Possible aspiration pneumonia

[Iralzabal33]

Hey guys, a few days ago a baby squirrel came down from my tree.. it looked like mom was deceased. I called several rescue places, but no answer. I decided to help the baby.. he has been eating good and is active. He seems to be around 5 weeks old.. I started noticing some clicking sounds today and heavy breathing.. I haven’t noticed any aspiration but I’m still concerned.. I have some amoxicillin 500 mg but I don’t know proper dosage.. please help!!!

[Iralzabal33]

I also have amoxi-clav 875-125 mg tab

[Charley Chuckles]

When you hold him to your ear do you hear constant clicking?

[Iralzabal33]

No but he is breathing fast

[CritterMom]

We need his weight to dose.

Look for lethargy and refusing to eat or eating way less than normal. They are the first real symptoms of A/P.

[Iralzabal33]

He weights 62 g

[CritterMom]

I just sent you directions for dosing with the amox/clav by private message.

Again, check for lethargy and not eating. They make all sorts of little mouth noises that are not A/P, and a baby doing that will be enthusiastically eating. The clicking you hear with A/P is with EVERY breath, asleep, awake, all the time, accompanied by lethargy. They LOOK like they feel bad.

If you feel that he checks all the boxes, you have the info needed to start medicating him immediately.

I mentioned 1ml syringes in my PM. You MUST have one to do the dosing. You SHOULD be using them for feeding. They cut down on the chances of giving them A/P.

[Iralzabal33]

I appreciate you!!! He has been eating well and seems very hungry every time I present the food. The only symptoms I see are heavy breathing and clicking sounds. But the clicking is not all the time.

[CritterMom]

I appreciate you!!! He has been eating well and seems very hungry every time I present the food. The only symptoms I see are heavy breathing and clicking sounds. But the clicking is not all the time.

Just keep an eye on him. I was amazed at all the mouth noises they made the first time I raised one.

If you don't have a stethoscope (What is wrong with you?? Why don't you have a stethoscope??), one of the big red plastic disposable cups that everyone drinks beer from at picnics - Solo cups - make dandy ones. Pour out the beer and pop the cup over the baby and listen at the bottom. It does a wonderful job of concentrating the sound.

[Iralzabal33]

He is doing just fine!! Very active and eating normal!! Thank you so much for the help. I was just scared I guess from the videos from baby squirrels with A/P, not the case for this boy.

[CritterMom]

What is his name?

[Iralzabal33]

I named him Alvin,, it reminded me of Alvin and the chipmunks 😂 even though he is a squirrel