6-7 week old squirrel possible aspiration pneumonia

[kristengal]

Hello everybody! I’m worried about my squirrel, Taz. I got her about a week ago from someone who found her and I’ve been feeding her kitten formula - that’s what I have heard from more experienced squirrel owners to use - and she has been doing great! The other day I was feeding her and she got the formula up her nose twice. I turned her upside down and everything but I’ve been really worried about it so I’ve been keeping a close eye on her. She is VERY playful and hyper. But I read on here to put her up to your ear and I can hear a click or something only when I put her up to my ear but it’s a fast click. I feed her with a 1cc syringe and she eats usually about 6-7cc every 4 hours sometimes more. She doesn’t act sick, she started chewing / biting stuff earlier when she was playing and she didn’t eat as much this last time so that has me worried! The only thing I have right now is Bactrim 800/160. I have no idea how much she weighs or even how to weigh her ( I know, I’m sorry ) i just want her to be healthy and not be developing pneumonia so I’m concerned with this click sound I’m hearing and what I could do?

[Toddy]

You will need to get a weight on her in order to get the proper AB dosing. Walmart sells digital kitchen scales for about $20

[cava]

Hi and thanks for helping her. Welcome.

First thing first, she HAS TO STOP TAKING KITTEN FORMULA. It does not deliver the proper nutrition and she will become very sick if you don't switch her now.

Go buy Powdered Puppy Esbilac (with pre and probiotics) from the store today and grab a scale while you are out. Over or under feeding can both cause problems. If you suspect pneumonia due to aspiration the most effective antibiotics are ciprofloxicin/baytril, augmenten/clavamox (human/animal). Bactrim may work but without a weight it's impossible and unsafe to dose her.

It's important that if you suspect aspiration pneumonia she begin treatment asap so please come back on and let us know that you got the correct formula and a scale and we'll get her straightened out.

Here's good information on habitat, feeding tips, etc: https://www.henryspets.com/baby-squirrel-care/
Look at all the pages.

The formula you want:
https://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=300435&stc=1

[island rehabber]

cava is absolutely right -- toss the KMR now and get the Esbilac. Those "very experienced rehabbers" have apparently not updated their methods in the past 20 years; we fed KMR to squirrels when we didn't know any better. Reason? KMR is for kittens and cats are pure carnivores. Squirrels are basically vegetarians with very low meat requirements. Food which is nearly 100% meat/protein cannot be good for squirrels. :great

[kristengal]

Thank y’all I’ll go to Walmart and get that ASAP. I did not know that kitten formula would harm her, I had heard that from other owners that they used it and their squirrels was fine but I’ll go buy that!

[HRT4SQRLS]

I don't think WalMart sells Esbilac. You might have to go to PetsMart or other pet retailer. When you get the weight we will dose the tablet that you have.

[Nancy in New York]

You will need to get her weight in grams so we can properly dose her.
See if they have a gram scale wherever you do.
Places like Bed, Bath and Beyond should have them as
should places like Walmart in their kitchen section.

[kristengal]

I have pet ag milk replacer plus for puppies with prebiotics and probiotics. Is that the same or do I just need to get the Esbilac? I also have found amoxicillin / clav 800-125 for humans and doxycycline 100mg for a dog. But I’m going now to get the scale

[Nancy in New York]

I have pet ag milk replacer plus for puppies with prebiotics and probiotics. Is that the same or do I just need to get the Esbilac? I also have found amoxicillin / clav 800-125 for humans and doxycycline 100mg for a dog. But I’m going now to get the scale

No, hold on and I will show you what you need.

This is the one you need.



https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-CDTTKJg/0/1dcc5ec1/O/i-CDTTKJg.jpg

[kristengal]

She weighs 142g and I just tried to feed her with the Esbilac and she only ate 2mls. Not really interested in the food and she’s chewing a lot? She keeps biting at my clothes and other things but she’s climbing all over me

[cava]

I have pet ag milk replacer plus for puppies with prebiotics and probiotics. Is that the same or do I just need to get the Esbilac? I also have found amoxicillin / clav 800-125 for humans and doxycycline 100mg for a dog. But I’m going now to get the scale

No, this will cause problems. Please get the Esbilac Puppy formula (powdered) shown in the photo.

The amoxi/clav you describe is augmenten and will work great as soon as we have a weight we'll dose it for you.

