ASPIRATED & is now shaking!

[Lilcourtski]

Our baby just opened his eyes a few days ago and weighs 100 grams. We think he's 5 weeks because he has his bottom teeth and the top are almost half way in. We're feeding him about 6 cc's every 4-5 hours in a 1 cc syringe, 1 part puppy esbilac powder 2 parts water. Today he sucked in too hard (I think?) and aspirated I believe, the milk came out his nose and he started sneezing over and over. I immediately tipped him forward and sucked out of his nose. He is still sneezing off and on, and shaking a lot when we have him out. His heart beat is very fast, but I feel like it has always been fast. We don't hear clicking in his breathing, but I hear a bit of wheezing off and on and of course the sneezing. He also has runnier poops, maybe diarrhea.

Please give me all options of medicines and how much to give him ASAP, also how to give it to him! Please email me or text me if possible, I will be checking here but those are a better form of contact for me. borawskicourtney@gmail.com or 636 448 8766

Please help!

[Nancy in New York]

The drugs you will need are Baytril (animal antibiotic) or Cipro (human antibiotic)
OR Augmentin or Clavamox.
What antibiotics do you have access to now?
Call family and friends for the ones I listed, and we can dose if you
give us the strength/mgs.
Not sure if they are needed now, but to be on the safe side, get the antibiotic
now if you can.

[Mel1959]

First, take a breath. I know it is very scary when they have milk coming out of their nose, but it doesn't mean for sure that your little one aspirated it into his lungs. I had three little ones that seemed to pfffft milk every time I fed them and have it in their nose. None of them developed aspiration pneumonia. It can take a while to sneeze out the liquid and you might also hear some stuffiness while he's trying to get it all out. Keep an eye, and ear, on your little one. Periodically hold him up to your ear like a phone and listen for a clicking sound on inhale and exhale. Watch for a decrease in appetite and being more lethargic.

In the meantime, call around to friends and family and try to locate some antibiotics, just in case you need them. Look for Augmentin (human)/ clavamox (animal), Ciproflaxin (human)/ Baytril (animal). You just need one pill. If you find some and if you need to administer it someone will be able to help you reconstitute it and dose. The dosage will be based on weight so you will need to provide a current weight.

Keep us posted.

Nancy in New York is right on this....and types faster than me! Thank you.

[Lilcourtski]

Thank you so so much! I am going to get some meds just in case he develops any of those symptoms. The only thing I have found so far is 500 MG AMOXICILLIN. Will this work? I'll keep searching just in case. Also, I've been feeling like I should take him to a rehabber. I'm not feeling confident in releasing him in my neighborhood where I always see run over animals. And I'm not sure keeping him as my pet is the best for either of us. I do have local rehabbers, and my gut tells me he would be better off with them. If you have any advice please share thanks so much again.

[Lilcourtski]

I also have found 500mg expired cephalexin. Expired 9/15/14.

[stepnstone]

Thank you so so much! I am going to get some meds just in case he develops any of those symptoms. The only thing I have found so far is 500 MG AMOXICILLIN. Will this work? I'll keep searching just in case. Also, I've been feeling like I should take him to a rehabber. I'm not feeling confident in releasing him in my neighborhood where I always see run over animals. And I'm not sure keeping him as my pet is the best for either of us. I do have local rehabbers, and my gut tells me he would be better off with them. If you have any advice please share thanks so much again.

What is best for him is to be raised to release, he belongs to the trees.
Go with your gut and listen to your instincts, they are better off being placed with experienced rehabbers when possible.
I'd be careful about wild life facilities unless you know they wouldn't euthanize. Many do not have the time or staff to give
the individual attention a baby requires and will darn right lie about their intentions. If you do know of individual rehabbers in
your area that raise to release that would be an ideal placment.

[Mel1959]

Do some research into the rehabbers before you decide to place this baby with them. If you are sure you want to place him start a new thread with a title like "rehabber needed in (?) Missouri. That way if there are any TSB members close by they might be able to help you place him.

Keep monitoring his breathing. Amoxicillin is slower acting. I'm not sure about the cephalexin and if it will work. If it will, the fact that it's expired is usually ok.

[Spanky]

The Amoxicillin is a better choice for AP as cephalexin is not very (if at all) against AP. FWIW - Expired 2 years ago is pretty old.

IF your baby develops symptoms you can come on the board with his current weight so someone can dose for you. In the meantime, I would still try to locate the more optimal and quicker working meds (Enrofloxacin (Baytril)/Ciprofloxacin (Cipro) or Clavamox/Augmentin.

Please note that "cyclines" (doxy-cycline, tetra-cycline, etc.) are an exception to the rule of expired antibiotics and they should never be used beyond their expiration.

[Lilcourtski]

Thank you guys! I freaked out a bit last night and wanted to hand him off to someone more experienced. I'm not sure I trust the local rehab facilities, when I found injured baby bunnies last year they straight up told me that they would end up euthanizing them all. With the help of all of you I think I can handle it! I will keep monitoring and looking for correct meds. Today he seems to be a little better, but he is still sneezing here and there, and his poop is still runnier than normal. Breathing sounds good & still no clicking! Should the sneezing be gone by now, is it normal? He is like blowing air out of his nose so I'm not sure if that counts as a sneeze.

[Mel1959]

You're probably making a good call by not handing him off to a local facility. I wouldn't do it either, if they told me they were probably going to euthanize. eek

This blowing air out of his nose. Is it all the time? Or just when he's eating? Is it a pffffft sound? It could be a sneeze. If you could post a video, maybe someone can determine if it's anything to be concerned about. I'm glad you're continuing to listen for clicking. If his appetite wanes or he becomes lethargic those are symptoms of pneumonia. Having the right antibiotic would be very helpful.

As for the diarrhea. Sometimes it can be a sign of feeding too much. You can try backing off on how much you're feeding and see if that helps. You could also try adding a small amount of infant baby rice cereal or pumpkin baby food to his formula for a feeding or two. Go easy with how much you add so he doesn't become constipated.

Ask as many questions as you need. We all started somewhere and are happy to help.