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Thread: Need some help with a chipmunk please

  1. #1
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    Default Need some help with a chipmunk please

    I had a container in our garage for bird food. Unfortunately, the mice chewed through it so I had to discontinue use. When I went to throw it away this morning, I found a chipmunk in it. It wasn't responding too well and runs in circles while falling over. Can this be from dehydration and hunger? My wife and I are using a pipette to give it water letting it lick a little peanut butter. After about 8 hours now, we are not seeing much change. Is there anything else we can do?

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    RockyPops (08-06-2020)

  3. #2
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    Default Re: Need some help with a chipmunk please

    Was the container was empty and chipmunk trapped inside and unable to get out?

    I would continue the hydration, and keep him warm, in dark and quiet space.

    Is there a chance he "fell" into the bin and hit his head? We see circling like that in brain traumas.

    Can you post a video?

    If you can locate some steroids... prednisone, methylprednisolone or dexamethasone... that may help if this is a brain trauma or spinal injury. The steroids reduce the inflammation, decreasing the pressure on the brain or spine. Better to give it as soon as possible, but a weight of the chipmunk is needed. And I am not even certain this is that kind of trauma or something else entirely.



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    RockyPops (08-06-2020)

  5. #3
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    Default Re: Need some help with a chipmunk please

    If we had to guess, we are thinking he/she just couldn't get out of the plastic bin. It was your typical storage bin so I wouldn't think a chipmunk would hurt itself falling about 12 inches or so. If we have a chance tonight, we could post a video. The chipmunk is currently sleeping and we don't want to wake it at the moment. How much should we try and get it to drink? Maybe every 2 hours or so? Maybe more? Through the night or should we let it sleep?

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    RockyPops (08-06-2020)

  7. #4
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    Default Re: Need some help with a chipmunk please

    Btw, we are giving the chipmunk an electrolyte solution mixed with water for fluids.

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    RockyPops (08-06-2020)

  9. #5
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    Default Re: Need some help with a chipmunk please

    Electrolytes are good to give for the first 24 hours. Then switch him over to plain water if he will drink it and if not, add a teeny bit of honey or sugar, and at some point in the day, give him one feeding of the pedialyte for the next day or so. There is a lot of sodium in pedialyte mixtures and they don't need that much after day 1. If he was stuck in the feed bin he is likely profoundly dehydrated.

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    RockyPops (08-06-2020)

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