poor Chestnut isn't doing well. Pinkies (squirrels 0-14 days old) are tricky to raise, for sure. If these babies never fell from a tree or anything, I'm baffled as to what would cause Chestnut's face to be covered in blood. With head trauma we sometimes see this, even a week later, but these guys were taken right from their nest, right?
Do you hear any wheezing or clicking from his intake or exhaling of breath?
Can you stop the Pedialyte and just give him sugar water alternating with his formula for the next 12 hours? Pedialyte alone will dehydrate him further -- too much sodium. Water with a bit of sugar, then 2 hrs later formula, then 2 hrs later, sugar water again.

[Jfasano]

We are from New York so I believe they are Eastern grey squirrels. We have them in a terrarium with old tee shirts for nesting and a towel on the bottom for cushion/warmth. We have a red light (we have lots of lizard equipment so we had an extra heat light) over the side they do not go on just to have consistent warmth. Also we have a space heater a far distance from the tank (enough to keep them warm but not heating up)

[Nancy in New York]

Where in New York are you located?

[Jfasano]

They were taken from the nest but when my brother was clearing the leaves from the engine and he said they fell. They had very few scratches on their backs but they have since scabbed and they seem to not be worried about it. I will try the sugar water over the pedialite, we tried just now to feed him 1cc if formula and he only had half :(

The only noises he is making is as if he is trying to blow his nose, not quite a sneeze but nothing comes out either.

Could the blood maybe be from a squirrely heat stroke? I was reading they can get that but I do not think he has been too hot, around 95-100 the whole day and night..


We are from Orange County NY, Hudson Valley region.

[island rehabber]

They were taken from the nest but when my brother was clearing the leaves from the engine and he said they fell. They had very few scratches on their backs but they have since scabbed and they seem to not be worried about it. I will try the sugar water over the pedialite, we tried just now to feed him 1cc if formula and he only had half :(

The only noises he is making is as if he is trying to blow his nose, not quite a sneeze but nothing comes out either.

Could the blood maybe be from a squirrely heat stroke? I was reading they can get that but I do not think he has been too hot, around 95-100 the whole day and night..


We are from Orange County NY, Hudson Valley region.

We have a member who is a rehabber up there, kcassidy. I will point her over to this thread and maybe she can help.

[Jfasano]

Thank you! What ratio sugar-water should I use? Any suggestions for me regarding his lack of bowel movement?

[Nancy in New York]

3 Tbsp sugar (tablespoon)
1 quart warm water

Keep refrigerated.

You can make a sock buddy.
Take a sock and add one cup of uncooked rice into it and tie at the top.
Microwave for 1 minute.
Take it out and squish it around so there are no hot spots.
Place a piece of fleece around it and place right next to the baby.
This must be reheated every hour or two.

[island rehabber]

2 cups warm water with 1.5 TABLEspoons sugar. You can save it in the fridge. A little drop of apple juice sometimes makes it even more attractive to them and they'll drink more.

EDIT: Just saw Nancy's post above -- my recipe is the same as hers, it's just half the amount.

[Nancy in New York]

2 cups warm water with 1.5 TABLEspoons sugar. You can save it in the fridge. A little drop of apple juice sometimes makes it even more attractive to them and they'll drink more.

EDIT: Just saw Nancy's post above -- my recipe is the same as hers, it's just half the amount.


Sorry Maura, I wasn't sure if you saw the question. :D

[Jfasano]

Thank you so much I will try your suggestions. I will make sure to post an update tomorrow.

Is there any other way I should provide a heat source to them? Or am I doing this right? Only the best for my new babies.

[Nancy in New York]

Thank you so much I will try your suggestions. I will make sure to post an update tomorrow.

Is there any other way I should provide a heat source to them? Or am I doing this right? Only the best for my new babies.

The absolute best way is a heating pad with NO auto shut off. You place it half under the container they are in and keep it set at low. IF they overheat, they can crawl off to where it is cooler.

[MollyBear361]

I'm not an expert but have they eaten anything other than pedialyte for days? They can't survive on pedialyte alone for days and days. Have yo fed them tthe goats milk recipe??

[Jfasano]

Okay I will rearrange their home to be more suitable. Thank you for the tip.

