Saving emolga

[Mewmaw]

Hi! I'm recently new here to the board. I've found a lot of information that I didn't previously know and have been educating myself this past week. On the 27th my husband found a baby, estimated between 8-9 weeks old lying on the ground on a nature path. It's fairly close to our downtown and we figured it was going to try to go searching for food. The next day going down the same nature walk hubby heard what sounded like kitten screams. He found emolga's three brothers/sisters. They were in worse condition as you can see clearly the rib bones. Trying to encourage them down since no mom was around we left blocks and fruits and nuts (a small pile) and waited nearby for them. The poor things didn't make it. On the trip home two fell asleep (so I thought) but wouldn't awake after arriving and there was no breathing. By the time we got the last one home and put her in a warming box she too fell asleep and would not awaken. As upsetting as it was I know we at least got to one baby before it was too late. He (emolga) is a beautiful gray, fun and full of energy. Where he's my first rescue, my husband has been resuing animals for years. I'd say it's his hobby but it's more like a passion to him. Over the years he's helped snakes, salamanders, frogs, toads, birds, squirrels, opossums, deer, turtles, raccoons... you name it and it's probably seen his enclosure cage and/or our home. Emolga is his 9th squirrel rescue (estimated). He's been eating his Henry blocks and loves romaine, dandelion greens, plaintain, and carrots. His fruit treats of choice are apples and grapes. He started drinking his Esbilac formula but not a lot of it and now won't touch it. I'm thinking I estimated his age a bit too young as I was reading they wean themselves around 10-12 weeks. He goes poo and pee after every feeding so I'm sure he's healthy and husband said he's doing great so I have no worries at this time about his health. I do have one question though, what is the preferred or safest method of bathing. He's starting to get a smell poor guy. Thanks for having us I hope to hear from some of you soon!

[stepnstone]

I'm going to move your thread to non emergency for more eyes /better responses.
Also asking you to post a picture of the surviving baby. How found, your description
of passed siblings and your "gusstimate" on age don't seem to add up.

Using a damp cloth with orignal Dawn unscented dish liquid would be best for bathing.
Be sure to dry and keep warm so baby does not get a chill.

[UDoWhat]

Step is right we need more information.

What is going on that makes you want to bath your baby? Most babies don't need a bath unless they have fleas or covered in diarrhea or are not kept in bedding that is clean and change 2 x per day. Their bedding at this age should be lots of soft fleece or tee shirt material. No towels. They are dangerous and babies can get caught in the loopy strings and be hurt.

[Mewmaw]

I uploaded two pictures of emolga, I'm still new to the board so I do not know how to add them here to the reply. Hubby and I was guesstimating his age by his weight which is now 274 grams..as I stated this isn't his first rodeo. His last grape treat he decided he wanted to shred and he got grape and juice all over the place. I just figured he'd be more comfortable not having it in his fur. As to how he was found, hubby walks frequently. On the 27th he was walking out to visit family when he found emolga. Said it looked like it was searching for food but was showing ribs and possibly abandoned by mother. Waited for a little bit and when no mother came around looking he brought him home. He went back out the next day and did find three brothers/sisters and I was super excited to hear emolga would be reunited with his family. When the babies didn't make it, it was a very emotional day. I understand I am new to the rehabilitation of animals but my hubby's been doing it his whole life. Just being honest here I feel kind of attacked. I ask a question about bathing and me telling you our story and introducing ourselves doesn't "add up". I thought this board was friendly, supportive, and encouraging.

[island rehabber]

I uploaded two pictures of emolga, I'm still new to the board so I do not know how to add them here to the reply. Hubby and I was guesstimating his age by his weight which is now 274 grams..as I stated this isn't his first rodeo. His last grape treat he decided he wanted to shred and he got grape and juice all over the place. I just figured he'd be more comfortable not having it in his fur. As to how he was found, hubby walks frequently. On the 27th he was walking out to visit family when he found emolga. Said it looked like it was searching for food but was showing ribs and possibly abandoned by mother. Waited for a little bit and when no mother came around looking he brought him home. He went back out the next day and did find three brothers/sisters and I was super excited to hear emolga would be reunited with his family. When the babies didn't make it, it was a very emotional day. I understand I am new to the rehabilitation of animals but my hubby's been doing it his whole life. Just being honest here I feel kind of attacked. I ask a question about bathing and me telling you our story and introducing ourselves doesn't "add up". I thought this board was friendly, supportive, and encouraging.

Mewmaw, please please don't feel attacked! We are all those things you stated above, but it's the middle of a really rough baby season and I think we are all on each other's last nerve :rotfl. Sleep-deprived, stressed out, you know the drill and I'm sure your hubby does too since he is a rescuer. Please don't feel that way. Sometimes at this time of year we all just pop in for a moment trying to help and do our part, see a thread, and then fire off a response without taking time to be, you know, FRIENDLY. :grin2 I've hardly been here myself in the past two weeks with a dozen babies of all ages and one of them very ill, so forgive us.

[CritterMom]

Well, I have an eight + year old eastern gray who's name is Mister P. It is short for Mr. Peepants. And THAT was because in his teens (maybe 10-12 weeks on for what felt like an eternity but was really just a couple months) he regularly peed IN his nestbox and slept in it and everything in my house smelled like squirrel pee...

First, I had to get rid of his nice wooden box - it was beyond any kind of redemption. It was replaced with a fleece hanging cube that I could wash if I needed to.

