Need help

[JoeEZ]

My boyfriend has been caring for a baby squirrel that he rescued from a trash can covered in red ants at a flee market . He's has her for about a week and everything was going good , eating pooping all the bites were almost gone and then today she just started gasping for air like crazy, and hasn't stoped for hrs. She can't eat because all she does is gasp! I don't know what to do. She's still active but it looks so hard for her to breath ! Plz help

[farrelli]

You said you had a vid in the PM. Email it to me and I will post.

Make sure that he's not clicking.

Is he eating? What? How much?

Are you providing a heat source?

Is he actually gasping for air or is he just making weird mouth movements like a guppy?

Is the belly soft and squshy like a partially filled water balloon or hard and round?

[JoeEZ]

I'm trying to upload the vid to YouTube but my phones slow
We feed her kitten replacement
Normally belly is a little squishy but today it's harder
Not a clicking noise I don't think
I'll try again with the upload

[farrelli]

Can you at least send a pic? Age is important. Is it a pinkie?

Kitten formula is crap. You need Esbilac puppy powder with probiotics, sold at many pet stores:

240559

Are you following proper feeding technique:

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

If the belly is hard and round, it might be bloat, which interferes with breathing. You would best put her in a warm bath, half in, like a sq jacuzzi, and gently massage her belly and sides. A drop or two of infant gas-x (simethicone) would help. Other options are based on age. Some people like gentle patting.

[JoeEZ]

http://youtu.be/BAJ59HUFX0g
We feed her about 3-5 cc of the cat replacement and she always with him in a pouch for worm the unless he's sleeping then she's in a small tote with a heating blanket on low under.

[farrelli]

I;m not a pinkie expert but that looks like pneumonia to me. I will alert others who are early risers.

Put him up to your ear and listeen very carefully for clicking.

Has there been a decrease in appetite or increase in lethargy?

Do you have antibiotics? If so, list them, and list the weight of the sq. Baytril or Cipro are common and good for this. Call around and ask your friends for what they have. Call a vet. Call pet stores and see if they have Fish Flox or Fish Mox.

[JoeEZ]

I do hear a little clicking , no real change in how she acts. She's been very active from day 1. The only antibiotic I have are
Amoxicillin but I will ask around at my local vet offices

[farrelli]

Amoxy can work, but isn;t the best. Do you have a weight on the sq? Even if not, what strength is the Amoxy?

[JoeEZ]

She is about 55 gams and the amoxicillin is 500mg caps

[farrelli]

Crush the pill to a fine powder. Add 10CCs of water. Of this mix, give 0.022CCs of it. Err on giving a bit more than a bit less. Here is a link to measurement:

http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?44591-Reading-a-Syringe

Time is of the essence. Others willgive further instructions for tomorrow.

[JoeEZ]

The clicking has been going on for about 6-8hrs and counting :(((

[stepnstone]

A lot of red flags here, ...poor little baby.
Kitten formula is not good for squirrels and they do not digest it well.
She does look bloated and possibly does have pneumonia.

With what has she been fed formula with and is she stimulated to potty?

[JoeEZ]

Thank you so much for everything I will go do this right now and check back after to see if anyone else has more help <3

[farrelli]

Oh, and please, PLEASE don't wait so long in the future or just PM me about your issues because I'm "nice" (I'm not, and many would laugh at that, though many suffer from that delusion.). TSB is a group effort. I'm often SUPER unavailable.

[farrelli]

And now I pass the baton to Step and try to relax. Good luck!

[stepnstone]

The dosage should read X0.02X, I ask again, what has she been fed with and what are you administering meds with?

Edit: Farrelli is right 0.022 I read read babies gram weight too fast, got it wrong.

[farrelli]

I disagree. that wold be for a 50g sq, and the guide doses low. Way low. Especially for a loading dose. Nancy? I think you need to never sleep.

[stepnstone]

Over 50g, I get it now. And I agree Nancy don't need to sleep without an attached alarm...

[JoeEZ]

We were using a bottle then switched to a sirenge. But the measurements are too vague we r headed to get a smaller one

[stepnstone]

Is this baby bloated on top of the pneumonia?
She looked to be, is she able to pass poo's if stimulated?

