Please Help Me.

[Melissa2169]

I have 2 baby squirrels, I think they are somewhere between 2- 3 1/2 weeks old. They have a lot of fur, but thier eyes are still closed. I went last night to get Esbliac and got them a heating pad, because they were getting pretty cold. I need to know how much they shouldd be eating right now, and one of them has diareah, its pretty bad, but I think it is from the kitty milk that the pet store said to use. Also the one that has the diareah seems a little different than the other one... When he trys to go potty he falls over, and when he tries to move around looks like his back legs are supporting him that much. I am really worried something is wrong. This is my first time ever having a squirrel and I would really like to see them make it. Any advice would be really appreciated.
Thank You all Very Much.
Melissa

[rippie-n-lilgirlsmom]

Melissa, first off get them on the heating pad untill they are fully warmed up. Never feed a cold squirrel.
At the grocery store they need Pedialyte in the baby section start off with it slightly warmed mine like the grape flavor.
Tomorrow you can start the Esbilac, oh yes very important they need a 1cc(needle removed) syringe to be fed by...feed them very slowly they are easily aspirated with means very sick squirrels. A vet may be able to give you a small syringe.
Today just get them on that heat and get that Pedialyte going a.s.a.p!!
The loose bowels are probably from the kitten formula, the pedialyte will help rehydrate and when you do start the Esbillac it need to be watered down more than the directions but we will cross that bridge when we come to it!
Welocme to the squirrel board.
Also if you woudl like we could help you find a rehabber! They are normally still wobbly at this age.

[Melissa2169]

They are warm, today they have been on the heating pad since last night, I have pedialyte here, but its buble gum, can they have that or can that hurt them? I only have a 5cc medicine syringe and I do have 2 of the little bottles. Do the bottles work? I have no way of getting anywhere untill after 4 this afternoon. So I have to work with what I have..

[rippie-n-lilgirlsmom]

I wouldnt use a 5cc syringe on a 3 week old. Do you have a little dropper even that you could use untill you could get one today?
Go ahead and use the bubblegum its just a different flavor.
I would not use those little bottles they will aspirate the babies. Whatever it is that you end up using make sure they only get tiny amounts. They could probably have about 2 cc of Pedialyte to start with.

[Melissa2169]

Thank you both very much.. I have a 2.5cc medicine dropper, and the bottle nipple fits on it perfectly and only a little comes out at a time would that be okay ? also have either of you heard of BENE-BAC? I was told that it would help them with the direah...

[rippie-n-lilgirlsmom]

Go ahead and try it just for a temp. just feed them slow!:thumbsup Post a picture if you can.
Yes Ben-bac is good for upset stomach.

[Melissa2169]

I took these yesterday, there pics are not that great, but they are still cute.. I was using the bottle yesterday cause I didnt know what else to do!

[rippie-n-lilgirlsmom]

Ok these squirrels are big enough I believe to take more than 2cc. They look the same size as mine and mine are taking 4cc.
Any other rehabbers have any comments? You wouldnt happen to have a gram scale would you. If you had a weight its easier to judge how much to feed them. I would give the pedialyte every hour or 2. They are precious! May I ask how you got them? Also keep them away from any other family pets especially cats witch are lethal to squirrels.

[Melissa2169]

A friend of mine got them from a pet store, but he works during the day so he is un able to take care of them. He asked me if I could in return he's letting me keep the male. So, I am doing everything I can to try to do this right, and thank you, I agree they are precious!!

[rippie-n-lilgirlsmom]

He got them at a pet store as in "for sale"?

[muffinsquirrel]

A PET STORE!!!!! What in h**l was a pet store in LA doing selling infant squirrels? You can't even keep flying squirrels in LA. And I suppose that this pet store was who told you to feed them kitten formula, too. If it was me, I'd report that store to the Fish and Game Department! (But not while I still had the squirrels - they would probably take them away from you.)

