HELP! Baby squirrel is bleeding from nose, opening mouth as if gasping for air.

[CritterMom]

I am so sorry. Could she have hit something if she got frightened and suddenly darted? They bleed from the mouth when teething but nothing like what you are describing. What type of squirrel and approximately how old?

[ericnunez]

I am so sorry. Could she have hit something if she got frightened and suddenly darted? They bleed from the mouth when teething but nothing like what you are describing. What type of squirrel and approximately how old?

Hello thanks for replying so late, its a Grey tree squirrel and she's about 6 weeks old. I don't know if she hit something, the bleeding appears to be coming from inside her nose, as one of her nostrils was virtually clogged with blood. We cleaned it gently and she's breathing fine out of both but I am still so scared and hoping she doesn't die. I don't understand why she's opening her mouth like that. A few minutes ago she took I guess what was a deep breath and it did a whistling sound, kind of like when one of us humans tries to breathe with a stuffy nose and you get that whistle sound.

[CritterMom]

She may have dried blood in her nasal passages that hasn't worked it's way out yet. It is not natural for many animals to breathe through their mouths like we do, so that may account for her gasping. Is she eating?

Out of an abundance of caution, see what sort of antibiotics you can round up from your medicine cabinet and that of friends and family. Make a list of what you can locate. Cipro would be my first choice but others will work. I am a little concerned about aspiration pneumonia. Normally it comes from accidentally inhaling formula while eating too enthusiastically, but inhaling any substance that doesn't belong in the lungs can cause it, too. In order to help you, we would need her weight and the size of the pill in milligrams. YOU would need a 1ml syringe, which is what you should be feeding her with.

[ericnunez]

She may have dried blood in her nasal passages that hasn't worked it's way out yet. It is not natural for many animals to breathe through their mouths like we do, so that may account for her gasping. Is she eating?

Out of an abundance of caution, see what sort of antibiotics you can round up from your medicine cabinet and that of friends and family. Make a list of what you can locate. Cipro would be my first choice but others will work. I am a little concerned about aspiration pneumonia. Normally it comes from accidentally inhaling formula while eating too enthusiastically, but inhaling any substance that doesn't belong in the lungs can cause it, too. In order to help you, we would need her weight and the size of the pill in milligrams. YOU would need a 1ml syringe, which is what you should be feeding her with.

Yes, I am aware of aspiration pneumonia which I assumed it was at first, but does that explain the bleeding? Where would she be bleeding from internally? I do not have any antibiotics that I could use here or with close by friends or family. I actually read on this forum was that there is something else called colloidal silver? Could I use that if she does have aspiration? I also don't have a scale to weigh her.

[CritterMom]

Yes, I am aware of aspiration pneumonia which I assumed it was at first, but does that explain the bleeding? Where would she be bleeding from internally? I do not have any antibiotics that I could use here or with close by friends or family. I actually read on this forum was that there is something else called colloidal silver? Could I use that if she does have aspiration? I also don't have a scale to weigh her.

This could be two totally different things - A/P and she also hit her nose on her enclosure. A/P is a bacterial infection in the lungs - you need antibiotics for it. Digital scales that weigh in ounces/pounds AND grams/kilobrams can be purchased at Walmart or similar for around $20. Look in the kitchen stuff - dieters use them to weigh their food.

Is she eating?

[ericnunez]

This could be two totally different things - A/P and she also hit her nose on her enclosure. A/P is a bacterial infection in the lungs - you need antibiotics for it. Digital scales that weigh in ounces/pounds AND grams/kilobrams can be purchased at Walmart or similar for around $20. Look in the kitchen stuff - dieters use them to weigh their food.

Is she eating?

I am so sorry I totally forgot to reply to that question, yes she is eating. But I'm on my way to Walmart right now! Any OTC antibiotics I could purchase there maybe?

[stepnstone]

If aspiration pneumonia is involved, administering an antibiotic is the only thing that can treat it.

Having a scale is essential for raising a baby squirrel. One must know it's weight in order to know
how much to feed within 5-7% of body weight. Providing a weight is also needed if medications
are involved as all medications are administered by individual body weight.

What brand "puppy milk" have you been feeding, liquid or powder?

What was the circumstances under which this baby was found, could it have fallen from tree/nest?
Deposited after being cat/animal caught?

Bleeding from nose could be a result from having a seizure due to a fall causing head trauma or other internal injury.
These type injuries often do not expose themselves right away but can surface later.
As suggested, breathing from mouth could be due to clogged nostrils/ sinus or possibly internal injury.

If you are unprepared to treat and care for this baby, are you willing to seek an experienced rehabilatator?

[ericnunez]

If aspiration pneumonia is involved, administering an antibiotic is the only thing that can treat it.

Having a scale is essential for raising a baby squirrel. One must know it's weight in order to know
how much to feed within 5-7% of body weight. Providing a weight is also needed if medications
are involved as all medications are administered by individual body weight.

What brand "puppy milk" have you been feeding, liquid or powder?

What was the circumstances under which this baby was found, could it have fallen from tree/nest?
Deposited after being cat/animal caught?

Bleeding from nose could be a result from having a seizure due to a fall causing head trauma or other internal injury.
These type injuries often do not expose themselves right away but can surface later.
As suggested, breathing from mouth could be due to clogged nostrils/ sinus or possibly internal injury.

If you are unprepared to treat and care for this baby, are you willing to seek an experienced rehabilatator?

Hello, I am getting a scale right now. I have been using liquid milk. She was under a bush unable to move. She was awake but barely responding. After feeding her for two days she seemed super healthy and content. She was fully conscious and running around. She would hold on to the syringe while feeding as well. She is no longer breathing from her mouth.

[stepnstone]

Hello, I am getting a scale right now. I have been using liquid milk. She was under a bush unable to move. She was awake but barely responding. After feeding her for two days she seemed super healthy and content. She was fully conscious and running around. She would hold on to the syringe while feeding as well. She is no longer breathing from her mouth.

Not all puppy milks are correct balance for a squirrel, the liquid is not good regardless even if it were the correct formula.
It is not the same as powered formula, does not contain the proper nutrition needed and it will cause digestive issues.

I'm attaching the link for baby squirrel care.
Go to this link it can be a HUGE help and get you on the right track
It's 6 (short) pages long with the next button on the top right corner.

https://www.henryspets.com/1-basic-setup/

[McCarthy]

Hello, I am getting a scale right now. I have been using liquid milk. She was under a bush unable to move. She was awake but barely responding. After feeding her for two days she seemed super healthy and content. She was fully conscious and running around. She would hold on to the syringe while feeding as well. She is no longer breathing from her mouth.

Any update?

Please get proper formula as suggested. https://www.henryspets.com/1-basic-setup/ is a good place to start.

Did somebody else handle the squirrel, maybe drop it, and didn't say anything / admit to it?

Please take a video with your cell phone, upload to YouTube, and link it here.