Clicking

[Byrd]

Hey i've heard the term said on the board and i am curious as to exactly what it is how to tell what causes it and what it means.

[Apple Corps]

Byrd - Generally - clicking is the sound coming from the breathing of fuzzers when they have pneumonia. It means they must be put on an appropriate antibiotic quickly if they are to survive.

[Mrs. Jack]

It is a clicking sound the squirrel baby will make when it breathes, it's often caused by aspiration and is a sign of pneumonia (fluid in the lungs). Babies are very susceptible to this, during feeding they can "get it down the wrong tube".

[Byrd]

if it gets it down the wrong tube only once or twice is that cause for concern i think i hear him click when i saw it come out his nose but that was the only time.

[thundersquirrel]

if it's immediately after aspiration, but ends there, he probably won't need antibiotics.

HOWEVER (there always is a however :) )

aspiration is never ok, and any aspiration COULD lead to clicking.

if i were you, i'd get that little body and put it up to your ear. listen for any rhythmic or with-breathing sounds that don't sound normal. if you have another mammal you can listen to, then listen to them to compare.

if you can detect any lung fluid quickly, he wouldn't need as much antibiotic and it would certainly work on him. ;)

[Byrd]

ok i hear clicking what antibiotic should i get?

[Buddy'sMom]

This clicking sound is with his breaths?

I'll leave talk of antibiotics to the rehabbers, but they will probably have a few more questions for you:

1. When was the time it came out his nose? Today? Yesterday?

If that should happen again, turn him so his head is down and let gravity drain it out -- blot with tissue. But to prevent it from happening, feed VERY SLOWLY!

2. Do you know how old he is? Eyes open or closed?

3. Does he have a heating pad under his box or cage? Is he staying warm?

This will help the rehabbers help you.

Oh -- one more -- it may be hard to get help for you in Georgia except via a local rehabber. What city are you near? (so our rehabbers can try to find you help nearby)

[Buddy'sMom]

Sorry -- I didn't reaize you had been on last night. If your squirrel is already on Baytril, that might nip anything in the bud. But it still bears watching very closely -- pneumonia can progress rapidly, so you don't want to wait if there are any changes.

The people you talked to last night probably already know the baby's age, etc., but it still would help the rehabbers to add that info here, too, so they have all the squirrel info they need right here.

:grouphug

[Apple Corps]

Byrd - not sure of where you are with the treatment. If the clicking is constant with his breathing then getting him on an antibiotic is the proper course of action. The antibiotic MUST be given per the dosage regimen, usually twice a day for 14 - 20 days with Baytril.

It is NOT something you can start / stop / restart on with good results.

Please do post back with progress and questions.

[thundersquirrel]

*INFO for rehabbers*

Byrd rescued this baby (10-13 days old) a few days ago. A sibling was dead nearby and ants were moving in, so he picked her up.

Yesterday Byrd's cat got ahold of the baby. He saved her but she had some wounds that needed antibiotic. She was given an injection of baytril last night.


information not given but that we need:

what have you been feeding loki?
how often?
what are her poops like?

these are just some basic questions, byrd, that in haste last night we didn't get to ask.

it does sound like your baby needs more baytril. can you get more?

[Byrd]

what have you been feeding loki? Esbilac
how often? Every 2 hours or less
what are her poops like? when she does poo it is mustard yellow but she has not been pooping a lot today.

[thundersquirrel]

good job. thank you. ;)

what dilution of formula do you feed her? is she eager to eat, or do you have to push her? can you get more baytril tonight?

are all these questions annoying or what? :D

[thundersquirrel]

(just a note to you, byrd...i'm sorry if this all comes off rather dry and pushy, but we really need to get our facts straight so we can give you the best advice. and sometimes newbies miss tiny little things they need to do, and we want to ensure you know everything. just think of it as a little survey)

[Byrd]

what dilution of formula do you feed her? right now its almost pure with a little water but i give her pedialyte throuhout the day as well.

is she eager to eat, or do you have to push her? once she realizes its food she starts sucking
can you get more baytril tonight? possibly but i dont know

are all these questions annoying or what? yes very much so lol.
____________________________________
How much are you feeding it? about 1/2 -1 1cc syringe full

What are you using to feed it with? a 1cc syringe

Do you know HOW to feed a baby this young? There is a special way this must be done? i do it exactly as all the places and rehabbers i have asked told me to.

[Buddy'sMom]

Byrd, this article has a nice description and picture of feeding techniques and position that you might find helpful: http://www.scarysquirrel.org/special/pets/infant/squirrelmanual.pdf

:grouphug

[Apple Corps]

Buddy'sMom - EXCELLENT article !!!!

[Buddy'sMom]

fyi -- the article is one of three links found in the Nutrition "Sticky" thread in the Baby Squirrel Questions Forum. The others are also helpful for basic information. :)