Help: NO POOP!!!

[digiandchipper]

Hi Everyone! I am new to the forum and new to raising baby squirrels. A mother squirrel was killed by a hawk last week and we are trying to raise the two remaining babies.

I have had them now since Saturday (10 days ago) and they seem to be about 6 weeks. I will try to upload pics later today. Anyway, I rehydrated, kept warm and then started feeling esbilac 2/1.

PROBLEM: They didn't poop until I had them 2 days and then just a few little black rice shapes. Now, though they haven't pooped in 4 days!!!!!!!!!!!

I have tried the warm soak with tummy massage, the private area stimulation with warm Qtip, warm finger, warm tissue. I have also tried apple juice. A local rehabber (who is all full and can't take them) told me to mix baby banana food with formula so I did that for two feedings last night, still nothing.

I have also tried Karo syrup, then honey (also per the rehabber).. The babies are eating great and peeing alot but I'm sure this must be terrible not to poop for so long!!

Can anyone pleaassssssssssse help??????????

[island rehabber]

hi and :Welcome. This does happen more often than you'd think when babies switch from mamma's milk to our replacement formula. Keep doing all the things you are doing, especially gently tummy massage on the lower belly and stimulating them to pee. Remember to keep going for awhile after they start peeing, because it ain't over with the first spurt :D. Eventually they are going to poop...just be persistent. Make sure their formula is very warm -- almost hot -- which helps, too.
BTW, by Esbilac 2/1 you mean two parts WATER to one part ESBILAC, right? The reverse could definitely stop them up for awhile.....
You could also try giving them one feeding of warmed Pedialyte to try and flush out their systems...couldn't hurt. :)

[JudyB]

:Welcome :Welcome digiandchipper
Good luck with them... post some pics!:jump

[digiandchipper]

:thankyou
Thank all of you so much for your kind and prompt responses. I feel like I've already found friends!!! I'll try to be as thorough in my answers to your questions:

Yes, I am feeding 2 parts water, 1 part esbilac. Their tummies are not at all bloated or tight, they are like some of you described as soft balloons. They are eating approx every 4-5 hrs and they take anywhere from 4-7ccs at a time.

I took them to work with me today (better traveling than missing feedings, right?!) and tried them on the warm Pedialyte: you NEVER saw two such unhappy (even ticked off) babies as when they tasted it!! One sneezed and they both backed up SO fast. It would have been funny if I wasn't so worried about lack of poop - this is worse than when my son was a baby! They are just such helpless little things, I want to do right by them.

I am located in Fernandina Beach FL and it is illegal to keep wild animals more than 48 hours. However, since the rehabber was full, I am not going to worry about that particular law. I would like to try to raise them myself as we've become so attached already, I want to be there for them. I also want to release them (eventually) back where they started - in the woods by my backyard. But I don't want to jeopardize them with my ignorance. I hope I can learn from you guys so I can give them the best care.

One VERY important thing: the last feeding (6pm) there was a TINNNNNNNY little brown smear on the paper where they pee. I am hoping this is the prayed for POOP. I even tried smelling it (don't want to be gross, but I am desperate!) but it was just too little. I am going to try another warm soak with massage and the Pedialyte again at 9pm - could I mix anything with it to make it more appealing to the little guys (though I really think they are girls)??

Oh, and I am going to try to upload pics now. Wish me luck. And thanks, again, for being there ya'll!:flash3

[digiandchipper]

Gosh, what did I do wrong with the pictures - they are HUGGGEEEE!

[rippie-n-lilgirlsmom]

Dont worry about the pictures they are adorable!:Love_Icon

[Frickster]

oh my gosh...they are so sweet! i love that first one...here they are resized (i hope!)

[tatcat]

:multi :wave123 hi and :Welcome :Welcome :Welcome to tsb, our nutty world...love:Love_Icon the pics of your babies...good luck with them!!!

[Abacat]

:Welcome Just looking at your babies, I can see why you've become so attached (they have a way of doing that :D )They are so sweet! :Love_Icon :Love_Icon

Do you have a scale to weigh them ? They should be fed roughly 5% of the baby's weight. Alot of poop issues are tied with feeding, how much, how often...etc. I won't drag on, but it is important to weigh them every other day (preferably before the first feeding). Helps to chart their progress. :)

Keep us posted on the :poop

[digiandchipper]

Thanks, I'll get a scale tomorrow. And, don't worry, you guys will be the 2nd to know when there is a POOP!!!!!

Thanks to the wonderful person who resized the pics - great job:thumbsup , I just love looking at the little wonders!:Squirrel

Well, it's off for another feeding and poop check. Everyone cross your fingers!!

[Abacat]

I think I got mine at walmart...a digital kitchen scale...you can weigh in ounces or grams. (We usually go by gram weight.) :thumbsup

[Sciurus1]

You know, I have hear Gammas Baby say so many times to use Rice Buddies, which can even help to stimulate bowel movements.

[digiandchipper]

One turd this morning!!!!!!!!! I don't feel like doing the happy dance yet, but surely this means the beginning of big things (at least for one of them???) So far that totals 1)brown smear and 1)nugget in two days. Is this enough for them to not be compacted or something???:thinking

This might sound stupid, but can I use minute rice in the rice buddy (I don't buy the old-fashioned, 'real' cook kind:D ).....if I can, what is the best way to make one and how long do they stay warm??? Thanks!

