HELP NEEDED!

[Josie]

My baby squirrel is around 6 to 7 weeks old and.I've had him for about a week and everything was going fine until yesterday. He didnt wanna eat much wasnt acting himself and his breathing if very odd. And from what I've read he has pneumonia. And I've tryed just a little bit of ammoxicillin to see if that would help and it dont seem to make a difference.I dont have no rehabilitation center in my little town. I'm clueless on what to do to help this little guy. I'm open to all suggestions.

[Spanky]

Hold him to your ear like a phone and see if you hear a clicking sound?

If he has Aspiration Pneumonia (AP) he will need antibiotics and quickly. AP is the number one killer of baby squirrels in human care and can take them down very quickly.

The best drugs are Cipro (human form) or Baytril (Animal), then Augmentin (human) or Clavamox (animal). Search around for any antibiotics, ask family friends and neighbors. Cipro is a commonly prescribed medication, so is Augmentin for that matter. You will only need single pill.

If you find any antibiotics, tell us what you find and someone will advise if it will be effective for AP and we'll help provide you detailed dosing instructions. We will need to know the weight of the baby.

Even if you do not use the antibiotics now (if she is not sick), it is very good to have onso there is no delay if it is ever needed.

[Spanky]

And I've tryed just a little bit of ammoxicillin to see if that would help and it dont seem to make a difference.

I overlooked this when I read through the first time.

Ugh! Please, please please do not give medications this way!

The Amoxicillin you gave, is that liquid or a tablet/capsule? If it is liquid, how old is it (when was the water added / prescription filled)?

[Josie]

It was pill form and it was a brand new. I barely gave him any. But I'll start asking around for the other meds your recommended and get him weighed. And yes he does have the clicking sound when he breathes.

[Spanky]

It was pill form and it was a brand new. I barely gave him any. But I'll start asking around for the other meds your recommended and get him weighed. And yes he does have the clicking sound when he breathes.

If you have more Amoxicillin pills, please tell us their strength and the weight of the baby.

We'll work on writing up the dosing for this while you try to locate the other meds... Amoxicillin can work but it definitely is not the best choice but it is better than nothing. And it is important to get meds started quickly with AP.

If we do start amoxicillin, we can always change over to Cipro or Augmentin later...

[Josie]

Okay he weighs 2.85 oz. And the Amoxicillin is 875mg. I'm still asking around about the other meds. Hopefully this will work hes going down hill supper fast.

[Nancy in New York]

Okay he weighs 2.85 oz. And the Amoxicillin is 875mg. I'm still asking around about the other meds. Hopefully this will work hes going down hill supper fast.

I sent you a pm with dosing.
Are you sure the pill is just Amoxi and not Amoxicillin / Clavulanate?