Page 2 of 5 FirstFirst 1234 ... LastLast
Results 21 to 40 of 97

Thread: Cat Brought Me A Chipmunk - Now What?

  1. #21
    Buddy'sMom Guest

    Default Re: Cat Brought Me A Chipmunk - Now What?

    Eden, you are doing great!! And doing a wonderful thing keeping this little one safe and looking for help for it. Just a few thoughts, and responses to some of the questions you raised that were not "urgent response items" --

    Chippies store up seeds and stuff in their pouches to bring back to their nests to store. when he spit out the seeds, that's probably what you saw -- he didn't want to hold them anymore.

    Along that line, be cautious in giving him water on a cottonball -- just make sure he sucks or nuzzles, but isn't able to take the cottonball into his mouth/pouch. I'm not sure how that would work or if he'd be able to dislodge it.

    Possibly he had something wrong with his eye and THEREFORE was vulnerable to being caught by the cat? It would be too soon to show infection goop from the cat.

    Seeing where he seems to be hurt and how the cat was holding him, you should continue to be cautious about moving him so him injuries aren't worsened. You seem to have thought the same thing, but just thought I'd mention. GOOD news that he is moving his back legs, feet!!

    I wouldn't worry about him eating anything just yet. He is injured and in shock. Keeping him hydrated is good, but he shouldn't be eating (like, if you went to the ER from an accident, no one would stop for a burger on the way, lol).

    Just continue quiet and safe and comfy while you try to connect with a rehabber. Did IR give you multiple contacts to try? Perhaps we should look for others if this one does not seem to be reachable soon??


  2. #22
    CorgiLover Guest

    Default Re: Cat Brought Me A Chipmunk - Now What?

    This is a sad situation but I love how you describe the little chippie's behavior. Very cute! I have tons of chipmunks in my yard and they are so adorable.

    Can you post a video of him and show us the eye and let us see how he is behaving? That might help the rehabbers give you some peace of mind.

    BTW, I'm no rehabber. I came here a couple of months ago trying to learn how to care for a baby squirrel and it worked. Thanks to the fine folks here she's now released, doing great and comes home every morning and evening for snacks.

  3. #23
    Eden Guest

    Default Re: Cat Brought Me A Chipmunk - Now What?

    Just one contact from ir.

    I held him in the shirt to try and feed him some of the pedialyte stuff from a spoon. He took a while, but finally began lapping it up. I don't know chipmunks, but I think I know animals in general, and what I know of them is that they don't tend to eat or drink when they are in super-bad shape, so maybe he'll be ok.

    He keeps nuzzling and biting my shirt, especially if I disturb him somehow. I don't know if that means he's trying to burrow in and get away from me, or he's looking for leftover pedialyte, or if it's just something chipmunks do- chew and nuzzle. Every time I try and get a video of him doing it, he hears the camera turn on and stops. I did something not too smart and turned him over so his good eye was facing up and he could see what was going on. I hope I didn't injure him moreso. About that eye- it was open and working fine. the white goo came later, and now it's closed. I assume it's sealed shut by the goo, and I'm not gonna mess with it. It wasn't yellow or clear- just white like the white of an eye, but gooey. I mean, I didn't touch it, it just looked gooey, and as if it was on the eye, not the eye itself.

    Ummm, side note, just as I was wondering how often a chipmunk - errr - disposes of bodily waste, and if this might be an issue, he popped out a little present for me. Surely all of these have got to be good signs? Maybe he's gonna snap out of it and I'll find an empty box in my house. Eeps!

    Still waiting on the rehabber to return my call. He seems to be in good spirits in the mean time. Well, as good as I think a shocked and injured chipmunk could be expected to be.

    I'll try and get a video of him during one of his active spurts.

    Thanks again.

  4. #24
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Location
    northeast USA
    Posts
    255
    Thanked: 2

    Default Re: Cat Brought Me A Chipmunk - Now What?

    Thank you for taking the time to help this little chippie.

