blue sky magazine

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Squirrel Baby help

Do try to take the baby to her mother. Always first try to get the baby to its mother.

If the baby is hurt, cold, or it's night time or mom does not come to get the baby within 2-3 hours, the baby is probably a orphan and needs you to help it.

Pick the baby up.

Get a small box about a foot square; a cat carrier, a large Tupperwaree (without the lid on) or another container.
Place soft fabric at the bottom but no towels - squirrels can get their claws stuck in the loops.
Put on thick leather gloves (just to be safe).
Gently pick the baby up. Take this chance to observe the baby to check for injuries, bugs, bleeding, bumps or wounds. If they are bleeding or you see broken bones or serious injury, take them to a vet as soon as possible.

Make the baby warm.

Find or borrow a heating pad or electric blanket. Put the heating pad or blanket on low to medium temperature, depending upon type. Place the container on top of half of the pad. This way if it gets too hot, they can simply crawl off the pad.
Baby squirrels should be incubated at about 99 degrees F. They can't make their own heat when they are babies, so they need heat.
Make sure that you check to make sure the container and/or squirrel doesn't get too hot. Some heating pads shut off after a few hours, so check it often to be sure it is still on. Place a towel over top of the container to keep the heat inside. If it's a summer day, they might not need the towel on top.
If you don't have a heating pad or blanket, you can use a hot water bottle wrapped in a towel. Don't let their skin touch the bottle or they can be burned.

Get the baby hydrated.

Most fallen babies will be in need of water. You can see how dehydrated they are by gently pinching their skin.
If the "tent" of their skin stays there over a second or more, they are dehydrated.
If they look wrinkly, have sunken eyes or appear emaciated, they are dehydrated. Most super markets and drug stores carry Pedialyte in the baby section or their own brand of rehydrating baby fluid. Gerber has a brand also. Squirrels like fruit flavors, but plain will do if it's all they've got. If you can't find Pedialyte, there is always Gatorade.
If you are nowhere near a store or drug store, here is a homemade formula:
- One teaspoon salt
- three teaspoons of sugar mixed into one quart of warm water.
Use oral syringes, i.e. syringes with no needles, but you can use a clean eye dropper or an oral baby syringe. They also sell syringe feeders at Petco and Petsmart right next to the Esbilac puppy milk.
Make sure the baby is warm before you give it any fluids or it won't be able to digest them.
If they are tiny hairless pink babies about 2-3 inches long, you must be very careful when giving them fluids. It's easy to aspirate the babies and get the fluid in their lungs. This will give them pneumonia and they might die. #*Just put one little drop on their lips at a time and let them suck that in.
If they their eyes are open, you can let them take the syringe in their mouth and gently give them a few drops.
If a lot falls out of their mouth or comes out the nose, you're going way too fast.
If you get some coming out their nose, hold them upside down instantly for 10 seconds then blot the fluids off their nose, out of their nostrils. Wait a about minute before you continue.
Make sure you give these fluids warm, but not too hot. Store unused amounts in the refrigerator.
If they won't take the fluids, put a drop on their lips or poke a drop in their mouth so they can taste some of it first. Some will just open their mouths wide and start sucking away. Give tiny, eyes-closed pink babies 1 cc every two hours, fully furred eyes-closed babies 1-2 cc about every two hours, open-eyed babies 2-4 cc every three hours until a rehabber calls you back with your instructions. (1 cc is about 20-25 drops from an eye dropper,5 cc is 1 tsp)

Stimulate the baby squirrels as they need to be stimulated to poo and pee when their eyes are closed.

After each feeding of fluids you will need to gently wipe the genital and anal area with a warm, moist cotton ball or Q-tip until they pee or poo. If they are very dehydrated and haven't eaten in a while, they may not pee for a quite a few feedings and may not poo for a day.
Keep trying after every feeding time.

Friday, December 14, 2012

Food to eat when you have The Flu

Popsicles

An icy popsicle can soothe a sore, prickly, swollen, or dry throat. It can also help keep you hydrated, which is key when battling the flu. Getting enough fluids can keep mucus thin and help lessen congestion. Look for popsicles made from 100% fruit juice to make sure you're getting vital nutrients and not sugar water. Some flavors to try: apple, grape, or strawberry.