I'm sorry - I am not fussing at you. I am very glad that you are raising them and trying to do it right. But DO keep it kinda quiet about having the squirrels, because LA is NOT squirrel friendly. These babies need to be raised and released to the wild. The majority of tree squirrels do not make good pets - most will get rather hard to handle when they hit maturity. And if they have been made pets of, and turn mean, you can't just decide to turn them lose, because they don't know to fear humans or dogs or cats. If you insist on breaking the law and getting a squirrel, get a flyer. They are very 'people friendly', and make great pets.

I seem to be doing a lot of fussing without giving anything positive here! Sorry bout that.

The advice you have been given - keep them warm, feed them slow, etc. is the best information you can get, given by some of the best people you will ever find. If you can get a gram scale to weigh them on, we can tell you better how much to feed them, and you will be able to make sure they are gaining weight as they should. You can pick one up in the kitchen department at Walmart.

What part of LA are you in? I am on the TX/LA border down close to Lake Charles if you need any help. Keep in mind that you probably will not be able to find a vet there that will treat them if they get sick. You can PM or email me if you need any help.

I am very glad that these babies are in your care, and that you care enough to find out how to raise them right. You are a special person for helping these babies!

muffinsquirrel

[Melissa2169]

No they were given to him. Not sold.

[rippie-n-lilgirlsmom]

Ok we understand:thumbsup They will need someone who can spend a lot of time caring for them. Get a rubbermaid bin at wallmart and some soft baby blankets (no towels, they can pull out their nails and what a sad sight that is).
I have my squirrels that are the same age in a rubbermaid bin about 3-4 ft long that will hold them for a good couple of weeks. Then you will need a cage.
There is nothing cheap or easy about raising them but they are very rewarding. Stick with The squirrel board and keep us updated of any progress or problems you run into!!

[rippie-n-lilgirlsmom]

Another thing I forgot to mention the less you handle them the better. Handleing them a lot stresses them out.
Also put a blanket inbetween the heating pad and squirrel so they dont get to warm and you can give them a stuffed animal to curl up to, they will appreciate that.:D

[Melissa2169]

ok, I have the heating pad wrapped in a towel under the box, and they have soft pices of material under them, and over them.. Ablanket I cut up for them..

[Melissa2169]

I have one more question,can you mix the ESBILAC with the pedialyte, to make sure they are hydrated, but still give them nurishment? also I have the BENE-BAC.. it came with the esbilac.. should I give them some of that along with the pedialyte? If so, how much? I am about to give them some more pedialyte, but, wanted to know if i should mix that with it..

[Secret Squirrel]

Contact a rehaber in your area and get these babies to someone who can give them proper care. They are a full time job and can cost more than 200 dollars to raise. Proper cages, full specturm lighting, food, and vet bills!!!!
Do the right thing and get them to a skilled person...call a vet in your area for a list of wildlife rehabers :thankyou

[Melissa2169]

Thank You for your suggestion, but feel I am doing the right thing, I am trying my hardest to learn to be able to care for them, and doing everything possible to nurture them! As far as how much they cost to raise that doesn't matter to me either, I already went out and bought the Esbilac, a heating pad, nursers and a blanket to keep them warm. I also have the money to do this with out worring about how much it costs. I am also waiting for someone to call me back about taking a class and getting a permit to keep them untill they are old enough to be let go.

By the way, NO MORE DIAREAH.!! Stool are still a light brownish color, but they are soft little droppings.. And they are both loving the pedialyte!
Thank You All for helping me :thankyou

[rippie-n-lilgirlsmom]

You can give the pedialyte in between the Esbillac after they are hydrated again. About 1/2 of the serving that you give of the Esbilac.