[farrelli]

Got drugs in? Now time to work on bloat. Just as important. Infringes on diaphragm and makes breathing hard/impossibe. I leave that to others.

[stepnstone]

The bottle as well as any syringe over a 1cc is a risk for aspiration.
Very well can explain the pneumonia.

[JoeEZ]

Yes. When stimulated she poops. It's very soft. When we got her the stool was hard and dark. It's been light colored sense. The smallest units sirenge is mL

[stepnstone]

ML & CC same thing

[stepnstone]

Can you post a picture of dangling baby holding under arms to get a clearer look at her stomach?

[lilidukes]

That pic is 0.22 cc's !!!!!!!

0.022 is the tiny lines under 0.1!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[stepnstone]

That pic is 0.22 cc's !!!!!!!

0.022 is the tiny lines under 0.1!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Damn, thanks LD

[stepnstone]

Believe I pulled the right one this time, thanks again lildukes. :grouphug
Been up all night, trying to move too fast.

240561

[JoeEZ]

She stoped gasping and seems to be doing a lot better , we gave her the meds thank you all so much we are on our way to get the right food now. [ATTACH]240562

[stepnstone]

Before feeding any more formula I suggest you re-hydrate for a few feedings to flush out the kitten formula.

[farrelli]

Be absolutely sure you get proper dosage for tomorrow and for all days following. You must be religious about it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And about proper feeding technique.

[farrelli]

Btw, you're still a very long way from in the clear.

[stepnstone]

Farrelli your as bad as I am, running on empty and still here... :grin2

[JoeEZ]

How often do I give her the meds and is it the same dosage ?

[farrelli]

You won;t have to worry about it for many hours. I PMd two great people, Nancy and SM, who will be able to provide correct dosing throgh the day. it;s probably half of what I gave you (it's cut in half X2), though I;m in no condition to be able to tell. I;ve slept 3 hours in the last 36.

[JoeEZ]

What should I give her in between to hydrate her? Just water?

[farrelli]

Water, or water with a bit of sugar if necessary.

[farrelli]

I wait on the morning crew to tell you all about diet, bloating, and proper maintenance dosage. I hope the lack of gasping is a move in the right direction.

[JoeEZ]

Ok Ty so much again! I hope u sleep well!

[lilidukes]

I would rehydrate between feedings and mix the new
formula at a 3 to 1 ratio to start. 3 parts water to 1
part formula for a day or two the go to 2 to 1 ratio.
Offering water between feedings. Baby is already
compromised but still needs calories.

Wishing baby well! :grouphug

[stepnstone]

I wait on the morning crew to tell you all about diet, bloating, and proper maintenance dosage. I hope the lack of gasping is a move in the right direction.

Me too!
Keep her on the heating pad and hydrated.
You've done what you can do for now besides
just being there for her and letting her know she's loved.
These little's can be surprisingly resilient.
I'll be saying prayers for your little girl. :grouphug

Btw... does little girl have a name?
Be sure to let us know when her eyes open,
that would pretty much be at 5 weeks old.

[stepnstone]

I would rehydrate between feedings and mix the new
formula at a 3 to 1 ratio to start. 3 parts water to 1
part formula for a day or two the go to 2 to 1 ratio.
Offering water between feedings. Baby is already
compromised but still needs calories.

Wishing baby well! :grouphug
:yeahthat..:thumbsup

[JoeEZ]

Her name is Sprocket :)
We started to soak her little bottom in warm water to promote some movement because I read on this site that will help her with the bloating. The walmart near me didn't have the formula you guys have shown me so I'll have to wait till my local vets open up and call around. Can anyone tell me the average coat of it so I know what to expect ?

[island rehabber]

Her name is Sprocket :)
We started to soak her little bottom in warm water to promote some movement because I read on this site that will help her with the bloating. The walmart near me didn't have the formula you guys have shown me so I'll have to wait till my local vets open up and call around. Can anyone tell me the average coat of it so I know what to expect ?

