please help my babies

[santanainbama]

I hope someone can help me i have two baby squirrels they are about 4 weeks old i have had them only one of those weeks and have them on the puppy formula but the past 2 days i cant get them to have a bowel movement and im worried what to do iv tried the massage but nothing happens so im not sure what to do any advise would be so great as i love them allready so much.thanks

[rippie-n-lilgirlsmom]

How much are you feeding them?

[foxsquirrels]

How many cc's are they eating at each feeding?

[dustinn91]

You could try dipping the lower half of their bodys into warm water and then take them out dry them off and then massage the bellys.. also try using the cotton swab on their little thing up and down fast (like moms toung flicking) I found it makes them tence up their stomach and pushes it out.. Hope it helps how much and how often are you feeding them? does the stomach seem bloated?

[santanainbama]

Ok im nearly in a panic because they are squeaking to be fed and no bowel movement in last 2 days. Ok now ill try to give the information yall asked so maybe the advise will help me know what to do.The name of the puppy replacement powder is pro-biolac and i mix it 2 parts powder 3 parts water and yes i have been heating it in the microwave and i feed them 2 sometimes three ccs every 3 sometimes 4 hours and they were doing fine until the night before last my alarm dident go off so they dident get fed from 11 that night till 7 next morning and they were so hungrey all day i think i overfed them a few times and after that iv had the problem i havent tried the warm dipping but i will is there anything else i should do?Do i feed them any more tonight? im lost iv raised kittens on replacement milk but never squirrels until my newphew downed a tree at work and brought me these 2 i likely couldent even spell squirrel, but i love them so much and i dont want to lose them any help out there ill take and thank yall more than words can ever write here.

[dustinn91]

OKay well first off you need to get Esbilac puppy replacment formula you can get it from most any local pet store they have powered and liquid powered is better this is the closest formula to the mom second dont mocrwave the formula it mess's it up I dont know exactly why sine im not a rehabber but I do know not to do it. get a cup of water and microwave that for about 1 1/2 then put the syringe with the formula in that for about a min test it on your wrist to make sure its warm but to hot. Also you'll need a gram scale to weigh them so you know how much to feed them Most people feed 5% their body weight (body weight * .05) Thats how many CC's you should feed them. Every 3 1/2 hours should be good and once at night. As for continuing feeding them that Im not sure someone else will have to help Good luck keep us updated.

[rippie-n-lilgirlsmom]

Ok they need to be put on Esbilac puppy formula as quickly as possible.

[dustinn91]

I found the ingredients of the puppy formula she's been using online incase any of you rehabbers would like to read them..

Ingredients
Dried whey protein concentrate, Animal fat (preserved with BHA and citric acid), Vegetable fat (preserved with BHA and citric acid), dried whole egg, canola oil, sodium phosphate, lecithin, calcium carbonate, choline chloride, cod liver oil, potassium chloride, magnesium sulfate, L-arginine, artificial flavor, dried bovine colostrum, dried whey, sodium bicarbonate, alpha-tocopherol (source of vit. E), manganese sulfate, zinc sulfate, vit. A supplement, ferrous sulfate, vit. B12 supplement, zinc proteinate, manganese proteinate, copper proteinate, ascorbic acid (source of vit. C), cholecalciferol (source of vit. D3), niacin supplement, d-calcium panothenate, thiamin hydrochloride, copper sulfate, riboflavin supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, menadione sodium bisulfite complex (source of vit. K), biotin, sodium selenite, ethylenediamine dihydroiodide, folic acid, cobalt sulfate, dried fermentation product of (Bifidobacterium lactis, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bacillus lichiniformis, B. subtilis, and L. lactis).

