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Thread: 5-6 week old baby squirrel may have pneumonia need help fast!

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    Default 5-6 week old baby squirrel may have pneumonia need help fast!

    I've only had him a few weeks and I've been trying to do everything I was told. But today he hasn't been acting normal. He wanted to sleep all day and did not play as normal during lunch time. He was eating normal this morning but now he's only eating half of what he would be eating. Then I noticed some clicking sounds when he's breathing and looks to be breathing hard. He eats with a 1cc syringe and as far as I've noticed has not aspirated but after reading so much about all the problems I believe he has pneumonia. What antibiotics can I give him and how much? He is underweight at only 109.2 grams. His fv and blocks should be here tomorrow and he's been doing great up until today.

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    Default Re: 5-6 week old baby squirrel may have pneumonia need help fast!

    Also the clicking sound you can not hear loud you actually have to put your ear to him very close to hear little sound. It's not loud at all but between him wanting to sleep all day and not eat as much I'm worried

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    Default Re: 5-6 week old baby squirrel may have pneumonia need help fast!

    Quote Originally Posted by Brittanygranger View Post
    Also the clicking sound you can not hear loud you actually have to put your ear to him very close to hear little sound. It's not loud at all but between him wanting to sleep all day and not eat as much I'm worried
    Is the clicking you hear with every breathe?

    What antibiotics do you have? Baytril and Cipro are the best, but even if you do not have either of those please tell us what you do have or can get. We'll need to know what strength the tablets are as well. Call family and friends if needed and see what they might have (often folks have antibiotics leftover since they stop taking them after they begin to feel better!).

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    Default Re: 5-6 week old baby squirrel may have pneumonia need help fast!

    Yes, it does sound as though your little one has pneumonia, please keep him warm by snuggling him up in some fleece and placing the fleece with him in it on a covered heating pad set on low, then make sure you keep him well hydrated. Some one will come along soon and dose the medication you will need to give him per his body weight. In the mean time I will say a Prayer and send Healing Vibes your way. (((hugs)))

    acceptable meds: Baytril, Cipro, Bactrim.

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    Default Re: 5-6 week old baby squirrel may have pneumonia need help fast!

    All I have is amoxicillin pills 500 mg capsules and amoxicillin oral liquid 250mg/ 5ml. I do not have a vet to call for help and it's very late here

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    Default Re: 5-6 week old baby squirrel may have pneumonia need help fast!

    I apologize it's taking me awhile to reply I wanted to double check my meds to make sure what I had. I have cephalexin 500mg and naproxen 550mg but I did think those would be right

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    Default Re: 5-6 week old baby squirrel may have pneumonia need help fast!

    Quote Originally Posted by Brittanygranger View Post
    All I have is amoxicillin pills 500 mg capsules and amoxicillin oral liquid 250mg/ 5ml. I do not have a vet to call for help and it's very late here
    Do you have a weight on the squirrel?
    We need a weight to dose accurately.
    These drugs are not ideal, but if this were mine,
    I would start the amoxicillin oral liquid now.
    Then call the vet to get Baytril tomorrow.
    I will tell you how much, but need the weight.

    edit: I see his weight at 109 grams.
    The dose for this squirrel will be 0.04 twice daily, 12 hours apart,
    of the amoxicillin oral liquid 250 mg/5 ml.

    ALWAYS give probiotics 2 hours prior or 2 hours after dosing any antibiotic, they can cause tummy upset.

    Here is a 1 cc syringe and the red arrow is where he should be dosed.



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    Default Re: 5-6 week old baby squirrel may have pneumonia need help fast!

    where are you? I am near Orlando, I can help with meds.

    Simon's video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mzpwo0r35l0

    “Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened.”
    ― Anatole France

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    Default Re: 5-6 week old baby squirrel may have pneumonia need help fast!

    Ok thank you he is on esbilac waiting on fv to get here. And I live in Jay Fl near the Alabama line

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    Default Re: 5-6 week old baby squirrel may have pneumonia need help fast!

    Quote Originally Posted by Rhapsody View Post
    keep him warm by snuggling him up in some fleece and placing the fleece with him in it on a covered heating pad set on low, then make sure you keep him well hydrated.
    This is exactly what I was going to say. In addition to meds, this. Ideally with a heating pad with NO automatic shut off.

    (I suspect you may already have this set up but just wanted to make sure. Heating pad should be under part of or half of the cage or box so s/he can decide if s/he wants on or off of it.)

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    Default Re: 5-6 week old baby squirrel may have pneumonia need help fast!

    Thank you everyone for all the input and help he's acting like his normal self this morning.

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    Default Re: 5-6 week old baby squirrel may have pneumonia need help fast!

    Quote Originally Posted by Brittanygranger View Post
    Thank you everyone for all the input and help he's acting like his normal self this morning.

    Great update.
    Is he on an antibiotic?

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    Default Re: 5-6 week old baby squirrel may have pneumonia need help fast!

    Quote Originally Posted by Nancy in New York View Post

    Great update.
    Is he on an antibiotic?


    Is this little one on antibiotics? It is critical if they have aspiration pneumonia even if they seem to be doing well, they need a full course (7 days) of antibiotic treatment. Squirrels are masters at disguising weakness and illness so predators do not see how weak they actually may be and once they they "crash" and start showing signs of their weakness / illness it is almost too late to save them.

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    Default Re: 5-6 week old baby squirrel may have pneumonia need help fast!

    Yes he is on the meds still. I will continue to give them to him for as long as I need to. Thank you everyone for all the help.
    I apologize for the delay my phone broke so I was not able to get on.

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    Default Re: 5-6 week old baby squirrel may have pneumonia need help fast!

    Quote Originally Posted by Brittanygranger View Post
    Yes he is on the meds still. I will continue to give them to him for as long as I need to. Thank you everyone for all the help.
    I apologize for the delay my phone broke so I was not able to get on.

    If he is still on the amoxi. the duration should be 5-7 days.
    These drugs are hard on the little tummy and we don't want to give
    longer than necessary.
    Were you able to find the Cipro or Baytril.
    If you didn't switch him over, stop using the amoxi tomorrow, ok?
    Are you giving probiotics as well.
    I'm a worrier, sorry for so many questions.

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    Default Re: 5-6 week old baby squirrel may have pneumonia need help fast!

    Yes it's the amoxicillin I wasn't able to get the other. And he is eating fv and esbilac mix I was told by a lady on here to give him.

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    Default Re: 5-6 week old baby squirrel may have pneumonia need help fast!

    Quote Originally Posted by Brittanygranger View Post
    Yes it's the amoxicillin I wasn't able to get the other. And he is eating fv and esbilac mix I was told by a lady on here to give him.
    Perfect on his formula!
    You can safely stop the antibiotics today, if you are seeing him
    back to his 'ole self.

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    Default Re: 5-6 week old baby squirrel may have pneumonia need help fast!

    Quote Originally Posted by Nancy in New York View Post
    Perfect on his formula!
    You can safely stop the antibiotics today, if you are seeing him
    back to his 'ole self.
    Thank you so much for all the help! He acts like he is fine now playing like crazy. Is there a post anywhere on here that will tell me the safest toys for him to play and chew on?

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