found baby squirrel durring hurricane.. help!

[acomer]

a friend of mine found some baby squirrels during our hurricane ike, which we are still recovering from, we still have no power and most stores arent open.. our problem being we cant get to a pet store to get the puppy milk, so what else is there safe that we can feed them until we can get to the pet store??? is kittens milk safe??? please any help is appreciated!!

[Buddy'sMom]

:Welcome and thank you for wanting to do the right thing for the babies!

No power certainly makes things more challenging! Our sympathies go out to all of you that have been affected by the storms. :grouphug

Kitten milk is really not very good for squirrels -- but it may depend how long a time we are talking about since they will need nutrition. If you have access to a Wal-Mart, they sell a brand called First Born puppy formula that can be used.

A few questions first so we can help you:

1. Are their eyes open or closed? Eyes-closed babies need to be warm before being fed and they can't maintain their own heat. Feeding formula without warming the baby and the formula may lead to serious problems.

2. Are they dehydrated? They also need to be hydrated before giving formula -- and this may buy some more time so you can start with puppy formula. Pinch the back of their neck -- the skin should go back quickly. If not -- rehydrate. The following is a homemade recipe (or if you have Pedialyte, you can use that) -- I'm giving you a scaled down recipe since you won't be able to refrigerate the leftovers for later:

water -- about 5 oz (small coffee cup size)
slightly LESS THAN 1/4 teaspoon salt
slightly LESS than 2 Teaspoons sugar

If they are eyes-closed, they really need to be warmed first -- if nothing else is available, hold them against your stomach. If WalMart is possible, I think they sell handwarmers (the chemical pouch kind that hold their heat w/o electric -- in the sporting goods dept) and those can be used for warming babies (wrap the warmer in a tshirt).

Do you have syringes for feeding them? That is best and safest (available, usually w/o charge, from any pharmacy (including WalMart, IF that is a possibility -- one stop shopping).

:grouphug :Love_Icon :grouphug

[Buddy'sMom]

I forgot -- there are other possibilities for getting Esbilac puppy formula --- if the roads are open and delivery is possible you can order online and have it sent overnight:

1. http://www.squirrelsandmore.com --- Chris will send out an order right away! Call 877-717-7748 for Customer Service

2. http://www.petsmart.com/home/index.jsp

3. http://www.petco.com/Content/HomePage.aspx?PC=home&Nav=1&=

And also -- back to you first question -- starting on kitten formula would be a possibility if there are no other reasonable options and the squirrels are ready to start formula. This is NOT PREFERRED and we usually recommend against using it. Please talk to us more first to see if that is the only/best option under your circumstances.

:grouphug :Love_Icon :grouphug

[acomer]

thanks for the help..!:Love_Icon