Esbilac vs. Hartz Puppy Milk

[lane620]

We have had three rescued squirrels for about three weeks now. I started out feeding the Hartz puppy formula because it was easily available, but learned through research that I should have been feeding Esbilac. I purchased and tried esbilac. I started out with mixing the esbilac a little with the hartz that they were used to for two full days of feedings. The squirrels got such bad diarreah that I stopped the esbilac and the diarreah cleared up immediately. So, my question is, if the esbilac is so much better, why is it giving them diarreah?

[FallensMommie]

Usually when switching formulas it will cause diarrhea for a day or two....I had to do the same thing with Fallen and he to experienced diarrhea.

How old are your babies and how often are you feeding them and how much...this can all contribute to diarrhea too, so want to cover the bases.

[lane620]

Thank you all for your input. I have felt in my heart that the esbilac is the best for them so that's why I finally registered and asked the question today. I will start the esbilac again at the next feeding in a more diluted form until they can tolerate it.
My husband's and my best guess is that they are around 4 weeks old now. The first one that was found by our kids on 2-12 was sooo tiny and no hair and freezing cold. I had no clue what it was at first and they had brought it in the house in a little bucket...afraid to touch it. I scooped her up and put her down my shirt! haha. We had just had a storm and the baby fell out of the nest and the Momma wouldn't take it back. We tried. Two days later, one of the boys was outside again and found two more. Two boys.
So now we have Clemmy, Bubba and Dobby. It is so amazing to see how fast they are growing and getting hair. I think they will be opening their eyes any day now.
They weigh between 45 and 58 grams each now and are feeding every 3-4 hours. The last two days they have increased from 3cc'c per feeding to 4cc's.
I hope I am doing everything right. I really want to do the best by them since thier bio mom wouldn't take them back.
Thanks again for the help. I will keep posting and I love this site. It has really helped me.

[island rehabber]

:Welcomelane620, and bless you for saving these little ones! The GI upset they experienced is probably because they got too much Esbilac too quickly. If you follow the dilution schedule Gammas mentioned above, it should help them switch over without distress. Esbilac puppy formula is most definitely the best easily available formula for baby squirrels and it's well worth the time it takes to get them used to it. We are really glad you're here and are looking forward to watching your little ones grow! Hint: that means we want pix :poke:D

[foxsquirrels]

:Welcome :Welcome Welcome to TSB and we want to see baby pictures!!:flash3 :flash3

[Legomom]

:Welcome to TSB & :thankyou & your family for saving these babies!! I can't wait to hear & see more of them! :D

[Crazymunk]

:Welcome

[Jackie in Tampa]

:Welcome :wave123
One of lifes hidden treasures! Baby Sqs!
:bowdown Thanks and welcome to TSB!
:worthless

[Momma Squirrel]

So glad you found us and joined. Thank you both for being there and please ask all the questions you want. We have great people here and you will learn alot.

But I am with everyone else, we GOTTA have pictures :poke :D

Did I mention we are all NUTS :crazy

[Ardilla]

:Welcome to TSB! Can't wait to see pics!!! :poke :D

[lane620]

We found the girl on 2/10 and the two boys 2/12.

[island rehabber]

Beautiful babies!!! And extra credit to you for getting them as pinkies -- it's not easy to keep them alive at such a young age. :thumbsup

[Jackie in Tampa]

Hello...those are gorgeous babies and cute names too!:thumbsup
Sometimes when switching formulas they may do just the opposite and get constipated, so have they pooped or are they having diarrhea still. Good luck!
Great job!:bowdown

[FLUFFYTAILNUT]

Awww..how sweet...lots of peeing poopen and playen...

:Welcometo The Squirrel Board:Welcome
They are looking beautiful...your doing a wonderful job..Squirrel MOM!!(lane620):thumbsup

Have a nice night..
Rachel n Bean:wave123

[lane620]

This is day two of the switch to Esbilac and they seem to be tolerating it much better than the first time I tried to switch. I have followed the guidelines that you all gave me and so far so good. Clemmy did not eat her usual amt. this morning at first feeding. She only had about 2 1/2 cc's. But, she was last to eat and it may have been a little chilly by then. I'll feed her first next time here in a few.
Yes, everyone is peeing and pooping well. I learned how to stimulate from day one from another information board and have always done it at each feeding even if there seems to be poop and pee in the box just to make sure.
I had a little trouble with dry skin just before they started to get hair last week. I was afraid it was where I had washed them with warm water and cotton balls after the diarreah crisis. So I used a little baby oil on their belly and back legs and it cleared right up.
Thanks again.

[FallensMommie]

OMgosh :D they are absolutely precious :grouphug :Love_Icon :grouphug

[lane620]

I have a new question. I wasn't sure to keep it here or post it in nutrition maybe. But I'll try here.
This is day three of the Esbilac switch. Dobby is very listless today and would not eat anything at the last two feedings. So, I went back to the diluted mix and added a 1/2 scoop of the hartz with the diluted esbilac and he ate it heartily, which is good that he finally ate but frustrating that he doesn't seem to like the full strenth esbilac. The question I have is,should I keep mixing his food seperate with a tiny bit of the hartz so he will keep eating, or try to force him to take the full esbilac only diet?? It's almost time to feed again so I plan to offer Dobby the regular esbilac that the other two are eating but also have his "special" mix available and waiting in the warmer incase he refuses to eat again. He is already the smallest of the bunch and I don't want him to continue not eating at all. Any thoughts.
Thanks.

[lane620]

Do you mean plain yogurt, non flavored?

[flyer_1]

I understand I'm new here but my common sense tells me that the diarreah is probably from switching from Hartz puppy milk to the esbilac. I only know what I've done research on and what the squirrel board has suggested, but the esbilac has been very well recommended so in my OPINION esbilac is the best choice, however if the diarreah continues ask like a rehabber or something.

PS like I said I'm new.:grouphug