Hi Everyone! Let me just start off by saying this site is amazing!! I have found so much great info and I love all of the support. I have been taking care of 2 baby boys for about the last 10 days, both are doing great, were pretty dehydrated when I first started with them (neighbor fell a tree and the nest came crashing down, one other sibling didn't make it unfortunately) We did our best to keep them warm that night and put them up high with the hopes mom would return. The next morning we were out there with rice bags getting them warmed up again and played baby cries for about an hour, no mom. So I brought them home and immediately started hydrating them and getting them comfy in a make shift nest. I think, 'the boys' as I've started calling them, are about 3.5-4 weeks old. Henry's has been a life saver with the syringes and miracle nipples. They are on 3cc syringes now eating about 4cc's every 3'ish hours or so. When I first brought them home they weighed 44g and 52g. As of last weight taken today they are up to 71g and 72g. They must be pretty content because I have only heard them cry the day the nest came down and one day when I wasn't going fast enough and one of the boys was waiting his turn to eat, lol. Anyhow, my questions that I have:
Being a new squirrel mom, I want to make sure I have something on hand should one of them get AP for any reason. I don't foresee this happening as I am so scared of it happening my boys typically get upset with me because I go too slow for them, lol. I have Pennicilin VK 500MG on hand that I found and I also have Cephalexin 500MG. I just want to be safe rather than sorry. Will either of these work if one of them starts acting like he may have AP? I weigh them everyday with my food scale just to make sure everything is going in the right direction. I know the dosage will vary based on their weight, but wanted to make sure I have something on hand for that 'just in case' moment.
I have not been forcing them to eat, (again, all my over reading, lol) I don't want them to bloat or anything, so some feedings they will only eat 2cc's and then act disinterested, so I move on to the other brother, and then check back after he has finished eating to see if the first one maybe is a little more awake or wants to finish off his meal. Is this ok? They seem to be putting on weight steadily and are definitely hydrated. (I've had pet rats in the past and horses, dogs, etc, so knew from the beginning what I was up against with dehydration) Usually I know when they are full because they both get milk drunk and literally lay in my hand with all of their legs and head just draped over it (totally relaxed)while I clean them up and help them go potty.
Their pee has been mainly clear and no smell, poos are really good from what I can tell. I usually get 10-20 little pellets each time after they are fed that are a mustard type color- everything I have read this seems good. Just wanted to double check myself here...
One of 'the boys' had some blood on his syringe nipple yesterday, but it only happened once and I figured it was from maybe his top teeth starting to come in. Didn't happen anymore and his appetite never diminished. They are starting to get more coordinated and quick!
Currently they are on a mix of the FV 32/40 and 20/50. Slowly changing to 100% 20/50 since I read on here that the 32/40 has caused some problems in the past. They actually seem to be eating better with the 20/50 mix than just the straight 32/40 they were on when my squirrel starter kit came in. Any suggestions on this and the formula?
I know I am probably being a helicopter squirrel mom, but I have gotten so attached to these little guys! It has been fun taking pictures and seeing their progress! Even my son has had a good time getting to see the process and learning from it. Thanks for taking the time to read my little story here and any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! I have attached a few pictures of the day I got 'the boys' hydrating them and them sleeping the second night, to the last three pictures taken of them last night at their last night feeding. Let me know if anyone thinks their age might be different than what I am thinking. Thanks and happy to be here! 😊