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Thread: Tube feeding

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  1. #1
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    Default Tube feeding

    Has anyone Tube fed pinkies? I have a litter and everyone is doing great except one guy. He refuses to eat. I'm feeding 1cc with small miracle nipple. I try to get him to suck and he will take maybe .2 and stop. Hes stating to lose weight, so I'm considering tubing. I have a tiny tube and have experience in tubing other babies, I just never tubed a squirrel before. I don't want to lose him, so I wanted to see if anyone had any advice?

  2. #2
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    Default Re: Tube feeding

    Quote Originally Posted by PreikschatE View Post
    Has anyone Tube fed pinkies? I have a litter and everyone is doing great except one guy. He refuses to eat. I'm feeding 1cc with small miracle nipple. I try to get him to suck and he will take maybe .2 and stop. Hes stating to lose weight, so I'm considering tubing. I have a tiny tube and have experience in tubing other babies, I just never tubed a squirrel before. I don't want to lose him, so I wanted to see if anyone had any advice?
    There are some members that have experience with tubing squees, I do not...
    How is his hydration? Definitely address hydration before considering feeding.
    If he is not fully hydrated he will refuse to eat.
    With losing weight I would subQ if you know how to do that, if not one drop at
    a time if that's what it takes.

    Homemade hydration fluid:
    1 teaspoon salt
    3 Tablespoons sugar
    1 quart water.
    ************
    1/2 measure:
    1/2 teaspoon salt
    1-1/2 tablespoon sugar (3-teaspoons)
    16 oz water (1-pint)
    *************
    1/4 measure:
    1/4 teaspoon salt
    3/4 tablespoon sugar (1-1/2 teaspoons)
    8 oz water
    Step-N-Stone
    State Licensed
    Wildlife Master Rehabilitator


  3. 2 TSBers pass along the fuzzy thanks to stepnstone:

    Mel1959 (07-20-2018), UDoWhat (08-05-2018)

  4. #3
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    Default Re: Tube feeding

    Quote Originally Posted by stepnstone View Post
    There are some members that have experience with tubing squees, I do not...
    How is his hydration? Definitely address hydration before considering feeding.
    If he is not fully hydrated he will refuse to eat.
    With losing weight I would subQ if you know how to do that, if not one drop at
    a time if that's what it takes.

    Homemade hydration fluid:
    1 teaspoon salt
    3 Tablespoons sugar
    1 quart water.
    ************
    1/2 measure:
    1/2 teaspoon salt
    1-1/2 tablespoon sugar (3-teaspoons)
    16 oz water (1-pint)
    *************
    1/4 measure:
    1/4 teaspoon salt
    3/4 tablespoon sugar (1-1/2 teaspoons)
    8 oz water
    I use Pedalyte to hydrate and he seems ok, no skin tenting.

  5. #4
    Join Date
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    Orange County, New York
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    Default Re: Tube feeding

    I tube feed Opossoms and Bunnies, if I had reason to I wouldn't be afraid to tube pinky squirrels. But.... I've never had to do this in 11 years of rehabbing. I'd be leary of tube feeding this one because you need to find out WHY this one isn't eating.

    I know this is 10ish days later than you first posted, just adding my experience incase you're still having issues.

    What did happen with the baby?
    Kim Cassidy
    Licensed NY Wildlife Rehabilitator

  6. Serious fuzzy thank you's to kcassidy from:

    cava (08-06-2018)

  7. #5
    Join Date
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    Default Re: Tube feeding

    Quote Originally Posted by PreikschatE View Post
    Has anyone Tube fed pinkies? I have a litter and everyone is doing great except one guy. He refuses to eat. I'm feeding 1cc with small miracle nipple. I try to get him to suck and he will take maybe .2 and stop. Hes stating to lose weight, so I'm considering tubing. I have a tiny tube and have experience in tubing other babies, I just never tubed a squirrel before. I don't want to lose him, so I wanted to see if anyone had any advice?
    Have you tube fed? If so, was it successfull?

  8. #6
    Join Date
    Dec 2015
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    East coast of Florida
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    Default Re: Tube feeding

    Betty Jo, this is an old thread dated 2018.

    Are you having a problem with a baby eating? I have not heard of anyone tube feeding a pinky, that doesn’t say it hasn’t been done. It’s something you wouldn’t want to attempt unless you were experienced at tube feeding.

    If you need help with a particular issue start a new thread in the Emergency or Non-Emergency section.

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