The Esbilac with Probiotics will cost you about $22-25 for a 1lb can. However it will last you a very long time.
I agree with everyone here that the kitten replacer is NOT good for baby squirrels and that antibiotics were absolutely necessary. Standing by and praying for a good outcome -- you're getting great advice!

[JoeEZ]

How often and how much of the antibiotic should we give her now?

[Nancy in New York]

How often and how much of the antibiotic should we give her now?

The dose of 0.022 is correct. You dose that amount 2 times daily
12 hours apart (or as close to that) for 7-10 days.
ALWAYS give a probiotic 2 hours before or two hours after dosing any antibiotic as they
can cause gastric upset.

I would cut back a little on the amount that you are feeding.
The "rule of thumb" to feed is 5-7% of their body weight.
For a little one that weighs 55 grams the amount she should get is
2.7 - 3.8 cc's at every feeding.

[Nancy in New York]

What part of Florida are you in?
We have many members from there and perhaps they
can help you out with some supplies for the time being.
Forgive me if I am repeating, do you have 1 cc syringes, and
nipples? You're warming the formula too, correct?
Just asking, as I said I sort of skimmed the thread. :tilt

[JoeEZ]

She eats from a ml syringe with a nip and yes we warm it up inside the syringe with warm water in a large cup. We are located in the panhandle florida

[Nancy in New York]

She eats from a ml syringe with a nip and yes we warm it up inside the syringe with warm water in a large cup. We are located in the panhandle florida

:thumbsup
Are you anywhere near Niceville?

[CritterMom]

You should also be able to get the Esbilac powder with probiotics at any of the chain pet stores - Petsmart, Petco - places like that.

[Nancy in New York]

My boyfriend has been caring for a baby squirrel that he rescued from a trash can covered in red ants at a flee market . He's has her for about a week and everything was going good , eating pooping all the bites were almost gone and then today she just started gasping for air like crazy, and hasn't stoped for hrs. She can't eat because all she does is gasp! I don't know what to do. She's still active but it looks so hard for her to breath ! Plz help


Just thought of this, and again, did not read your whole thread, BUT.........Is she only doing that gasp thing, when she eats?
Many squirrels do what is called the guppy mouth when they eat. It's "almost" as if they get over excited and can't get the formula in fast enough.
We need a video of this, because if you have never witnessed it, it can be one of the most scarey things ever,
but they go into a trance like and just seem to gasp.
Could this be what you are seeing?

edit: I found a video that has the "guppy mouthed" breathing while eating!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E25ynfqQlZU

[JoeEZ]

No it was for about 5hrs she did nothing but gaspt deeply to where you would see her chest compress, but she has stopped and seems much more comfortable . Her belly isn't as hard either it's still a bit bloated but it's now squishy not hard. I need to go to bed I didn't sleep lastnight after working till 11pm , shes in my boyfriends hands now while I sleep and I've shown him this forum and what he needs to do while I'm sleeping. If you guys can think of anything else w can do for her plz let us know. Ty all again for being so helpful and kind in our time of need <3

[Nancy in New York]

No it was for about 5hrs she did nothing but gaspt deeply to where you would see her chest compress, but she has stopped and seems much more comfortable . Her belly isn't as hard either it's still a bit bloated but it's now squishy not hard. I need to go to bed I didn't sleep lastnight after working till 11pm , shes in my boyfriends hands now while I sleep and I've shown him this forum and what he needs to do while I'm sleeping. If you guys can think of anything else w can do for her plz let us know. Ty all again for being so helpful and kind in our time of need <3

Get some rest. You are one amazing person helping this little one like you are.
You can get some infant gas x (simethicone) that will help if she gets bloated again.
Good Night! :grouphug

[anniedancer]

I am NO expert, but I know theres a special way you feed these babies, using a syringe. Doing it wrong can cause aspiration pneumonia.
Poor little one!!!! But bless your heart for caring so much. Prayers going out to you.
Annie

[stepnstone]

Just thought of this, and again, did not read your whole thread, BUT.........Is she only doing that gasp thing, when she eats?


