Sick Gray Squirrel

[angelclips]

Please help. I recieved 4 baby squirrels 2 weeks ago that were about 10 days old. Feeding went fine as usually until lastnight. One of the squirrels fur started feeling real dry and stiff (almost leathery). This morning in addition to that she looks like a prune, real wrinkley. I took her off Esbilac and started her on Pedilite. She is still not any better tonight and now I'm getting worried. She's the only one that seems cold even on the heating pad. I've been holding her to keep her warm. Can anyone give me anymore advise on what to do?? Thanks, Angela

[Mars]

How old are they?? Are their eyes open?? What does her pee and poop look like and how well is she eating?? Does she feel like a little bag of bones where here skin seems to have become to big for her body?

[angelclips]

They are approximately 25 days old. 1 of them opened it's eyes today for the first time, but the sick one hasn't opened hers yet, neither have the other 2. I've almost had to force her to eat. She doesn't eat willingly. Her pee and poop are ok right now.

[Mars]

but not before?? What was her pee and poop like before?? What color is it now? I must run a critter to the vet. I will return shortly. Others will be along to help also.

[angelclips]

She ate very willingly before, no problems. She's got clear pee and light brown poop.

[angelclips]

No, her breathing seems fine.

[angelclips]

I had thought that also, about the heating pad drying them out. So I bought a high dollor heating pad that you can spray with a spray bottle to keep it moist. So I don't think that's it, but a very good question.

[Mountain Mama]

I'm not a rehabber, I'm a Nurse Practitioner, and hubby is a pediatrician, and his advise for the babies has always helped me. I would advise against trying to feed her right now...it could do more harm than good. Keep her warm...others will be along shortly to help you. God Bless...

[angelclips]

I'm working on a picture

[Mountain Mama]

...pacing around nervously, waiting for pictures...

[angelclips]

Thanks for waiting Heres the pics

[angelclips]

Kinda hard to see the wrinkles, do I need better pics??

[Mars]

Your baby is dehydrated. Is she peeing a lot? I would back off formula and feed warmed pedialyte. Do you have a scale? We feed by the 5% rule - 5% of the body weight in grams = #cc in formula per feeding. I would try to give her a cc every 1/2 hour for a couple of hours and then increase the amount to 5% and feed every 2 hours. I would also recommend a product called Bioplasma ( also called biosalts or cell salts) avialable from a health food store. I dissolve 1 tablet in the formula twice daily until baby is back on tract. You are looking at "failure to thrive". It will be a fight to save her. I can pm you with some information on some homeopathy that may help. I need to finish up here and drive home to access my books. Hang in there. :)

[angelclips]

Thanks for your help. I don't quite understand how she got this way because she has been fed regularly and the other are doing ok. In the future how could I avoid this? I will fight to keep her and feed her like you said. She still has trees to climb and the world to see. Thanks, Angela

[island rehabber]

angelclips, I agree with what Mars is saying and can only urge you to go with her advice. Your 25-day old sweetie looks exactly my 12-day old babies here. That is, as Mars said, 'failure to thrive'. We'll be hoping & praying for her. :grouphug

[angelclips]

Thanks for the encouragement. I will do my best to get her well. I named her Bubbles, she always blows bubbles with her milk when I feed her. It will be a long night here but hopefully it will pay off.

[Buddy'sMom]

:Welcome You came to the right place for help -- you are in very good hands with Mars and IR. :thumbsup Best of luck to you and Bubbles :Love_Icon -- we'll be thinking about you and hoping she turns around. :grouphug :grouphug

[angelclips]

I just fed her, and for the first time since yesterday I didn't have to force her to eat. She ate very good, yet very very slowly, which I guess is good since I need to feed her slowly anyway. Thank you so much for all your help. You are a livesaver and I will keep you posted.

[wdarmac]

:Welcome :wave123 Hope your baby gets better, love her name.:wave123

[Kathy56]

I live in SC too. How close are you to Florence? Nice to have more SC members on board. :grouphug :Welcome

[angelclips]

I'm in the upstate about 20 miles from the NC border. Taylors is in between Greenville and Spartanburg.

[Kathy56]

Wish we were closer. Its always nice to have another squirrel lover near when times are hard. I will be praying for you and your baby. I will be on and off the board alot over the weekend. I have 3 days off. If you need to talk I am here. :grouphug

[Mars]

Failure to thrive can be caused by several factors but what I see the most is a little one is simply unable to make the adjustment from mom's milk to a man made formula. There is no way to predict which babies will fail and which will thrive.

[angelclips]

Her bubbles come from her mouth. She opens and closes her mouth alot when she eats and little bubbles are on her lips, not her nose. She made it through the night though I haven't seen much improvement. I'm still going to feed her every 2 hours today, but does anybody know approximately when she should show improvement?? (provided she gets better)

[Mars]

This could take a while. The last baby I raised with FTT (failure to thrive) was stuck at 65 to 68 grams for 3 weeks. I counted each day the baby survived a miracle. And baby did survive and come spring was released with it sibs and you couldn't tell them apart. I can not predict when you will see improvement. Each baby responds differently. All I can say is hang in there. :grouphug We'll take it one day at a time.

[rygel1hardt]

I would just like to add that when a baby becomes dehydrated it depresses their suck reflex. Once they are rehydrated the suck reflex should return to normal and she will be easier to feed. When I have a baby that seems to have more trouble than normal regulatioing its body temp even on a heating pad I keep them on me in my sports bra and they seem to not only regulate better but also seem to thrive on the skin to skin contact. Stacey




Just be sure to feed her VERY SLOWLY! Don't give her too much at a time or she will get it in her lungs and aspirate. She will get pneumonia from it..Just remember VERY SLOWLY. :thumbsup

[angelclips]

I just fed her and she opened her mouth to eat. She had been taking food but kinda licking at it. So opening her mouth must be a good sign. She is keeping warm on her own since early this morning. Any improvement is always good. Keep ya posted.

[Mountain Mama]

Any news on Bubbles today?

[angelclips]

Bubbles is starting to get a little spunky. We just introduced a formula a little while ago recommended by Mars and she seems to like it. She still looks a little dehydrated, but she's starting to get active and she wants to eat now, which is a blessing. Thanks for your concern. Angela

[Mars]

:thumbsup :)

[Mountain Mama]

Glad to hear it...keep up the good work.

[Mountain Mama]

How's the baby?

[angelclips]

She's doing wonderful. She still feels dry and course but she is so motivated to eat now. I guess that will come in time. Thanks for your support in getting us through this. You are a blessing. Angela

[island rehabber]

She's doing wonderful. She still feels dry and course but she is so motivated to eat now. I guess that will come in time. Thanks for your support in getting us through this. You are a blessing. Angela

That's fantastic, Angela -- good work! I am going to move your thread out of "Life Threatening" and into "Non-Life-Threatening" since your little girl is more stable now. :)