I need help with found baby squirrel!

[BabyJules]

Hello, I am very glad that I found this forum! I belong to quite a few parrot forums and I am familiar with taking care of baby birds however, this is my first experience with a squirrel.

A friend of mine found the little guy in the morning, around 7 am in the middle of her stone walkway outside. She had him in a safer place outside to see if mom would get him. By 11 am, no news and baby still outside. The baby was weak and very dehydrated and cold when I got there but clean, no fleas or bugs that I can see. I warmed him up and fed him Pedialyte, 2 cc every 2 hours. His eyes are closed, he seems to be around 4 weeks old from what I can tell from looking up online at pictures.
I called rehabilitators in my area with no luck for help, none could take him. I am still hoping that my vet takes him. Haven't heard by from her yet.

I stimulate him after each feeding, he pees a little, few drops, no poop. He looks so much better now!
I was told to do the pedialyte for 24 hours, every 2 hours, 2 cc. Is that correct? I started it around noon. I bought the Goat Milk and heavy cream and yogurt as stated here. How do i introduce it? Do I add some pedialyte to it? How much to feed and how many hours in between feedings? Tomorrow I will also buy the formula from Fox Valley.

My friend told me that she found another squirrel around the same area this evening after work. Unfortunately, the sibling was dead :(. I wonder if the mother died and the babies are crawling out of the nest looking for her? They seems to have been well taken care of until now.....

Thank you for any help you can provide!

[BabyJules]

Oh and the Pedialyte.....Flavored or unflavored?

[farrelli]

Pedialyte for only 24 hrs. Is he hydrated now? You should feed the GM after hydration. Then, it's 5-7% of body weight every 3 hrs. For example, a 100g sq would get 5-7ccs. Also, follow proper feeding technique, head pointed down, 1cc (available at pharmacies) syringe pointed up. Very important.

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

Don't mix pedialyte with anything.

Are you near New Haven?

More in a minute.

[farrelli]

Esbilac with probiotics on the label is what you want to feed long term. It's available at many pet stores:

241884

And here is a sheet with basic care:

http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?11782-I-FOUND-A-BABY-SQUIRREL-NOW-WHAT

Yes, the babies could be coming out if mom is dead. Have someone look for more regularly and listen for their cries. They don't always do it though.

http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?37716-BABY-SQUIRREL-CALLING-FOR-MOM

Please ask many questions!

[farrelli]

I've PMd someone in New Haven. I this finding a rehabber in CT is very difficult.

[farrelli]

Oh, and formula should be very warm. A sq's body temp is 102F.

[MollyBear361]

Babies usually come three or more. See if she can check for more. Mom is sadly gone
..

[BabyJules]

Thank you! I can drive to the New Heaven area.

[BabyJules]

I am confused about Esbilac. I read on this forum not to use it, only FV or the GM formula while waiting for the FV. Can you clarify?

It's been 19 hours since I started on the Pedialyte and the past 2 feedings, he barely gets a few drops, he doesn't seem to want it anymore (it took it really well before). Should I start the Goat Milk formula? What should the temperature be? And how often? I will post a picture, I believe he is about 4 weeks old.

Thank you!

[Nancy in New York]

I am confused about Esbilac. I read on this forum not to use it, only FV or the GM formula while waiting for the FV. Can you clarify?

It's been 19 hours since I started on the Pedialyte and the past 2 feedings, he barely gets a few drops, he doesn't seem to want it anymore (it took it really well before). Should I start the Goat Milk formula? What should the temperature be? And how often? I will post a picture, I believe he is about 4 weeks old.

Thank you!

A few years back we strongly suggested FV because the Esbilac had changed their formula.
Now we are finding problems with the Fox Valley 32/40 not dissolving, and causing bloat and constipation.
The Esbilac has since come out with a new formula that is working like a charm. BUT you have to get the
powdered one that says it contains probiotics, as seen in the photo above.
You can start the GM formula if you feel he is fully hydrated. The temperature should be "hot", but NOT scorching hot,
a little warmer than a baby's formula, test it on your wrist.
You would need a weight on him to tell you how much he should eat at every feeding, rule of thumb is 5-7% of their body weight.
Pictures would help immensely.
Thanks for helping this little one! :grouphug

[SammysMom]

Can you text me a pic to 203 214-7427? I am in new haven

[BabyJules]

Just texted you a pic, SammysMom.....

[BabyJules]

I just weighed him. He is 63 grams, so that's 3 cc?

[farrelli]

Did you do the pinch test? Is he dehydrated? If not, start the GM.

He's not lethargic or anything, right? Always make sure he's not clicking when he breaths. Hold him close.

Did SM get in touch with you? Can you post pics?

[Spanky]

I just weighed him. He is 63 grams, so that's 3 cc?

That would be about the minimum... At 63 grams you want to be feeding them 3.15 - 4.41CC (5% - 7%).

[BabyJules]

Yes! Thank you Farelli! I found a rehabilitator in my area and she's picking him up after work! Yay!!!! I'm soooooo relieved!
Baby is doing good, not lethargic just not taking much at feeding. Wish I had a nipple on hand (all I saw were online). However, he will soon be amongs other baby squirrels to be rehabilitated! :)

Thank you ALL for your help !!!!

[farrelli]

Was this rehabber approved by Sammy'sMom? You have to be careful that they won't just euthanize.

[BabyJules]

She is a friend's co-worker who could vouch for her credentials. I saw the lady in person too, she just released 4 squirrels this spring. She also said she will keep me updated and I could come and visit if i wanted.My friend has seen her squirrel rescue set up and I guess it's pretty amazing, she is really dedicated to giving them the best it seems. I will keep in touch with her.

I was even more excited to find someone around my area willing to help as I had contacted so many people in vain. Especially since the friend who found the baby called me today telling me that another baby had fallen off the nest and was alive but very dehydrated and really cold. I brought over my baby and figured he could help warming up his sibling on his heating pad. By the time I got there, she had 3 altogether!! They were covered in fleas and not well at all. We warmed them up and I fed them Pedialyte, and bathed them to get rid of the fleas, but unfortunately we were too late for one and he passed :(. It was so heartbreaking, we went as fast as possible to get them warm and rehydrated first.

Once clean and fed and warm, they all cuddled and slept....1 hours later, the rehabilitator picked them up and I finally was able to breath relief! Thought you would like to see pictures :)

[BabyJules]

More pictures of the babies

[BabyJules]

One more.....my favorite !

[lennysmom]

Thank you for taking the time and effort to help these babies and find a local rehabber to take care of them. :thumbsup
Love all the pictures - they are just precious. :Love_Icon
I'm sorry for the loss of one little one, but because you took the time to care, the other two are safe and warm. :)

[farrelli]

Very cute little guys! Would you mind PMing the contact info for this rehabber to SammysMom? I think she keeps a list of rehabbers in all areas for referrals here, but in this case, she is being inundated with squirrels because she's apparently one of the few rehabbers in CT, and I think she would like to be able to network.

[SammysMom]

:thankyouFarrelli!!! I would LOVE that info for the list in CT!