Baby Rhea is clicking and lethargic

[SquirrelDad]

I'm so sorry to this baby, I must have fed her too fast and she is clicking now. I don't know what to do or what to give her. I only started to hear the clicking tonight, but she has been having other issues I was told was early onset MBD and have been treating her for that.

Please tell me what to do. I'm in Memphis TN. I have no money, I already spent everything on her.

[HRT4SQRLS]

I'm so sorry to this baby, I must have fed her too fast and she is clicking now. I don't know what to do or what to give her. I only started to hear the clicking tonight, but she has been having other issues I was told was early onset MBD and have been treating her for that.

Please tell me what to do. I'm in Memphis TN. I have no money, I already spent everything on her.

Do you have any antibiotics? A single pill is enough. Ask friends or family for an antibiotic.

How old is she?

[SquirrelDad]

Do you have any antibiotics? A single pill is enough. Ask friends or family for an antibiotic.

How old is she?

She just turned 11 weeks and was healthy until only three days ago with an upset stomach probably unrelated and then I was warned about MBD, started treatment, now this... I only hear soft clicking and only sometimes.

Will any antibiotic be fine? What do I do once I get it? How much do I give her? I will start looking.

[SquirrelDad]

Do you have any antibiotics? A single pill is enough. Ask friends or family for an antibiotic.

How old is she?

I have ciprofloxacin and metronidazole. It's old... Says use before September 2016

[HRT4SQRLS]

The Cipro is fine. What is the mg of the tablet? What is her weight?

I read her other thread. She is an older baby not an infant. They usually don't aspirate at that age but I can dose the Cipro as a precaution.

[HRT4SQRLS]

Has the diarrhea stopped?

[SquirrelDad]

The Cipro is fine. What is the mg of the tablet? What is her weight?

I read her other thread. She is an older baby not an infant. They usually don't aspirate at that age but I can dose the Cipro as a precaution.

500mg tablet. I don't know her weight. I can get a scale, but I don't know how soon I have to make a call. I didn't think she would aspirate at this age either, but she sneezed when I fed her today. It's possible I am overreacting since she has been sick already I'm just insanely worried about the baby. Thank you for replying so fast

[SquirrelDad]

Has the diarrhea stopped?

Yes, she had normal BMs today

[HRT4SQRLS]

Sneezing while feeding isn't a big deal. Formula in the nose isn't a problem either. Formula in the lungs is the issue with aspiration pneumonia. AP is associated with clicking with every breath. They also are lethargic and will stop eating. If she has a normal appetite it probably isn't pneumonia.

I can send dosing information for an estimated weight but I'm not sure it's indicated right now.

[HRT4SQRLS]

I'm going to send dosing for the Cipro. If you think she indeed has clicking it might be safer to go ahead and dose her just in case.
I'll send dosing info in a Private Message. After that I need to sign off.

[SquirrelDad]

Sneezing while feeding isn't a big deal. Formula in the nose isn't a problem either. Formula in the lungs is the issue with aspiration pneumonia. AP is associated with clicking with every breath. They also are lethargic and will stop eating. If she has a normal appetite it probably isn't pneumonia.

I can send dosing information for an estimated weight but I'm not sure it's indicated right now.


I'm going to send dosing for the Cipro. If you think she indeed has clicking it might be safer to go ahead and dose her just in case.
I'll send dosing info in a Private Message. After that I need to sign off.

I have no idea her weight... She isn't clicking with every breath, it stopped now. I'm sorry to have kept you up. I'll update on her tomorrow. She has a great appetite, still taking formula and gets very energetic when I try to take the bottle after she's done. Thank you for your help and I'm really sorry to have bothered you with this, I think I am over reacting... I can't weight her tonight, but soon I'll find out

[HRT4SQRLS]

Are you using a bottle or syringe? Bottles are very dangerous. They will aspirate with a bottle.
If she isn't clicking I wouldn't use the Cipro but you have the dosing in case you need it.

[SquirrelDad]

Are you using a bottle or syringe? Bottles are very dangerous. They will aspirate with a bottle.
If she isn't clicking I wouldn't use the Cipro but you have the dosing in case you need it.

Sorry, it's not a real bottle, I just call it that. It's a syringe with a "miracle nipple" at the tip.

[SquirrelDad]

I gave her a small dose of antibiotics according to the dosage HRT said, but slightly less because I don't know her weight yet. I fed her formula an hour later 11PM and again at 4AM due to her having lost some weight. This morning, 7AM I gave her calcium in pedialyte, she drinks it without a fuss.

The click she is making is not her teeth clicking, I know that sound. It is a very soft click when she breathes and I hear it better when she is asleep. No loss of appetite for formula, but not interested in other foods as of this morning. Could be she is just full on formula?

She seems more alert this morning, but her fur is still fluffed and she is generally showing signs of not feeling well. I am very concerned about her. Will keep giving calcium throughout the day and the antibiotics twice a day an hour or two before prebiotics.

[SquirrelDad]

I definitely hear clicking when she breathes and just now she made a weird little wheezing sound.

She is very sick. If there is an expert around Memphis TN who can help her, please let me know.

[island rehabber]

I would definitely dose her the Cipro immediately. Right now you want to get medicine into her, and food. Don't worry about the calcium for right now because at 11 weeks it's unlikely that she has full-blown MBD. If she DOES have aspiration pneuonia, you need to get on top of that immediately.

[SquirrelDad]

I would definitely dose her the Cipro immediately. Right now you want to get medicine into her, and food. Don't worry about the calcium for right now because at 11 weeks it's unlikely that she has full-blown MBD. If she DOES have aspiration pneuonia, you need to get on top of that immediately.

Yes, I am on it. She just got her second dose of ciprofloxacin after being hydrated. I'll feed her in 1-2 hours when her belly is smaller. I fed her twice last night and gave the first dose beforehand.

She ran and hopped after I gave the medicine, because she hated it, but the burst of energy makes me hopeful. She is generally more alert and wants to be active, but still weak and clumsy.

[SquirrelDad]

She is definitely improving! Taking initiative to jump off me to go pee, running a little more, eating romaine, and still readily drinks water, pedialyte, and formula.

Thank you so much to all the people on TSB who have helped me and continue to help me care for this child. :grouphug

[CritterMom]

Don't let her get too sassy. She needs to finish her round of meds and rest right now, regardless of what she may tell you.

[SquirrelDad]

Don't let her get too sassy. She needs to finish her round of meds and rest right now, regardless of what she may tell you.

Yes I know! She will complain after she gets it, but I know the burrito hold from giving meds to rats. I might let her get away with anything else, but when it comes time to take her medicine, she doesn't have a choice!! :grin2

She seems to be improving more and more. I am keeping a close eye on her today. Already cancelled all my plans for the week.

[SquirrelDad]

I'm logging her meds and intake here

https://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?61675-Rhea-light-of-my-life&p=1281448#post1281448

[JulieCSchultz]

I am so thankful you caught this. My first furbaby did not survive because I did not get the meds in her in time. Will be sending furry thoughts your way! Isn't life grand when squirrels are part of it? :)

[SquirrelDad]

She is much stronger this evening! Getting the gram scale tonight, so I will have her weight in the morning and be able to track all the babies from now on. What a relief!!

In another note... Baby Ren escaped to the outside today! Got under the door to the washer and dryer and pulled back the dryer tube, went right out... I called him from the window with Rhea and he came home !! Fixed the issue by putting Hardware cloth under that door, so we hope for no more escapes.