Lieutenant bushytail has been eating formula the whole way through (except in the very beginning they were both dehydrated) and Chesnut gas been on pedialite just consistently for today.

I am giving them esbilac puppy formula. Where can I get goats milk?

[stepnstone]

The absolute best way is a heating pad with NO auto shut off. You place it half under the container they are in and keep it set at low. IF they overheat, they can crawl off to where it is cooler.
:thankyou I was just about to go there... :D


Any suggestions for me regarding his lack of bowel movement?
A dehydrated baby can't properly process it's formula,
that could explain the drop in weight as well as lack of poops.

What formula are you using and with what are you feeding them?

Edit: Nevermind the what, very advisable to switch to the GM.

[MollyBear361]

Ebsilac will cause diarrhea. I will try to post a thread but it's found in a sticky here somewhere. Recommended for new babies until you get fox valley.

[stepnstone]

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.

Heavy Whipping Cream
This is found in small cartons in the grocery store near the coffee creamers and half and half. Regular heavy cream may be substituted if it is unavailable, but the heavy whipping cream has the highest fat content, and is preferred.

Yogurt
Yogurt has beneficial bacteria in it that soothes and settles digestion. Full fat yogurt is best, and a good choice that is very widely available is Stoneyfield Yobaby yogurt. However if it is unavailable, a low fat vanilla yogurt may be substituted. Avoid those that have artificial sweeteners in them. Vanilla and banana are both popular flavors, and the sweet taste of the yogurt helps to convince the baby to accept it.

It has been recently discovered that very small pinky squirrels may do better digestively if, instead of being given Fox Valley formula straight, mix the Fox Valley 50/50 with the Goat’s Milk Formula assembled WITHOUT the heavy whipping cream.

*It is recommended that when just starting to feed a new baby that the first feedings be made without the heavy whipping cream. This will give their digestive systems a chance to acclimate from mama’s milk to our substitute without the harder-to-digest whipping cream. Once they accept the formula and are eliminating properly, the whipping cream can be gradually added in.

When your Fox Valley formula arrives, please transition your babies to the new formula slowly, by blending the Goat’s Milk Formula with the blended and liquefied Fox Valley formula, increasing the ratio of Fox Valley with each feeding until you are no longer using the

[farrelli]

To answer your question, goats milk can be found at many grocery stores, often even Walmart. Fresh is best, but if you absolutely can't find it for some reason, you can often get it canned right by the condensed milk. If it's canned, read the instructions because you sometimes have to dilute it.

[Jfasano]

Lieutenant Bushytail has been taking well to the puppy formula. Where can I get fox valley? The Petsmart near me only had the esbilac puppy or kitten formula. The Walmart had only Hartz formulas

[MollyBear361]

Trying to cut and paste not working. Go in th is Thread and search goats milk recipe and new baby care.

[farrelli]

http://www.foxvalleynutrition.com/product-lines/milkreplacers/

http://www.henryspets.com/formulas/

You can get FV from either place.

[Jfasano]

Okay thank you for all your time and information I will go to the grocery store with this post as a shopping list. Lol.

[Nancy in New York]

Trying to cut and paste not working. Go in th is Thread and search goats milk recipe and new baby care.
stepnstone posted the recipe on the page before. :thumbsup

[stepnstone]

Check post above with GM recipe... :thumbsup

Fox Valley has to be ordered on line.
http://www.henryspets.com/

[island rehabber]

Fox Valley must be ordered online. You can go to their website directly, or thru henryspets.com which is sometimes faster and less expensive shipping:

www.foxvalleynutrition.com
www.henryspets.com

You want the Day One formula for Squirrels, 32/40.

[farrelli]

You might be better off buying FV from Henry's because you can also get syringes and nipples there really cheap.

I don't think that anyone has discussed feeding positions yet, but it's really important. If you feed too fast or at the wrong angle, they can aspirate and get pneumonia, which will kill them very quickly. You have to have them upright or laying on their bellies with their head in the air and the syringe pointed at the roof of their mouth. Think of a mom laying on her back and the little ones leaning up on her sides with the nipple in their mouth.

[stepnstone]

stepnstone posted the recipe on the page before. :thumbsup

Intensions are good... (fast) typing :nono not so...