Post #5 has youtube clip w/ breathing.
Unfortunately, not guppy mouth... :(

[Nancy in New York]

Post #5 has youtube clip w/ breathing.
Unfortunately, not guppy mouth... :(

Thank you Russell, and thanks for the tag team advice through the night!
I just LOVE our night crew. :grin2

Oh that video is heartbreaking.
I sure hope all goes well with this little baby doll.

[stepnstone]

Thank you Russell, and thanks for the tag team advice through the night!
I just LOVE our night crew. :grin2

Oh that video is heartbreaking.
I sure hope all goes well with this little baby doll.

Thanks, Very sleep deprived, haven't been good for much lately.
These type emergencies always seem to hit when your at your worst,
I can get just as panicked as the person seeking help but I try...

I sure hope this baby can turn that corner, I'm praying hard for it...

[crazy4squirrels]

Where in Florida? If close I would be happy to take meds and show dosage

[Mommaluvy]

Question - if a person is using esbilac with probiotics then is it nessicery to add more probiotics while giving antibiotics? And in that case should feeds with esbeliac probiotic formula be given at different times as the medication?

[farrelli]

It is good to give probiotics two hours before or after ABs, not at the same time. And I would think it a good idea to give additional PBs even if on Esbilac. ABs kill the healthy bacteria in the gut.

Hope this baby is well.

[stepnstone]

Just got in, long day. Was really hoping to see a positive update
on baby girl. She's been on my mind all day...

[JoeEZ]

Update! Sprocket is doing soo good! She hasn't done the gasping thing again and the warm baths have helped her poop real good. We have been giving her a diluted solution of the new puppy milk and water to rehydrate her. She's very lively and strong , looks like she will be ok but I know we aren't out of the woods yet but it's so releving to see her doing so much better. I was in tears when I took the vid, heartbroken over the thought of this little baby suffering after already having such a tuff start in life. I have much hope for little sprocket!

[farrelli]

Great to hear!!! :Love_Icon

[CritterMom]

That is great! Make sure she stays nice and warm and do the full course of the medicine - and be very careful when you feed - go SLOW. :thumbsup

[Nancy in New York]

Update! Sprocket is doing soo good! She hasn't done the gasping thing again and the warm baths have helped her poop real good. We have been giving her a diluted solution of the new puppy milk and water to rehydrate her. She's very lively and strong , looks like she will be ok but I know we aren't out of the woods yet but it's so releving to see her doing so much better. I was in tears when I took the vid, heartbroken over the thought of this little baby suffering after already having such a tuff start in life. I have much hope for little sprocket!

Fantastic news, I just love this update.
Stay vigilant with giving the antibiotics.
Did you get the Esbilac with probiotics?
Sprocket is SO lucky to have found her way to YOU! :grouphug

[ctmom]

Great news! Praying this little one continues to thrive!

[stepnstone]

Fan freaking tastic! :woot
Best news I could have heard!
Stick with the ab's full course and give
that little girl lots of love, second chances
don't come every day. :grouphug

[farrelli]

Btw, don't know if it's been mentioned but refrigerate the AB solution. It's good for 10 days. And shake well before using.

[JoeEZ]

We will be taking baby sprocket to my mothers house tonight so I can use her internet and computer in hopes I can take some better picture to show u guys. See of you can tell /see anything . I've been using my phone and it's a pain to say the least haha and yes she's on the esbilac with probiotics . The only baby gas meds I've been able to fine are in liquid and I'm not sure how much to give also the pedi light , unsure of dose

[farrelli]

Just a drop of the infant gas-x.

[JoeEZ]

she still seems dehydrated to me even those ive been giving her a water and formula mix. is it ok to give her just water only for a feeding?[ATTACH]240681[ATTACH]

[stepnstone]

Try giving her water in between feedings.

[lennysmom]

You can always give her water in between feedings to ensure that she stays hydrated. She is just so precious.:Love_Icon So glad to hear she is doing better. :thumbsup

[pixiepoo]

It looks like pneumonia to me. :( I would get something stronger than Amoxi....

Edit: sorry! Didn't see that this post had been updated. My bad! I'm glad the little squee is doing better!