[Mrs. Jack]

I just wanted to wish you the best in your endeavor. And also to please not take suggestions to contact a rehabber as any type of attack on you or your desire to do the best, personally. It's just that we see a lot of squirrels lost on this site to aspiration and other things that can be prevented. It's not a bad thing to contact a rehabber, if one is available to you in your area, even if you choose to do this on your own, they can be an amazing support and wealth of knowledge... and who knows, maybe through this experience, you too will choose to become a rehabber and will have a great contact to assist you :)

[muffinsquirrel]

Thank You for your suggestion, but feel I am doing the right thing, I am trying my hardest to learn to be able to care for them, and doing everything possible to nurture them! As far as how much they cost to raise that doesn't matter to me either, I already went out and bought the Esbilac, a heating pad, nursers and a blanket to keep them warm. I also have the money to do this with out worring about how much it costs. I am also waiting for someone to call me back about taking a class and getting a permit to keep them untill they are old enough to be let go.

By the way, NO MORE DIAREAH.!! Stool are still a light brownish color, but they are soft little droppings.. And they are both loving the pedialyte!
Thank You All for helping me :thankyou


That's great, Melissa - sounds like everything is working out fine. You might want to pick up a gram scale, too, so you can be sure of how much to feed them, and make sure they are gaining well. You can pick them up at Walmart in the kitchen department. The best bedding is fleece - it is warm and doesn't ravel or have any hanging threads. You can pick up a yard of it at any fabric department, or you can do like I do and haunt the thrift stores for fleece baby blankets and fleece caps, etc.

I hope you are sucessful at becoming a rehabber - it is the most rewarding, and heartbreaking, thing you'll ever do! The thrill of raising a baby and then setting it free to run the treetops never gets old, but you can't save them all, and the pain you feel when you lose one is something you never get used to. You just have to rejoice in the ones you saved, and remember that you did your best for the ones that don't make it.

muffinsquirrel

[Melissa2169]

Thank you muffin, I just changed the bedding. They now have fleece :crazy ... And I will go in the morning to get a gram scale.. Thank you all for all of your help!! They are both doing really good tonight, tomorrow will be day 4 and each day that goes by I feel more and more confident that everything will be okay :).... Also I talked to my friend tonight and the pet store got them because someone found them, as far as I understand they fell out of a tree that had been cut down :( .. That makes me really sad to know that someone caused them to be taken away from thier mommy. But at least they were found and bought to the pet store.

[Melissa2169]

I have another question if someones around.... They are both doing really well, eating 3cc's every 3 -4 hours, I started giving them the ESBILAC this mornining and now thier droppings (poop) is male: green, and a lite blackish, female brown with green spots.. Is this because they are adjusting to the Esbilac? The male, that was sluggish and not using his back legs to much, is now full of energy and crawling around just as good a his sister. Also, can some one tell me the correct way to wipe them down to get the urine smell off of them. They are pottying on thier own now as well, I dont even have to tickle thier doodles anymore lol.I have been wetting a piece of cloth with warm watter and wiping thier bellys and legs, cause I dont want to really wet them and cause them to get cold, Is that the right way?

[rippie-n-lilgirlsmom]

My little ones had greenish poop also and called my mentor she said not to worry, its just the adjustment to the formula..they are ok just give some pedialyte inbetween feedings to keep fully hydrated for a couple days.

[Melissa2169]

Alright, I finally got a gram scale. They are both 58 grams. Soooo, does any one know how much should I be feeding them?

[island rehabber]

Alright, I finally got a gram scale. They are both 58 grams. Soooo, does any one know how much should I be feeding them?

Around 3cc's at each feeding is perfect....slightly over is also OK. The way this is figured is as follows: rounded up 58 to 60. You drop the last number (0) and cut the remaining number (6) in half -- that gives you 3. This is the "5% Rule". Some babies will want a little more than that, which is fine, but not a whole lot more which can give them diarrhea.

[Melissa2169]

Thank you very much, thats perfect exactly what I have been giving them and they are taking all of it . I am feeding them every 3 hours, which equals about 5 times during the day, and once in between midnight and 1 am. Should I be feeding them through the night too? Or should I just let them be till morning? I just dont want them to get hungry through the night ...

[hazel]

Feeding once during the night is enough. They and you need rest too!

