URGENT! Mississippi help needed NOW!!

[Jessica]

I have a squirrel who I am assuming is 7-8 weeks old. He is experiencing all symptoms of MBD. He has been on formula and I have been giving him a little bit of food. Sunday he was dragging his hind legs behind him. That is when I found this forum and treated him for MBD. He recovered almost fully after an hour of giving him tums. Today it reoccurred and his entire body was paralyzed. I slowly gave him calcium and he is slowly getting better. I just read however that squirrels under a year typically do not get MBD. So what could possibly be the issue? And what should I do?
Thank you! Jessica

[Jessica]

He just had what I think are 3 seizures. His head went back, his bottom wagged, and front legs went out. He is now very tired. What should I be doing for him?

[island rehabber]

I have a squirrel who I am assuming is 7-8 weeks old. He is experiencing all symptoms of MBD. He has been on formula and I have been giving him a little bit of food. Sunday he was dragging his hind legs behind him. That is when I found this forum and treated him for MBD. He recovered almost fully after an hour of giving him tums. Today it reoccurred and his entire body was paralyzed. I slowly gave him calcium and he is slowly getting better. I just read however that squirrels under a year typically do not get MBD. So what could possibly be the issue? And what should I do?
Thank you! Jessica

hi Jessica....
it is very very rare to see MBD in such a young squirrel. It is common, however, to find them with compression fractures or nerve damage to the spinal cord that gives them paralysis -- either temporary or permanent. BUT, to further confuse you :), sometimes when a baby squirrel is severely dehydrated and/or emaciated he will appear paralyzed or even neurological, only to perk up and recover after being fully hydrated (the fluid that you mixed the Tums in would accomplish this) and given the proper food. What else are you feeding him? Can you post a pic so we can really get a better idea of his age and condition?

Oh, and thank you for saving him! :grin2

[Jessica]

I have given him a few blueberries and some avocado to just get him used to table food. I am feeding puppy supplemental formula.

I am trying to figure out how to attach a picture.

[Jessica]

He is now just laying here as seen in the picture and will not move at all.

[HRT4SQRLS]

How long have you had him Jessica?

Pick him up and listen to his chest. Do you hear clicking when he breath?

[stepnstone]

Stop with the blueberries!
Questions, What type/kind puppy formula?
Avocado, with or without peel?
Do you have him on heat?
Hydrated?
If you pull up skin between shoulders how fast does it go down?

Edit: Good question HRT! :great

[Jessica]

About three weeks. His tree was cut down, nest destroyed, and mom ran away. His eyes were not open until a week after I got him. He had his bottom teeth though.

[Jessica]

I have fed him avocado without the peel. Esbilac (sp?) formula. Yes there is a heat lamp on him.

I do hear a clicking!!!

[Nancy in New York]

What town are you located in?

[Jessica]

His skin goes right back down when I pull it.

[Jessica]

Madison

[Nancy in New York]

I have fed him avocado without the peel. Esbilac (sp?) formula. Yes there is a heat lamp on him.

I do hear a clicking!!!

Clickinig is aspiration pneumonia. Can you call around and see if anyone
has Baytril or Cipro. Cipro is a human antibiotic typically used for UTI.
This is life and death if he has aspiration pneumonia.
What size syringe do you use.
Have you ever seen milk coming out of his nose?

[Jessica]

I am not sur what size syringe. It is small enough for him to suck. Yes formula has cons out of his nose... He would suck so hard sometimes when I fed him!

[Nancy in New York]

I am not sur what size syringe. It is small enough for him to suck. Yes formula has cons out of his nose... He would suck so hard sometimes when I fed him!


Are you anywhere near Senatobia?
What is the number on the side of your syringe, typically they are 1 cc, 3 cc, 5 cc, 10 cc and up.
Do you use a nipple?
You need to find antibiotics NOW. Please start calling around, we will dose for you.

[stepnstone]

Good call Hrt & Nancy, definitely aspiration pneumonia!

[Nancy in New York]

She has logged off, I hope this doesn't mean what I think................:Cry
Or she could be looking for antibiotics. :dono

[stepnstone]

She has logged off, I hope this doesn't mean what I think................:Cry
Or she could be looking for antibiotics. :dono

He was already in real bad shape, obviously pneumonia and with seizure, it don't look good.
We can pray....

[Jessica]

Thank you all so much for your help. I do not think I could have found antibiotics in time. There is a local vet that deals with wildlife. They took him to give him antibiotics. They will not give him back to me but at least he has a chance. Again thank you!!
Jessica

[Nancy in New York]

Thank you all so much for your help. I do not think I could have found antibiotics in time. There is a local vet that deals with wildlife. They took him to give him antibiotics. They will not give him back to me but at least he has a chance. Again thank you!!
Jessica

Awe Jessica, well at least you put him in the best hands possible.
Thank you for thinking of his well being and trying to find him help.
If another little squirrels comes into your care, please come on the board.
We are always willing to help.
Thank you! :hug

[Annabelle's papa]

:grouphugJessica :grouphug

[SammysMom]

Thank-you for giving him that chance, Jessica. You did a hard thing when you gave him over to someone who has a chance of saving him. We will keep him in our prayers. Will they tell you how he is?:grouphug:Love_Icon:grouphug

[Nancy in New York]

If another little one comes into your life, here is an excellent link that will help you with the basics.
http://www.henryspets.com/baby-squirrel-care/

[HRT4SQRLS]

Awww Jessica. I know how hard this has to be for you. In three weeks, they can sure steal your heart. :Love_Icon I'm sure you put a lot of effort and sleepless nights into caring for your baby.
That was a courageous and compassionate thing you did by seeking help with the vet. I pray that he will make it and if he does it's because you gave him a chance. :grouphug

[BigNibbler]

LONG SHOT BUT maybe a local rehabber should call the wildlife center. Maybe that could make a difference if they had someone interested in taking the baby off their hands.

[czarina]

Good idea BigNibbler! Hopefully we have someone in that area.

What a generous thing you did Jessica. Believe me, everyone here knows how hard it is to give your baby away. But you loved him enough, to give him a chance, knowing that the vet could orovide the life saving medicine he desperately needed.

I think you should check out the link that Nancy gave you for Henrys. And I think you should do it as soon as possible, because once a squirrel has found its way to you, they seem to have an underground hotline that they keep our names on.

It is very obvious, with a heart as big as yours, that it won't be long before another little one in need finds his way to you.

I am pretty sure you are crying, and everyone here has spilled many a tear.
But, you are such a loving person, that despite the loss you knew you would feel, you still did the best thing for your little one.

You are the kind of person that belongs here. Please come back. You can learn all about the little fuzzers here, and be ready for the next one.

Thank you so much for loving your little guy.:Love_Icon:Love_Icon:Love_Icon

[island rehabber]

Jessica, you are truly a hero. I can't imagine how sad you must feel knowing that you won't be bringing him home, but if he is to have any chance in the world at surviving pneumonia it will be under a vet's care who knows wildlife. There really wasn't any other option and you are truly a hero for putting this little sweet creature's needs before your own feelings.

You will have another squirrel in your life....I promise. It never fails. :tilt :grouphug