Dehydrated, emaciated squirrels died- trying to learn for next time

[kookoo_forbonbon]

Hi all,
I am a subpermittee for a wildlife rehab center, have raised/released several healthy squirrels and have always felt like I sort of knew the ropes as far as the right care, etc. but this recent case has me losing some confidence... can any rehabbers tell me what I may have done wrong here with these babies? I don't want their deaths to be in vain and want to learn from this for next time.

I received 2 babies, both severely dehydrated and emaciated. They both were about 45 grams and appeared to be around 4 weeks old (short fur, eyes closed). Very scrawny, bones showing through. The center had them for maybe a few days before I picked them up and they had been getting formula every 4 hours and some homemade pedialyte prior to me getting them.

4/21
6pm-their feeding was just completed at the center. I drove them home & immediately put them in incubator at 95 degrees
10pm- bodies didnt feel very warm to touch when took out for feeding. Fed 3 cc formula (Fox valley) and increased temp to 97, added blankets

4/22
starting at 8am, Gave formula 2-3cc every 4 hrs with 2-3cc homemade pedialyte in between feedings (ie. 8 am formula, 10am pedialyte, 12pm formula, 2pm pedialyte, etc.)
They fought and cried during all feedings so unfortunately I felt like I was sort of force feeding them...
4 pm- fed 2cc formula
8pm- skipped a feeding and instead gave 2cc pedialyte (I had decided at this point that their dehydration didnt seem to be getting better and wanted to ensure they had enough fluids and maybe the milk was too much)
11pm-gave 2cc formula

4/23
8am- found dead- undigested milk still in bellies


I feel so bad. I feel like the last feeding is what did them in, but I'm not sure why or how. I wonder if the incubator shut off in the middle of the night and turned back on, but I dont have proof of that, and it was on/their bodies were warm when I found them. I also feel terrible that every time I tried to give them milk or fluids, they clearly seemed to be suffering through it and pushed me away and cried the whole time. I had them bundled up, warm, and was feeding with a 1cc syringe somewhat slowly but they struggled through all of it.

The day before they died, they were peeing clear urine, some yellow diarrhea, but skin was still tented.

I'll be grateful for any feedback/thoughts or support!! Thank you!

[BigNibbler]

How long did you warm them, when first received, before anything?

Did they then then feel toasty warm?

Did you give them fluids, not formula... just water/w dash of sugar/salt or diluted Pedialyte or sub-Q lactated ringers solution?
Did their skin over the next 24 hours seem, more normal, not stay pleated when pinched ?

[kookoo_forbonbon]

How long did you warm them, when first received, before anything?

Did they then then feel toasty warm?

Did you give them fluids, not formula... just water/w dash of sugar/salt or diluted Pedialyte or sub-Q lactated ringers solution?
Did their skin over the next 24 hours seem, more normal, not stay pleated when pinched ?

I warmed them from about 7pm to 10pm. The incubator was set at 95, and no - when I took them out for their 10pm feeding, their bodies were not toasty warm. Slightly warm but not warm enough. I shouldn't have fed them at this point, probably.

That was the point I fed them formula (about 3 cc each).

Over the next 24 hours they were peeing clear urine, but their skin was still pleated. The skin tenting was getting slightly better for one of them, but not the other.

The fact that they died at the same time makes me think it had to do with either the last feeding they got the night before (but not sure what was wrong with it...) or maybe the incubator shut off in the middle of the night (and turned back on- but at that point it was too late). I don't know.

Any thoughts?

[BigNibbler]

I warmed them from about 7pm to 10pm. The incubator was set at 95, and no - when I took them out for their 10pm feeding, their bodies were not toasty warm. Slightly warm but not warm enough. I shouldn't have fed them at this point, probably.

That was the point I fed them formula (about 3 cc each).

Over the next 24 hours they were peeing clear urine, but their skin was still pleated. The skin tenting was getting slightly better for one of them, but not the other.

The fact that they died at the same time makes me think it had to do with either the last feeding they got the night before (but not sure what was wrong with it...) or maybe the incubator shut off in the middle of the night (and turned back on- but at that point it was too late). I don't know.

Any thoughts?

Mainly, I think it is really good that you want to learn from each experience, and that your conscientiousness will no doubt help you save many lives in the future.

I won't evaluate the situation based on the little hindsight info we have.

BUT I have learned over the years that is vital they be well hydrated for their organs to function properly.
And that they be WARM. Their bodies are so small, that they have very little mass to surface area, so they lose heat easily.
Vital to keep them warm. I like it warmer than necessary as long as it is in a limited area that allows them to move to a cooler space.
Unfortunately you really need to contain them... because if they need more than a few inches for warmer or cooler... it ain't gonna happen at that age!!!

I would have tried to hydrate them for a bit longer and confirm their toast-ness. They should be warmer than your armpit !

[supersquirrelgirl]

KooKoo,

You are part of the 1% people who rescue squirrels. 99% people simply pass-by hoping someone else will help.

Rescuing animals is never going to be 100% successful due to so many risk factors. Sometimes the best rehabbers lose a baby. I ask that you don't beat yourself up wondering what I did wrong. You tried to save them but this time it did not work out.

I thank you for being part of the 1% who try to save life.

MrSSG

[kookoo_forbonbon]

KooKoo,

You are part of the 1% people who rescue squirrels. 99% people simply pass-by hoping someone else will help.

Rescuing animals is never going to be 100% successful due to so many risk factors. Sometimes the best rehabbers lose a baby. I ask that you don't beat yourself up wondering what I did wrong. You tried to save them but this time it did not work out.

I thank you for being part of the 1% who try to save life.

MrSSG

Thank you so much. This means a lot.

[BigNibbler]

KooKoo,

You are part of the 1% people who rescue squirrels. 99% people simply pass-by hoping someone else will help.

Rescuing animals is never going to be 100% successful due to so many risk factors. Sometimes the best rehabbers lose a baby. I ask that you don't beat yourself up wondering what I did wrong. You tried to save them but this time it did not work out.

I thank you for being part of the 1% who try to save life.

MrSSG

Beautifully said SSG
May I add, that many pass by without any care for thought suffering baby, because it is not THEIRS!