4 Pinkies came tonight.....Help me save them!

[AliciaintheSC]

I got 4 pinkies in tonight that need some help. #1 came from a vet without any background info. He is 18g and they fed him kitten formula. No visible injuries on him. He eats fairly well. I am rehydrating all of them with Pedialyte and he took 0.35cc. The other 3 fell out of a pine tree and have scratches and bruising all over. #2 and #3 are doing "ok", but not great with eating. But, #4 is not doing well at all! The poor little girl has some major bruising to her face and won't open her mouth to eat. I was able to get a little in, but not much. These three weigh about 15g.

I have warmed them, gave them Pedialyte and pottied them. What else can I/should I do? My experience goes back only to 3 week olds. I have metacam here. Can I give any of that to the ones with the bruising? If so, how much? I assume barely a drop, if that.

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[SammysMom]

Oh those lucky littles to find their way to you! Warm and hydrate is first and you are taking care of that. I would not medicate at this point. Hard on those tiny organs. Drop by drop is the only way to go. Use that milk line as your guide. Are you familiar with the milk line? I was NOT and I learned with my first pinkies...it is invaluable!:grouphug

[Chickenlegs]

You're familiar with the goats milk formula? Seems really kind to tiny tummies. Like SM said--drop by drop. REALLY warm. They don't recognize what you're giving them as food. Mamma's home cooking is almost hot--as hot as she is. Little bruised girl likely has a sore mouth. Patience, frequency and lots of coffee (for you). In a week or two they'll be eating like pigs. First few days are hard. Love and prayers for your tiny babies :Love_Icon

[Rhapsody]

It seems like you are doing all the right things. Keep the little guys warm and hydrated for the night.
Then in the morning you can start them either on diluted Goats Milk or diluted Esbilac @ a ratio of 1:4.

..... remember that slow and steady wins the race - go drop by drop.

[AliciaintheSC]

I am holding #4 (Angel) while she crosses over to Rainbow Bridge. :sad I came down to do this feeding and she was pale and not moving. When I picked her up, I could tell she was gasping for air every so slowly. I recognized this right away from my nursing days. I woke my daughter so, she wouldn't be alone while I fed the other 3. And now I am going to just hold her until she decides she is ready. Poor little girl.

The other three seem to be doing okay. They are warm, pink and taking the fluids. One of them took 0.5cc, but the other two only took 0.3cc. I hope that is enough. Their skin feels sticky. Is that just a sign of dehydration or is that how they usually feel?

[AliciaintheSC]

Oh, and I even got a poop out of one! I didn't expect to see that so soon. :thumbsup

[lilidukes]

Sticky is normal. You want to watch that the skin doesn't get
dry. I keep a one inch square piece of moistened sponge in
the corner of their tube to help keep a little moisture in the
air.

:grouphug:grouphug

[CritterMom]

And please lose the kitten formula - it is NOT the formulation they need - too much protein and not enough fat. Go to a chain pet store and get a container of Esbilac powder with pre- and probiotics.

[island rehabber]

Perfect advice from every single post above, Alicia. They actually look good for orphaned pinks. No meds -- totally agree there, too. Pinkies heal amazingly fast and it will be ok. Because they fell thru a pine tree, check their bodies for sap. Sap is so sticky it can sometimes weld little limbs together or cause infection when it sticks to tender skin. Get it off with mineral oil, baby oil, any kind of oil as soon as you can. :) :thumbsup

[Chickenlegs]

Holding your little angel in my heart. Sometimes our job is to love them, keep them safe and warm and send them on their way to their next life. I often wear my pinkies for the first week or so--specially the onlys. I can feel if there's any distress and if it's time to go, it won't be alone. You are twice blessed--to love in life AND death.

[AliciaintheSC]

And please lose the kitten formula - it is NOT the formulation they need - too much protein and not enough fat. Go to a chain pet store and get a container of Esbilac powder with pre- and probiotics.

Don't worry. The vet was the only one to give him kitten milk. I started with Pedialyte for rehydration and have started the proper formula this am (very diluted to start with).

How often should I be feeding them? One rehab group manual says every 2 hours. The other says every 3-3.5 hours. If they are taking 0.3-0.5 cc per feeding, is that enough? I know how to find the milk line, but do you use it to gauge how much is enough formula, too? Or is it just to make sure they are ready for more?

