Fast heart beat, Lethargic

[colinthesquirrel]

Hi there!
First time squirrel family here. A neighbor brought over Colin, grey squirrel, about a week ago. His eyes were shut and I believe he was around 4 weeks. A few days later his eyes opened, so I believe the age is around 5 weeks now.

My mother was taking care of him at first and she has been feeding him the liquid premixed Ebsilac. I've ordered the Fox Valley 32/40 mix, monkey biscuits, and rodent blocks from Henrys but until they arrive thats what he is eating.

He pees regularly and poops a slightly liquid golden substance. Today he was fine, eating every four hours and resting in a quiet room in his comfy 'hamster' cage. A couple of hours ago I noticed that his heart beat was faster then normal. I can see his body beating, its that hard. I dont know what to do. I dont know if this is an Emergency but better to be safe than sorry. Im very worried and scared! He is not clicking when he breathes but he is burying himself head down when I hold him or when he is sitting which I've read could be a bad sign.
Any information is helpful!!

[Fireweed]

It's the powder Esbilac with probiotics you need. Not the premixed liquid stuff.
Sometimes you can't hear them clicking too well, either.
Could he have gotten into something he shouldn't have?
Also, how did he end up with your neighbour? Did he fall out of a nest, cat caught, abandoned...?

Please post some pictures and/or video of him, ok?

[colinthesquirrel]

The neighbor said he found him on the ground in his backyard. We have only very large pine trees so where the nest could/would be I don't know, I believe he fell out of his nest. Is the liquid Esbilac going to do harm to him? Should we stop feeding him it to him at once?

He couldn't have gotten into anything he shouldn't have. When I listen with my ear against him I hear his heart beat, no clicking. Unless the two are interchangeable. I will take pictures and a video and post them.

thanks!

------------ When recording him, it scaring me that is sounds less like a heart rate to me now, and I hear the clicking!! When i moved him the sound started to get louder.

[colinthesquirrel]

http://youtu.be/vcCMCY4x7iU

[Fireweed]

Do you have or can you find any antibiotics? Cipro... Baytril... even Clavamox?
I think I could hear clicking at the end. Hard to tell with my sound. But your baby looks really bad. Will direct a more experienced member here...

[Nancy in New York]

I too thought that I heard clicking at the end. It's just so difficult to tell for sure.
I am late feeding, but will be back when I'm done.
IF you can find any of the antibiotics that fireweed mentioned, I can dose for you.
Do you have a weight on the little one?

[colinthesquirrel]

I cant find any thing in the house! Is there other names for those???

[Nancy in New York]

Before I feed, what size syringes are you using, and do you use a nipple?
Do you feed him in an upright postion? Could he have aspirated?
Do you have a heating pad set on low, half under the container?

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

[Nancy in New York]

I cant find any thing in the house! Is there other names for those???

SMZ-TMP
Sulfatrim
Bactrim
Clavamox
Augmentin

Are other ones you can try.

[Fireweed]

If you can't find any in your house, phone around to family, friends, neighbours.

[HRT4SQRLS]

Yes, I heard the clicking at the end also. Look for any type of antibiotic that you have. Post any that you find.
All you need is ONE pill.

Do you have any pet antibiotics, fish aquarium antibiotics?

Also,
Amoxicillin or
Doxycycline

[colinthesquirrel]

Going through every cabinet the only things for animals we have is apoquel and prednisone for one of the dogs.

I found Cephalexin, which im pretty sure is antibiotic and can treat UTI and pneaumonia.

[colinthesquirrel]

Found Ciprofloxacin .. It says Ciprofloxacin HCL 500 MG TAB...! !! Will this work??!?

[farrelli]

Let me read the thread, but yes, it's a commonly given AB for sqs. If no one beats me to it, I can dose it for you, but let me see what this is about.

[farrelli]

Also, I'll need a weight on the sq to dose, if it's not in this thread already.

[stepnstone]

Found Ciprofloxacin .. It says Ciprofloxacin HCL 500 MG TAB...! !! Will this work??!?

Yes! Have not read all, do you have a weight on baby?

[colinthesquirrel]

241940He weighs 52g .

[farrelli]

I;m going to PM you the usual dosing for this. I think that Nancy has a different way of doing it where such small amounts are used, so as to make dispensing it easier, but I don't know it. If she doesn't come back on, just use what I send and maybe add a little more water to the amount I specify so that you're not trying to dispense basically a tiny little drop. The amount of medicine will be the same, just in a larger squirt of water, if it makes it easier for you.

[farrelli]

Sent the PM. To be clear about what I said here, you'd measure out what I just sent you and then pull a little more plain water into the syringe to create a bit more volume in what you're dispensing. You don;t have to do this, just if you think it'll make things easier in getting the full dose into him.

[farrelli]

Going to bed now. If you have questions, post them here. Step is usually up late. We usually prefer drug discussion not happen on the open board, which is why I PMd it to you, but don;t be afraid to post any questions here. An admin will just delete any sensitive info later.

Good luck! And don;t wait on giving it to him. These things move quick and he shouldn't wait until morning.

[stepnstone]

Praying and hoping for the best for this little one.
Will be looking for an update...

There are questions about feeding supplies and proper
procedures that will need to be answered and gone over
so we may help you to help him better.

[farrelli]

I did get a confirmation email that she got it and was mixing it up.

[Fireweed]

I did get a confirmation email that she got it and was mixing it up.
:thumbsup Hoping we hear some good news today...

[colinthesquirrel]

The Little Guy is doing much better!! I gave him the first dose last night and then the 2nd dose, a half-dose like told, a little bit ago. I fed him 2cc Esbilac, two hours before I gave it to him like suggested.

He seems back to normal and is playing, climbing. He is much more enthusiastic about eating today. Will keep posting with updates.

Want to say thank you to everyone who helped me last night. I was in such a panic, and don't know what I would have done with out your help and suggestions!

[Fireweed]

Oh, YES! Great news, colinthesquirrel! :alright.gif Thanks for going all out to help him! :grouphug

[ALittleNutty]

Oh, YES! Great news, colinthesquirrel! :alright.gif Thanks for going all out to help him! :grouphug
:thumbsup:thumbsup:thumbsup

[Mommaluvy]

:Love_Icon:grin2 YEAH !

[farrelli]

Great to hear. You know that amount of formula is low though, right? At 52g he should be getting 2.6-3.6ccs per feeding. It's 5-7% of body weight.

[farrelli]

Also, could we get some pics or a vid of him in happier times? That video is so sad.

[TubeDriver]

Great update! :thumbsup


Continue the dosing for at least 7 day, no matter what!