[pamela lee]

Good job Dustin. Looks like we where thinking alike.
Pro-Biolac for Puppies Guaranteed Analysis
Crude Protein, min 33.00%
Crude Fat, min 42.00%
Crude Fiber, max 0.15%
Moisture, max 4.00%
Ash, max 8.00%
Direct-Fed Microbials * 2.50 BCFU/Kg
(Bifidobacterium lactis, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus subtilis, Lactobacillus Lactis),
Additionally Contains:
Colostrum * 200 mg/kg
Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) * 560 mg/kg
* Not recognized as an essential nutrient by AAFCO


Ingredients: Dried whey protein concentrate, Animal fat (preserved with BHA and citric acid), Vegetable fat (preserved with BHA and citric acid), dried whole egg, canola oil, sodium phosphate, lecithin, calcium carbonate, choline chloride, cod liver oil, potassium chloride, magnesium sulfate, L-arginine, artificial flavor, dried bovine colostrum, dried whey, sodium bicarbonate, alpha-tocopherol (source of vit. E), manganese sulfate, zinc sulfate, vit. A supplement, ferrous sulfate, vit. B12 supplement, zinc proteinate, manganese proteinate, copper proteinate, ascorbic acid (source of vit. C), cholecalciferol (source of vit. D3), niacin supplement, d-calcium pantothenate, thiamin hydrochloride, copper sulfate, riboflavin supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, menadione sodium bisulfite complex (source of vit. K), biotin, sodium selenite, ethylenediamine dihydroiodide, folic acid, cobalt sulfate, dried fermentation product of (bifidobacterium lactis, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bacillus lichiniformis, B. subtilis, and L. lactis).

[dustinn91]

haha you did better by finding the % though:toung3

[rippie-n-lilgirlsmom]

Hey Dustin your alright.

[pamela lee]

HI fellow Alabamian. Do have any pedialyte you could give them? Sometimes it will help get their bowels moving.

[santanainbama]

Ok thanks again i am going as soon as the pet shop opens to get the esbilac and just a few minutes ago 1 of them pooped but now they feel kinda cold instead of warm and are moving around alot but not as much as yesterday the vet said the pro-biolac was what i needed and i thought they would know and if they live until i can get the other milk replacement i will give them that also i forgot my newphew brought some distilled water said someone told him not to use tap water and because i was a nitwit and dident find out if i should really use that i used it the last 3 days thinking it wouldent hurt them have i made a big mistake on that or is that not likely the problem?

[foxsquirrels]

Do you have any plain pancake syrup (not real maple syrup)?

[santanainbama]

Yes i can get pedialyte and i have them in a plastic container sitting on the bed with the electric blanket on to keep them warmer they are sleeping pretty good now but im not sure how they will do their bodies still feel a little cool should i put them directly on the blanket i dont have a heating pad but before this problem with their bowels they were allways pretty warm feeling.Mountainmama i think was the name sent a message to help me but im not sure my reply went as im not use to useing message boards and my nerves are shot today worrying bout my babies so if mountainmama reads this please help tell me how you can help im desperate and thanks so much and thanks to all who are helping.

[santanainbama]

yes i have pancake and light karo syrup how much to use and which one?

[island rehabber]

4-week old babies MUST be on a heating pad. MUST. NO SUBSTITUTES.
If you are going to the pet shop for formula, go to a drug store (CVS is good) and buy a HEATING PAD without the sutomatic shut-off. If these babies are not constantly kept on heat, they WILL DIE. I am sorry to be blunt but it's been a very long day and too many people keeping squirrels without following the basics. :nono

[muffinsquirrel]

:goodpost and very very true! If you can not get these things for the babies then PLEASE get them to a rehabber ASAP. They need a lot of care at this age, and if they don't get the right kind of care, it will kill them. We can help you find a rehabber if necessary.

muffinsquirrel

[Mountain Mama]

Hi folks, Santana and I PM'd until almost midnight last night to get the babies stabilized, and things sounded better as of our last contact.

Hoping to hear good news from you today Santana.

[island rehabber]

that's great news, MM :thumbsup:)

[Mountain Mama]

I pm'd santana earlier today. The babies were doing well, no more bloat, hungry, climbing out of their box, and POOP! :poop She got Esbilac for them and was going to start them on the diluted formula feeding schedule Gam posted last night. Either I or another rehabber will probably get them in the next few days.

[island rehabber]

:thumbsup:thumbsup Some good news, for a change! :thankyou