[Nancy in New York]

Okay thank you for all your time and information I will go to the grocery store with this post as a shopping list. Lol.

PM me your address and I will get some Fox Valley in the mail tomorrow for you. It will hold you over until you get your order. Do you have 1 cc syringes?

[Jfasano]

Should I get the fox valley for after a certain age? When do I introduce food that requires chewing?

Also, should I disregard the blood on the nose as an accident? Of course I will keep an eye on it but I am worried it could be something awful

[farrelli]

You should get the FV Day One formula for Squirrels, 32/40.

You don't have to worry about solids for awhile.

About the nose, do you have pictures? They would be helpful for a number of reasons. Could you post some or at least one?

[Nancy in New York]

Should I get the fox valley for after a certain age? When do I introduce food that requires chewing?

Also, should I disregard the blood on the nose as an accident? Of course I will keep an eye on it but I am worried it could be something awful


Hopefully kcassidy will come on and see this. Perhaps she could even take a look at your little one.
Remember what island rehabber said earlier:


We have a member who is a rehabber up there, kcassidy. I will point her over to this thread and maybe she can help.

[kcassidy]

jsafano:

I'm in Montgomery, NY, where are you? If you want I can take the babies or you can come over to my house and I can give you some FV til you can get what u need. I can also show you my squirrel setups and I can give your squirrels a once over.

If you are interested PM me and I'll give you my cell.

Kim Cassidy
Licensed Wildlife Rehabber, NY

[island rehabber]

:thankyou Kim!! :bowdown :grouphug

[Nancy in New York]

jsafano:

I'm in Montgomery, NY, where are you? If you want I can take the babies or you can come over to my house and I can give you some FV til you can get what u need. I can also show you my squirrel setups and I can give your squirrels a once over.

If you are interested PM me and I'll give you my cell.

Kim Cassidy
Licensed Wildlife Rehabber, NY


What a fantastic offer!!!!!!!!!!:bowdown

[SammysMom]

Oh my goodness what a terrific opportunity!!! Thank-you so much Kim!!!:Love_Icon :Love_Icon :Love_Icon

[kcassidy]

3is no different than one. But I haven't heard anything yet. I'm heading out to ride and then I have a hair appt at 1. Hope I get a chance to help

[Jackie in Tampa]

3is no different than one. But I haven't heard anything yet. I'm heading out to ride and then I have a hair appt at 1. Hope I get a chance to helpa horse or a harley???:poke

[Jfasano]

Thank you so much!! I will message you right now :-)

[MJS]

:wave123 SOMETIMES (NOT ALWAYS) WHAT I SEE ON TSB MAKES ME SMILE :) THIS IS ONE OF THOSE TIMES :bowdown :bowdown :bowdown

[kcassidy]

Jackie,

Horses :) I have two Mustangs and a Donker Do :)

I just got a PM and will call on my way to my hair appt, but yes you can come by tonight, I'll call and arrange the details.

Make sure you bring the squirrels so I can give them the once over :)

Talk soon

Kim

[MollyBear361]

:thankyou :thankyou :thankyou

[kcassidy]

OP and babies are on their way for a visit at 6pm :)

Photos and updates will follow from both of us, I'm sure.

[kcassidy]

Hey all JFas just left.

She has the pictures, so no use poking me! :D

She has two little girls, one weighs 40 grams and likes to eat, the other weighs 28 grams (same as Button), I think they are a week older than mine.

The small girl acts hungry and very fussy but can't seem to eat??

I hear clicking when I put her up to my ear.

I hydrated her using a needle and LR solution, she is the right size, length wise but very skinny.

I gave her some Metacam and a dose of Baytril. I gave them enough Baytril for 7 days of rx, plus two more doses of Metacam. I don't know if that was the right thing to do or not, but I'm wondering if she has pneumonia?

I gave them a few weeks worth of FV 32/40, plus Electrolyte powder I got from Chris's Squirrels. I wasn't sure if she should feed the baby a mix for 24 hours of diluted FV and the Electrolyte or just the diluted FV. Also not sure if she should try mixing in yogurt?

I told OP, I'd post all this and see what you all think. I'm no where near the experts that some of you are, so please weigh in.

