First-time squirrel rehabber with pinkies!

[lgyure85]

So I am apprenticing a wonderful rehabber, and I have my first pair of pinkies! This is the first wild mammal I am doing (been doing birds). One is about 2 weeks, and the other about 1 week. I have a few questions-

1. How long between poops should I worry? I stimulate every time I feed, but it's been about 5 hours since the little one pooped, and I can see her intestines clearly through her skin. She's been peeing fine, as has the older boy.

2. The older boy has a laceration from his fall. It is dry and clean, not red, warm etc. but it just looks so painful! Is there any kind of topical I can safely put on him? The zoo I got him from already gave him a few doses of antibiotics.

3. Does anyone have experience tube feeding? The zoo showed me how, and I've done it on kids, but the lady I am apprenticing doesn't think squirrel babies need it. I worry that they won't get enough food if I let them gauge, and I won't be able to measure how much they are getting as easily since some of it drips around their mouths (not nose, no worries :)

I am feeding in the correct (belly-down, 45* angle), and going extremely slowly. I currently just have a 1ml slip-tip syringe and a cath-tip (going to get the nipples from apprentice tomorrow). Feeding Fox Valley 32/40. I read the sticky on problems with it, but that's what the zoo uses, and gave me to use. Both have been without a milk line prior to the last 2 feedings.

Any other tips welcome! Thanks!

[Mommaluvy]

:Welcome

Your in the right place. Sounds good - the 1cc etc.

I am just now learning about tube feeding. But I agree squirrels do not need it. You measure their intake by their milk line and their body weight. I was shocked to hear they feed possums like tht now. New borns i could see.. but a full furred eyes closed possum?? Mine were bottle fed back 20 yrs ago.

Anyhow back to squirrels.

Weight in grams x . 05

So a 20 gram pinkie should eat 1 cc.
I am new to this also .. or at least squirrels. This is my first squirrel season.

Welcome to the group and I am sure more experianced people will answer soon.

One thing more.. Fox Valley.. Vs Esbilac.. seems if you read here there have been problems with both. People hear tend to use either or and sometimes both. My first pinky was fine on Esbilac.. but this last batch.. Not so much.

Anyhow.. thanks for helping these poor babies

[island rehabber]

Welcome to the Wonderful World of Pinkies!:Welcome

If their milk lines are truly disappearing between feedings, then use the 32/40. I would feel better if you were at least mixing it half & half with Esbilac + Probiotics, just in case. The 32/40 tends to back up in pinky squirrels' GI systems and cause bloat, which can be deadly. It worries me that you said you can "see her intestines" in one baby girl -- do they look ripply, or swollen?

Here's my little one-pager about Pinky Squirrels: hope it helps....


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.

[lgyure85]

Welcome to the Wonderful World of Pinkies!:Welcome

If their milk lines are truly disappearing between feedings, then use the 32/40. I would feel better if you were at least mixing it half & half with Esbilac + Probiotics, just in case. The 32/40 tends to back up in pinky squirrels' GI systems and cause bloat, which can be deadly. It worries me that you said you can "see her intestines" in one baby girl -- do they look ripply, or swollen?

Here's my little one-pager about Pinky Squirrels: hope it helps....


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.

I've been reading through everything I can find on pinky care since last night, and I really appreciate what you've put out there. I'll go out tomorrow and get the esbilac with probiotics. I just got the babies last night, and the milk line hadn't been disappearing for the rehab manager at the zoo. It disappeared between 9am and noon, and has done so consistently, but the intestines look full. The zoo rehab manager wasn't optimistic about the little girls survival, but I want to do whatever I can. I have been giving her extra fluids (a bit of pedialyte between meals, and a couple drops of water after a meal to help it go down). I figured the pedialyte may help if she's stopped up, since salt draws fluid to the bowel. They are warm, active, and talkative when I stimulate them, so they seem to be doing well in general?

Thank you!

[SammysMom]

Sounds like you are ont he right track. The pedialyte should only be used for 24 hours though and then change to sugar water. The salt is not good for longer than 24 hours. The sugar actually draws fluid to the intestines so it will help. A bit of molasses might also help with the constipation.
I am new to pinkies and Island Rehabber is WONDERFUL with them. She can help a great deal in making your rehabbing them successful.