Rudy's Constipation

[rudyspappa]

Rudy is about 5 - 6 weeks old. For the past 8 days I have been feeding him KMR formula. I found this site and will now switch to the right stuff. However, he is not having bowl movements regularly. He did when I first found him but now he isn't. He was actually blocked and my wife and I cleaned him out.

He also has stopped urinating when I put him on the table for exercise. He used to pee after every feeding. Am I panicking for no reason or should I have concern. It's hard to determine if he is going to the bathroom in his cage because of the bedding I am using is wood shavings.

He is still very active and eats like a horse at feeding time. I have tried apple juice which he loves but to no avail. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated since this is the first time we have ever rescured a wild squirrel.

Thanks,
- Nick

[island rehabber]

Uh-oh.....Why are you feeding him KMR? KMR will mess up his digestive tract for sure and is not recommended for squirrels. Esbilac PUPPY formula is the proven recommended food for baby squirrels, so Rudy will need to be switched over ASAP.
Here's how you do that: First, you can either buy flavored Pedialyte or make your own hydrating solution using this recipe:

1 quart warm water
3 TABLEspoons sugar
1 TEAspoon salt

(You can flavor this yourself with some apple juice or apple butter.)

THEN you should warm the solution and give Rudy as much as he will take for the next 2 feedings. The third feeding will be DILUTED Esbilac puppy powder: 1 part Esbilac powder to THREE parts warm water. Continue feeding him that diluted formula through tomorrow evening, at which point you can go to regular strength Esbilac.

[rudyspappa]

Thank you so much... I bought esbilac today. I will heed your advice and hope it helps the little guy.

- Nick

[Bravo]

Good to read about the Esbilac... should do the job. good luck and let us know how Rudy's doing. :thumbsup

[PBluejay2]

Rudy is about 5 - 6 weeks old. For the past 8 days I have been feeding him KMR formula. I found this site and will now switch to the right stuff. However, he is not having bowl movements regularly. He did when I first found him but now he isn't. He was actually blocked and my wife and I cleaned him out.

Are you stimulating him to pee and poop? If he's five or six weeks old, he's just opened his eyes. Some believe that's the time when you can stop, but I continue to stimulate as long as they'll let me.

He also has stopped urinating when I put him on the table for exercise. He used to pee after every feeding. Am I panicking for no reason or should I have concern. It's hard to determine if he is going to the bathroom in his cage because of the bedding I am using is wood shavings.

See above about stimulating. You might reconsider the wood shavings also. They can cause respiratory problems (plus they're a mess). Newspaper is fine, and they love to shred it.

He is still very active and eats like a horse at feeding time. I have tried apple juice which he loves but to no avail. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated since this is the first time we have ever rescured a wild squirrel.

Thanks,
- Nick

Thanks for caring for this little one!

[island rehabber]

hi again! Some more thoughts: you can give him a nice warm-water bath up to his waist. (I use the 1-qt containers from the deli...perfect size for immersing them up to their little underarms :) ) Most squirrels like it and it may help. You can massage his tummy a little bit, gently, moving in a downward motion. But most importantly the hydrating fluids should get everything moving again. :thumbsup

[rudyspappa]

hi again! Some more thoughts: you can give him a nice warm-water bath up to his waist. (I use the 1-qt containers from the deli...perfect size for immersing them up to their little underarms :) ) Most squirrels like it and it may help. You can massage his tummy a little bit, gently, moving in a downward motion. But most importantly the hydrating fluids should get everything moving again. :thumbsup

Hi again... I thought about the bath and didn't know if it would be ok since he's just a young guy. I will give that shot. I gave him his first feeding of the homemade pedialite formula and he seemed to like it.

I have been trying to stimulate him but being a novice it's hard to push his right buttons. I'm hoping the fluids will do the trick. My wife and I have really worked to save this little guy. He fell out of a branch 30 feet high. The neighbor's golden retriever found him and she was so gentle with it. She brought it to our door in her mouth. The squirrel had a badly injured leg but from massaging it he is now using it almost like his good one.

I want to take Rudy to a vet but I cannot find one in my area that will treat a wild squirrel. It's a rotten shame... they would put him to sleep in a heartbeat but do nothing to save the little guy. Such is life I guess.

Thanks for all the kind advice.

- Nick

[island rehabber]

Just make sure he's nice and toasty warm after you dry him off....I would keep him on a heating pad if you aren't already doing that. (Set on LOW) It's great that he likes the hydrating formula....that should work like a charm. For the stimulating thing, I use my finger wrapped in tissue, dipped in warm water and go side-to-side, side-to-side rhythmically. As if you were mamma squirrel :D
Please keep us posted...we're with you and we want this little guy to be pooping up a storm ASAP. :D

[squirrelsrule&bunniestoo]

:Welcome Sorry to hear your little squirrel is having issues. I mapquested Girard Ohio and it is just an hour from me. I am a licensed rehabber and would be willing to take the little guy if you want. I have some squirrels that are just slightly older than him that I am sure he could be buddies with when he is feeling better. Around here few vets will see squirrels and then they will only see them if you have a permit (it is illegal to rehab without a permit in Ohio). Luckilly, I have gotten in with a vet in Willoughby because I have a permit and I now take my dog to him (funny how he was always too busy when I had just wildlife but now that my dog goes there, he is suddenly available to see my wildlife :tilt). So, if your squirrel does need vet help, then I can take him in.

If you have any questions or want to bring him to me, give me a call (since I will be feeding the creatures and all and won't be online for a while) at (440)259-2292. If I don't pick up, please leave a message and I will call you right back.