Turkey Sandwich

Turkey is a good, lean protein, essential to solid nutrition. And although you may not feel like it, eating can help give your body energy to fight illness. Try adding cranberry sauce for a spike of flavor and comfort-food taste.

Vegetable Juice

Making and eating a salad is probably one of the last things you'll feel up to while recovering from the flu. Down a glass of low-sodium vegetable juice instead. You'll load up on immune-boosting antioxidants and keep yourself hydrated. Craving a sweet taste? Go with 100% fruit juice.

Chicken Soup

Nourishing and hydrating, there's also some scientific evidence that chicken soup may help with healing and have mild anti-inflammatory effects. Studies have found that hot chicken soup can improve the ability of cilia, the tiny hair-like parts of the nasal passages, to protect the body from bacteria and viruses.

Garlic

If you feel up to it, garlic can be a good choice to spice up foods like soup. It appears to have antimicrobial and immune-stimulating properties and may give you slight relief from congestion.

Ginger

Stomachache? Nausea? Ginger is a home remedy often used to soothe these symptoms. Some studies suggest it may help fight inflammation. Try adding it freshly grated or in powdered form to other foods, or drinking flat ginger ale.

Hot Tea

Green, oblong and black tea offer disease-fighting antioxidants. And breathing in the steam can help relieve congestion. Add a spoonful of honey and a squeeze of lemon to help soothe a sore throat. If caffeine bothers you, opt for decaf or herbal versions.

Banana

Sliced, mashed, or whole, bananas are easy on the stomach. They can be a go-to food if you've been hit with symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, which often occur in kids with the flu. Bananas, along with rice, applesauce, and toast, make up the BRAT diet -- often the first foods doctors encourage people to try when they’re recovering from stomach flu and ready for solid foods.

Toast

Although it brings up the rear of the BRAT diet, toast is nothing to ignore. If you can manage food, try toast or crackers. They can be convenient foods when you're fighting illness. Plus, they pair well with chicken noodle soup and their satisfying crunch can take the edge off hunger when your stomach can't handle much.

Meal Replacement Drinks

If your appetite has returned, try one of these to make sure you're getting proper nutrients and calories. Look for lactose-free drinks with at least 6 grams of protein and that are low in sugar. Flavors like strawberry and chocolate may make getting essential vitamins, nutrients, and calories more attractive.

Reference:
http://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/home-remedies-9/slideshow-flu-foods

Just a thought

Did You Know?!

Sunday, September 30, 2012

Glass of Milk - Touching story

One day, a poor boy who was selling goods from door to door to pay his way through school, found he had only one thin dime left, and he was hungry.?

He decided he would ask for a meal at the next house. However, he lost his nerve when a lovely young woman opened the door.

Instead of a meal he asked for a drink of water! She thought he looked hungry so brought him a large glass of milk. He drank it so slowly, and then asked, How much do I owe you?"

You don't owe me anything," she replied. "Mother has taught us never to accept pay for a kindness."
He said ... "Then I thank you from my heart."
As Howard Kelly left that house, he not only felt stronger physically, but his faith in God and man was strong also. He had been ready to give up and quit. Dr. Howard Kelly was called in for the Consultation. When he heard the name of the town she came from, a strange light filled his eyes. Immediately he rose and went down the hall of the hospital to her room. Dressed in his doctor's gown he went in to see her. He recognized her at once. After a long struggle, the battle was won."Paid in full with one glass of milk" (Signed) Dr. Howard Kelly.(Signed) Dr. Howard Kelly.Tears of joy flooded her eyes as her happy heart prayed: "Thank You, God, that your love has spread broad through human hearts and hands."There's a saying, which goes something like this:

Many year's later that same young woman became critically ill. The local doctors were baffled. They finally sent her to the big city, where they called in specialists to study her rare disease.

He went back to the consultation room determined to do his best to save her life. From that day he gave special attention to her case.

Dr. Kelly requested the business office to pass the final bill to him for approval. He looked at it, and then wrote something on the edge and the bill was sent to her room. She feared to open it, for she was sure it would take the rest of her life to pay for it all. Finally she looked, and something caught her attention on the side of the bill. She read these words...

Bread cast on the waters comes back to you. The good deed you do todaymay benefit you or someone you love at the least expected time. If you never see the deed again at least you will have made the world a better place - And, after all, isn't that what life is all about?