Severely emaciated

[I Love Lucy]

I got a male squirrel in today about nine weeks old and weighs only 165 g. He is severely emaciated. I never got one in so skinny. I can feel his entire spinal cord and all his little ribs. The person who I got him from had him for three days. She was only feeding him pecans, almonds and water with an eye dropper. Considering his condition he is only slightly dehydrated. He is pretty energetic. When I put him a cage with a nesting box he explored the entire cage, climbing, hanging and chewing on the bars to get out. His bedding was wet with urine that was clear and he had little dried out poops. He also had a lot of dried blood in his nose.

I managed to get him to take 6cc of pedialyte but not willingly. I have in the house Vital HN, Enteral Care HLP & MLP and Ensure. What do you guys use with the most success. I recently read an article about Enteral Care being the best but I wanted your experienced feedback.

[Apple Corps]

Esbilac is the most commonly referenced food on the board. Other more experienced participants may chime in with knowledge of Enteral Care.

6cc of Pedialyte over what period of time ?

[Buddy'sMom]

ILL, you are asking about one of these as a possible alternative to Esbilac, for more nutrition? (AC, you may not be aware that ILL is a rehabber, since she is somewhat new to TSB.)

Some of the rehabbers talk about using Ensure for ill adult squirrels, so that might be a possibility.

Also, when they have a baby that is dehydrated AND emaciated, some of the rehabbers will alternate feedings of Pedialyte and Esbilac (as opposed to just Pedialyte to hydrate first).

I hope this helps. I'm not a rehabber, just relaying what I've read here.

:grouphug :grouphug

[island rehabber]

Hi ILL....I was just looking for the post I wrote last week about feeding an emaciated squirrel and I can't find it, so I'll do my best to re-create it.....when they come in as emaciated as your little boy (and Mollie & Matteo both did, in my case) I will give only Pedialyte, every 2-3 hours, for the first 12 hours. Then I will alternate Pedialte and very diluted Esbilac for the next 24 hrs, then Pedialyte and full strength Esbilac the next 24, and by the third day if all goes well we are on full strength Esbilac. You don't want to tax the squirrel's system by introducing lots of sugars to digest too quickly....this can cause hypoglycemic shock & even death. Good luck with him!

[I Love Lucy]

AC - Thanks for responding. I only got him at 5pm today. He took 6cc of pedialyte at 5:30 and at 9:30 he took 9cc. I won't start him on Esbilac yet because it might tax his little system too much. I know it is easier for their organs to start on a predigested, easy to digest food until their system gets out of starvation mode. I've read and heard about the 3 products I mentioned but I 'm not sure which one has the best success. I'm thankful that I never needed them before. For now I'm going to give him pedialyte every 4 hours for the next 2-3 feedings.

[I Love Lucy]

Thanks IR. That is what I do under normal circumstances with a dehydrated baby but I thought with such an emaciated baby I should should try one of the others. There was an article published by NAWR about Enteral Care being the best choice for a severely emaciated animal. I also am concerned about the sugar contents of some of the products. The article mentioned that Enteral Care was good because it has low carbs and is available in medium and high protein formulas.

[island rehabber]

I'm only familiar with the Vital HN as a great product for severely debilitated animals....your little guy didn't sound as if he was that bad from your description, but the Vital could be a good first step as well for him.

[I Love Lucy]

My computer battery is going to die any minute and I'm going to try to get some sleep before I do my middle of the night feeding so I'll post again in the AM. Thanks everybody.

[Mars]

I have had very good results with Vital as well. I would also suggest Bioplasma and Yogurt. Yogurt (for the probiotics) is by nature predigested and I have mixed into Vital in the pass. The Bioplasma can be added right to LR from the start. It can be found in heath food stores (also called cell salts or biosalts) and is wonderful supportive care. I place 1 tablet into the feeding twice daily until baby is gaining well and is back on track. :)

[I Love Lucy]

Well, the little tyke took 20cc of pedialyte between the night and early AM feeding. :thumbsup I'm going to try the HN at his next feeding. He is still not taking it eagerly, just lapping at the nipple. On a positive note he had a normal poop and pee.

:jump POOPY DANCE!!! YEAH!!!

IR - When he explored his cage I took that as a good sign of his condition however, since then he stays in his nesting box. When I try to feed him he is very lethargic, he buries his head and tries to stay curled in a ball. Between him doing that and his extreme bony condition it made me think I should try something other than diluted Esbilac.

