Orphaned baby black? squirrel needs help

[Rachel2850]

233939 a pictureHi guys, Yesterday evening about 6:30 pm my neighbor came to me asking for help, He wasn't sure what to do with this poor little baby, it was weak, cold, and dehydrated. I having never taken in a squirrel before had no idea how to properly care for him. I decided to take care of him myself because of the overabundant amount of orphaned critters already at the local rehab facility. I had him on pedialyte and KMR which I found out after the fact it was not good. I now have him on a slurry consisting of goats milk natural vanilla yogurt and heavy cream. I have been stimulating him to go to thew bathroom every hour and a half to 2 hours with a warm damp cloth. He is still a bit dehydrated and hasn't pooped but a tiny little nugget since I took him in but has urinated 4 times. I am keeping him warm but not too warm and feeding him until he says he has had enough. I also have him on tetracycline for his sneezing and congestion but I am not sure if thats good enough or if you recommend something else (I can't take the squirrel to the vet and just had to take a shot in the dark using the meds I have on hand for our poultry) We have had some major financial hits as of lately which limits what I can do here. I have a very nice lady who is a rehabber sending me the good fox valley formula but for now will have to stick with the goats milk slurry. Any advice on how much to feed him? The only thing he will take food from is a 3 mL syringe, I sterilize between feedings. I am unsure of his age but according to the growth charts I have scoured the web for I estimate his age to be around 5 weeks old. He eats and sleeps and thats about it, he is a bit more lively today than he was last night. I am unsure how long he had been out there alone or how long he went without mothers milk. I weighed him this morning at 111 grams so I can keep track and make sure he is growing properly. He is in a cat carrier with tons of soft fleece to burrow into keeping him safe from our cats and dog. AT night he comes to bed with me, silly I know but I have fallen head over heels for this little guy. He stole my heart when he reached out of his little fleece nest and grabbed my thumb to hold close to him. I think I covered everything, forgive me if I left something out, I am running on very little sleep with this cutie around :)

[Liza]

Sounds like you have a good start on things- are his eyes open? Did someone help you with the antibiotic dose? These little guys are easy to overdose- Hopefully one of the big guys will be on soon and can help you with that part of things.. Not sure if tetracycline is a good squirrel antibiotic or not. I know cipro/baytril is used frequently, and even amoxicillin but not sure about tetracycline. (and do you know if he actually needs antibiotic? Does he click when he breathes? Is he actually congested/wheezing/coughing or are you being proactive because he was wet and cold? Unnecessary antibiotic is really had on their little systems, so its good to be sure before you just dose them up)
Good job so far, though!

[Rachel2850]

He is clicking when he breaths and has rattling sounds in his chest, also sneezing and clear nasal discharge. I only gave him a little bit of the tetracycline )0.2 mL and only once. I wanted to ask you all about it before I gave him another dose, I can't get either baytril or amoxicillin without an RX and a $50 fee just to walk in the door of our vets office. That's IF they would even treat a squirrel. His eyes are open and a little cloudy so I think he sees a little but not much. He was wanting to crawl all over me earlier when he would normally be sleeping but the congestion worries me. Thank you for your response Liza :)

[SammysMom]

Is there any chance you could get a Cipro tablet? This is often prescribed for women with UTIs so a friend or family member might have one that you could have and that is the human version of Baytril. If you get one, we can help you to dose it properly. Do NOT wing it with dosing as it can have very bad consequences. We are here to help.
We can also try to find someone who is in your area that might have other babies that yours could join as it really is better for them not to be alone. If you can get to a Petco or Petsmart you can get Esbilac puppy formula WITH PROBIOTICS. The probiotics are VERY important. We are finding that the best formula is 50/50 Fox Valley and Esbilac.
He needs to have his container half on a heating pad set on low with no auto shut-off. Especially since he sounds like he has pneumonia. :thankyoufor helping this little guy!!!:grouphug

[Rachel2850]

OK I was just brought another baby, same size. Grey in color. Pretty sure they were litter mates

[Rachel2850]

The fox valley formula will be here by monday. I don't have a heat pad but I have one of those corn filled things ya put in the microwave to use as a heat pack or freezer as a cold pack, or I have a hot water bottle. His sibling showed up in the neighbors yard tonight so he is no longer alone. I stopped with the antibiotics after that initial dose until I can figure out what to give him and the proper dosage :) The one who was just brought to me has been outside for 2 days and is in really rough shape. I have her on sugar water for the first few feedings to rehydrate her. She too is congested. The only person I know with UTI infections is my elderly grandmother who is in a rehab facility with meds monitored. I'd have to improvise with something I can get OTC or internet. I will do the heat pad and a hot water bottle until I can get a heating pad :) I did give the first one a dose of vitamins/electroytes and lacto bacillus in it but now have the yogurt mixed with the goats milk and heavy cream until the fox valley formula gets here. I will certainly give it my all to save these little cuties! Ty for your help :)233951

[stepnstone]

If your baby's clicking he has pneumonia, I wouldn't
second guess it and it can take them down fast.
Call family, friends, whomever. 1-2 pills/caps is all
you'll need.

If baby is still a little dehydrated give him some hydration
in between feedings.
The amount to feed is 5 - 7% of their body weight.
Having a scale to weigh is very vital as even meds
are dosed by body weight.

What is the condition of the second baby?

Edit: Just read above post.

[grampyngramy]

Remember when feeding from a syringe head down syringe up. sounds like they need help quickly. Prayers to you and them.

[farrelli]

Yes, here is the thread with video for proper feeding technique:

http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?36777-PROPER-FEEDING-TECHNIQUE!!

Please do call around for antibiotics and tell us what you find. Also, some pet stores sell antibiotics for fish, birds, and reptiles without prescription. If you get one of those, we can dose it for you. Fish Flox is great and Fish Mox is also pretty good.

[biggjimm]

Any idea if these little guys made it? These threads are like starting a good book only to find that someone has ripped out the last chapter, leaving you guessing the outcome. Hopefully they pulled through.

[MJS]

Any idea if these little guys made it? These threads are like starting a good book only to find that someone has ripped out the last chapter, leaving you guessing the outcome. Hopefully they pulled through.

AGREED...HAPPENS WAY TOO OFTEN :poke :tap