Camille
08-17-2015, 06:00 PM
Hi everyone
I am writting this because I believe that we put a lot of emphasis on feeding proper formula but yet we don't put enough on all the other issues related to raising baby squirrels: things like committment, cost (hundreds of $ for a single squirrel, food, cage, heating pad, syringes, nipples, fresh veggies, fruits and the list goes on), equipment, medecine, lack of sleep and being practically housebound (especially when pinkies and/or if the babies are ill), no access to vets, ill effects for the babies resulting from a lack of adequate care. Most of all I want to stress that this is not a pet project one can just show off to friends and family.
There are lots of good hearted people who wish no harm to our littles critters but who, yet, sstill take on this task as if it is some kind of project to try. Some kind of experiment. While the ultimate goal is to help the baby many people undertake the task with too much naiveté for lack of information.
Case and point... Meet Charlie, male grey, came to me on august 2nd weighing 52g. He was about 2 weeks old. Charming little bugger, was a little dehydrated and wasn't stimulated properly by the person who found him. As of today at 141g (15 days later and now approximativly 4 weeks old) Charlie is being fed Esbilac with heavy wipping cream and is doing wonderfully ! No eyes open yet.
Meet my 2nd baby squirrel that came to my house last thursday (august 13th) brought in by a nice couple who said they'd tried everything for the past 4 weeks. They said they had lots of challenges with this baby (diarrhea, intolerance etc). In the end they said she could only tolerate goat's milk 2% with nothing else added. They admitted it was hard on them and the round-the-clock feedings didn't always work out for them and they would sometimes skip feedings They also mentionned that they had a hard time finding info and equipment to care for this baby squirrel. They tried, and were full of good intentions but knew very little. When they met Charlie, the surprise and pain was all over their faces. I didn't have to say anything.
Here she is. Meet Peanut. She's a female black squirrel, 4+ weeks old (maybe even a little older than Charlie, the couple said they had her since July 18th. She came from a litter of 5, their nest fell while someone was cutting the tree. One died from its head injury, and 3 died of malnutrition (the lady admitted it was her first time and that she didn't really know what to do). And now this little girl managed to survive at a merger ... 54g Yup...speechless huh !
I am switching her slowly but surely to a better formula but some damage has already been done. It's been 96 hours later and she is 78g. She learnt how to suck, didn't know how, as she was feed with a 10cc syringe and she kept her mouth open the size of a dime to only swallow 1/2 of what she was fed. Poop is now normal and so is the pee !!! Yesterday a surprise was waiting for me, one eye open !!! Today 2 eyes and she was walking in the plastic container and went to relieve herself on her own. Her skin still has flakes but its a major improvement from when she arrived. She had thick crusty scabs coming off her skin. I don't know if its because of dehydration, malnutrition, or scalded by heat ! I put in a humidifier in the container and kept her skin hydrate with lotion. Her fur is only now starting to grow !!!
I think it would be of great benefit to TSB if these pictures were posted in some permanent way - maybe as a sticky? - and recommended as one of the 1sst reads when new people sign up on TSB. They say a picture iw worth a thousand words and these pics are shocking enough that maybe it will hit people across the head and make them realize ... "Hey! I don't want this to happen to mine" and prompt them not to wait before seeking the help of someone more experienced. Maybe it could help people realise that time is not on their side if they lack experience and you cannot just improvise yourself rehabber at the drop of a hat.
That being said I am no rehabber myself, but I taught myself a lot, and I researched. I am also in a medical field. I am very committed but I reached out for help at the very 1st concern. Now, I surrounded myself by and I am being supported by a great team of experienced rehabbers who come to my house for update visits, give me good advice and keep teaching me sooo much. Even with all this support I still find it challenging. I will not mention their names here as a way to respect their identity but if they wish to comment... by all means ....
Please, I don't want this to be a judgement post, I want it to be a an educational post! For newcomers and good hearted people to realize that proper formula is one thing but experience is another and yes, I do agree we all started somewhere!!! I just mean to say, if one wants to start, then make sure you start on the right foot and move onto the right road.
