Messed up feeding, clicking, help!

[MANGO]

Its 2:00am where I live and I wont be able to find a vet for the next 6-8 hours. I am ready to do whatever is necessary until then.
I rescued a squirrel kit 10 days ago. It has grown from 5g to 11g. Its almost 2 weeks old now and weighed a 11g today morning. I was feeding it an hour ago and the plunger in the syringe slipped and forced the feeding formula into its mouth. I suspect some has also entered its lungs. I can hear clicking sound it was faint but now it sounds progressed. It is suggested every where that I should start it on an antibiotic course immediately or it will die within 24 hours.

I will try my best but I dont think I would be able to find any antibiotics till the nest 6 hours.

If I do get my hands on augmentin, how should I dose it and administer it. Please let me know, I can't lose this fighter. This kit is the one thing I look forward to in a day

This baby has survived against many odds and it would be a shame if it dies of such petty manual error. Please help me get in touch with a vet or a rehabber so I can get the immediate treatment necessary.

I promise to take better care. I have been very careful while feeding the past 10 days and I was being carerful even to

Please share this with anyone that you think might be able to help.

[CritterMom]

Is there a chance you can tell us the strength of the augmentin? We can then send you directions for diluting and dosing your baby based on the weight you have already given us.

The strength of augmentin is normally expressed in two numbers, like "875/125mg" or 500/125mg" and is also available in smaller sizes for animals.

If there are any other antibiotics available to you now, tell us which they are.

[supersquirrelgirl]

Hello Mango,

Hang in there - experts will join soon to help.

What size syringe have you been using for feeding ?? How much formula was squirted in by accident ??

At 11grams weight, you need to get a 1mL or smaller syringe. Get the Antibiotic (i pill) and report back. Need pill size in milligrams for correct dosing. Since you are caring for a 2 week baby, always best to have AB and syringe on standby.

Does your Vet have overnight emergency tel number ?? If you can't find antibiotic, this is going to be your only solution.

Mr.SSG

===================

Just crossed posting with CM.

[MANGO]

Is there a chance you can tell us the strength of the augmentin? We can then send you directions for diluting and dosing your baby based on the weight you have already given us.

The strength of augmentin is normally expressed in two numbers, like "875/125mg" or 500/125mg" and is also available in smaller sizes for animals.

If there are any other antibiotics available to you now, tell us which they are.

Hello, I dont have any other antibiotics here at home right now and I dont know the strength of augmentin as the pharmacies wont be open for atleast 4 hours. There might be a chance of finding doxycycline at my Neighbour's in a few hours

[supersquirrelgirl]

Mango,

Look at the augmentin pill - any letters/numbers ?? if yes, post them. Take picture if needed.

[MANGO]

Hello Mango,

Hang in there - experts will join soon to help.

What size syringe have you been using for feeding ?? How much formula was squirted in by accident ??

At 11grams weight, you need to get a 1mL or smaller syringe. Get the Antibiotic (i pill) and report back. Need pill size in milligrams for correct dosing. Since you are caring for a 2 week baby, always best to have AB and syringe on standby.

Does your Vet have overnight emergency tel number ?? If you can't find antibiotic, this is going to be your only solution.

Mr.SSG

===================

Just crossed posting with CM.

Hi, I was using a 1cc syringe(1ml), and I think I squirted around 0.2ml of formula. I will keep the syringe and AB kit in mind. No, the vets here don't offer such services. but thedrug stores will open in 4 hours and I can easily get my hands on augmentin 625 or doxycycline

[MANGO]

Mango,

Look at the augmentin pill - any letters/numbers ?? if yes, post them. Take picture if needed.

Hi, I dont have it with me right now but I can get my hands on it in 4 hours. I can easily get Augmentin 625mg, I think it its the 500/125 variant

[MANGO]

Is there a chance you can tell us the strength of the augmentin? We can then send you directions for diluting and dosing your baby based on the weight you have already given us.

The strength of augmentin is normally expressed in two numbers, like "875/125mg" or 500/125mg" and is also available in smaller sizes for animals.

If there are any other antibiotics available to you now, tell us which they are.

Actually I will be able to find augmentin 625mg in the morning, I think that is the 500/125 variant

[supersquirrelgirl]

Hi, I dont have it with me right now but I can get my hands on it in 4 hours. I can easily get Augmentin 625mg, I think it its the 500/125 variant

Got it. I was confused by your posting. Sorry.

[CritterMom]

Actually I will be able to find augmentin 625mg in the morning, I think that is the 500/125 variant

I will send you dosing by private message. Get everything all measured out and ready and when you get your hands on the pill it will take just a few minutes until you have meds.

[CritterMom]

Dosing sent.

[MANGO]

Dosing sent.

Thank you so much! I fell asleep after posting here. I woke up an hour ago and checked on the kit. Even though a faint clicking sound exists, it still latches on to the feeding syringe tip pretty energetically (I just put an empty syringe in front of it and it latched on to it), it had lost it's appetite last night but I think it has regained it as of now. Can I go ahead and continue feeding as usual? Should I still go ahead with the administering the medication?

