Found a Baby Squirrel and Need Help

[maddi9979]

Hello Everyone.

When my niece and nephews were over on Saturday evening they came running in all excited with a baby squirrel. I've read so much online in the past 48 hours...lol! I still feel like I need help.

Here's what I/we have done so far:

• We warmed the baby and rehydrated with homemade pedialyte
• We left the baby near where we found it in a warm box and watched from inside to see if the mom would return. We did this again for a couple hours today, but it was cold out so we brought him back in a little sooner. No mom anywhere in sight.
• We gave him the homemade pedialyte for the rest of Saturday night, and Sunday morning I went and bought some Goats Milk Esbilac, which we fed him Sunday afternoon through this morning (This is what I saw to do on other sites. I bought the can to use immediately and mixed the powdered version/let it sit for several hours to the formula would break down more.)
• I read this site and found out about the problems with Esbilac. Today I went and got a couple 1 cc syringes and made the temporary Goats Milk formula. He seems to like this much better and is eating well.
• Today I took him to the veterinarian, who can't help us...but gave us a number for a Rehab center. I called the Rehab center and left a VM. Haven't heard back from them yet.
• I ordered the Fox Valley formula and better syringes with nipples in case I can't get through to rehabbers for whatever reason.

So now my questions. He seems to be eating fairly well, though not as much as I think he should be. I am hoping he eats more when my new syringes show up. He is fully covered with fur but his eyes are closed. He has both upper and lower teeth...and sometimes he bathrooms by himself (mostly poop) and sometimes I have to stimulate him.

I'm guessing he's 4-5 weeks old? He's 80 grams.

My concern is he seems to be sleeping a lot and really likes the warm side of the box A LOT. I'm freaked out about MBD...should I be? Again, I switched him off the GME and onto the temporary goats milk formula as soon as possible.

Sorry to post a novel. I'm just really nervous about hurting him, and I hope the rehabbers call me back soon!

[maddi9979]

Oh yes...sorry. My other question.

My niece and nephews told me that they "took him away from the cat" when they rescued him, but when I dug a little deeper he wasn't in the cats mouth when they found him. He was cowering and squeaking in a corner by the house and the cat was looking ready to pounce.

I don't know if he was ever in the cat's mouth, but I'm worried about him needing antibiotics. He seems really healthy overall, no bloat...just barely dehydrated when we found him. Skin sprung right back after the very first drink we gave him.

Should I find him antibiotics in case? Again, really hoping the rehab center calls me back soon.

[HRT4SQRLS]

It sounds like you’re doing everything right

Tried to reunite with mom. ✔️
Tried to contact rehabber ✔️
Warmed the baby. ✔️
Rehydrated baby. ✔️
Homemade goat milk recipe✔️
Ordered Fox Valley. ✔️

Here is a guide to baby squirrel care. https://www.henryspets.com/1-baby-squirrel-care-guide/

As long as the baby is on formula it should not get MBD. 5-7% of body weight is the amount of formula so at 80g the amount is 4-5.6ml per feeding every 4-5 hours. The eyes all open at 5 weeks. Baby squirrels eat, sleep and poop. That’s about all. They require heat as they can’t regulate their body temperature when small.

[HRT4SQRLS]

Yes, antibiotics are needed. Do you have Clavamox or Augmentin? Can you get it?
Which rehab center was called?

[maddi9979]

I don't have anything in terms of antibiotics and don't know where I'd get some.

I'm in Greenville, SC. The number my vet gave me was for Greenville Wildlife Rescue.

He's only been eating about 3 ml at most, but I had read every 2-3 hours, so perhaps it's just that I'm trying to feed him too often.

Here are some pics:

[maddi9979]

[HRT4SQRLS]

Yes, you are feeding too often. Space the feedings at 4 hrs at this age. He should take more formula.
The formula needs to move out of the stomach before the next feeding. Two hrs is way too close.
If he needs more fluids you can give hydration fluid between feedings.

The baby is precious.

[maddi9979]

Ok thank you so much.

I'll ease up on the feedings and not worry too much. I'll ask my vet if there's any way she can give me antibiotics if I can't get through to the rehab. She helped me catch and de-heartworm a stray dog one time, so I think she's used to my weird requests now :-/

[HRT4SQRLS]

Sometimes you can get an antibiotic from friends and family. Often people have a few left over pills. All you need is a single pill.
We can help you dose it.
In the mean time, each time you feed the baby check it over carefully for any scratch or puncture that might have been caused by the cat. If an infection starts brewing you should see redness or other signs that would indicate a problem.

[Spanky]

Was this Wildlife Rehab of Greenville? If they do not call you back and you want to place him with a rehabber I can help.

