URGENT: Nose Bleeding 5 Week Old Gray Squirrel

[Jdirwin]

So a student brought me a squirrel he found in his back yard that fell out the nest after a big storm earlier this week. He seemed fine for a few days and has been eating regularly and the appropriate amount. He was fine this morning despite diarrhea but a few hours ago his nose started bleeding too and seems to have trouble breathing. He is still alive right now and is resting on the heating pad. Is there anything I can do to get him well and keep him alive? Does anyone know whats wrong????

[SammysMom]

What and how much are you feeding? Is he good and hydrated? Is there any chance he might have bumped his nose today?

[Jdirwin]

What and how much are you feeding? Is he good and hydrated? Is there any chance he might have bumped his nose today?

Esbilac puppy formula (powder not can) 3-5cc, depending on how hungry he is, every 4 hours. He has only been handled by me today when I fed him so no bumps should've happened.

[SammysMom]

Do you know how much he weighs?

[Jdirwin]

Do you know how much he weighs?

Not sure, he's not terribly skinny though, in the few days ive had him hes gotten some weight. Seems normal

[SammysMom]

Can you take a pic of him? You can text it to me if that is easier. Include one of his whole body and one that is of his face straight on if possible. My number is

[Jdirwin]

Can you take a pic of him? You can text it to me if that is easier. Include one of his whole body and one that is of his face straight on if possible.

Ok i will. My number will be a 251 number

[SammysMom]

Here is the baby. Poor little sweetpea...
He needs lots of prayers.

[Nancy in New York]

OMG he is SO tiny. Is this the photo or does his back end
look "fragile"?

[SammysMom]

His whole little self looks fragile. I am very concerned about internal injuries. Where are you located? We need to see if we can find someone who can help you.

[Jdirwin]

His whole little self looks fragile. I am very concerned about internal injuries. Where are you located? We need to see if we can find someone who can help you.

Mobile Al, We have a friend who is a Vet and her friend works for the wildlife center but they said they're closed till tomorrow morning

[Nancy in New York]

Mobile Al, We have a friend who is a Vet and her friend works for the wildlife center but they said they're closed till tomorrow morning

I am reaching out to a member who is from Mobile.
She has only raised two squirrels, but perhaps she can help,
and she has a vet who has seen her squirrel.

[Nancy in New York]

What kind of container do you have him in?
Is the heating pad on low, and UNDER the container.
I think your little one needs lots of help.
Hold on we will look for help.

You seem to be feeding him a lot of formula.
Are you sure that is the correct amount?
Are you using a 1 cc syringe?

[Jdirwin]

What kind of container do you have him in?
Is the heating pad on low, and UNDER the container.
I think your little one needs lots of help.
Hold on we will look for help.

You seem to be feeding him a lot of formula.
Are you sure that is the correct amount?
Are you using a 1 cc syringe?

Yes it's on low under the container, we had him in a shoebox since it was on short notice,also had a wash cloth in there in a corner incase he wanted cover. I'm feeding him the same amount i fed another squirrel i had last year who grew to adult size and was released. We are using a new 1cc plastic syringe.

[SammysMom]

Coould you swap that wash cloth for some fleece or tee shirt material? It is better for them and they can't get nails caught in it. Has he been active up until today? Don't take any of our questions as criticism. You are doing a good job and came to the right place for help.:grouphug

[Jdirwin]

Coould you swap that wash cloth for some fleece or tee shirt material? It is better for them and they can't get nails caught in it. Has he been active up until today? Don't take any of our questions as criticism. You are doing a good job and came to the right place for help.:grouphug


Yes I can swap it. He's been very active and actually opened his eyes for the first time yesterday! He's still crawling around and looking around but it's just the bleeding and breathing pattern that has me really concerned, otherwise he seems normal.

[Nancy in New York]

Yes it's on low under the container, we had him in a shoebox since it was on short notice,also had a wash cloth in there in a corner incase he wanted cover. I'm feeding him the same amount i fed another squirrel i had last year who grew to adult size and was released. We are using a new 1cc plastic syringe.

You need an accurate weight on him to feed him the right amount of 5-7% of their body weight.
Get some soft fleece or t shirts, nothing with looks and put that in there for him. Also make sure the heating pad is only under half of the container, in case he overheats he needs t be able to climb up. Are his eyes opened.
Cardboard sucks hydration from them. Do you have anything else you can put him in? He can crawl out of that fairly shoe box easily can't he?

