Aspiration

[Tree]

Baby squirrel approx 4 weeks old, feeding with syringe. He gulped too much, think he aspirated. Keeps sneezing, yawning, clicking and mouth breathing, happened about 2 hrs ago. Please help!

[Sottinger]

Do you have antibiotics on hand? If so go ahead and post type and strength so when someone with the proper experience to properly dose responds they can tell you exactly how to administer. I’m still a new squirrelly mom myself but I know they’ll need that info from other posts. You and your little one will be in my prayers tonight.

[Tree]

Thank you! I have Doxycycline Hyclate 100 mg capsules. Baby is struggling more, making loud squeaks.

[Sottinger]

Thank you! I have Doxycycline Hyclate 100 mg capsules. Baby is struggling more, making loud squeaks.

I’m going to try searching and see if I can find a thread with dosing directions for that in a previous post since no one has responded yet. I will direct you to the thread to read if I can find one.

[Tree]

I appreciate your help!

[Sottinger]

Not found anything yet but still reading old posts. Do you have a small scale to weigh your little one? They will need his weight as well.

[Tree]

No I don’t

[Sottinger]

I did read it’s very important it not be expired or could cause more harm than good. Is your doxycycline still within usage date?

[Tree]

Yes it’s good

[Sottinger]

No I don’t

Any 24hr Walmart around? You can pick one up super cheap in the kitchen isle I’ve heard. I have one at work for inks so haven’t picked one up personally.

[Tree]

Ok thanks

[Sottinger]

I couldn’t find a thread with dosing info but did come across this online. I’m really hoping someone wakes up to feed babies soon and checks in to help you. I work late nights so I’m up odd hours. I just lack the experience to properly advise. =(

[Tree]

Thank you so much!

[cava]

Good morning. While Doxy will work, ciprofloxicin or baytril (enrofloxicin) or Augmenten/Clavamox (amoxocillin-clavulanic acid) are the first line antibiotics for aspiration pneumonia.

We will need a weight on the baby as over and underdosing antibiotics can be fatal. Please get a scale first thing this morning so we can get you dosing instructions for your doxy or the other antibiotic (either one) if you have them.

You want to give a probiotic when dosing antibiotics as well, let us know what you have on hand and a weight so we can get this baby better.

[cava]

Replies in other thread.

[Tree]

Thank you so much for your reply! Doxy is all I have, 100 mg capsules. He sounded so bad last night we decided to give a dose. Mixed an amount approx 2.5 mg with 2 ml pedialyte. He is breathing much better, I will go now and get a scale. Please let me know what to do next. His dose was given approx 3am. Thank you!

[island rehabber]

Replies in other thread.

I merged the two identical threads to avoid confusion and to keep responses together.

[redwuff]

Thank you so much for your reply! Doxy is all I have, 100 mg capsules. He sounded so bad last night we decided to give a dose. Mixed an amount approx 2.5 mg with 2 ml pedialyte. He is breathing much better, I will go now and get a scale. Please let me know what to do next. His dose was given approx 3am. Thank you!

I understand that you were desperate in dosing your baby without knowing how much to dose. It probably saved his life, but it wa quite a large dose. Please get a scale so we can tell you the proper dosing. A picture will also help us.

[redwuff]

Thank you so much for your reply! Doxy is all I have, 100 mg capsules. He sounded so bad last night we decided to give a dose. Mixed an amount approx 2.5 mg with 2 ml pedialyte. He is breathing much better, I will go now and get a scale. Please let me know what to do next. His dose was given approx 3am. Thank you!

I am not sure how you figured 2.5 mg out of that capsule with 2ml of fluid, but you needed 20 mls of fluid to break that capsule into a useable amt for a baby squirrel. Then the dose say for a 75 g baby is a way smaller amt than what you gave. Please do not give anymore doxy today, GET A SCALE, and besides his regular formula amts, carefully give him as much water as he will take betw feedings. His body needs to be flushed.

When you get his wt, let us know and we can get proper dosing.

[stepnstone]

I am not sure how you figured 2.5 mg out of that capsule with 2ml of fluid, but you needed 20 mls of fluid to break that capsule into a useable amt for a baby squirrel. Then the dose say for a 75 g baby is a way smaller amt than what you gave. Please do not give anymore doxy today, GET A SCALE, and besides his regular formula amts, carefully give him as much water as he will take betw feedings. His body needs to be flushed.
When you get his wt, let us know and we can get proper dosing.
Thank you redwuff!!


I couldn’t find a thread with dosing info
Improper breakdown of medications and over dosing can be just as dangerous to the squirrel as the illness one is attempting to treat.
This is exactly why you couldn't find any info in forums and why we pm dosing instructions and keep them off the open board!
The proper breakdown of medications is just as important as the dosage itself for the individual squirrel's weight and needs.

[Tree]

Thanks so much for the info. We just found this baby last weekend, never had any experience before. I will weigh him later today, he is sleeping now. I talked to a friend who is a local rescuer and she said if the clicking stopped to monitor closely. He has made no more noises except to scream at me to feed him! Energy level is good, good appetite. I have fed very small doses of formula, I will give water too. I very much appreciate getting the antibiotic dosing guide. I will send another message later today.

[cava]

Thanks so much for the info. We just found this baby last weekend, never had any experience before. I will weigh him later today, he is sleeping now. I talked to a friend who is a local rescuer and she said if the clicking stopped to monitor closely. He has made no more noises except to scream at me to feed him! Energy level is good, good appetite. I have fed very small doses of formula, I will give water too. I very much appreciate getting the antibiotic dosing guide. I will send another message later today.

The sooner you weigh him the better. You should be feeding based on his weight to be sure he's getting enough calories and not over filling his stomach.

His weight in grams divided by 20 equals the amount of ml's to feed each time. Or you can do it this way. Wt in grams x .05 = ml's to feed each feeding.

This should help too, it has lots of great info: https://henryspets.com/baby-squirrel-care/

[Tree]

The sooner you weigh him the better. You should be feeding based on his weight to be sure he's getting enough calories and not over filling his stomach.

His weight in grams divided by 20 equals the amount of ml's to feed each time. Or you can do it this way. Wt in grams x .05 = ml's to feed each feeding.

This should help too, it has lots of great info: https://henryspets.com/baby-squirrel-care/

He weighs 3 ounces. I told you the wrong amount for the Doxy dose we gave. My husband is the math person and came up with approx 1 mg based on some dosing info we found on the internet for a 5 week old.