Need Guidance ASAP

[turtlegerl]

I hope someone can help me out here. There were three baby squirrels and a momma living in a tree at the gas station for some time now. Today, the mom was killed and one of the babies had a bad bloody nose. I don't know what happened, but the babies seemed very scared. They were crying, and with bad weather coming in, I didn't want to leave them outside to fend for themselves. They allowed my husband to pick them up, so we brought the babies home. I have them in a bird cage with leaves and a blanket. I gave them a bowl of bird seed, corn, oats, peanuts and carrots. I also put a bowl of water in the cage. I think they are around 6-8 weeks old from comparing them to pictures on-line. I would really appreciate any help we can get. I am especially worried about the one with the bloody nose. :( In advance, I thank you for any help you can send my way.

[SammysMom]

This is general information. We will also give you direct answers to your specific questions. Do you have a heating pad that does not have an automatic shut-off?
Baby Squirrel Information


1) Is the baby uninjured? Is mom still around? and if so, warm the baby and place in a safe spot where mom can reunite if possible. Mom will not take a cold baby!
2) Okay, so you couldn’t reunite with mom. Start by warming the baby in a plastic container full of fleece or tee shirt material. (Not towels as the loops catch little claws and can cause injury) Place the container half on a heating pad that is set on low. It needs to be a heating pad that does not have an automatic shut-off. It needs to be half on and half off so that the baby can get off of the heat if it gets too hot.
3) Check to see if the baby is dehydrated. You can do this by gently picking up the skin on the back of the baby’s shoulders. If the skin goes right back down it is not dehydrated. If the skin remains “tented” for a time, you will need to rehydrate with Pedialyte or homemade Pedialyte.

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).
Pedialyte for no more than 24 hours!!! Too much sodium!!


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

Feed slowly with a 1cc syringe - head UP tail DOWN
Keep warm at all time – If no heating pad available fill bottle with hot water (cover bottle with sock) or fill a sock with dry rice or beans and microwave. Be sure to squish the rice or beans around to be sure there are no hot spots that might burn the babies.

____________
4) Once rehydrated begin to feed Fox Valley formula which can be ordered from http://foxvalleynutrition.com or while waiting for that to arrive use recipe below. As a general rule you will feed 5 - 7% of their body weight per feeding

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)
5) This information is really just meant to get you through until you can get the baby or babies to an experienced rehabber. If you are here on The Squirrel Board, you have access to all of the information you could ever need about squirrels. Most importantly there is generally someone here who can help to find you someone who can take the babies and prepare them for life in the trees. The trees are where they are meant to be and people here know how to get them safely there!

[skippy]

Welcome to TSB. Thank you for rescuing and researching.

Do you have a heating pad?
Place the cage 1/2 on and 1/2 off the heating pad that is set on LOW. They need warmth and to be able to get off of it if they want.
Just fleece, flannel or tshirts with no holes for bedding. No need for leaves.
Warm dark and quiet is what they need to get started while you gather up the supplies for hydration and feeding. Cover the cage with a blanket or sheet.
NO TOWELS. Nothing with loops.
No kids, pets, loud noises.
In a room by themselves if possible.

[skippy]

Thanks Sammy's Mom!
I was hoping someone would come in quickly.
:))

[SammysMom]

It is very general, but if you have questions PLEASE feel free to ask. Pictures are very helpful too!:Welcome :Welcome :Welcome

[turtlegerl]

THANK YOU! I don't have a heating pad, but I put an airline blanket in with them. All three of them are curled up inside of it now. I do have them in a dark quiet room by themselves. Also, they are eating solid food. One of them took a carrot from me, and another liked the peanuts. However, the one with the bloody nose is sleeping. I actually live pretty far from town, and due to the late hour the vet was closed, as was the wildlife haven in the area. I'm not even sure if after I left a message I will hear back from either of them before Monday. Is there something I can do for the injured one? :( Again, thank you for your help.

[SammysMom]

First of all NO PEANUTS. They are NOT good for them at all. They must have heat. They do not have their own heat regulation. So, you need to give them something like maybe a sock filled with uncooked rice microwaved for 30 seconds at a time until it is hot. Squish it around to be sure it does not have any hot spots that might burn them. Just wrap it in a tee shirt and put it right in with them. These babies need formula.
Do you want us to see if someone is in your area to take them from you?

[HRT4SQRLS]

:wave123 turtlegerl
You can make a rice buddy for the babies to snuggle with. Take a cotton sock, like a tube sock and add rice to it and tie off the end. Put it in the microwave for 1 minute. Take it out and squish the rice around in the sock. This is to distribute the heat. Sometimes hot spots can develop so the rice must be mixed to prevent burning the babies.

Edit : Sorry SM is already on it. :)

[turtlegerl]

/Users/turtlegerl/Pictures/iPhoto Library/Previews/2013/05/03/20130503-192741/P3300071.JPG

[turtlegerl]

I actually have rice socks. :) I will put one in with them. I tried to post a pic, but it didn't work. I will quit giving them the peanuts. I have read so much contridicting information on their care in the last few hours though; it is pretty overwhelming. I actually have a lot of experience with rehabbing reptiles and amphibians. The little furry guys are new to me though. I will hopefully hear from the local haven tomorrow. I will take them there, or raise and release here depending on the advice I get. Right now, I just want them to make it through until I get in touch with Walden's Puddle (local wildlife haven.) Again, thank you for all of your help. :)

[lennysmom]

Not sure where you are located in Tennessee, but I have a few supplies on hand I would be more then willing to give you if you don't live too far away. I have some FV, a heating pad, some Henrys blocks, and some fleece. Not sure if I have any syringes left, but I can check. Please let me know if I can help!

