Please Help! - Pneumonia

[liljuniper]

Hi, everyone.

Obviously, I found a baby squirrel, estimated about 7/8wks old, and I believe she has pneumonia. Her symptoms are:
- quiet clicking in as she breathes (you have to hold her up to your ear to hear it)
- can't retain body heat (she is fully furred)
- lethargic/sleepy

I have tried calling every single wildlife rehabber in my area and none will take her because they are all full. I can't find a vet that will take her because she is wildlife. I'm desperate! I don't know what to do. Please help me! Thanks!

[Nancy in New York]

Hi, everyone.

Obviously, I found a baby squirrel, estimated about 7/8wks old, and I believe she has pneumonia. Her symptoms are:
- quiet clicking in as she breathes (you have to hold her up to your ear to hear it)
- can't retain body heat (she is fully furred)
- lethargic/sleepy

I have tried calling every single wildlife rehabber in my area and none will take her because they are all full. I can't find a vet that will take her because she is wildlife. I'm desperate! I don't know what to do. Please help me! Thanks!
If this is aspiration pneumonia, you will need Baytril (animal ab.) Cipro (human ab.) Augmentin or Clavamox.
What antibiotics do you have?
We will need a weight on the baby in grams.
Has she ever aspirated?
Do you have her on a heating pad set on low UNDER the container she's in?

[Jen413]

Where in AL are you?

[liljuniper]

If this is aspiration pneumonia, you will need Baytril (animal ab.) Cipro (human ab.) Augmentin or Clavamox.
What antibiotics do you have?
We will need a weight on the baby in grams.
Has she ever aspirated?
Do you have her on a heating pad set on low UNDER the container she's in?

I don't have any antibiotics except human ones.
She's about 93g.
I have never seen her aspirate, nothing comes out of her nose when she eats and it's not running.
Yes, she is on a heating pad set to low under half of her container.

[liljuniper]

North Alabama, just outside of Huntsville.

[Nancy in New York]

I don't have any antibiotics except human ones.
She's about 93g.
I have never seen her aspirate, nothing comes out of her nose when she eats and it's not running.
Yes, she is on a heating pad set to low under half of her container.

Which human abs. ones do you have. We CAN dose those if they
are the appropriate ones.
Just let me know what you have, ok?

[stepnstone]

I don't have any antibiotics except human ones.

Please list what you have and we can tell you if they can be used, how to breakdown, and how to dose.

[liljuniper]

Which human abs. ones do you have. We CAN dose those if they
are the appropriate ones.
Just let me know what you have, ok?

We just checked and I was mistaken, we don't have any. I thought we had some leftover from when my fiance was sick, but we don't. We did find a vet that will take her, but they won't see her until 2p.

[Nancy in New York]

We just checked and I was mistaken, we don't have any. I thought we had some leftover from when my fiance was sick, but we don't. We did find a vet that will take her, but they won't see her until 2p.

Will she give her back?

[liljuniper]

Will she give her back?

I'm not sure

[liljuniper]

I've fed her, and now I'm just trying to keep her as warm as and quiet/still as possible. After eating she urinated and pooped normally, and seemed more lively. I was concerned she was hypoglycemic. I talked one of those rehabbers into seeing her, though I'm not sure if she will take her.

The rehabber told me some things that I have heard are false? She says I should have fed her kitten formula or boiled milk. It may be because I am an amateur, but I have been led to believe that both of those are bad for the baby squirrel?

We are on the way to the vet now, please wish us luck.

[Jen413]

Praying everything goes well! I wish I was closer so I could have helped in some way.

[stepnstone]

The rehabber told me some things that I have heard are false? She says I should have fed her kitten formula or boiled milk. It may be because I am an amateur, but I have been led to believe that both of those are bad for the baby squirrel?

We are on the way to the vet now, please wish us luck.

Your being "an amateur" and knowing this is wrong gives you more qualification then that so called rehabilatator!
A squirrel's diet mimics canine not feline and boiled milk has emaciated and killed more babies then I even want to
think about.
Rehabilatator my :censored! :hammer

Good luck at the vets, please keep us informed... :grouphug

[TubeDriver]

Do not feed kitten formula (has much too much protein content) or boiled milk (not enough nutrition). Thousands of babies have been raised on PUPPY formula.

I would be somewhat concerned about dropping off with someone who uses kitten formula but if there are no other options?



I've fed her, and now I'm just trying to keep her as warm as and quiet/still as possible. After eating she urinated and pooped normally, and seemed more lively. I was concerned she was hypoglycemic. I talked one of those rehabbers into seeing her, though I'm not sure if she will take her.

The rehabber told me some things that I have heard are false? She says I should have fed her kitten formula or boiled milk. It may be because I am an amateur, but I have been led to believe that both of those are bad for the baby squirrel?

We are on the way to the vet now, please wish us luck.

[stepnstone]

I would be somewhat concerned about dropping off with someone who uses kitten formula but if there are no other options?
Somewhat concerned??
I'd have to trust in educating my own inexperience long before I'd put any trust in one's ignorance...

[liljuniper]

The vet gave us .2cc of smz tmp susp. He said she only has a 50/50 chance.

[stepnstone]

The vet gave us .2cc of smz tmp susp. He said she only has a 50/50 chance.
Please try calling around to family and friends for a better ab. Baytril is animal form, Cipro is human form.
Many woman use Cipro and many keep it on hand.

[liljuniper]

Do not feed kitten formula (has much too much protein content) or boiled milk (not enough nutrition). Thousands of babies have been raised on PUPPY formula.