[SammysMom]

Small plastic tote is a great container. Like a shoebox size.

[Jdirwin]

You need an accurate weight on him to feed him the right amount of 5-7% of their body weight.
Get some soft fleece or t shirts, nothing with looks and put that in there for him. Also make sure the heating pad is only under half of the container, in case he overheats he needs t be able to climb up. Are his eyes opened.
Cardboard sucks hydration from them. Do you have anything else you can put him in? He can crawl out of that fairly shoe box easily can't he?


He just opened his eyes yesterday, he hasn't been trying to crawl out of the box,it was a boot box so it's pretty roomy he just crawls around to get comfortable every now and then.

[Jdirwin]

Small plastic tote is a great container. Like a shoebox size.

Ok we have one, i'll put him in it :)

[Nancy in New York]

He just opened his eyes yesterday, he hasn't been trying to crawl out of the box,it was a boot box so it's pretty roomy he just crawls around to get comfortable every now and then.

Put more material in it OK?
Keep him away from other pets too.
We need something DEEP so he can't crawl out. OK?

[SammysMom]

Can you hold him up to your ear like a phone and see if he is making a clicking sound in his chest with every breath? Do you have any antibiotics in case they are needed? Maybe a cipro tablet left over from a person who didn't finish them?

[Jdirwin]

You need an accurate weight on him to feed him the right amount of 5-7% of their body weight.
Get some soft fleece or t shirts, nothing with looks and put that in there for him. Also make sure the heating pad is only under half of the container, in case he overheats he needs t be able to climb up. Are his eyes opened.
Cardboard sucks hydration from them. Do you have anything else you can put him in? He can crawl out of that fairly shoe box easily can't he?

Just weighed him, 4.5 oz is his weight

[SammysMom]

126g

[Shewhosweptforest]

Praying for this wee lil fellow :bowdown good luck, you're in excellent hands..."is it tomorrow, already?" Why do these things always happen when the offices are closed? :( I hope your vet friend will be able to help :Love_Icon

[SammysMom]

Do you have a humidifier? His poor little nose might benefit from some humidity. What do you think, Nancy?

[Jdirwin]

Can you hold him up to your ear like a phone and see if he is making a clicking sound in his chest with every breath? Do you have any antibiotics in case they are needed? Maybe a cipro tablet left over from a person who didn't finish them?

He is clicking, I don't think we have any antibiotics on hand

[Jdirwin]

126g

So how much should i be feeding him

[SammysMom]

Forget the vaporizer for now. Take a good look in the medicine cabinet for an antibiotic.

[Nancy in New York]

Do you have a humidifier? His poor little nose might benefit from some humidity. What do you think, Nancy?
Definitely sounds like a great idea to me!

[SammysMom]

6cc per feeding would be 5%. I am more concerned by the clicking. It likely means aspiration pneumonia. Have you ever seen formula come out of his nose when he eats fast?

[Jdirwin]

Forget the vaporizer for now. Take a good look in the medicine cabinet for an antibiotic.

Does it have to be cipro?

[Jdirwin]

6cc per feeding would be 5%. I am more concerned by the clicking. It likely means aspiration pneumonia. Have you ever seen formula come out of his nose when he eats fast?

No, he eats pretty slow compared to how my other one did.

[SammysMom]

There is a possibility that the clicking is from the nose bleeding. Be sure to feed upright with the syringe pointing up toward the roof of his mouth. Go very slowly. He really does need that vet. Do you think he can see the vet in the morning?

[Nancy in New York]

Does it have to be cipro?

Do you have Baytril? Tell us what anitbiotics you have please.

[Jdirwin]

There is a possibility that the clicking is from the nose bleeding. Be sure to feed upright with the syringe pointing up toward the roof of his mouth. Go very slowly. He really does need that vet. Do you think he can see the vet in the morning?

My vet friend said she is not very familiar with squirrels, mainly cats & dogs. Do you know another in the Mobile/ Baldwin Co. area?

[Jdirwin]

Do you have Baytril? Tell us what anitbiotics you have please.

No, we have cephalexin and sulfamethoxazole

[SammysMom]

What is the strength of the sulpha?