The other little girl is not doing well anymore. She was a very wimpy eater when she would eat. She has become a bit dehydrated and won't eat at all anymore. She just curls up in the fetal position and won't move. I still am trying to save her, but I am afraid I will be only prolonging the inevitable.

[AliciaintheSC]

Perfect advice from every single post above, Alicia. They actually look good for orphaned pinks. No meds -- totally agree there, too. Pinkies heal amazingly fast and it will be ok. Because they fell thru a pine tree, check their bodies for sap. Sap is so sticky it can sometimes weld little limbs together or cause infection when it sticks to tender skin. Get it off with mineral oil, baby oil, any kind of oil as soon as you can. :) :thumbsup

I didn't even think to check for sap. It makes sense, though. I did check them over very well when they first came in, so I don't think there is any, but I will double check.

Oh, and the rehabber that had picked them up and brought them to me forgot to tell me that one was carried by a CAT!!! So, should I give them antibiotic? Or just wait and see? One of them has a surface wound on his head (makes me think cat now that I know one was involved), but she said she is sure that it was not that one that was carried by a cat. Ugh. What should I do? If I give AB for a possible cat involvement, do I just give it to all of them since I don't know which one for sure?

[Chickenlegs]

Your babies need to be hydrated for antibioticsj. Your tiny girl won't eat unless she's hydrated--not hungry, stuff starts shutting down IR is the pinkie queen. She'll set you straight. During the meanwhile, push fluids--even a tiny drop every 20 minutes or so--without flooding the darling and aspirating her. Do you actually know which one is the cat carried baby? The milk line shows there's something in there. SOME is better than none but if they still have milk in em--let them digest. If there's no emptying of the stomach, that's it's own problem that needs addressing before more food goes in. Is that right IR?

[island rehabber]

Your babies need to be hydrated for antibioticsj. Your tiny girl won't eat unless she's hydrated--not hungry, stuff starts shutting down IR is the pinkie queen. She'll set you straight. During the meanwhile, push fluids--even a tiny drop every 20 minutes or so--without flooding the darling and aspirating her. Do you actually know which one is the cat carried baby? The milk line shows there's something in there. SOME is better than none but if they still have milk in em--let them digest. If there's no emptying of the stomach, that's it's own problem that needs addressing before more food goes in. Is that right IR?

Right on the money, CL. Once they are all hydrated, if you have Baytril or Smz-TMP (bactrim, sulfatrim, same thing pretty much) or even Clavamox we can help you dose the babies. It is very smart to do with a cat attack, especially such tiny babies. Hydration is key: they won't eat without being hydrated....
At the risk of boring everyone to tears 'cause you've seen it 50 times, here's my Pinky Piece:

PINKY SQUIRRELS: THE FOUR MAGIC WORDS

WARMTH: a heating pad on low, under half their container (not under THEM) is best. Plastic tubs or terrariums are good because the environment is more humid and their skin doesn't dry out. When feeding a pinky, if your hands are warm you can use tissue paper to wrap and hold him...if your hands are cold, WARM a cloth or glove before picking up the pinky or you will chill him instantly.

HYDRATION: pinkies need hydration in the form of formula -- or Pedialyte in the beginning -- at least every 2.5 hrs. This means getting up at least once during the night. I get up twice, and it still means they will go 3.5 hrs sometimes without food but it's usually ok. If they look flat and skinny when you get up to feed them, you are not feeding OFTEN enough. Sorry kids, it's a rough gig those first 2 weeks.

CONSISTENCY: consistent heat.....consistent feedings....if your schedule is going to make you sporadic or unpredictable in caring for these teeny-weenies, give them to someone who has the time to care for them properly. If you don't have a heating pad, GET ONE, without an auto shut-off. Microwave disks are too unpredictable for pinkies and may cook them. Hot water bottles don't last nearly long enough for these fragile babies.

PATIENCE: Feed pinkies slo-o-o--owly. Very slowly. Teeny drop by teeny drop, preferably with a 0.5 (1/2) cc syringe or a 1cc at the LARGEST. Use a nipple attachment for best results. Go very, very slowly. If it takes you 5 minutes to get half a cc of formula into a pinky, you're doing it perfectly. This is how we avoid aspiration, the #1 cause of death in pinkies and the reason why "some say" there is only a 50% success rate in saving them.

[AliciaintheSC]

I am working as hard as I can to rehydrate her. I have even resorted to sub q fluids. That has perked her up quite a bit. She actually took 0.4cc this time around. I am feeding them every 2 hours. The milk line is always completely gone before I feed them again. So, I am thinking of squeezing the feedings a little closer together for a little while. Does anyone object to that as long as I watch the milk line?

