Two New Babies

[Crittercare098]

Hi everyone! I posted a few days ago about my baby Chester. We took him to the vet, even after he died, and had his body examined. Despite being seen by a vet 3 times in his short life (just for check ups), no one even slightly detected that he had a mild case of hydrocephalus. When he fell, as it is suspected that is what happened, it caused his brain to swell in the already cramped space it was in. I am still so so sad about losing him, but he was the youngest, most difficult baby I have ever raised. I still feel responsible for his death, and cannot pick up his blanket without crying. However, after thinking about it, despite his passing, I did it. I raised him from his 18 gram self, and he survived the most critical age. And for that, I am proud. I have to believe that there is a reason he was placed with me. And whether it makes sense to others or not, I believe that reason was to show me that despite everyone telling me he would not make it, and that I should have just let him die so I didnt burden myself, that I could do it. I could do this.

So today, when I was handed 2 (approximately) 3 week old babies, who are currently 22.5 grams each, I couldnt say no. The person who had them refused to believe he could not raise them. They have been with him just over a week, and have not been on heat, and have been fed cat milk whenever he felt like feeding them. It is a miracle they have survived this long. I have been feeding 1/2 cc Pedialyte every 15 minutes for the past 2 feedings, with the first feeding being after 30 minutes on the heating pad. They are still extremely dehydrated, and although they are starting to move around a bit, they are still super lethargic. I work with domestic rescues (and have for four years) and because of this, have lactated ringers. Would it be better to give them sub-q fluids? If so how much? How often? They are way smaller than any domestic I have given sub qs to, and I have given them to newborn yorkie pups (3 ounces each)



Edit- Assuming my research is correct (which I want to check before administering) its 5%-7% of bodyweight.... so 1.6 cc (about????)

And do I continue with oral feedings but increase frequency to every two hours

[HRT4SQRLS]

Sorry, I can't help with the subQing.
The 5-7% applies to the amount of formula they receive per feeding.

Oh my, these babies are small. Maybe someone else will sound in regarding the subQing but I would keep trying to get hydration in them orally. You need to do that to hydrate them AND to flush the kitten formula out of their system. I would just keep it up until they are hydrated.

As soon as they get hydrated I would try to get some diluted formula into them. They sound seriously malnourished.

Sorry about Chester. Sometimes our best just isn't good enough. Their fate is determined by their injuries and many times it out of our hands but we still try.

[CritterMom]

What I am seeing in Wild Mammal Babies is that if they WILL take hydration orally, that is the way to go.

[Crittercare098]

I managed to get ahold of my vets cell number. He directed me to give 1 cc to each sub Q and continue with fluids. So far so good... Babies are finally starting to not have completely black stool, and are starting to move around a bit more. Still on pedyalite as of right now... Going to go 2 more pedyalite feedings (which will get me to 9 pm) and then switch to 3/1 water/formula mixture.

Now the question is... Eyes are still closed, but look to be opening soon. I know he's had them a week and a half, and when he first sent me pics, they were fully furred. So I'm looking at 3 weeks (ish) right? If not older?

Considering age, and size, which FV formula should I use? I was thinking 35/40 (the one for the younger babies, can't remember numbers) because of their size.

Also, I am very concerned about MBD. Is there anything else I should be giving them to prevent this??? Despite their young age I know from what he's told me they have been malnourished for at least a week and a half.

I'm trying to get a picture uploaded of them. 262284

[CritterMom]

Oh, those sweet babies...

Can you get any of the Esbilac puppy formula? You want the powdered version, not the liquid. It is available in most chain pet stores. It is a much, much better choice than the Fox Valley, especially for such terribly compromised babies. We have been having problems with the Fox Valley for a while.

[HRT4SQRLS]

Don't worry about MBD. The formula will take care of that.

That is one of the saddest pics I have seen in a while.
Try to get some nutrition into them tonight. If you can't get the Esbilac tonight, can you get some fresh goats milk at the grocery store tonight. They are so critical they don't have long. :sadness

Thank you for rescuing them.

[Crittercare098]

It's 11 pm where I am, all pet stores are closed. Walmart has puppy mill replacer and it's by PetAg. It isn't Esbilac (which is weird because I normally have esbilac on hand, but can't find any at the moment). I'll post the nutrition facts for you guys to see. Would it be better to get this, goats milk, or FV until I can get Esbilac? And do I have to add anything into the Esbilac?

What kind of problems? I am about to order more, should I not, and just get a huge thing of the Esbilac?