[rippie-n-lilgirlsmom]

If you are feeding themas late as midnight they should be fine untill say 6a.m.:thumbsup

[nenaj1]

Don't let them over cook with the heating pad.

Screw the fish and game department they allow hunting. Murderers!

[Melissa2169]

The females eyes are starting to open!! :crazy its soooo cute... I have been giving them 3cc's of esbilac, but that doesn't seen to be enough, they want more! So, the last feeding I gave them both 3 1/2 cc's. and they still seemed hungry. I am using a 1 cc syrenge, with a nipple on it and they are both latching on it and sucking like crazy. When its time to refill it they don't want to let go! How much is the most they can have with out over feeding and hurting them?Two days ago they were 58g and now one is 60g and the other is 62g.

[rippie-n-lilgirlsmom]

Melissa give them more if they want it!
I have yet to see a squirrel in the wild cut their babies off at 5%.
You are doing an excellent job girl! I was wondering where you have been.
My squirrel the same age as your is taking 9cc. The others a few days younger are taking about 6.

[Mars]

I keep between 5% and 7%. Try giving them a back rub afer the 5% to burb them. If after that they still want more I would give it to them. :)

[Melissa2169]

Thank ya'll.. I am definately gonna give them some more cause they do still seem hungry.

[atlantasquirrelgirl]

Sometimes I thought I heard oinking coming from the cage when I was feeding :D I would give them a little extra, and they still seemed hungry. But once I lay them down, they were out like a light.

[Melissa2169]

Another (curiosity question) :dono My friend that I got the squirrels from said they should be seperated because they will unintentional suck on each others genitals thinking that they are the mothers nips. And it could get them sick. So, I put a piece of cardboard in the middle of the box to seperate them and they didn't like that at all. They even climbed over it to get to the other one. I dont want to seperate them unless I have to in order to keep them from getting sick, because they curl up and snuggle when they sleep.. :thinking Has anyone every heard anything like this? Is it okay to leave them together?

[LynninIN]

Another (curiosity question) :dono My friend that I got the squirrels from said they should be seperated because they will unintentional suck on each others genitals thinking that they are the mothers nips. And it could get them sick. So, I put a piece of cardboard in the middle of the box to seperate them and they didn't like that at all. They even climbed over it to get to the other one. I dont want to seperate them unless I have to in order to keep them from getting sick, because they curl up and snuggle when they sleep.. :thinking Has anyone every heard anything like this? Is it okay to leave them together?
The genital, toe, ear... sucking is fairly common. Just watch for any signs like skin irritation. If it were to continue and start to cause problems then and only then should they be separated. As you've noticed they like to be together. :)

[Melissa2169]

:thankyou Thats what I thought.. like I said I didn't feel comfortable with seperating them. Yeah they are both being fed enough, they are little piggies lol. I have only been giving them 3 cc's a feeding but after talking to a few people on here, thier last feeding I decided to try and let them take as much as they wanted. Well, they both took 6cc's :thumbsup and now are very happy and content snuggling together and sleeping like babies! And, I think I am gonna go do the same ... Once again thanks and goodnight

[rippie-n-lilgirlsmom]

Melissa if my memory serves me right you are feeding with a nipple right?
If you are also feeding them enough I doubt you will have any trouble.
They really need each other and I would let them together untill any problems arise.:thumbsup

[Melissa2169]

Rippie, yes I have a 1 cc syrenge with a nipple attached to it.

Baby Girls eyes are completely open!!

[Melissa2169]

I got this for the baby's. Both of thier eyes are open! Does anyone know if this is the right stuff, and if they can have it?

[Melissa2169]

Yes, they both have thier bottom teeth! Thank you Gamma

[rippie-n-lilgirlsmom]

GB what is the bagged product?
What exactly is in it? They should only have rodent block or the zupreme.

[rippie-n-lilgirlsmom]

:thumbsup good enough, not used to it packaged like that!:D :thankyou GB!!