[Shellysfriend]

Thank you so much! I fell asleep after posting here. I woke up an hour ago and checked on the kit. Even though a faint clicking sound exists, it still latches on to the feeding syringe tip pretty energetically (I just put an empty syringe in front of it and it latched on to it), it had lost it's appetite last night but I think it has regained it as of now. Can I go ahead and continue feeding as usual? Should I still go ahead with the administering the medication?

Unless someone says otherwise, if they’ll eat I’d feed. As to the meds question I’ll defer to the experts.

[SamtheSquirrel2018]

Thank you so much! I fell asleep after posting here. I woke up an hour ago and checked on the kit. Even though a faint clicking sound exists, it still latches on to the feeding syringe tip pretty energetically (I just put an empty syringe in front of it and it latched on to it), it had lost it's appetite last night but I think it has regained it as of now. Can I go ahead and continue feeding as usual? Should I still go ahead with the administering the medication?

Hi Mango and thanks for finding The Squirrel Board! I'll give you my opinions but I would like to defer to CritterMom in regard to any further recommendations in regard to whether or not to use the antibiotics as she had been involved with this particular issue since you initiated this thread. That being said, aspirations are very common, even when we know how to feed these baby Squirrels and in spite of having considerable experience doing so! Aspiration is definitely a concern because an aspiration may wash bacteria from the mouth into the breathing passages and even into the lungs! This can result in a pneumonia which is an infection in the lungs BUT not every aspiration results in a pneumonia and in fact with how common aspirations actually are; very few aspirations of clean, fresh formula actually result in a pneumonia! Virtually every aspiration that you observe happening does, however, affect the Squirrel. Some effects are very obvious such as the choking, coughing and the sudden interruption normal breathing and others that we may assume to occur such as panic and fear. The coughing and choking are actually protective mechanisms that all nursing babies possess. It appears that your Baby Squirrel is essentially "back to normal" and indeed he is back to behaving normally (active, interactive, in NO obvious respiratory distress and has a good appetite; these are very good and encouraging signs and in light of this; while I cannot definitively tell you that your Squirrel does not have a pneumonia or is not on his way to developing a pneumonia; at least the odds of these would seem relatively remote!

I would definitely resume feeding and just be careful and do all that is necessary to help prevent aspiration such as using a 1cc syringe (withOUT a needle , of course), hold your squirrel upright so his head is higher than his hip and with the Squirrel's back facing upward! A Squirrel or any baby animal must NEVER be fed on its back as this will make aspiration much more likely! Please keep us updated on your Baby Squirrel! What is his (or her) name?

Regards,
SamtheSquirrel

[supersquirrelgirl]

Mango,

Squirrel update sounds good and I believe you are out of the panic mode. Since its been over 6~7 hrs from your initial post, your local Vet should be available to visit. It can't hurt to get the squirrel looked at. Hope the Vet is close by.

SSG

[SamtheSquirrel2018]

It appears that your Baby Squirrel is essentially "back to normal" and indeed he is back to behaving normally (active, interactive, in NO obvious respiratory distress and has a good appetite; these are very good and encouraging signs and in light of this; while I cannot definitively tell you that your Squirrel does not have a pneumonia or is not on his way to developing a pneumonia; at least the odds of these would seem relatively remote!

Hi:
I wanted to clarify a bit of what I wrote that I have quoted above; I realized that I had left out an important word and that was IF and the sentence should have been; It appears that your Baby Squirrel is essentially "back to normal" and indeed, IF he is back to behaving normally (active, interactive, in NO obvious respiratory distress and has a good appetite; these are very good and encouraging signs and in light of this; while I cannot definitively tell you that your Squirrel does not have a pneumonia or is not on his way to developing a pneumonia; at least the odds of these would seem relatively remote!

[MANGO]

Mango,

Squirrel update sounds good and I believe you are out of the panic mode. Since its been over 6~7 hrs from your initial post, your local Vet should be available to visit. It can't hurt to get the squirrel looked at. Hope the Vet is close by.

SSG

Hi, I am definitely out of panic mode because she had a very good appetite and she just had her first meal and she has also put on a gram since yesterday. But, the vet is still a few hours from opening shop.

[supersquirrelgirl]

Understood and glad you could calm down a little. Always good to have less stress!

Question now is do you administer the antibiotic or not. My feeling with antibiotic is only use when a clear or probable reason calls for them. Not good to over use them. I would leave this decision to your Vet who opens in a few hours.

Thank you for reaching out to TSB and certainly all your care for the little squirrel girl. We are here if you need us.

Keep us posted,

SSG

[MANGO]

Hey folks, I got on a call with a vet. I explained her the symptoms and her conditions as of today morning. The vet told me to administer a levocetirizine based suspension 2 drops in the morning and at night. What do you think? is the antibiotics really not necessary?

[MANGO]

Understood and glad you could calm down a little. Always good to have less stress!

Question now is do you administer the antibiotic or not. My feeling with antibiotic is only use when a clear or probable reason calls for them. Not good to over use them. I would leave this decision to your Vet who opens in a few hours.

Thank you for reaching out to TSB and certainly all your care for the little squirrel girl. We are here if you need us.

Keep us posted,

SSG

I got on a call with a vet. I explained her the symptoms and her conditions as of today morning. The vet told me to administer a levocetirizine based suspension 2 drops in the morning and at night. What do you think? is the antibiotics really not necessary?