I warned OP she better post pix or I'd never hear the end of it :)

[Nancy in New York]

Hey all JFas just left.

She has the pictures, so no use poking me! :D

She has two little girls, one weighs 40 grams and likes to eat, the other weighs 28 grams (same as Button), I think they are a week older than mine.

The small girl acts hungry and very fussy but can't seem to eat??

I hear clicking when I put her up to my ear.

I hydrated her using a needle and LR solution, she is the right size, length wise but very skinny.

I gave her some Metacam and a dose of Baytril. I gave them enough Baytril for 7 days of rx, plus two more doses of Metacam. I don't know if that was the right thing to do or not, but I'm wondering if she has pneumonia?

I gave them a few weeks worth of FV 32/40, plus Electrolyte powder I got from Chris's Squirrels. I wasn't sure if she should feed the baby a mix for 24 hours of diluted FV and the Electrolyte or just the diluted FV. Also not sure if she should try mixing in yogurt?

I told OP, I'd post all this and see what you all think. I'm no where near the experts that some of you are, so please weigh in.

I warned OP she better post pix or I'd never hear the end of it :)


You are never suppose to mix the formula with any electorlyte. She should just go with Fox Valley alone and in between feedings go with hyrdration.
Did you see the article on hydration and electrolytes?
Let me post it, or the link at least so you can make your own judgement. :thumbsup
Post #17
http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?p=775423#post775423

Thank you for seeing the little ones, and for helping. :bowdown

[kcassidy]

I know that but this (ElectroStat) says to mix it with Formula (is that something different?)

I know I used it in formula for my fawn last year and a lot of goat/sheep/cow electrolytes sold in stores says to mix as well.

Going to read the other thread.

I hydrated the little one so she doesn't need more hydration, something else is wrong.

What do you guys think about the Baytril? The clicking I hear when I held her up to my ear?

[Nancy in New York]

I know that but this says to mix it with Formula ElectroStat (is that something different?)

I know I used it in formula for my fawn last year and a lot of goat/sheep/cow electrolytes sold in stores says to mix as well.

Going to read the other thread.

I hydrated the little one so she doesn't need more hydration, something else is wrong.

What do you guys think about the Baytril? The clicking I hear when I held her up to my ear?


If it's aspiration pneumonia that is definitely the drug of choice.
I am gong to see what the electrostat says too. :) I have never used it.:dono

[Nancy in New York]

OK I just read this about the Electro-stat. I think since her little ones are already introduced to formula there is no need for this to be mixed in with their formula. I never even heard of this product, now I have to order this too!:)


For introducing Milk Formulas:
Electro-stat can be used to introduce milk formula to neonates.
After rehydration, gradually introduce the milk formulas over a period of 24 to 48 hours.

gradually introduce milk formulas to the neonate according to the following schedule.



3/4 part Electro-Stat solution + 1/4 part liquid milk formula

1/2 part Electro-Stat solution + 1/2 part liquid milk formula

1/4 part Electro-Stat solution + 3/4 part liquid milk formula

[Nancy in New York]

The only thing I can think of with the little girl is to make the formula hotter, some really like it quite warm. Potty before eating. Some just have to go before they even eat, or they act all squirmy.
I am not sure other than those two suggestions what else may be wrong. Is she using nipples?

[island rehabber]

OK I just read this about the Electro-stat. I think since her little ones are already introduced to formula there is no need for this to be mixed in with their formula. I never even heard of this product, now I have to order this too!:)


Electro-Stat is VERY good. I've used it not only with pinkies but with older babies who are severely dehydrated/emaciated.

[Nancy in New York]

Electro-Stat is VERY good. I've used it not only with pinkies but with older babies who are severely dehydrated/emaciated.


Last night in your thread I read about Dia-stat and I immediately ordered some from Leigh. Do you think that you could put all of your little "tricks" into one thread so that I only have to place an order once???????:poke
Off to Henry's I go.....:tilt

[kcassidy]

Okay so OP should NOT use electroStatic?

I did make the formula very warm and she fights to get away from it. They were feeding Esbilac. This is the baby that had blood from her nose two days ago.

As I think about it more, baby has excess,loose skin but it doesn't tent very hydrated

I hope the Baytril works!