[Jackie in Tampa]

Yes you can use minute rice...about a cup in a sock and tie off. Heat in micro for 1-2 minutes depending on strength of mic...
I am in Florida also...the laws are not clear, but you can see a vet in our state...and we have alot of fLORIDA MEMBERS. SOMEONE IN YOIR NECK OF THE WOODS WILL SHARE THEIR VET INFO WITH YOU...JUST IN CASE.
Good Luck and thanks for helping these babies!:thumbsup
Welcome to TSB!:Welcome

[skye]

Hello:wave123 I want to :Welcome you and wish you best of luck with your sweet babies. They are so cute great pics:thumbsup

[digiandchipper]

Still no poop.............:shakehead :shakehead :shakehead Not even a smear or anything this time! And they really gave me a fit just now after feeding when I was stimulating 'down there' (they've probably had enough of my interference in that area!). They were wiggling and trying so hard to get away, usually they will put up with it. They are not bloated and everything still looks fine everywhere, though. Also still refusing the Pedialyte, though I mixed a little apple juice in (thanks for the tip, though)

Anyway, I made them a rice buddy and tucked them in with it just now and WOW, they LOVE it!!!:thumbsup :thumbsup They just snugged and burrowed and sniffed and then settled down under it together. Maybe this will warm them up toasty enough to squeeze something out?? I am just trying to tell myself that the one smear and the little nugget since yesterday morning will be enough to keep them from something awful happening.

Anybody have any thoughts? Is there a record for the longest no poop? Do they make squirrel laxatives or enemas (not that I am capable of doing that)??? Please don't think I'm crazy for asking.

[wheezer]

I do remember using a 1 cc syringe with warm water and giving a squirrel an enema. I may have even put a little mineral oil in it. It worked but maybe someone here might know if that was a good idea:)

[digiandchipper]

I would like to know if others think that was a good idea. I have NO IDEA how I would get that done with these wiggle worms but I am beginning to feel desperate!

[Sciurus1]

I am wondering if just a small bit of pumpkin mash can be given? I heard that itis the best thing for bunny constipation.

[digiandchipper]

That's good to know in general - I have bunny, too. He is a rescue with the run of the house and in great health. He does have his moments of irregularity, though, and pumpkin mash sounds yummy!:thankyou

[miraclesquirrel]

PLAIN canned pumpkin is a great source of fiber. Do not get the stuff you make pies out of. I believe Libby's makes the plain. I use it for all my babies to keep things moving along. I have squirrels, rabbits, guinea pigs and Prairie Dogs.
Might take a day to make a difference but it does work.
By the way it is not illegal to own a grey squirrel in Florida. State it in the Fish and Wildlife section of My Florida if you have the time to search the site.
Keeping them hyfrated makes a huge difference as well. Keep fluids going in.

[Sciurus1]

I am so glad another member has confirmed that the pumpkin mash helps with healthy bowel movements.

[digiandchipper]

.
By the way it is not illegal to own a grey squirrel in Florida. State it in the Fish and Wildlife section of My Florida if you have the time to search the site.
in.


Thanks for that info - everything I could find online (when I searched for rehabbers in my area) that first day the mother was killed said it was illegal to keep wild animals over 48 hours. It was a terrible day and I never followed up on the info. I'm glad to know it's not illegal - there are so many squirrels (and hawks and owls) where we live now, one day there may be other babies or mother's needing help.

Also...the babies are doing great, they are beautiful, and one of them has the most awesome silvery, fluffy tail!

[miraclesquirrel]

Any poops yet? What part of Florida are you in? I'm in the east central Fl area. Glad they are doing good.
Did you give the Pumpkin a try yet?

[digiandchipper]

We DID get poops - see my post "Poop, poop, glorious poop" :jump
Seems like we really had a 'break-through':D and now they are pretty regular.

Regarding the pumpkin: They are starting to nibble on some finger foods (including my fingers!) between feedings and I was wondering if I could offer fresh pumpkin (you know, that I could cut up and dice myself)? Right now I am giving them little bits of kale and carrots, cut up to about thumb-nail size. Also they had some apple yesterday.

Oh, and I am in Fernandina Beach (extreme NE Florida, right by the GA border). LOTS of oak trees and squirrels!

[miraclesquirrel]

Love it when your fingers become food.:D Hurts like heck but you get used to it. Yes I put those little pumpkins in with them sometimes to let them chew. Don't overload them with different kinds of foods all at once or you might get more poops than you ever wanted if you know what I mean.
Glad they are doing so well.
I've never been to that part of Florida sounds beautiful. I usualy just get up 95 never get off anywhere.
You must have tons of acorns them. Dave and I have to go searching for them here in Daytona.
Wish there were Pecan trees here. Mine love those.

[digiandchipper]

Good idea about not overdoing different foods - it's easy to get carried away when you watch those little sweeties learning to nibble and enjoying the new taste sensations. It seems like overnight they have gotten so playful and nibbly:D

It IS beautiful here - love being near the beach. Too much new development, though. Still more acorns than I know what to do with, dropping on the roof all night and day:crazy --- - I should mail you some!

[miraclesquirrel]

My squirrels wouldn't argue with that. There is not one tree in my neighborhood with acorns on it. I see them in other peoples yards all over town but I son't want to get shot for trespassing.
My little one is so fast now, I've started calling him zippy. He broke the skin on my finger this weekend. Figuring out he has teeth I guess. HE's gnawing Cherrio's but that's about it for now. He's still young.
I love how they hop around and do flips when they play.