Fussy baby

[Lisasquirrel]

Hey guys, busy season for me I just took in about a 3 week old baby boy who was found out of nest no sign of mom or reuniting attempts unsuccessful, I have him now and he is being extremely difficult. He seems healthy but very dehydrated and some minor scrapes. I gave him SQ fluids but I am trying to give him oral hydration fluids and he fights me worse than any baby I have had its so sad he hates it so much. He gets very stressed and starts breathing heavy. I am not sure what to try here please help he needs hydration fluids before I could even think of formula should I get a flavor instead of plain? Please let me me know what I can do I am trying to use plain pedialyte thanks!

[HRT4SQRLS]

Hey guys, busy season for me I just took in about a 3 week old baby boy who was found out of nest no sign of mom or reuniting attempts unsuccessful, I have him now and he is being extremely difficult. He seems healthy but very dehydrated and some minor scrapes. I gave him SQ fluids but I am trying to give him oral hydration fluids and he fights me worse than any baby I have had its so sad he hates it so much. He gets very stressed and starts breathing heavy. I am not sure what to try here please help he needs hydration fluids before I could even think of formula should I get a flavor instead of plain? Please let me me know what I can do I am trying to use plain pedialyte thanks!

Have you tried the homemade hydration fluid? Most babies really love it. I know the Pedialyte is better but if you’re getting a lot of resistance the homemade might be received better. Let me get the recipe.

[HRT4SQRLS]

Homemade Rehydration fluid:

1 cup warm water
1 tablespoon sugar or molasses
1 pinch salt

[Lisasquirrel]

Thanks I just tried it with no luck he just seems so stressed out, this poor baby needs help I am unsure what to do at this point I am going to keep trying to feed hydration fluids every Hour I think. I have experience tube feeding but I have never had to tube feed a squirrel and I am afraid this might be too stressful as well I have never had this much trouble before. I have never had a hungry baby be so difficult usually they want to eat to survive

[Mel1959]

Do you have supplies to sub q him? Maybe that will jumpstart his rehydration.

[island rehabber]

Lisasquirrel, just a few tricks I have tried with fussy baby squirrels -- they may help, who knows?

Wrap the baby in warm fleece, with a piece that comes up the back of his head, too...once he's in this burrito, slowly introduce the syringe into the side of his muzzle and go drop by drop. He needs to feel secure and safe.

Put something sweet -- honey works great -- on the tip of the syringe to get him started.

If you have long hair, wrap him in your hair for a minute or so and hold him close to your neck. Hum. This mimics the feeling of being next to mom, and that's who he's looking for.

When all else fails, subQ. But remember PO is faster and far more efficient than SubQ. Good luck :grin2

[Rock Monkey]

Can you post a picture? It will help those more experienced to spot the problem.

Some guesses: Is he bloated? Is his urethra scabbed over? Any pee output?