Mars - Thanks for the cell salt suggestion. I recently got it from Chris' store but I haven't used it yet. When you mentioned LR do you mean Lactated Ringers? Do I add one tablet of salt to any size feeding, or is there a certain ratio to follow? I also have organic vanilla whole milk yogurt in the house. Do you add it to the formula or just put it in a dish? I usually add benebac to the formula in the beginning.

:thankyou Soooo much for being here. :grouphug

I used to get so frustrated trying to find info to help save these little guys, until I found you. This site is a continuing lifesaver. :bowdown You guys are a wealth of knowledge, encouragement and support. I'm soooo glad to have found you. :wahoo With there being so few rehabbers around it is wonderful to be able to network. :grouphug

Since I am new around here I'm still learning the ropes on posting. I'll try to attach pictures later.

[4skwerlz]

Oooh, poor tyke. Can't you give him some diluted formula, please?

[squirrelsrule&bunniestoo]

Glad your little guy is doing good with drinking the pedialyte. I got a squirrel in just 2 weeks ago in similar shape. He was a 7-8 week old foxer and only weighed 128 grams. The wildlife center where I volunteer had had him for 3 days and in that time he was only getting 3-4 cc of milk 3 times a day because that was all he would take willingly. He came in at 136 grams and dropped 8 over the three days they had him (he also had a brother that died at the center :shakehead ). The little guy is now doing great and is up to 219 grams. I started him off on just pedialyte for the first 12 hours. Then I gave him Vital for 1 and a half days. After that, he started on Esbilac. The whole time I was feeding him 7 times a day (5 Vital or formula feedings and 2 pedialyte feedings). My little guy started off drinking the milk fairly willingly and then totally refused by the third day. I had to tube feed him until two days ago when he decided he wanted to drink the milk again. Hope this helps you think up a plan for your guy, sounds like they are in similar condition. Good luck with the little tyke.

[I Love Lucy]

Thanks SRBT - I'm glad your little guy is doing well lets hope the same for my little guy. I'm going to try to start him him on the Vital now and I'll throw a few pedialyte feedings in today. I'm going to try to feed every 2 1/2 -3 hours. I weighed him earlier and he gained 10g since last night which I think is a good start. I want to cry when I pick him up because he is all skin and bones. I think he might continue to be a reluctant eater from the syringe because of his age. But that won't stop me. I'll do drop by drop if necessary. I'll post later after I feed my brood.

[4skwerlz]

Thanks SRBT - I'm glad your little guy is doing well lets hope the same for my little guy. I'm going to try to start him him on the Vital now and I'll throw a few pedialyte feedings in today. I'm going to try to feed every 2 1/2 -3 hours. I weighed him earlier and he gained 10g since last night which I think is a good start. I want to cry when I pick him up because he is all skin and bones. I think he might continue to be a reluctant eater from the syringe because of his age. But that won't stop me. I'll do drop by drop if necessary. I'll post later after I feed my brood.

Bless your heart! :Love_Icon He sounds like a little fighter. Let us know if he eats his Vital like a good boy. We're all praying for him. :grouphug

[Mars]

Mars - Thanks for the cell salt suggestion. I recently got it from Chris' store but I haven't used it yet. When you mentioned LR do you mean Lactated Ringers? Do I add one tablet of salt to any size feeding, or is there a certain ratio to follow? It's one tablet in the formula twice daily (first and last feeding) regardless of the size of the feeding :) I also have organic vanilla whole milk yogurt in the house. Do you add it to the formula or just put it in a dish? I put a generous 1/2 part right into the vital or formula for all my babies right up through weaning. I usually add benebac to the formula in the beginning.


:thumbsup

[squirrelsrule&bunniestoo]

Glad to hear he gained 10 grams. That is a GREAT start! Sounds like he is a real fighter.

[island rehabber]

I think he might continue to be a reluctant eater from the syringe because of his age. But that won't stop me. I'll do drop by drop if necessary. I'll post later after I feed my brood.

Have patience, ILL, and they will come around with the syringe. Mollie, Matteo, and the Presbys were all resistant to the syringe because they had spent 6-7 weeks with their moms already and didn't understand what the heck I was shoving at them. But after one very lo-o-o-ong day where feeding took hours, they got it. :thumbsup Whew!

[I Love Lucy]

He took 6 cc's of Vital at two feedings and a feeding of 3 cc's pedialyte so far today. He likes the HN much better, he's giving me a really hard time with the pedialyte. He's gained 15 g in 24 hours. I'm happy about that. I'll keep up the every 3 hour feedings until he is eating eagerly. I'll post in the AM and let you know how he is. I'm going to name him Duke.