    Apart from offering the pedialyte, I'd advise keeping him warm and quiet. Doesn't take much to overstress these little one.

    I'm in NJ also and volunteer at a wildlife rehab in northwest NJ. Not sure what part of the state you hail from.
    Anneke and the darling Lilly

  5. #25
    Eden Guest

    Default Re: Cat Brought Me A Chipmunk - Now What?

    Well, he's now chewed some holes in my shirt, taken more pedialyte from a spoon and just now opened his bad eye all by himself. It's still squinty, but it's open and black and shiny. I notice what looks like a tiny cut in one of his ears, but it might not be fresh.

    I think it might be a good idea to move him to one of the less "indoor" sections of the house. Perhaps the garage, or a porch. I think this one just might bounce back.

    Still waiting on the rahabber.

  6. #26
    Buddy'sMom Guest

    Default Re: Cat Brought Me A Chipmunk - Now What?

    Quote Originally Posted by Eden
    J .... Maybe he's gonna snap out of it and I'll find an empty box in my house. Eeps!
    ....
    Drinking and pooping are very good signs! Although he does look quite injured, it does frequently happen that a squirrel, or chippie, will be stunned and rest for a long while and then jump up and take off. While this might be unlikely for him, it would be a good thing to cover the top of the box so that he doesn't take off for parts unknown in your house. He will panic, you will panic and it will be VERY hard to find him and escort him to a safe place. Do you perhaps have a small screen? If not, perhaps a piece of cardboard that you can cut (narrow!) slits in for air -- then weight it down with something.


  7. #27
    Eden Guest

    Default Re: Cat Brought Me A Chipmunk - Now What?

    He will panic, you will panic and it will be VERY hard to find him and escort him to a safe place.
    Ahh, but the two cats who live here will have no problem! I'll figure out some kind of a lid...

    Just gave him another drink. He is a thirsty little guy. This time, however, he bit the spoon! I know you're all telling me not to feed him, but he bit the spoon! Can I offer him a few sunflower seeds? Shelled, raw, not salted - ones I eat myself.

  8. #28
    Buddy'sMom Guest

    Default Re: Cat Brought Me A Chipmunk - Now What?

    Since he seems more alert now and is acting (possibly) like he's hungry, some sunflower seeds would be fine. You could also offer him any of the following: nuts, seeds, berries, apple, grapes, cherries and carrot. I would suggest just offer a little bit and see what happens. From watching my wilds outside, they greedily vacuum up anything that seems edible, jamming it into their pouches to save for later. If he's hungry, he will appreciate a meal, but you probably don't want him to go into major scavenging-mode.

    Ummm, about the cats --- do you have them separated? You mentioned keeping him in the garage or porch -- either of those would be fine with the present weather. Safety is more of an issue. He'll do better in a quiet place like that anyway, than in the house.


  9. #29
    Eden Guest

    Default Re: Cat Brought Me A Chipmunk - Now What?

    I got ahead of myself and offered him the seeds before reading your reply. It was odd. He acted like they weren't there until I put one right up to his mouth and sort of rubbed it on his lip. As soon as I did that, he started chowing down. I think he was actually eating rather than storing. I could hear chewing and he was making a huge mess with dropping little pieces. Reminds me a little of Mr. Peepers. Actually, I caught myself calling him Mr. Peepers. Awwww, bugger. I've gone ahead and named him, haven't I.

    Do they eat like hogs when they're in shock? I mean, he's pretty calm, but he's eating right from my fingers. Weird little animal!

    I absolutely have the cats seperated from Mr. Peep- I mean the chipmunk. I'm just worried that he'll be too cold in the garage. It still gets cold at night, and it's supposed to be cold and stormy tomorrow. I do have a heating pad, but it doesn't have an automatic shut off, and I'm not one for waking up every two hours to reheat a chipmunk's rice pillow.

    Hey, come to think of it, there is a family of chipmunks that has an outlet hole in the garage. They're not territorial or anything, are they? This guy came from a hole in the back corner of the back yard. The 'garage munks' won't beat him up or anything, will they?

