Possible seizure

[SammysMom]

Can anyone tell me if a seizure can present with the head thrown back and slight rigidity? I feel fairly certain that it can, but want to confirm. Baby is 4 - 5 weeks old and was found today on a city sidewalk. He is in rough shape. I have been hydrating him since arrival and just now tried to give him a bit of diluted formula thinking maybe he was having a drop in blood sugar that was causing seizures. Every so often he lets out the LOUD mama cry and he starts to run forward. It is quite frightening...:eek
I know the molasses trick and have tried it, but it doesn't seem to change anything. I will keep trying to get something into him, but I think prayers and good thoughts are about his only hope.
Let's just say that at this point, he is one of 9 4 - 5 week olds who are here. I have gotten one a day for the last several days...:tap Enough already! Thank God that Kyndria is going to help me by caring for 4 of them and another rehabber has offered to take whatever I need her to take. I was getting so scared, but just can't bear to hear about singles who have nowhere to go...:sad
I also have my sweet Miracle who still looks to be premature. Not a wisp of fur and thin as a rail. Eats pees and poops like a champ. Will have the Vital HN tomorrow and hope to heaven it will help this girl get on the right track. It is as if she is in a state of suspended animation...:shakehead

[farrelli]

I don;t know why it couldn't present like that. I've seen that in other animals and even in people. It isn't super common, but it happens.

Don't know what else to do but molasses. Are you using blackstrap? It has the best concentration of minerals.

Thanks for helping all of these guys. I'm sure you're feeling quite taxed at this point. At least the summer is almost over and you'll have several months to devote to yourself and your family. (Unless you overwinter.)

[SammysMom]

If I overwinter it will have to be in an igloo. I believe the squirrels and I would be out in the yard for sure...:shakehead I am using blackstrap. Also just gave him ibuprofen as Ken feels he has something going on with one of his wrists. I pray he makes it through the night as if needed, I can take him in to the vet tomorrow.

[lennysmom]

Oh Gayle, this is a rough season for you with these challenged ones. :( Sounds like he really had it rough to even survive. :sad
Praying for this little guy and for you. Hope he pulls through.:grouphug

[Milo's Mom]

Can anyone tell me if a seizure can present with the head thrown back and slight rigidity?

That sounds very similar to what little Bran was doing when I tried to feed him. At the time I did not think it was a seizure, but I have always wondered if it was, just mild. Does he do it all the time or just when you hold him?

[island rehabber]

it sounds like seizuring to me, too -- unless he is throwing his head back because he inhaled a bit of formula? i notice with those babies who do tend to 'snorkel' while eating nomatter how you feed or what you do, they often rear back and even try to run up my neck when they feel they are choking. I'm not saying that's all it is, just throwing it out there.

[pappy1264]

Gayle, this is exactly what happened with Pinkie Tuscadero's sibs. I left you a voicemail. Yes, that is a seizure, from extreme low blood sugar. I was told after what happened with those two using dextrose (the kind a vet uses for sub-q) and giving orally. They are extremely painful to witness.

[SammysMom]

Definitely seizures...they got worse. I will post about them later as I have to leave for work. He is alive and seemingly doing well at the moment. Time will tell...:thankyoufor all of the info!

[Loopy Squirrel]

I totally agree w/ Pappy. In my experience hypoglycemic seizures usually present with head arching.

[Duckman]

This sounds exactly like one I got yesterday, but he was just a wisp (nothing but skin and bones). He was seizing with the arching head due to dehydration (I think), but I lost him even after Sub-Qing him. He was just too far gone for me to do anything, and died within 4 hours of coming to me.
This year is INSANE with babies. We don't usually even see more than a handful before mid September, but this year, we have already rescued over 200! :eek We are running out of volunteers and may have to start turning them away if they keep up (something we have NEVER done!). :sad

[jbtartell]

yes Gayle sounds like my little girl with the heart deformity, she had seizures and I used subq and molasses. their sugar drops.. would not hurt her to try it...:grouphug

[Mommaluvy]

:grouphug
Will pray.

[SammysMom]

I think that I have figured out that he has head trauma. I started him on Pred and it really seemed to help almost immediately. His head tilt improved and he is far more active and eating better. I believe it was a combo that included hypoglycemia though because he is really better with molasses as well as with food. I am giving him a combo of feedings of Vital HN as well as regular formula. Thank-you all for the advice and the prayers! Here he is...

[Duckman]

I love that little face! :Welcome to the Squirrel Board wee little one. Much love will be coming your way from here!! And you have found the most tender hands in the world to take care of you!!! :Love_Icon:Love_Icon

[farrelli]

Glad he's feeling a bit better.

[ALittleNutty]

Thunk! I think I just fell in :Love_Icon. He is just darling! Hang in there little one!

[lukaslolamaus]

What a precious baby:Love_Icon. Glad the little found your caring hands :grouphug sending lots of healing prayers your way :grouphug:Love_Icon

[lennysmom]

Oh yay! Been praying and holding my breath on this one - so glad to hear he is doing better on the Pred. :thumbsup That little face is so precious. :Love_Icon:Love_Icon So glad he landed in your care. :)

[ctmom]

He is so cute! Glad you found out a way to help him. Praying he continues in this direction.

[pappy1264]

Love that dirty nose!!! Prayers continue for this little monkey.:Love_Icon

[Nancy in New York]

Precious little one, just precious! :Love_Icon

[island rehabber]

Good job bringing him around....he is so adorable! :Love_Icon

[jbtartell]

he was the first baby I checked on signing in.. sooo glad.. just watch those sugar levels and hydration and that will keep him going.. yayyyy and gotta love the pred it helps so well in so many ways, look at what it done for alex..... you have it going and he is in my prayers too..:Love_Icon:grouphug