:Peace
Camille
262076262077
I am writting this because I believe that we put a lot of emphasis on feeding proper formula but yet we don't put enough on all the other issues related to raising baby squirrels: things like committment, cost (hundreds of $ for a single squirrel, food, cage, heating pad, syringes, nipples, fresh veggies, fruits and the list goes on), equipment, medecine, lack of sleep and being practically housebound (especially when pinkies and/or if the babies are ill), no access to vets, ill effects for the babies resulting from a lack of adequate care. Most of all I want to stress that this is not a pet project one can just show off to friends and family.
There are lots of good hearted people who wish no harm to our littles critters but who, yet, sstill take on this task as if it is some kind of project to try. Some kind of experiment. While the ultimate goal is to help the baby many people undertake the task with too much naiveté for lack of information.
Case and point... Meet Charlie, male grey, came to me on august 2nd weighing 52g. He was about 2 weeks old. Charming little bugger, was a little dehydrated and wasn't stimulated properly by the person who found him. As of today at 141g (15 days later and now approximativly 4 weeks old) Charlie is being fed Esbilac with heavy wipping cream and is doing wonderfully ! No eyes open yet.
Meet my 2nd baby squirrel that came to my house last thursday (august 13th) brought in by a nice couple who said they'd tried everything for the past 4 weeks. They said they had lots of challenges with this baby (diarrhea, intolerance etc). In the end they said she could only tolerate goat's milk 2% with nothing else added. They admitted it was hard on them and the round-the-clock feedings didn't always work out for them and they would sometimes skip feedings They also mentionned that they had a hard time finding info and equipment to care for this baby squirrel. They tried, and were full of good intentions but knew very little. When they met Charlie, the surprise and pain was all over their faces. I didn't have to say anything.
Here she is. Meet Peanut. She's a female black squirrel, 4+ weeks old (maybe even a little older than Charlie, the couple said they had her since July 18th. She came from a litter of 5, their nest fell while someone was cutting the tree. One died from its head injury, and 3 died of malnutrition (the lady admitted it was her first time and that she didn't really know what to do). And now this little girl managed to survive at a merger ... 54g Yup...speechless huh !
I am switching her slowly but surely to a better formula but some damage has already been done. It's been 96 hours later and she is 78g. She learnt how to suck, didn't know how, as she was feed with a 10cc syringe and she kept her mouth open the size of a dime to only swallow 1/2 of what she was fed. Poop is now normal and so is the pee !!! Yesterday a surprise was waiting for me, one eye open !!! Today 2 eyes and she was walking in the plastic container and went to relieve herself on her own. Her skin still has flakes but its a major improvement from when she arrived. She had thick crusty scabs coming off her skin. I don't know if its because of dehydration, malnutrition, or scalded by heat ! I put in a humidifier in the container and kept her skin hydrate with lotion. Her fur is only now starting to grow !!!
I think it would be of great benefit to TSB if these pictures were posted in some permanent way - maybe as a sticky? - and recommended as one of the 1sst reads when new people sign up on TSB. They say a picture iw worth a thousand words and these pics are shocking enough that maybe it will hit people across the head and make them realize ... "Hey! I don't want this to happen to mine" and prompt them not to wait before seeking the help of someone more experienced. Maybe it could help people realise that time is not on their side if they lack experience and you cannot just improvise yourself rehabber at the drop of a hat.
That being said I am no rehabber myself, but I taught myself a lot, and I researched. I am also in a medical field. I am very committed but I reached out for help at the very 1st concern. Now, I surrounded myself by and I am being supported by a great team of experienced rehabbers who come to my house for update visits, give me good advice and keep teaching me sooo much. Even with all this support I still find it challenging. I will not mention their names here as a way to respect their identity but if they wish to comment... by all means ....
Please, I don't want this to be a judgement post, I want it to be a an educational post! For newcomers and good hearted people to realize that proper formula is one thing but experience is another and yes, I do agree we all started somewhere!!! I just mean to say, if one wants to start, then make sure you start on the right foot and move onto the right road.
:Peace
Camille
262076262077