Then I sat down with a big bowl of warm, slightly soapy water and a big bowl of warm, clear water on the floor so if anyone fell (really, either one of us) there would be no injuries. I even set up a space heater to keep the area warm.

My master plan was to very gently dip him in the soapy water and swish him a little, then into the nice clear water to rinse him, then snuggle into the pre-warmed towels. I had envisioned the whole process beforehand.

Of course when I dipped him into the warm, soapy water to the armpits, he exploded much like a grenade, and we never got to the swish part. After much screaming, blood letting, running, diving, crashing to the hardwood - and Peepants wasn't having much fun, either - I managed to hastily dip him in the clear water (yes, of course that grenade could go off twice - silly) and wrapped him in the warm towel for a nanosecond to absorb at least some of the water, then he hurtled into his cage filled with righteous indignation and much tail snapping. I mopped the living room and fashioned a tourniquet out of my robe belt and examined what looked like several tic tac toe boards etched on my face.

So don't do that.

I will say that he never peed himself or his bed again so perhaps the trauma convinced him???! It is more likely that once I got rid of all the pee smelling stuff and he reached the right age, it just all worked and the timing was coincidental.

You can use newborn baby wipes on him but I would also follow up with cloths you have wet down with plain water to wipe any residue off of him. Some boys are just little pigs for a while...

Something I think helps is that I use things that can be washed in all of the cages - and the aforementioned Mister P has a 15 foot long enclosure. I use tons of cotton placemats on high pee areas and they get changed daily. The more you keep the pee smell down the better off you will be.

[Mewmaw]

Thank you for sharing your story with me, sounds like you had quite the bathing experience. Emolga had his bath and soon as I get him back to his cage he jumps on me before I can close it and runs for it. We found him, my 7 year old came to me (while my head is under the couch looking for him) and informed she found him in the toilet. Poor baby, needless to say he got a second bath and when thoroughly dried (again) was put in his cage. He snuggled up in his cage which has a fleece blanket that he likes (previously mine) :) I told hubby to get one of those fleece cubes you mentioned.

I understand during baby season it can be frustrating, I should have searched more for a bathing post. I'm sorry you're baby is sick, and I hope it feels better soon.

[CritterMom]

Well, you just brought something up that needs to be stressed:

NEVER EVER EVER EVER EVER LEAVE THE TOILET SEAT UP.


You have no idea how many babies have met their death in the toilet. Their humans will NEVER forget it, I can assure you...

When I have visitors in my home I tape a picture of my boy to the inside of the lid that says "Please don't KILL me - shut the lid!!" Oh yes, I do.

Time for the kids (and hubby - I see you there) to learn this most important squirrel fact.

Someone can even link you to a pic of a "squirrel ladder" made from bent half inch hardware cloth to enable them to climb out if need be. It isn't a joke. It is as serious as a heart attack around this neighborhood.

[UDoWhat]

I am sorry you felt attacked. I want to apologize if I made you feel that way. It is so hard to make written words sound like they sound in your own head or as they would if they were spoken face to face. What might sound unkind as written may not be what was intended. I often try to use the cute little emojis sometimes to make sure I am not sounding unkind.

I do feel we just needed a little more information. If you had said you needed to bathe your little sweetheart because of the sticky grape juice all over him it would have gotten a very different response. :Love_Icon Please know that many people come here and tell us they know what they are doing and sadly they don't. We see it so many times. Since babies really don't need to be bathed often unless they have diarrhea or pee or let's say "sticky grape juice" all over them, (lol) I was just wondering what might make you think you needed to bathe your little guy. Basically, trying to elicit more information to help you. :thinking

We are here to help people not to attack them. I hope you will stay and have a better experience today. :hug

[Mewmaw]

Thank you for your kind words, I understand tone cannot be read through text and should not have been so sensitive about it.

Toilet seat rule has been established, I didn't realize how fast he could get himself in a real jiffy. I'm so glad my daughter found him before it was too late. I really want to do this right.

Hubby has been helping me but I think joining this board was a great idea. I've learned so much between him and the board, although I know I'm no where near an expert. He's adorable and loves climbing all over me while I'm cleaning his cage. He thinks my hair is his designated lookout spot to watch me. From reading the forums I've found he's been nibbling my ears/toes/and fingers showing appreciation.

He's captured my heart and I hope to continue learning all that I can to become a good rehabber.

[HRT4SQRLS]

Then I sat down with a big bowl of warm, slightly soapy water and a big bowl of warm, clear water on the floor so if anyone fell (really, either one of us) there would be no injuries. I even set up a space heater to keep the area warm.

My master plan was to very gently dip him in the soapy water and swish him a little, then into the nice clear water to rinse him, then snuggle into the pre-warmed towels. I had envisioned the whole process beforehand.

Of course when I dipped him into the warm, soapy water to the armpits, he exploded much like a grenade, and we never got to the swish part. After much screaming, blood letting, running, diving, crashing to the hardwood - and Peepants wasn't having much fun, either - I managed to hastily dip him in the clear water (yes, of course that grenade could go off twice - silly) and wrapped him in the warm towel for a nanosecond to absorb at least some of the water, then he hurtled into his cage filled with righteous indignation and much tail snapping. I mopped the living room and fashioned a tourniquet out of my robe belt and examined what looked like several tic tac toe boards etched on my face.

So don't do that.


Thanks Crittermom, I needed that today. I laughed until I cried. :rotfl:rofl4

:Welcome to TheSquirrelBoard Mewmaw