Aspiration- This usually is from feeding too much too fast.  Formula gets into the lungs. You will here a clicking sound when the baby breathes.  Can be fatal.  Stop feeding regular formula and go to Pedialyte® for at least 12 hours and put the baby on an antibiotic for 7 days. Hopefully he/she will pull through.  Try to be careful when feeding, if baby is snorting formula through the nose, you are feeding too fast.

Over-feeding- It takes about 5 minutes for the brain of a baby squirrel to register the food in the stomach.   During this time he will act like he's starved even though you have fed the correct amount.  Most people overfeed because of this.  Overfeeding will lead to diarrhea problems.  You can usually tell by the color of the stool.  It will be runny and light yellow or light orange.  If you keep overfeeding, you will kill the baby.   Back off to half of what you were feeding.  It usually takes 24 hours for the diarrhea stop.  After the diarrhea stops, increase 1/10th of 1c.c. as the feeding amount.  Do this for 24 hours.

         Example: Day 1-(2c.c.)-  baby has diarrhea

                       Day1-Cut back to (1c.c.) for 24 hours

                       Day 2-increase to 1.1c.c for 24 hours

                       Day 3- increase to 1.2c.c for 24 hours

	Diarrhea- There are many possible causes for diarrhea.  If it's not overfeeding, it could be an internal infection or one of many other things.  The best thing to do is have a veterinarian take a stool sample and follow his advice.  Also an experienced wildlife rehabilitator might be able to help you.
	Hypothermia- The body temperature has dropped due to exposure to cold weather.  Internal organs start to shut down if low body temperature is prolonged.  The baby must be warmed slowly back to normal temperatures.  Do not attempt to feed a cold baby.
	Metabolic Bone Disease- There are many types of metabolic bone disease.  In baby squirrels, it is caused from an improper diet by well intentioned care givers.  Correct formulas and solid foods are the key to avoiding this problem.  See Proper Diet and Formula Mixing .
	Fleas-  A bath in warm water with baby shampoo usually is enough to kill fleas on baby squirrels.  Keep the baby's head above the water and gently trickle the shampoo bath water on the face making sure you cover all areas.  It is not recommended using flea dips, etc. .   Fleas in quantity can make a baby squirrel anemic, hurting the chances of survival.
	Sucking- Sometimes there will be a baby that wants to suckle on their brother or sister or themselves.   When baby squirrels are with their mother, they can nurse all day.  When they are fed with a syringe, there is not as much time to quell the urge to suckle.  If you encounter this problem, try allowing the baby to suckle on the syringe even though you are done feeding.  Eventually the baby will tire and go to sleep.