By the way, I picked up Earl this afternoon (Sudden Illness thread by Susanjeanine). He is in really good shape. I don't see any signs of MBD yet. They told me once in a while he shakes. He is also 9 weeks old so I hope I can eventually put the two together. When I went to pick up him up he was just sitting on his human friends shoulder in WAWA's parking lot. He's never been in a cage and is used to being attached to a human so he is not very happy right now. He has been hiding in a nesting box in a large ferret cage for the the last 4 hrs. I'm going to try giving him some diluted formula next time I feed Duke.

My daughter doesn't get the name combo Duke & Earl. I thought it was cute.

[squirrelsrule&bunniestoo]

Sounds like Duke is doing great! I am sure he will love to have a friend when he is feeling healthy.

[island rehabber]

My daughter doesn't get the name combo Duke & Earl. I thought it was cute.

I get it! I get it! :oldwise

"Dook, Dook, Dook, Dook of Earl, dook dook........" :D

[I Love Lucy]

:wahoo :wahoo :wahoo :wott :wott :wott

Duke weighs 195g this morning. He is up 30 g in 36 hours. :alright.gif

I think it is safe to say he is on his way to a recovery.:multi :multi :multi

I'm going to move him onto diluted Esbilac now.

Now my main problem is poor Earl. :shakehead He is devastated at not being with Susan & Joe. He has been hiding in his nesting box for the last 24 hours. He is all curled up in Joe's shirt. He has not come out once. I took him out yesterday afternoon to weigh him, he is 240g. I tried to hold him and he freaked out. Peed all over us and was running amok in a panic. While he was running around I didn't notice any signs of MBD, but they did say it was an infrequent shaking. I'm going to put him out in the sun today and try to get him to take something to eat with calcium in it.

I love the old man smiley. :rotfl We are definitely dating ourselves. I keep singing that song. :rotfl

I can't seem to open more pages of smileys. When I click on more nothing happens. My creativity is being stifled with just the few I have.

[I Love Lucy]

Well poor Earl definitely has MBD. I found him shaking uncontrollably this morning. I gave him pain meds and Esbilac with extra calcium. He stopped within 15 minutes then I got him to eat some applesauce with molasses. He the fell as sleep comfortably belly up. I'm soooo glad Susan and Joe brought him to me when they did. He is only 9 weeks old and has been off formula for weeks.

A few more days and I would have be done weaning my other juveniles. I thought I could finally come out of my squirrel room. This has been one wicked fall season. But in comes poor Duke & Earl.

Well, back to the squirrel room for a few weeks. I do love them and it soooo rewarding when they become healthy and free.

I'm going to start a new thread tomorrow called "Duke & Earl" under the baby section so I can post their progress for all of you who have been so supportive.


Thanks

[squirrelsrule&bunniestoo]

Sounds like a great plan. Maybe your computer has popup blockers which is stopping the rest of the smilies? One of my computers does that and a little bar pops up right below the adress bar saying it was blocked and there is a place to click to allow it. Maybe that is what is happening with your computer :dono .

[hazel]

Poor Earl!

If you have a health food store I'd recommend "'Rescue Remedy'' from Bach Flower Remedies. I think every health food store on the planet sells it.
There's nothing better for a stressed animal. You just put a few drops in their drinking water each time you change it until they're feeling less nervous.
Rescue Remedy is NOT a sedative and is completely safe with no side effects.

I was thisclose to getting out of the baby room too...and then along came a five week old girl....

[I Love Lucy]

Thanks Hazel, I'll pick some up later and try it. When I went into the room this morning he was out sitting on top of his box and he didn't run away. That's a step in the right direction. Between the stress of his illness and a new home I'm going to try it, even though he is coming out of his shell slowly.

I'm going back in there now to see if he'll eat something. He won't let me near him with a syringe and he's not eating much on his own, so I'm hand feeding him to get the calcium in him.

Duke still weighs 195g and he's still not crazy about the syringe or formula. He's barely eating on his own too. I think it will be a long haul with these two. Maybe even wintering them over. We'll see, one day at a time.

[I Love Lucy]

I risk my fingers but I've gotten him to take 6 cc's of Esbilac yesterday and Sunday with added calcium. He flipped out so bad that I decided to give the calcium powder on a grape which he loves. He is under a FSL all day.

[island rehabber]

ILL he's doing well enough thanks to you that I think we can move this thread to "Non-Life Threatening" :thumbsup:)

[I Love Lucy]

For those of you who have been following the "severely emaciated" and "sudden illness" threads I started a new thread in the nursery section called "Duke & Earl.

Thanks to all for your feedback and support.