[Nancy in New York]

My vet friend said she is not very familiar with squirrels, mainly cats & dogs. Do you know another in the Mobile/ Baldwin Co. area?

I reached out to a member in Mobile that has a vet that has seen her squirrel. Hopefully she will get back to me either tonight or tomorrow. :thumbsup

[Jdirwin]

What is the strength of the sulpha?

I'm trying to find out, the bottle doesn't say.. I looked up the imprint on the pill and it said either 800 mg / 160 mg. The imprint is H49

[Jdirwin]

I reached out to a member in Mobile that has a vet that has seen her squirrel. Hopefully she will get back to me either tonight or tomorrow. :thumbsup

Thank you so much!

[Nancy in New York]

I'm trying to find out, the bottle doesn't say.. I looked up the imprint on the pill and it said either 800 mg / 160 mg. The imprint is H49

Is this what your pill looks like?

http://www.webmd.com/drugs/search.aspx?simprint=H+49&scolor=&sshape=&advsubmit.x=49&advsubmit.y=18

[Jdirwin]

Is this what your pill looks like?

http://www.webmd.com/drugs/search.aspx?simprint=H+49&scolor=&sshape=&advsubmit.x=49&advsubmit.y=18


Yes! Thats one of the sites i went on. See the mg dosage just isn't clear

[Nancy in New York]

Yes! Thats one of the sites i went on. See the mg dosage just isn't clear
I am typing this up now.
But you are saying that you have the 800/160 correct?

[Jdirwin]

I am typing this up now.
But you are saying that you have the 800/160 correct?

yes

[SammysMom]

Thank you nancy! Many healing prayers going up for your little guy...:Love_Icon:Love_Icon:Love_Icon

[Nancy in New York]

Thank you nancy! Many healing prayers going up for your little guy...:Love_Icon:Love_Icon:Love_Icon

Just sent a pm with dosing.
Almost put it on open board. :grin2

[Jdirwin]

Just sent a pm with dosing.
Almost put it on open board. :grin2

ahhh thank you!

[Nancy in New York]

ahhh thank you!

One more thing, just have an additional syringe ready with a little bit of sweet water
to get that yucky taste out.
Put a tiny bit of maple syrup or molasses in a tiny bit of water, and let her/him
take that after the medicine ~.3 - .4 should be enough.

[SammysMom]

When you go to the vet today, you need to mention this to him/her. I got a message from an experienced rehabber who said "This is very possibly Bordetella.
21 days of Doxy and Baytril together is usually the
only way to save them.". I would definitely speak to the vet and see if they will give you this combo. We can help with dosing if you get the meds and the vet isn't squirrel savvy.

[island rehabber]

When you go to the vet today, you need to mention this to him/her. I got a message from an experienced rehabber who said "This is very possibly Bordetella.
21 days of Doxy and Baytril together is usually the
only way to save them.". I would definitely speak to the vet and see if they will give you this combo. We can help with dosing if you get the meds and the vet isn't squirrel savvy.

Yes! I am just seeing this but it sounds like the description Christina Clark gave at a conference last year, of several bordatella cases she got in. THe nosebleed is the key symptom :(

[Jdirwin]

Yes! I am just seeing this but it sounds like the description Christina Clark gave at a conference last year, of several bordatella cases she got in. THe nosebleed is the key symptom :(

I just read up on bordetella and I'm pretty sure thats what he has, he is refusing to feed and is having trouble breathing.. I'm still looking for a vet who deals with squirrels.

[Nancy in New York]

I just read up on bordetella and I'm pretty sure thats what he has, he is refusing to feed and is having trouble breathing.. I'm still looking for a vet who deals with squirrels.

I just sent you contact info of a new member in Mobile that took her little squirrel to a vet for help.

[SammysMom]

If your vet friend will get you the meds mentioned it would be a great start. Personally, I would get those meds asap.

[Nancy in New York]

If your vet friend will get you the meds mentioned it would be a great start. Personally, I would get those meds asap.
:thumbsup

[Nancy in New York]

I just sent you contact info of a new member in Mobile that took her little squirrel to a vet for help.

I just heard back from the member in Mobile she is eagar to help you out.
She is applying for her rehab license this coming week too!
Have you contacted her yet? I will pm you her email address, and she has vet access too!