I'm posting these now because Doug may not make it. He is not doing well and I feel death is inevitable. I will leave it at that for now as I have R to take care of and I am quite upset about this situation.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Doug this morning
I'm posting these now because Doug may not make it. He is not doing well and I feel death is inevitable. I will leave it at that for now as I have R to take care of and I am quite upset about this situation.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Super quick update
I just checked in on R and she's awake so I have time to say Doug broke the 30 gram mark, he was 31g the other day. He eats 3-4ccs now. Getting more furred. trying to upload pics for you but... taking too long. Excuse my misstyping in a huge hurry.
Friday, August 21, 2009
Picture Hiatus
My wifi has gone out on my laptop so I'm back to mobile for now. Which means no picture uploads (well technically I can still do it but it's a bigger pain then it's worth). I will try to update as much as I can from mobile, and I will be ordering home internet later on today so I will be back up and running as soon as my equipment gets here.
On to Doug.
He gobbled down 2ccs last night, and both feeds this morning. I've been getting more hindmilk into him, even though it can be difficult to express any when your kid has drained it. I haven't been able to weigh him, I've had R to contend with today, maybe later I will get a chance. Last time I did he was down again, so hopefully he will be on an incline once again.
His squirrel nipples arrived along with some new syringes and another syringe/nipple variety pack I ordered (for future animal care needs... I'm gonna need it). I love the new nipples. He seems so much more comfortable with the nipple in his mouth rather than the tip of the syringe at the front of his tongue. He can eat much quicker now with less trying to come up his nose (I read this is normal for them as they are voracious eaters, not good, but normal). He's still pooping and peeing good. Right now I seem to be getting less poop and more pee (squirrel growth spurt?).
I believe that is all to report about Doug right now. I contacted a rehabber in another state to ask a few questions the other day, my questions were answered, and the ever so popular "what formula are you feeding?" question came up. I decided to reveal it and was not met with a lecture, but was given a bit of information regarding metabolic bone disease (disorder?), something I will look into when I have the time. I was given the link to some specially formulated squirrel formula that I am told is not too expensive. It's not price I'm concerned about too much. It's the whole "formula" thing. Most people don't know just how anti formula I am, and I'm not going to go into my rant here. Let's just say I don't even like saying (or typing) the word. It gives me a dirty feeling when I say it, it's worse than a curse word to me. Pinky is adamantly against it as well, he says my milk is better for him than some proccessed crap. How's that for a breastfeeding supporter?
Alrighty, R is up so I gotta call AT&T.
On to Doug.
He gobbled down 2ccs last night, and both feeds this morning. I've been getting more hindmilk into him, even though it can be difficult to express any when your kid has drained it. I haven't been able to weigh him, I've had R to contend with today, maybe later I will get a chance. Last time I did he was down again, so hopefully he will be on an incline once again.
His squirrel nipples arrived along with some new syringes and another syringe/nipple variety pack I ordered (for future animal care needs... I'm gonna need it). I love the new nipples. He seems so much more comfortable with the nipple in his mouth rather than the tip of the syringe at the front of his tongue. He can eat much quicker now with less trying to come up his nose (I read this is normal for them as they are voracious eaters, not good, but normal). He's still pooping and peeing good. Right now I seem to be getting less poop and more pee (squirrel growth spurt?).
I believe that is all to report about Doug right now. I contacted a rehabber in another state to ask a few questions the other day, my questions were answered, and the ever so popular "what formula are you feeding?" question came up. I decided to reveal it and was not met with a lecture, but was given a bit of information regarding metabolic bone disease (disorder?), something I will look into when I have the time. I was given the link to some specially formulated squirrel formula that I am told is not too expensive. It's not price I'm concerned about too much. It's the whole "formula" thing. Most people don't know just how anti formula I am, and I'm not going to go into my rant here. Let's just say I don't even like saying (or typing) the word. It gives me a dirty feeling when I say it, it's worse than a curse word to me. Pinky is adamantly against it as well, he says my milk is better for him than some proccessed crap. How's that for a breastfeeding supporter?