[kristengal]

No, this will cause problems. Please get the Esbilac Puppy formula (powdered) shown in the photo.

The amoxi/clav you describe is augmenten and will work great as soon as we have a weight we'll dose it for you.

She weighs 142g is what I got and I went and bought the Espilac she’s just not interested in eating now she only ate 2mls but she’s chewing everything like she’s aggravated or something and she’s climbing all in her cage too

[Nancy in New York]

She weighs 142g is what I got and I went and bought the Espilac she’s just not interested in eating now she only ate 2mls but she’s chewing everything like she’s aggravated or something and she’s climbing all in her cage too

See if she will take some warmed water with a touch of honey just for taste.
If she's dehydrated, they don't eat.
What antibiotics do you have, is it just the Bactrim?

[kristengal]

See if she will take some warmed water with a touch of honey just for taste.
If she's dehydrated, they don't eat.
What antibiotics do you have, is it just the Bactrim?

I have found amoxicillin / clav 800-120 I have two pills of that. She ate 2 more mls of formula I offered her about 15 minutes ago and she’s playing now, doesn’t really act sick but I will try what you said too. I just hear the clicking when I put her up to my ear and her not as interested in food today scared me

[Nancy in New York]

I have found amoxicillin / clav 800-120 I have two pills of that. She ate 2 more mls of formula I offered her about 15 minutes ago and she’s playing now, doesn’t really act sick but I will try what you said too. I just hear the clicking when I put her up to my ear and her not as interested in food today scared me

Please recheck the strength of the amoxi/clav. I've never heard of that strength.
Are you sure it isn't 875/125 mg?

[Nancy in New York]

Can you post a picture of the pill, and if not,
give me a description, the shape color and any markings
front and back and I will look it up.

[kristengal]

Can you post a picture of the pill, and if not,
give me a description, the shape color and any markings
front and back and I will look it up.

It is 800 - 125. I’m sorry I hit the wrong button. It’s a large white pill

[Nancy in New York]

It is 800 - 125. I’m sorry I hit the wrong button. It’s a large white pill

Sorry I still don't see amoxi/clav in this strength.
Is this caplet shaped and what numbers does this have on it, front and back.

[Nancy in New York]

Take a look at this link and tell me if this is the shape, and
tell me the numbers on it, front and back.
https://www.google.com/search?q=photo+of+clavamox+875/125+mg&client=firefox-b-1&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=QPrJ0DpFN-eFiM%253A%252CyW6uPgk0gv3tmM%252C_&usg=__TeiPqNrKw2OlCalkzWUgzXuPaNs%3D&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjCkYfuqKnaAhUwrlkKHfKVADkQ9QEIPzAD#imgr c=QPrJ0DpFN-eFiM:

[kristengal]

Take a look at this link and tell me if this is the shape, and
tell me the numbers on it, front and back.
https://www.google.com/search?q=photo+of+clavamox+875/125+mg&client=firefox-b-1&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=QPrJ0DpFN-eFiM%253A%252CyW6uPgk0gv3tmM%252C_&usg=__TeiPqNrKw2OlCalkzWUgzXuPaNs%3D&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjCkYfuqKnaAhUwrlkKHfKVADkQ9QEIPzAD#imgr c=QPrJ0DpFN-eFiM:

That’s it!

[Nancy in New York]

That’s it!

Are you taking about the one that says 875/125?

[Nancy in New York]

I have to go off line for a while.
I will try to keep checking this thread so I
can dose your little one.
Hopefully someone will be able to dose if
I'm not on.

[kristengal]

Are you taking about the one that says 875/125?

Yes

[cava]

I will send you dosing instructions in a PM and also send the to Nancy for double checking.

[kristengal]

I will send you dosing instructions in a PM and also send the to Nancy for double checking.

Thank you so much!

[cava]

Update: dosing sent to OP and NINY

[Nancy in New York]

Update: dosing sent to OP and NINY

Perfect cava.
Sorry I was not able to get back on the board last night.

[Tmcandies]

Hey all! Reading this thread and I am having the exact same problem with my baby. He just started clicking and tachypnia today. Currently have Amox/Clav 875mg tablets that are not expired and we are going buy a scale to get his exact weight now. Can someone please help me out with dilution and dosage?

[HRT4SQRLS]

Tmcandies, please return to the other thread.

https://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?61115-Please-help-me-help-my-baby-squirrel