[SammysMom]

:thankyou LM!!! This is a great offer if you are close to LennysMom...:thumbsup

[lennysmom]

Edit - I also have a couple of syringes.

[lennysmom]

Please e-mail me at linnyngee@comcast.net as I see you are not able to Private message on here yet and I would be more then willing to help in any way I can with advice and/or supplies.

[turtlegerl]

Thank you so much for your help. You are all so sweet! The babies are sleeping warm and comfy. I wish I could post a pic. I am working from a Mac though and for some reason it won't let me copy and paste to the forum. I am pretty sure they have been weaned and are eating solid foods. My biggest concern is the little one with the hurt nose. I will post tomorrow after I talk to the vet and the haven. Again, thank you for all of your insight! :)

[turtlegerl]

I think this link will show my pic. Worth a try. I want to know how old they might be. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=246623298809879&l=aa14dcc120

[lennysmom]

Aww, they're too cute! :Love_Icon

[astra]

Thank you so much for your help. You are all so sweet! The babies are sleeping warm and comfy. I wish I could post a pic. I am working from a Mac though and for some reason it won't let me copy and paste to the forum. I am pretty sure they have been weaned and are eating solid foods. My biggest concern is the little one with the hurt nose. I will post tomorrow after I talk to the vet and the haven. Again, thank you for all of your insight! :)
:Welcome
at this age they cannot be weaned.
If they don't take formula eagerly right away it is often because they have to get used to the formula taste since before they were eating their mother's milk.
It may take them some time to get used to the formula, but they will.

At this age formula should be their #1 food.
Quality rodent/squirrel block their #2 food.
After they eat the block with pleasure and no fuss at all times, you can start adding good veggies.
No other solids at this point

Make sure that formula is very, very, very warm. Not burning hot not to burn them, but very, very, very warm.

[CrazySquirrelLady]

Not sure where you are located in Tennessee, but I have a few supplies on hand I would be more then willing to give you if you don't live too far away. I have some FV, a heating pad, some Henrys blocks, and some fleece. Not sure if I have any syringes left, but I can check. Please let me know if I can help!
that's everything you need to take care of the babies.


But maybe you could give then to someone who has all the formula and stuff and they could raise them. do you have a job? it's hard to feed then if you have a job and stuff like that!

thanks so much for helping.

what part of tennessee are you from ? Lots of people close to tennesee here.

[stepnstone]

Thank you for caring about wildlife and saving these babies. :grouphug
Having viewed your picture I have to agree with what has been said, these babies would still be nursing and need to be on formula.

Be careful with talking/taking to a vet if your in an illegal State to process a squirrel and I believe you are. A veterinarian may tell you they will treat but will euthanize. They do not have to have or ask your permission, it's the law. Many "wildlife originations" will do the same. Always ask about their procedures first with a scenario before volunteering your information that you have these squirrels.

Your being offered assistance from someone experienced, please accept it.
Rehabbing reptiles and amphibians is a whole different ball park from rehabbing squirrels.

[lennysmom]

Yes, I do work full time - I am sure three little squirrels would be very demanding. We just started the release process for Lenny yesterday and it has been challenging with our schedules, but it was a wonderful experience, and thanks to TSB, a successful one. :) That is why I offered supplies in case she was close by since I had them on hand until she could get them to an experienced rehabber, especially since one is injured.. TSB has done so much to help us with Lenny and I have learned a lot! If I can be of any assistance to someone nearby, I don't mind at all. I don't want the little ones euthanized! But I am glad to know there are several members on here near Tennessee. :grouphug

[Baxied]

I'm in TN too and have Fox Valley formula, syringes, and access to experienced rehabbers. Let me know if I can help.

[CrazySquirrelLady]

Yes, I do work full time - I am sure three little squirrels would be very demanding. We just started the release process for Lenny yesterday and it has been challenging with our schedules, but it was a wonderful experience, and thanks to TSB, a successful one. :) That is why I offered supplies in case she was close by since I had them on hand until she could get them to an experienced rehabber, especially since one is injured.. TSB has done so much to help us with Lenny and I have learned a lot! If I can be of any assistance to someone nearby, I don't mind at all. I don't want the little ones euthanized! But I am glad to know there are several members on here near Tennessee. :grouphug
xorry i meant the original poster... does she work full time.

[lennysmom]

Oh, lol. Yeah, I see that now. I really hope that she enlists the right help for these little ones. I can attest to the fact that raising little squirrels properly is both very time consuming and expensive to do it right! That's why I'm more then willing to share supplies if needed. Has anyone heard from turtlegerl today? :dono

[turtlegerl]

I still haven't heard back from the wildlife haven. However, I took Monday off so I can take the squirrels over there. I bought everything all of you told me too. For the most part they seem content. Thanks for all the help. :)

[CrazySquirrelLady]

I still haven't heard back from the wildlife haven. However, I took Monday off so I can take the squirrels over there. I bought everything all of you told me too. For the most part they seem content. Thanks for all the help. :)
where are you turtle girl? i might could take them off your hands if you could get to Clarksville????

that's about my range limits.

[turtlegerl]

The babies are safe at the wildlife haven. :) Thanks for all the guidance this weekend.