I would be somewhat concerned about dropping off with someone who uses kitten formula but if there are no other options?

I have been feeding her puppy formula. It was all I had access too short notice that I also read was good for them.

[Jen413]

How far are you willing to travel? I'm not even sure exactly what I have at home but I can check.

[Nancy in New York]

I have been feeding her puppy formula. It was all I had access too short notice that I also read was good for them.

Make sure that you bought the correct formula.

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-fbcDH6c/0/5fb600fb/O/i-fbcDH6c.jpg

[liljuniper]

Make sure that you bought the correct formula.

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-fbcDH6c/0/5fb600fb/O/i-fbcDH6c.jpg

This is the formula I'm using, but just I managed to get my hands on Fox Valley 20/50

[Nancy in New York]

This is the formula I'm using, but just I managed to get my hands on Fox Valley 20/50

Great! You will need to do a slow transition so that they don't get diarrhea.
Let me start dinner and I will explain.

[Nancy in New York]

I've fed her, and now I'm just trying to keep her as warm as and quiet/still as possible. After eating she urinated and pooped normally, and seemed more lively. I was concerned she was hypoglycemic. I talked one of those rehabbers into seeing her, though I'm not sure if she will take her.

The rehabber told me some things that I have heard are false? She says I should have fed her kitten formula or boiled milk. It may be because I am an amateur, but I have been led to believe that both of those are bad for the baby squirrel?

We are on the way to the vet now, please wish us luck.

Good luck and glad you didn't listen to that rehabber. :shakehead

[liljuniper]

Great! You will need to do a slow transition so that they don't get diarrhea.
Let me start dinner and I will explain.

Thank you, so so so much.

[TubeDriver]

I guess sometimes I am the master of understatement?


Somewhat concerned??
I'd have to trust in educating my own inexperience long before I'd put any trust in one's ignorance...

[island rehabber]

The rehabber told me some things that I have heard are false? She says I should have fed her kitten formula or boiled milk. It may be because I am an amateur, but I have been led to believe that both of those are bad for the baby squirrel?
.

Stay away from that rehabber and make sure the vet doesn't pass your baby on to her......she's totally and completely wrong. Good luck at the vet!

[liljuniper]

Thank you, everyone for all of your advice.

Juniper has perked up quite a lot since going to the vet. I am hoping that continues and she pulls through. She is currently warm and snoozing, but she is definitely showing signs of improvement.

I got some supplies from a different rehabber who was full, but willing to help by giving me pointers and the FV formula.

[Nancy in New York]

Great! You will need to do a slow transition so that they don't get diarrhea.
Let me start dinner and I will explain.

OK we are transitioning very slowly so not to cause problems.
For days 1 and 2 Mix 3/4 Esbilac the way you have been and 1/4 FV 20/50 ( 1 part formula to 2 parts HOT water for the FV, just like the Esbilac's directions)
For days 3 and 4 Mix 1/2 Esbilac the way you have been and 1/2 FV 20/50
Some rehabbers keep them on a 50/50 mix but that's up to you.
For days 5 and 6 Mix 1/4 Esbilac the way you have been and 3/4 FV 20/50
Then after day 6 go to all FV with the ratio of 1 part dry formula to 2 parts HOT water.

Regardless of what formula I am using, I always let it rest in the refrig for ~ 6 hours
whisking occassionally.
You may want to make some ahead of time, and put it into ice cube trays and take out
what you need the night before, and thaw in the refrig.

On another note, always give probiotics 2 hours prior or 2 hours after dosing any antibiotics.
Keep them well hydrated as well when on any meds.

[liljuniper]

On another note, always give probiotics 2 hours prior or 2 hours after dosing any antibiotics.
Keep them well hydrated as well when on any meds.

Okay, I can do that. Can you give me examples of safe probiotics, and tell me how I would administer them? I assume this means the probiotics in the Ebsilac is not enough?

[Nancy in New York]

Okay, I can do that. Can you give me examples of safe probiotics, and tell me how I would administer them? I assume this means the probiotics in the Ebsilac is not enough?

While on abs. additional probiotics are recommended.
These are what I use. They are pretty benign tasting so you shouldn't have
a problem with your little one taking it.
I pull them apart and then give about the size of the capital letter O
You can put that into about .5 cc's of water and let him take it,
or put it in his formula. Which ever way is easiest.
You could even mix it in a tad of yogurt and see if she will lick it
off your finger.

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-JC2tFpw/0/5652151c/O/i-JC2tFpw.jpg

[liljuniper]

While on abs. additional probiotics are recommended.
These are what I use. They are pretty benign tasting so you shouldn't have
a problem with your little one taking it.
I pull them apart and then give about the size of the capital letter O. You can put that into about .5 cc's of water and let him take it,
or put it in his formula. Which ever way is easiest.
You could even mix it in a tad of yogurt and see if she will lick it
off your finger.

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-JC2tFpw/0/5652151c/O/i-JC2tFpw.jpg

Alright! I'll go get her some.

[Jen413]

How's your baby doing?

[liljuniper]

To everyone who offered help, thank you so much. After medicine and making the switch to squirrel formula, Juniper got her energy and appetite back. She is energetic and curious as ever, and she is getting so big so fast!

[Nancy in New York]

To everyone who offered help, thank you so much. After medicine and making the switch to squirrel formula, Juniper got her energy and appetite back. She is energetic and curious as ever, and she is getting so big so fast!


:w00t:w00t:w00t:w00t:w00t I just LOVE this update!!!!!!!!!!!:w00t:w00t:w00t:w00t:w00t