  10. #30
    tatcat Guest

    Default Re: Cat Brought Me A Chipmunk - Now What?

    glad to hear Mr. Peepers is doing better!!

  11. #31
    Jackie in Tampa is offline Left TSB to start her own Board
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    NA
    Posts
    23,474
    Thanked: 20

    Default Re: Cat Brought Me A Chipmunk - Now What?

    thank you for helping Mr.Peeprs
    Please be careful so he doesn't bite you, sometimes when they bite they are showing pain.
    But it does sound good that he would be eating, I think. And moving feet and legs sounds good.
    Come on Mr. Peepers hang in there little chippy

  12. #32
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Location
    northeast USA
    Posts
    255
    Thanked: 2

    Default Re: Cat Brought Me A Chipmunk - Now What?

    I don't have it handy, but people do make rice buddies- a sock filled with rice and nuked to offer warmth. It is going to be very nasty around tonight and through tomorrow. If you keep him outside, put a folder towel or blanket under the box for added insulation.

    Incidentally, while no one wants to be bitten, chippies aren't a rabies vector animal.

    Hopefully you will hear from a rehabber, although I suspect you will have Mr. Peeps overnight since it is so late.
    Anneke and the darling Lilly

  13. #33
    Eden Guest

    Default Re: Cat Brought Me A Chipmunk - Now What?

    Hmmm. I was half joking about the gang of garage chipmunks getting Mr. Peepers. Good to know they are territorial.

    His ear doesn't have a chunk missing, just a little prick of a cut. Might be a little fang mark, but it's so small, I'm not sure that would be it.

    His eye is abck to normal now, just a little squinty. I've got a little bit of saline that I maybe can wash it with.

    I haven't given him any antibiotics because I don't know how much to give him, how often, how to actually do it... I do have some assorted old Baytril from past sick cats, but don't know if it's too old to use, or too big of a dose for a chipmunk.

    He's eating, drinking and pooping like no one's business, but he still can't move very much. His head and front paws are fine, but his back end is all twitchy. I still have to prop him up for a feed - but he grabs the spoon with his little hands and licks it all over, then bites it. He takes sunflower seeds and pieces of apple right out of my hand and eats them too. His cheeks aren't puffing out yet, so I think he's really eating the stuff, not just hoarding it.

    Oooo I hear him chewing my shirt again. Why does he do that, anyway? Nesting? Nerves?

    Anyhow, no antibiotics for him yet. I wouldn't know how to go about it.

    I wish he wasn't so stinkin cute! And his name is 'the chipmunk', not Mr. Peepers! La-la-la-la-la... I can't hear you!

  14. #34
    Buddy'sMom Guest

    Default Re: Cat Brought Me A Chipmunk - Now What?

    Ha ha ha .... it takes about a nanosecond for them to crawl right into your heart! Name or no name.

    Do you have an approximate idea the age of the Baytril? You said it was a tablet? If you can post what size/strength it is, someone would be able to advise you by PM if you can give it to him and how much. Probably by dissolving in water and measuring out a dose.

    How cold is it due to get tonite? Chipmunks burrow underground, so it's not like being out in the air. But still, he's used to being outside and we aren't talking dead of winter here. He would have to have enough tshirt stuff to burrow into. Alternatively can you put his box in a bathroom and close the door to keep the cats out? If a small bathroom, you could put his box in the tub (on a folded towel perhaps).

    Glad his eye is better - maybe he just had something in it?


  15. #35
    Apple Corps Guest

    Default Re: Cat Brought Me A Chipmunk - Now What?

    Eden - tell me the size of Baytri pill you have and I calc the dosage for you later tonight. The approach will be to disolve it in a liguid and let him drink the right amount.

    100 mg pills??

    Expiration date ??

    How stored ??

    AC

  16. #36
    Eden Guest

    Default Re: Cat Brought Me A Chipmunk - Now What?

    The Baytril:
    Alright, I've found four 22.7mg tabs that expire in January of 2009.

