Hello ...

[Nutter_Butter]

Hi I'm new here and new to having a somewhat baby squirrel that I've had to learn the ropes pretty quickly. It took less time to fall in love with her. :Love_Icon Her name is Nutter Butter, Butter for short. I've rescued a lot of animals but never a squirrel. She must have blown out of the nest after a storm I'm not sure. I'm in Indianapolis, Indiana.

We kept hearing screaming during the storm and I thought some fool left their dog out but every time I went out there was no screaming. The next morning I found a shivering wet little one clinging to a bush in my yard. I called several rehabilitators but everyone was full and the DNR said I could not keep it myself. Was I supposed to put her out to die?

243024

She's nibbling on a walnut here.

243025

Sleepy baby.

So here we are I'm learning as I go along. I'm feeding her what she needs so far but I want to continue to do the right thing. It's been 37 years since I've been up feeding a baby in the middle of the night. :eek

[Nutter_Butter]

I'm feeding her Ensure with a 1 cc syringe and warm pedialyte. A walnut piece or two.

[DarkLies212]

Welcome to TSB!!!

How long have you been feeding the pedialyte? After 24 hours it has the opposite effect.
You're going to want to get probably Esbilac with Pro/Pre biotics (pet stores) and Fox Valley formula mix (online) not sure how the full Ensure diet is for her. Does she get any block?

Also, you are feeding her syringe pointed up, right?

Thank you for rescuing her by the way!!!!
She's precious! :Love_Icon

[farrelli]

Yes, Esbilac puppy powder with probiotics is available at many pet stores. Ensure is great for the moment, but not good for more than a little bit.

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You will need a scale to weigh her. It tells you how much to feed (5-7% of body weight), how she's progressing, and how to dose drugs if necessary.

While you're at the pet store, pick up a bag of Kaytee Forti-Diet blocks for rodents. They're not the best, but they will do for the moment. Henry's are the gold standard:

http://www.henryspets.com/hi-protein-blocks/

Cheaper blocks like Harlan Teklad and Oxbow are OK too.

Here is a link to proper feeding technique - head pointed down, syringe pointed up:

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

[Nutter_Butter]

I only gave her the pedialyte the first day, she wouldn't have anything to do with it after I started the ensure. I've been really worried about that though. I'm feeding her like suggested but should there be a nipple on there because there is not but a video I saw had one in it. As for the other things I will pick them up at the pet store tomorrow.

Thank you for the advice. I do think she will be better with an experienced rehabilitator so I am still looking for someone. But then again I want her to be loved on. Is that a bad thing? She prefers to eat and then go to sleep with me holding her. :Love_Icon

[Nutter_Butter]

Oh and any idea what kind of squirrel she is? I think a fox squirrel?