Alrighty, R is up so I gotta call AT&T.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Dehydration
Poor squirrely. When I woke up this morning Doug was dehydrated based off skin tent test. I'm fairly certain it's because he went a couple extra hours overnight than usual. I've spent all day trying to get as much fluid in him as possible, so he ate:
1cc
1.5cc
1.5cc
1.6cc
[one feeding left]
I'm working on upping his intake, he's supposed to be up to 3cc by like the end of next week, and down to 4 feedings (that'd be even easier on my schedule). He's growing nice and big, getting furred and everything. I have some pics I'll share at hte end of this update. I need to add some more hindmilk into his supply. I express in the morning so I get all foremilk, I need to start adding some hindmilk after R feeds. I can see the difference in his poops, they get foamy just like R's do when she gets alot of fore. I need to go read some more on what I need to start doing for Doug, my guess is he's close to 3 weeks now, so in another few weeks his eyes will be opening and I need to be prepared for that. I can see the slit deepening so I know it's coming soon. It's kinda exciting in a nerve racking sort of way. Once his eyes open... oh boy. I better have a cage ready for him. I'm hoping he'll be big enough to fit in the crate, but I'll probably need to line it with NICs. Crap, he's a chewer too, which means he'd chew the zip ties... Hmmm...
OK, picture time.
1cc
1.5cc
1.5cc
1.6cc
[one feeding left]
I'm working on upping his intake, he's supposed to be up to 3cc by like the end of next week, and down to 4 feedings (that'd be even easier on my schedule). He's growing nice and big, getting furred and everything. I have some pics I'll share at hte end of this update. I need to add some more hindmilk into his supply. I express in the morning so I get all foremilk, I need to start adding some hindmilk after R feeds. I can see the difference in his poops, they get foamy just like R's do when she gets alot of fore. I need to go read some more on what I need to start doing for Doug, my guess is he's close to 3 weeks now, so in another few weeks his eyes will be opening and I need to be prepared for that. I can see the slit deepening so I know it's coming soon. It's kinda exciting in a nerve racking sort of way. Once his eyes open... oh boy. I better have a cage ready for him. I'm hoping he'll be big enough to fit in the crate, but I'll probably need to line it with NICs. Crap, he's a chewer too, which means he'd chew the zip ties... Hmmm...
OK, picture time.
Monday, August 17, 2009
Doug's Accident
Don't worry, he's ok, but he did have an accident this morning. It was 2a and Pinky and I heard him squeaking. Being half asleep my brain tried to convince me he was fine and to go back to sleep. I tried to listen until Pinky said to check on him. I get up, move his fur blanket and he moves with it. WTF? I see his tail is wrapped in the fur. How he managed that is beyond me. I had to carefully cut him away, then there was still fur wrapped fairly tightly around his tail. As I was beginning to work that away without hurting him R starts stirring. I ended up having to lay back down to nurse her and almost fell asleep. Once I was able I got back to Doug. I initially thought it had lacerated his skin, but it just bruised it pretty badly. He's doing fine today. Last night I weighed him and he was 27.1g this morning he was 26.7, so only a .5g loss, better than previous days.
I better end here for now. Apparently I'm so tired I[m falling asleep.
I better end here for now. Apparently I'm so tired I[m falling asleep.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Doug's Got Some New Digs!
Sort of. I went to my favorite store yesterday, Joanne's, specifically to get little D some fur to make him feel more cozy. I, of course, rummaged thru the remnant section as well. I got a few fabrics for me, and a fleece for the animals (or whatever I decide to do with it), as well as the fur [full price]. Since Doug like to snuggle up to the water bottle I thought a cozy to slip onto the bottle would be great... and it was. I also cut an extra piece as a blanket for him, and used some of the fleece for the floor and a bumper in his box. He really seems to enjoy it :)
Doug obviously approves :D
After doing a bit of reading last night I discovered I really don't need to wake up to feed Doug. I also learned I should only be feeding him about 5 times a day at this age (somewhere around 2 weeks). So I've begun down the path to feeding more less. The site I was looking at last night had a better feel to it than the others I've seen. It wasn't all "rawr, you must feed formula or else it will die!" It actually goes the other way and claims more squirrels die on formula than, say, scalded milk (the food they happen to be pushing). I'll stick with my milk thankyouverymuch.
OK, that's all for now. R has been a royal pain in the emeffing A over napping and try as I might to get her down for more than 20 mins, she just won't have it and is awake again.
Doug obviously approves :D
After doing a bit of reading last night I discovered I really don't need to wake up to feed Doug. I also learned I should only be feeding him about 5 times a day at this age (somewhere around 2 weeks). So I've begun down the path to feeding more less. The site I was looking at last night had a better feel to it than the others I've seen. It wasn't all "rawr, you must feed formula or else it will die!" It actually goes the other way and claims more squirrels die on formula than, say, scalded milk (the food they happen to be pushing). I'll stick with my milk thankyouverymuch.
OK, that's all for now. R has been a royal pain in the emeffing A over napping and try as I might to get her down for more than 20 mins, she just won't have it and is awake again.
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