Also, how is the electrolyte solution from HHP? What about the high protein baby squirrel food? This is what I normally use to wean, but Chester wouldn't eat any of it. What do you use to wean? I ended up having to put Chester on infant baby food out of a syringe because he refused to eat anything but that and formula. I even soaked rodent chow in water and blended it. He wouldn't eat that either. He was such a special baby.

[Crittercare098]

262288262288



This is the formula Walmart has. Is this okay for tonight?

[SammysMom]

I bet Walmart has goats milk in the dried milk aisle if not fresh in the dairy department. If you get that and a container of Yo Baby vanilla yogurt you will be better off. Use 3 parts goats milk to 1 part full fat yogurt. I say Yo Baby because it is a good one that is full fat.

[Crittercare098]

They only have banana and mango yo baby.... No vanilla

[HRT4SQRLS]

What kind of problems? I am about to order more, should I not, and just get a huge thing of the Esbilac?
.

I wanted to answer one of your questions regarding the FoxValley. FV was always the go-to formula but a year or two ago young babies on FoxValley 32/40 started dying. The problem continued. The formula would set up in the GI tract and would not move. The baby would die. PetAg had changed their Esbilac puppy formula BACK to the formula that had been successful in the past. People started experimenting with it and found success. Most rehabbers stopped using FV32/40 for the young babies. The FV 20/50 for the most part didn't have these issues with older babies. I personally still use FV 20/50 for older babies. Most are using the Esbilac with young babies. Some are mixing Esbilac with FV20/50 (50:50) when the baby gets older.


Thank you so much for the efforts that you went to last night to help these babies. I see you were out in the middle of the night buying supplies for these little ones. :grouphug

[CritterMom]

They only have banana and mango yo baby.... No vanilla

ANY flavor. They LOVE banana!

[Crittercare098]

I got banana, and mango. So far the female has been devouring it. The male looked like he was bloated this morning, so I gave him a warm bath and he had dark stool everywhere. They both made it through the night, with feedings every 2 hours. They still had milk bands the past 2 feedings, so I extended to every 3 hours. I think collectively I got 3 hours of sleep last night, but the fact that they both made it is totally worth it.

Someone posted on facebook last night about how they are raising 2 5 week olds who just got teeth/eyes open. They have been feeding 2 cc every 3 hours, and the babies body condition to me looks horrible. I told them I would take them, so all 4 could be released together but she refused and got very upset with me for offering. I am trying to direct her the best I can, but they look to be the same size as my babies. I directed her to come here and seek help. (she lives 10 minutes away from me) I will attach pics of her babies before and after pics (2 weeks elapsed). I don't knowif I am exaggerated, but they look like they are starving.

Would it be okay to keep them on the goats milk/banana until later this week? I can get Esbilac tomorrow, but I would hate to change their formula again. They have been switched 3 times in the past 48 hours between the KMR, then the puppy milk replacer, now the goats milk.

Thank you everone for answering all of my questions!! I am so grateful to finally be able to have them answered. After rescuing for 4 years and now not being under a rehabber anymore (I was for a few years, but anytime anything got difficult she would take the baby and finish herself, and give me a healthy baby. So I don't have the experience with the drastic cases) 262294262295262295

[Crittercare098]

I just found the little male dead :(. The girl has some clear discharge coming from her nose. She isn't clicking, is still eating very well, and isn't lethargic. Beginning stages of pneumonia maybe?? What would the dose of Baytril be on babies this small?? I don't have any Baytril either. I'm hoping a friend f a friend will write a prescription for me.

[CritterMom]

I am so sorry. They were in such awful shape.

Cipro will work, too. Regardless of which, we will need the weight of the baby and the strength of the meds (like the milligram size if it is a pill).

[pixiepoo]

Where are you located? I have quite a med stash on hand. I am pretty sure I have cipro.

[Crittercare098]

Hi! Sorry I didnt respond sooner, my internet has been down. I had a friend (who is a human dr) call in Cipro for me, so I could have it on hand since we always have babies in the house anyway.

She called in 500 mg tablets... I have only given meds that were either injectable or already in liquid form. The rehabber I worked under would "make" the meds, and give them to me if need be after they were prepared.

I have no idea how much to give, or how I would go about mixing it to make it so I could give it to her?

PS- she started clicking this morning, so i want to get meds in her ASAP.


28 grams (woo! We gained weight!)
500 mg tablets of Cipro