High suck need babies- what to do?

[Cesta]

I have a set of triplet Greyson who are approximately 7-8 weeks old. They are plump, healthy, and eating well every 4 hours during the day. The problem is they are all using each other, and themselves, when separated, as pacifiers. As soon as I finish a feeding, I hear them scooting into position and the suckling commences. They've found some very creative positions! :eek. This is causing constant tugging on the genitals, both of the boys have stretched out penises and red scrotums, and even the little girl is sucked red. I've managed to keep scabbing to a minimum with diaper rash cream and colloidal silver, but is there a way to STOP the behavior w/o separating them? They love each other (no snickering!!!) and I hate to raise them as onlies but this can't continue. My experience in the past has been this behavior stops when they're well fed, but they ARE, and if anything the habit is getting worse. Any ideas?
:thankyou

[CritterMom]

So nobody is suckling on themselves? Man - this is a tough one - any "baby sock onesie" and "vet wrap kilt" solution is not going to work on babies this size and age - they are way too mobile. This isn't just a right now issue - with the boys, permanent damage that leads to BAD problems later can result. If you cannot create some kind of diaper that will physically prevent them from reaching their, ahem, target, I can't think of any solution short of separating them.

Just for grins, what are they eating?

[flyer girl]

I would recommend separating them and putting them in side by side cages. I agree that if this behavior keeps going the males could end up with serious issues..

[pappy1264]

Try using Thum, http://www.amazon.com/Thum-Thumb-Sucking-Biting-Treatment/dp/B0015TJPW4. I had to use this with my boy, Han. Be careful to not get it on the end, but put is around the base of the penis.

[Cesta]

So nobody is suckling on themselves? Man - this is a tough one - any "baby sock onesie" and "vet wrap kilt" solution is not going to work on babies this size and age - they are way too mobile. This isn't just a right now issue - with the boys, permanent damage that leads to BAD problems later can result. If you cannot create some kind of diaper that will physically prevent them from reaching their, ahem, target, I can't think of any solution short of separating them.

Just for grins, what are they eating?

They ARE sucking on themselves, they will seriously suck on anything they can get their mouths around. They made my 14 year old blush! :klunk

So what are the bad issues that can result? I just feel so bad separating them when I know they'll miss each other terribly. H4S recommended something that may have originally been your idea... Using sports tape to make a diaper/ skirt type barrier.

They have been eating Esbilac/cream/yogurt are transitioned to FV for older squirrels w/ yogurt.

[Cesta]

Try using Thum, http://www.amazon.com/Thum-Thumb-Sucking-Biting-Treatment/dp/B0015TJPW4. I had to use this with my boy, Han. Be careful to not get it on the end, but put is around the base of the penis.

Sorry, didn't see this when I replied (actually fell asleep typing last night.) I like this idea. My parents used something similar on me to make me stop chewing my nails. It definitely won't hurt them?
Don't laugh, but will these stretched out penises go back to a normal size eventually? :eek
:thankyou

[CritterMom]

Bad effects: scarring inside the urethra that completely prevents the squirrel from urinating, causing toxic shock and death. We had someone on the board a few years ago that had one of her releases return to her ill, and when he did not make it, she had him necropsied, where they found the reason. He had been a sucker. There is a tendency to blush and run but this is no kidding a big deal.

[Cesta]

So nobody is suckling on themselves? Man - this is a tough one - any "baby sock onesie" and "vet wrap kilt" solution is not going to work on babies this size and age - they are way too mobile. This isn't just a right now issue - with the boys, permanent damage that leads to BAD problems later can result. If you cannot create some kind of diaper that will physically prevent them from reaching their, ahem, target, I can't think of any solution short of separating them.

Just for grins, what are they eating?

I am going to try your vet wrap kilt until the thum stuff comes in. I will separate as a very last resort, but the boys can still self suckle...

Could this be boredom? I still have them in a small incubator, maybe they're ready to play? They are eyes open and fully furred, but the last time I tried to move them one was alarm calling as soon as I left the room. I couldn't find cause, figured they were still a little young and probably scared, and put them right back in the incubator...

I have ordered fresh HHB's and will offer those for 'alternate nibbling' as soon as they arrive! :grin3

[Cesta]

Bad effects: scarring inside the urethra that completely prevents the squirrel from urinating, causing toxic shock and death. We had someone on the board a few years ago that had one of her releases return to her ill, and when he did not make it, she had him necropsied, where they found the reason. He had been a sucker. There is a tendency to blush and run but this is no kidding a big deal.

Thank you... My Jasper last year had a terrible problem with this when he came to me. The scabbing was all down the inside of his urethra, he had a terrible time peeing. I was in tears with the soaking and prying off scabs and praying for him to void. He had to make a couple of vet trips. We did internal and external antibiotics. But as soon as he was eating regularly, the behavior stopped. Immediately. Quite possibly because it was painful, I guess. Maybe I've made these guys too comfortable with cream at every feeding, but I've kept the scabbing to a minimum and they can void fine. I sincerely hope I'm not too late and there's no permanent damage.

Thanks to everyone for your advice, I'll keep you updated. :)

[pappy1264]

Han had lots of problems and sadly, I lost him a few months ago. Although did not have a necropsy done (he passed on a Saturday, Monday would have been too late to be able to tell). But I truly believe it was his kidneys. Yes, it is very serious. Han's was always a bit longer, and also had a very large hole on the end, it did not go back down. His was so bad he had open sores around the sides of it, along with it being stretched out.