I can help with antibiotics too if you vet does not come through (I am an hour from Greenville).

[maddi9979]

Was this Wildlife Rehab of Greenville? If they do not call you back and you want to place him with a rehabber I can help.

I can help with antibiotics too if you vet does not come through (I am an hour from Greenville).

Thank you!

Yes it was Wildlife Rehab of Greenville. I got your private message and will reach out tomorrow. I'm so happy I found this board and thankful for the help.

[Ozzy2019]

If you still have this baby I have 4 doses of endo/doxy 25/50 somewhere. My seven month old passed yesterday from a volvulus. I am not a vet, and cant tell u the dose for yours, but he also had a great vet. If you need a vet that will treat a squirrel she has treated 2 of mine. Orivate message me. Sincerely mary r.

[maddi9979]

If you still have this baby I have 4 doses of endo/doxy 25/50 somewhere. My seven month old passed yesterday from a volvulus. I am not a vet, and cant tell u the dose for yours, but he also had a great vet. If you need a vet that will treat a squirrel she has treated 2 of mine. Orivate message me. Sincerely mary r.

Thanks, Mary. I texted the Rehab this morning...so I'm waiting to hear back. My sister and niece really, really want to keep this baby...I know that I can't raise it, though I do love him. I travel too much for work for it to be a good idea for me.

He's eating a lot better now that I've spaced his feedings further apart. I got a message that my Fox Valley Formula and syringes/nipples will arrive tomorrow, so I'm hoping that will help as well.

We'll definitely turn him over to the rehab if it seems my sister can't handle it.

Messaging you about the antibiotics.

[Nancy in New York]

Thanks, Mary. I texted the Rehab this morning...so I'm waiting to hear back. My sister and niece really, really want to keep this baby...I know that I can't raise it, though I do love him. I travel too much for work for it to be a good idea for me.

He's eating a lot better now that I've spaced his feedings further apart. I got a message that my Fox Valley Formula and syringes/nipples will arrive tomorrow, so I'm hoping that will help as well.

We'll definitely turn him over to the rehab if it seems my sister can't handle it.

Messaging you about the antibiotics.

Oh please, try to find a qualified person to take this little one.
They are so fragile and can aspirate so easily. That turns into aspiration pneumonia which can/will
kill the little one quickly.
They are absolutely adorable at this age, but they need someone
with experience.
Thank you for helping this little one.

[frankc]

Was this Wildlife Rehab of Greenville? If they do not call you back and you want to place him with a rehabber I can help.

I can help with antibiotics too if you vet does not come through (I am an hour from Greenville).

Once again ! Spanky you are the squirrel angel

[Spanky]

4 doses of endo/doxy 25/50 somewhere.

What is the "endo" part of the endo/doxy?

[CritterMom]

What is the "endo" part of the endo/doxy?

"Endo" is Baytril, generic name endofloxacin.

[Spanky]

Hmm.. Baytril is Enrofloxacin... but I bet you are right CM. I see a vet med of enrofloxacin/doxycycline (I am much more familiar with human meds and endo/doxy Google did not come up with anything for me).

(I was concerned because the there is a generic drug company "Endo" but then the 25/50 was not making sense and so I was wanting to clarify what this medication was... had I only thought to search Enro/Doxy!!!)

[Ozzy2019]

Hope it's doing good. You arent far from me. Good luck and prayers

[Ozzy2019]

I am trying to attach a pic so you can see the label. Since ozzy passed 4 weeks after this med was prescribed I am wondering if the vet missed that volvous confirmed by necropsy when she thought he had pneumonia. At the time she said it looks like I caught pneumonia early. It wasnt the respitory symptoms like clicking, head down, or lethargy that had me take him that day when she said I caught it early.
I took him to the vet that day because his eating had slacked off substantially. He was 7 months old that day and was on a juvenile adult diet.
4 weeks later he had the symptoms we talked about. Bowel sounds too slow, poo would be hard, small, and dry. By the day of his passing he just wanted to be on the floor., ( He had the run of the house and got 1 hour of sun every day) head down, to be held and sleep on my belly or electric blanket.

His ashes will be ready to be picked up monday. Everything is so raw still as far as feelings and my mental state. He meant the world to me.

I have kept all his stuff in Hope's of a nr needs a home that isnt too far from me. At least one in georgia , North Carolina or south carolina.

Anyway, in closing keep me on your prayers on Monday. I have to mail a teaspoon of them to spirit ashes for the necklace they are going to make me.
Thank you critter mom, spanky dad and others I cant remember for always being there.
It hurts to check the board everyday for one that needs help and see so many that are sick or hurt. The bright side is that the squirrel board community shows that there are Angels here to help them.

Love mary r