    Also, found some liquid drops called called Baytril-Otic. Enrofloxacin/silver sulfadiazine. I honestly can't remember what I used that for with my cat. He had a few things going on. It might have been ear drops, not sure, but the Baytril name is on there, so I figured I'd mention it. Expires in December of 2008. Oh, it has per mL dosage: 5mg enrofloxacin, 10mg silver sulfadiazine.

    Both stored in a plastic bag in the closet.

    Oh, also have some 5mg tabs of kitty prednisone from the same stash. No idea if it would be of any use. Thought I'd mention that too, just in case. It expired in March.

    Another question. He's bundled up in a mix of food scraps and his own waste. I don't like the idea of him sleeping in a filthy tee shirt, plus his fur's all wet, but I'm not sure how to clean him, or if it's even necessary. Any input?

    Thanks again. The chipmunk thanks you too.

  17. #37
    Buddy'sMom Guest

    Default Re: Cat Brought Me A Chipmunk - Now What?

    Someone will let you know about the Baytril. The "otic" in the name of the liquid would indicate it's eardrops.

    That was good to mention about the prednisone. For spinal injuries (and it sounds like he has one) anti-inflammatories can help. Frequently, dexamethasone is given and if you can connect with a rehabber tomorrow that might be given. But if you aren't going to get rehabber help soon, the prednisone might be helpful (it has been discussed before as being ok for squirrels, so I would guess it would be ok for chipmunks, too).

    Do you happen to have a kitchen scale to weigh him? That would be helpful for the dosing, I think. My recollection of the picture was he looked adult size, not a baby, but I will go back and look again. If you can't weigh him, can you at least get a length so someone might be able to estimate whether he's an adult? ( well, I guess he's GOT to be an adult ...... since his name is MR. Peepers, and all! )

  18. #38
    Buddy'sMom Guest

    Default Re: Cat Brought Me A Chipmunk - Now What?

    FYI for anyone trying to figure out a weight-based dosage for Mr. Peepers -- slightly different weight ranges from two sources:

    From http://library.thinkquest.org/5512/easternchipmunk.htm
    The Eastern Chipmunk's length from head to toes is 5-7 in; tail, 3-4 in.
    The Eastern Chipmunk's weight is 2-5 oz.

    From http://www.vividlight.com/articles/1905.htm [a GREAT article by the way!!]
    Eastern chipmunk is 3.5 - 4.5 oz.

    From http://www.onlineconversion.com/weight_common.htm
    2 ounce = 56.7 gm
    3 ounce = 85 gm
    4 ounce = 113.4 gm
    5 ounce = 141.7

    In the absence of an actual weight, how to decide whether it's a 2 oz chippie or a 5 oz chippie I guess if you don't have a scale, the body length would be a big help.

    Hope this helps. I'm sure Apple Corps will be checking back for info to give you the dosing.

  19. #39
    Apple Corps Guest

    Default Re: Cat Brought Me A Chipmunk - Now What?

    Eden - assuming chippie is about 3 ounces - the FIRST dose should be 1 mg. Doses after that would be 7/10 of a single mg.

    So - depending on what you have for measurement - you would dissolve a single 23 mg tablet in water and give Chippie 1/20th of the volume.

    So if you dissolve the tablet in 50 cc of liquid you would administer 50cc/20 or 2.5 cc.

    I would try to dissolve it in 20cc of water and administer ORALLY 1 cc for the first dose - then do 7/10 of a cc for future doses. Dosage is twice a day for about 10 days.

    There is some risk if Chippie is under 3 months of age - but he looks older.

    Refrigerate the unused Baytril solution.

    You can mix the dose with some tasty liquid that Chippie will drink.

    Sound clear??

  20. #40
    Apple Corps Guest

    Default Re: Cat Brought Me A Chipmunk - Now What?

    Would someone please post about aspiration and feeding position? May not be critical as this looks like an adult but.........

Page 2 of 5 FirstFirst 1234 ... LastLast

Members who have read this thread: 0

There are no members to list at the moment.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •