5wk old grey going downhill

[rescuechick29]

Hi all, this is my first post in over a year I guess...Anyhow, I have been syringe feeding a grey baby on the GM recipe since she was around a week old and she is now 5wks and was doing quite well until yesterday. I noticed she was not eating nearly as vigorous, just 2cc's at a feeding rather than her traditional 9 or more; she also seems quite lethargic. I wasn't alarmed necessarily as of last night as it was quite warm so I figured she was just hot and tired, per say. Her last feeding was at midnight and she was disinterested. As I stimulated her she peed QUITE a bit more than normal, and it was cloudy at the start. This morning she didn't wake me up calling, is dehydrated and very lethargic.

Last week I started mixing in a few TBS of baby cereal into her milk to thicken it slightly. I have always done this to help the formula 'stick to their ribs' a bit longer. Her poops are normal orange and not runny, nor dry. Her abdomen doesn't seem as bloaty as last night but something is NOT RIGHT. I'm going to the store to grab syringes so I can get some subq fluids into her but I am just flabbergasted as to what is causing this...

She has always been a little fighter and I'm so proud she made it from pinky stage, it would just break my heart to lose her now. I even have her transition cage all set up! NO animals have gotten to her, there is no chance of a fall or anything. Can they get bloat?

PLEEEASE HELP CRICKET!

[farrelli]

I'd stop the cereal. Are you using just GM or are you using the GM, yogurt, and cream mixture? Is she pooping OK? Definitely get the hydration under control as dehydration causes lack of appetite. While out, I would get molasses as rubbing it on the gums will help them perk up and take more food and water.

[rescuechick29]

She is getting the GM, cream and yogurt but for some reason not only Woodman's but also Pick n Save have stopped carrying full fat Dannon so shes on a vanilla 1.5% fat yogurt but I don't think that's the issue. I already have molasses so will try that in a moment also :) She is still pooping, just not as much, which makes sense as shes not eating nearly as much. I'm also going to pick up gas drops but I don't think that's it. Its just the only thing I can come up with....

I'll make new milk, minus the cereal, subq fluids, molasses and I'll also soak her belly a bit. Thanks in advance!

[farrelli]

INFANT gas drops - a couple drops is fine.

[farrelli]

Btw, does her belly feel hard? Is should feel like a partially filled water balloon, not at all hard and round.

[stepnstone]

Can they get bloat?


Certainly can!
One should not continue to feed a bloated baby until the bloat is under control.

How about a picture, can you post one for a better assessment?

Also, do know the signs of aspiration pneumonia,?
How's the breathing, any clicking?

[SammysMom]

It sounds like you are on the right track with the info you are getting here. We do not want to add human baby anything to squirrel formula. I would suggest that in order to get this little one a bit more nutrition you should switch to Fox Valley formula. It is specifically made for squirrels and generally doesn't need anything added to it. You can get it at http://henryspets.com and you can also get Henry's Healthy Blocks there in growth formula for when solid foods are going to be added in to her diet. I can't stress enough that once she is feeling better, formula is all she should have until she is ready to eat blocks.
For now, getting her hydrated and getting the cereal out of her system is what seems to be in order.

[farrelli]

Yes, if you get the FV as recommended, you should also pick up the UltraBoost additive. It really puts meat on their bones.

[rescuechick29]

THANKS EVERYONE!

I held off on ordering fox valley as she was soooo critical when she came into the shelter (the finder thought she was an under developed puppy LOL!) and I suspected she wasn't going to make it. Then I lost my job so was waiting on unemployment buuuut a friend of a friend of a friend donated some funds for her and a litter of kittens with ringworm I am also fostering so we shall get to ordering the fox valley! Hopefully I just stopped her up with the cereal as she was sucking sooooo hard on that syringe. I highly doubt shes got pneumonia as theres no clicking though a friend did slightly aspirate her as I was trying to teach him how to feed her.

Ill keep everyone updated, hopefully she pulls through in time to get out there for fall!

THANKS for the quick and thorough responses and help:grin3

[MJS]

Yes, if you get the FV as recommended, you should also pick up the UltraBoost additive. It really puts meat on their bones.

AGREED...ULTRABOOST IS GREAT STUFF!!! THE FOX VALLEY 20/50 IS WHAT YOU WANT. :thumbsup

[CritterMom]

Just an FYI, Stoneyfield makes a yogurt specifically for infants, called Yobaby - it is sold in little 4-packs, all organic and full fat - and sold pretty much everywhere including places like Walmart.

[farrelli]

Isn't she going to be overwintered? I would think that in such a cold climate she should be. The earliest release would be the beginning of November (14 weeks), right? She'd have no home or food stores and starting out her life in a pretty bleak landscape.

[rescuechick29]

Well I believe I was over reacting slightly about my baby...it seems that she has slowed from 7-9cc's to 5-7cc's but is weighing in at 122 grams. She came to me on 8-12 and was hairless but didn't look FRESH although I wouldn't have put her past a week old....therefore she's in the target weight range for her approximate age?

Her 'outs' are normal and consistent, but for some reason she just doesn't seem as active as previous babies? She's wobbly and her eyes aren't as bright and round as I would like but her skin doesn't tent so perhaps I'm just an overly worried mother (not the first time:). I'm ordering the fox valley, blocks and formula just to give her a boost...

She is probably going to be wintered in my chicken coop which is wonderfully insulated and has lots of room as the summer here was weak and fall is setting in early (it was 53 last night). I wish there was a reputable rehabber in my area, but I don't know of any; our local shelter euthanizes very small babies and anything that can carry rabies :/

I'll try to upload pictures and video of my guppy baby who I've grown so close to...and thanks again for all the help!:thankyou

[rescuechick29]

214127

[farrelli]

Very cute. You can't upload video here. You have to host it on Youtube or somewhere and put a link to it.

[MiriamS]

She looks great but I bet she needs the nutrition in Fox Valley and that will perk her energy up. Good luck with her and the ringworm kittens. I've dealt with that and it's exhausting!