hypothermic adult squirrel

[Erin]

Hello, this morning we found a wet, hypothermic adult squirrel on the side of our 47 degree pool. We assume he fell in overnight, and somehow managed to get himself out. We warmed up a towel in the dryer to scoop him up, and we currently have him bundled in the towel, in a small box with the lid open. He has been with us for about 45 minutes, and is blinking and breathing but not really moving yet. Any other immediate interventions we can do to help him? My plan is: when he starts moving around a bit to will give him some water or pedialyte in a syringe, if he tolerates that then some nuts or seeds, and if he starts moving around a lot and acting normal to put him back outside. Please let me know what else I can do.

[Nancy in New York]

Hello, this morning we found a wet, hypothermic adult squirrel on the side of our 47 degree pool. We assume he fell in overnight, and somehow managed to get himself out. We warmed up a towel in the dryer to scoop him up, and we currently have him bundled in the towel, in a small box with the lid open. He has been with us for about 45 minutes, and is blinking and breathing but not really moving yet. Any other immediate interventions we can do to help him? My plan is: when he starts moving around a bit to will give him some water or pedialyte in a syringe, if he tolerates that then some nuts or seeds, and if he starts moving around a lot and acting normal to put him back outside. Please let me know what else I can do.

Thank you for helping this little one.

Here's a thread that may be a helpful start with this.
I believe that this member is talking about a baby, but
would imagine the same principal is applied to an adult.
I'm not sure how you could safely do this technique with an adult squirrel though.


http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?31566-Emergency-treatment-for-hypothermia-hypoglycemia

[Nancy in New York]

You may want to somehow secure his container so that you don't have any escapes.
IF you put the lid on the box, put tons of air holes in it first.
Again, thank you for helping this little one! :hug

If you have a heating pad with NO auto shut off, put it UNDER half of the container on low.
The reasoning for half of the container is, if they get too warm they can crawl off to a cooler spot.

[Nancy in New York]

More info.

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-shw84zR/0/X2/i-shw84zR-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-ndSsjh6/0/X2/i-ndSsjh6-X2.jpg

[Erin]

This would have been an excellent idea, unfortunately he has already warmed up and escaped! I put his box inside a dog crate because I thought the slats were much too close together for him to escape the crate. I had opened the crate to check on him periodically, and most recently did so because I thought he was seeming more lethargic--eyes closed, not moving. Well, I guess he was ok and just wanted a nap, because the last time I checked on him, he flipped out, easily escaped the box and the crate in about 2 seconds, and ran around the room. He is currently behind a large hutch making angry squirrel noises. I hope he didn't injure himself when he was frantically running around (trying to run up my furniture, and falling off), but I don't want to bother him again to check, because that will just make him run around more. So for now, I opened the window and screen of the room he was in... and I turned the light off, left the room, and closed the door. So he can either rest a while longer behind the hutch, or go back outside when he is ready. If he doesn't come out from behind the hutch by this evening though, then I am not sure how I will get him out safely without hurting him or myself in the process. Any advice, or at least good squirrel vibes sent my way, would be much appreciated. At least he is warm and fluffy now instead of a frozen squirrelcicle, and I am thankful for that.

[Nancy in New York]

:eek
I would think that the chances are pretty good that he may go outside himself with the window open.
Thank you for helping this little one, and for going the extra mile.
Let's not even think about him not getting out.........yet. :)

I would assume you have "electrical devices" plugged in, lamps/computer anything
that he could chew on the cord and get electrocuted. :eek
Just wonder if you could safely unplug them.
IF you go back in the room remember to close the door after
you go in.

Please keep us posted.