Help aspiration pneumonia

[lilrascals98]

My daughters friend found some tiny squirrels that had fallen out of a tree during a crazy thunderstorm. My daughter is trying to help, but she has lost 3 of the wee ones already...she thinks due to head trauma. Two of them were doing really good up until last night when one of them aspirated some formula. We called a vet, but unfortunately, no vet will see the baby because they don't treat wildlife. We have no way of getting antibiotics other than a pet store or farm supply store. Is there any antibiotics sold over the counter for other animals that can be used on squirrels? These little ones can't be much more then a week old, they have no fur yet.

[HRT4SQRLS]

Do you have ANY antibiotics in the medicine cabinet?

[HRT4SQRLS]

All you need is one tablet. I can dose it for you.
If you don't have any, can you call family or friends?

I can also tell you if it's an appropriate antibiotic for aspiration pneumonia.

[HRT4SQRLS]

This is a link that will help with baby squirrel care but getting antibiotics is critical right now.

https://www.henryspets.com/baby-squirrel-care/

It has 6 pages.

[lilrascals98]

Do you have ANY antibiotics in the medicine cabinet?

No, nothing

[lilrascals98]

All you need is one tablet. I can dose it for you.
If you don't have any, can you call family or friends?

I can also tell you if it's an appropriate antibiotic for aspiration pneumonia.

I located some liquid Amoxicillin from a family member.

[HRT4SQRLS]

Some pet retailers often sell a tetracycline or sulfa antibiotic for fish aquariums in the store. I have seen them. Another option is farm supply stores. They often sell tetracycline antibiotics for farm antimals. I could dose these. They aren't the best but in a pinch we will use it.
If you find something at a farm store I'd rather you didn't get an antibiotic that is mixed in a gallon of water. They add antibiotics to the water for chickens. I wouldn't get that.

Do you have family you could ask? Often people have antibiotics left over from scripts that were not used.
The best choices are Ciprofloxacin, Baytril (Veterinary antibiotic), Septra (SMZ-TMP) or doxycycline.

[HRT4SQRLS]

I located some liquid Amoxicillin from a family member.

That's not the best choice but if nothing else is available we will use it.
Anything else?

Are these babies pinkies? Can you post a pic?

Edit... I just saw that it's a liquid. Is it fresh?

[HRT4SQRLS]

A liquid needs to be fresh.
We need the concentration of the amoxicillin to dose it properly.

[HRT4SQRLS]

I have to leave the board right now. Others can help with dosing.

We need the concentration of the antibiotic and the weight of the baby but we will estimate the weight if you don't have a scale.

[Diggie's Friend]

Not saying to rely upon this yet thought to share it here. A longtime veteran rehabber I knew back when, who had studied Homeopathic remedies, and became an instructor to other squirrel rehabbers on how to use them, told me that the one named "phosphorus" (not the mineral), is what she used at the onset of aspiration pneumonia. She said that more babies that had aspiration pneumonia survived using this remedy at the onset of this condition than with antibiotics. Other remedies for aspiration pneumonia she said worked better after a few days. The veterinarian she worked with also approved of using both meds and homeopathic remedies to treat various conditions in tree squirrels. Homeopathic remedies (not to be confused with herbal remedies that are far more potent and can result in interactions with drugs), can be used concurrently with meds my veterinarian told me, just separately with a bit of time apart when dosing.

[lilrascals98]

That's not the best choice but if nothing else is available we will use it.
Anything else?

Are these babies pinkies? Can you post a pic?

Edit... I just saw that it's a liquid. Is it fresh?

I went and got it, It was mixed on 07/01/18 and has been refrigerated. Instructions say take for 5 days and discard the rest. I have no idea how long it stays fresh.
I don't know how to post a picture.

[lilrascals98]

303361

[lilrascals98]

We also found some Augmentin that another family member has, but we are losing them. One of them has blood coming from her nose now. Thank you for all your help and information. We have been rescuing kittens now, for about 3 years and it just breaks our hearts to see any animal suffering. We had to try and help these babies too. Thanks again and God bless all of you for what you do.

Rita Sutton
Madi Hays

[Spanky]

Can you weigh the babies and give us their weights?

Also, we need to know the strength of the Amoxicillin... for example 125mg/5ml.. in order to provide dosing instructions.

[Spanky]

Also get a hold of that Augmentin, it is a better choice but let's get them a dose of the Amoxicillin first. If mixed on the 5th it is nearing the end of it's shelf life.

[Diggie's Friend]

About aspiration in nursing tree squirrels:

http://www.ewildagain.org/assets/aspirationinsquirrels.pdf

[HRT4SQRLS]

Thanks Spanky! Is there a concentration on the amoxicillin that you have.

Keep the baby warm.
If you have a nebulizer that would help also... sterile saline.

We can start the amoxicillin and switch to the augmentin.

I would estimate the weight at 20g.

[HRT4SQRLS]

I always believe in trying until the end, but I also believe that if they are passing hold them near your heart and let them feel warmth and love as they leave this world.
God sees the sparrow fall and He surely sees your babies also. :Love_Icon

Thank you for trying. Pinkies can be difficult for beginners especially if you haven't fed such a tiny little one. :grouphug