IR, I did read your slide presentation that I found on here about pinkies. As soon as I have 45 minutes freed up, I am going to watch it. I have gone through training and read about everything I can possibly read. Somehow, you are never really truly educated until you have experienced it. :tilt I am as confident as I can about the one without all the bruising. He seems to be doing well. The other two, I still have doubts about. My goal is that if they don't make it, it will be from the injuries and not by my hand.

[AliciaintheSC]

How quickly should I advance the formula? I am worried that I am going too slowly, but I now rehydration is more important at this point. Right now I am only doing about 25-30% formula. I have done that for a couple feedings. Should I be going faster with the formula introduction, since they have been without mama for at least 24 hours?

[SammysMom]

I would think that you can go to 50% at this point for a few feedings.

[Rhapsody]

I have a pinkie that is 9 nine days old and he is drinking full strength now..... I advanced his formula every three days and he did just fine. I rehydrated him for 8-10 hours, over night, before I started any formula what so ever. I am using Esbilac puppy formula (powder) every three hours --he is drinking .060cc to .080cc at each feeding.

[AliciaintheSC]

I have a pinkie that is 9 nine days old and he is drinking full strength now..... I advanced his formula every three days and he did just fine. I rehydrated him for 8-10 hours, over night, before I started any formula what so ever. I am using Esbilac puppy formula (powder) every three hours --he is drinking .060cc to .080cc at each feeding.

I am actually not really sure how old mine are, except VERY young. lol They still have an umbilical stump and weigh about 15-18g. So, I am guessing just a few days old at the most. This last feeding, two of them ate 0.40cc and the other ate 0.50. That was 2 hours after the last feeding. So, I guess that is pretty good compared to yours which is a little more, but less frequent. Right?

I am cautiously getting excited about them surviving now. :Love_Icon I am still very nervous, but getting less nervous with each feeding/improvement. I think losing my first pinky only hours after receiving him kind of scared me a little.

[island rehabber]

I would think that you can go to 50% at this point for a few feedings.

I agree. Ramp up to full strength by this time tomorrow. They need hydration, of course, but at this age they also need calories as their little bodies are growing so fast.

[Rhapsody]

I think losing my first pinky only hours after receiving him kind of scared me a little.That happened to me too..... :( - I lost the surviving pinkies two siblings.... the brother with in an hour of getting the three and the sister over the night, but they were both badly beaten up and bruised from the fall and the girl had pneumonia from being out in the storm. So we have to remember that nature is often against us before even get these precious babies safely in our hands. (((hugs)))

[AliciaintheSC]

Thanks for all the support I have received. You guys are all awesome! :thankyou:thumbsup

Do you know what I like best about these pinkies (besides all the cute, teeny, weeny fragile features? The way the squeak the whole time you are feeding them. :Love_Icon Do they all do this or is this just unique to these guys?

[SammysMom]

OMGoodness! I LOVE the squeaking!!! I just got four today and they are so cute, but they do make you a bit nervous because they are so SMALL!!! Good luck with your crew...:grouphug:Love_Icon:grouphug

[AliciaintheSC]

OMGoodness! I LOVE the squeaking!!! I just got four today and they are so cute, but they do make you a bit nervous because they are so SMALL!!! Good luck with your crew...:grouphug:Love_Icon:grouphug

If only they didn't have to eat at night....... :grin2

For the first time, I saw the milk line was still there when I went to feed them this time. It had definitely faded a lot, but was still there. When that happens should I hold off on feeding them again until it is gone? I fed him this time anyway, since he is bordering on dehydration. But, he didn't eat as much as I expected, so it was probably for the best.

[Chickenlegs]

I'm not saying anything about how much I love pinkies. Squirrel gods have BIG ears!

[Mommaluvy]

If only they didn't have to eat at night....... :grin2

For the first time, I saw the milk line was still there when I went to feed them this time. It had definitely faded a lot, but was still there. When that happens should I hold off on feeding them again until it is gone? I fed him this time anyway, since he is bordering on dehydration. But, he didn't eat as much as I expected, so it was probably for the best.

What is the "milk line'

[farrelli]

With pinkies, you can see through their skin and see the milk in their tummies. It's a relatively wide whitish line you can see after they've fed and you can see it getting smaller and smaller as they digest it. If you search, I'm sure you could fine pics on here.