[LaurelLynn]

I have a couple suckers in this group that suck immediately after eating and are completely full. I took a couple nipples that I hadn't cut holes in yet, put them through a strip of fleece and tied around stuffies for pacifiers.I know it sounds weird, but they are actually really loving it and not abusing siblings anymore

[Cesta]

Try using Thum, http://www.amazon.com/Thum-Thumb-Sucking-Biting-Treatment/dp/B0015TJPW4. I had to use this with my boy, Han. Be careful to not get it on the end, but put is around the base of the penis.

I own YUK, the animal anti-lick gel, and could begin using it immediately. Does anyone have experience with this product? Is it safe for our little guys?

[Cesta]

I have a couple suckers in this group that suck immediately after eating and are completely full. I took a couple nipples that I hadn't cut holes in yet, put them through a strip of fleece and tied around stuffies for pacifiers.I know it sounds weird, but they are actually really loving it and not abusing siblings anymore

OMgoodness, that is GENIUS and ADORABLE! I'm trying to zoom in to get a better idea of how you did this, and with what. My guys use Miracle Nipples, which already have a hole in them and are rather stiff. What type of nipple did you use?
Could you explain in a little more detail how you attached the ribbon? Thank you so much. This should really go somewhere easy to find, I know lots of us have this problem and this is a fantastic solution!
:dance :thumbsup :dance

[Cesta]

Han had lots of problems and sadly, I lost him a few months ago. Although did not have a necropsy done (he passed on a Saturday, Monday would have been too late to be able to tell). But I truly believe it was his kidneys. Yes, it is very serious. Han's was always a bit longer, and also had a very large hole on the end, it did not go back down. His was so bad he had open sores around the sides of it, along with it being stretched out.

Oh, I'm sorry to hear that, sorry you lost Hans! Poor guy, that description sounds horribly painful. Did he come to you starving and dehydrated? I can't imagine one doing that much damage unless they were desperately hungry. I'm sure he had a beautiful life with you, he never would have survived in the wild. I :Love_Icon the people who make up this fantastic board!

[LaurelLynn]

OMgoodness, that is GENIUS and ADORABLE! I'm trying to zoom in to get a better idea of how you did this, and with what. My guys use Miracle Nipples, which already have a hole in them and are rather stiff. What type of nipple did you use?
Could you explain in a little more detail how you attached the ribbon? Thank you so much. This should really go somewhere easy to find, I know lots of us have this problem and this is a fantastic solution!
:dance :thumbsup :dance

The nipples are the pet ag, I use the elongated ones but they have normal too. They are $3 for a pack of 5 on Chris's squirrel store. They don't have a hole remade so it works good as a pacifier

Here's better pictures of the fleece strip and stuffy

[pjjere]

We have a sucker singleton now and we made a rice buddy(a sock tied off with rice in the end). We warm it up after feeding and put it in where he can cuddle with it. He will hug it and search for a nipple and fall fast asleep. Usually four hours later he is still snuggling up to his rice buddy.

[Cesta]

The nipples are the pet ag, I use the elongated ones but they have normal too. They are $3 for a pack of 5 on Chris's squirrel store. They don't have a hole remade so it works good as a pacifier

Here's better pictures of the fleece strip and stuffy

This is seriously brilliant. I know they sell these at my local pet store so I could pick some up today, and with two girls we have dozens of stuffies. I also have lots of fleece. You just cut a hole smaller than the pacifier so it can't pull through the fleece, and then attach it to the stuffed animal, right? So easy, but SO SMART. Thx so much for sharing. I do appreciate your time in posting all the pics and instructions. Fingers crossed it works for my guys. If I have to separate them, at least they'll have a stuffie buddy!! :glomp

[pjjere]

So did the nipple clad stuffie work? We are at our wit's end with little Domino. The warm rice buddy worked once but I think he was just really tired. We dressed up a stuffie with a nipple but that just wakes him up and he searches for more food. I just sat with him for a half hour after his meal and he would go to sleep and then start twitching and I literally had to fight him to keep him from gnawing on his penis. He jolts awake and claws and scratches to get to his penis. We are very discouraged. There is no way we can hold him 24 hours a day to keep him from mauling himself. HELP!!!!!!!

[pappy1264]

Get some vet wrap and make him a diaper. Put a cotton makeup remover square inside to help absorb urine if he pees.

[pjjere]

After the last feeding we put an applewood stick kind of in between his penis and his mouth when he went to curl up and he held it and chewed on it for a while and then went fast asleep. It seemed to help but I am wondering if anyone thinks this could be dangerous for him. It is too big for him to swallow but he can chew little bits off although he mainly just scores or marks the wood. Is this okay for him? Sorry to hi-jack the thread but it is the same subject. :)

[Mommaluvy]

The nipples are the pet ag, I use the elongated ones but they have normal too. They are $3 for a pack of 5 on Chris's squirrel store. They don't have a hole remade so it works good as a pacifier

Here's better pictures of the fleece strip and stuffy

Ingenious !

I have not run into this problem yet but I usually put rodent nuggets and apple wood in around 4/5 weeks. Maybe that helps or maybe I just have been lucky .

If I ever run into this problem.. I will remember Money Butt !

[pappy1264]

I would not think the apple stick would be an issue, as he cannot get very much off. Han did not do the suckling thing until he was older, so at that point, it was about a comfort thing (which in most cases, it is. Just like with a human baby using a pacifier.) Thank you. I was heartbroken. He was older when he passed, it came on sudden but kidney shutdown is likely the cause. He was born with a deformity (missing a foot) and was smaller then his sibs for quite some time.