[rudyspappa]

:Welcome Sorry to hear your little squirrel is having issues. I mapquested Girard Ohio and it is just an hour from me. I am a licensed rehabber and would be willing to take the little guy if you want. I have some squirrels that are just slightly older than him that I am sure he could be buddies with when he is feeling better. Around here few vets will see squirrels and then they will only see them if you have a permit (it is illegal to rehab without a permit in Ohio). Luckilly, I have gotten in with a vet in Willoughby because I have a permit and I now take my dog to him (funny how he was always too busy when I had just wildlife but now that my dog goes there, he is suddenly available to see my wildlife :tilt). So, if your squirrel does need vet help, then I can take him in.

If you have any questions or want to bring him to me, give me a call (since I will be feeding the creatures and all and won't be online for a while) at (440)259-2292. If I don't pick up, please leave a message and I will call you right back.

Thank you kindly for the offer and if things don't progress as they should I may take you up on it. My goal is to get Rudy healthy and eating right then releasing him to my yard when the time is right. I've given him his second feeding of the pedialite and stimulated him and it worked like a charm. Now I have to get him to pee when out of the cage so I know he is doing it.

His next feeding is around 8pm and it'll be his first with esbilac so I expect to be up all nite checking on him. I may give you a call tomorrow after some running aound I have to do. Thanks again for the offer.

- Nick

[island rehabber]

Thank you kindly for the offer and if things don't progress as they should I may take you up on it. My goal is to get Rudy healthy and eating right then releasing him to my yard when the time is right. I've given him his second feeding of the pedialite and stimulated him and it worked like a charm. Now I have to get him to pee when out of the cage so I know he is doing it.

His next feeding is around 8pm and it'll be his first with esbilac so I expect to be up all nite checking on him. I may give you a call tomorrow after some running aound I have to do. Thanks again for the offer.

- Nick

Keep up the good work, Nick. This calls for: :poop:poop:poop:D

[PBluejay2]

Thank you kindly for the offer and if things don't progress as they should I may take you up on it. My goal is to get Rudy healthy and eating right then releasing him to my yard when the time is right. I've given him his second feeding of the pedialite and stimulated him and it worked like a charm. Now I have to get him to pee when out of the cage so I know he is doing it.

His next feeding is around 8pm and it'll be his first with esbilac so I expect to be up all nite checking on him. I may give you a call tomorrow after some running aound I have to do. Thanks again for the offer.

- Nick

Keep stimulating too!

[squirrelsrule&bunniestoo]

:wahooGlad he pooped! Feel free to call anytime, I will do whatever I can to help the little tyke.

I know your goal is to release him and that is great, but squirrels really do better with other squirrels. I try VERY hard not to raise them alone. I have only ever raised one alone and he took a lot longer to grow up and was never really as wild as he should have been. They learn so much from eachother. I understand if you decide to keep him and release him there though, you must be very attached to the little cutie. They are so sweet and cute at that age :Love_Icon.

[rudyspappa]

Uh-oh.....Why are you feeding him KMR? KMR will mess up his digestive tract for sure and is not recommended for squirrels. Esbilac PUPPY formula is the proven recommended food for baby squirrels, so Rudy will need to be switched over ASAP.
Here's how you do that: First, you can either buy flavored Pedialyte or make your own hydrating solution using this recipe:

1 quart warm water
3 TABLEspoons sugar
1 TEAspoon salt

(You can flavor this yourself with some apple juice or apple butter.)

THEN you should warm the solution and give Rudy as much as he will take for the next 2 feedings. The third feeding will be DILUTED Esbilac puppy powder: 1 part Esbilac powder to THREE parts warm water. Continue feeding him that diluted formula through tomorrow evening, at which point you can go to regular strength Esbilac.




Hi Again,

Rudy is still having a really hard time pooping. I do get him to go but it seems so painful to him. Is that normal? There always seems to be a hard mass in his anal cavity and around it and his poop seems harder than normal.

Should I go back to giving him the pedialite formula I made? He's been on full strength esbilac for a few days now and loves it.

Also... I am using dust-free aspen for his bedding. Can I use regular newspaper or what do you recommend?

Thanks,
- Nick

[PBluejay2]

He may still be a little dehydrated, so you might alternate the Pedialyte and formula (but don't mix them!). I personally don't like wood shavings. I've heard they can cause respiratory problems, along with harboring bacteria. Plus, they're so messy! I use newspaper. Even newspaper with colored pictures and such is safe nowadays, but don't use any inserts/ads. The dye in them is not regulated.

[rudyspappa]

He may still be a little dehydrated, so you might alternate the Pedialyte and formula (but don't mix them!). I personally don't like wood shavings. I've heard they can cause respiratory problems, along with harboring bacteria. Plus, they're so messy! I use newspaper. Even newspaper with colored pictures and such is safe nowadays, but don't use any inserts/ads. The dye in them is not regulated.

Hi,

I don't think dehydration is the problem. He eats really really good. And I take him out for exercise often too. I'll feed him the pedialyte as suggested and hope it clears him out.

Thanks for the bedding tip. I was afraid to use paper cause of the ink.

- Nick

[squirrelsrule&bunniestoo]

I usually use towels and baby blankets in my babies cages. Just make sure there are no holes in the towels. Then you can wash and reuse them.

As far as the pooping problem, is it possible he has some spinal trauma from the fall from the nest? You said he couldn't move his legs at first, so maybe he had some trauma and now the swelling is going down and he is regaining use of his legs, it just may take longer for the swelling to go away. The problem if he has spinal trauma is not that he isn't digesting well or anything like that, he just doesn't feel that he needs to go, so the poop will sit in him for longer until he actually goes, making him constipated. Is he peeing normally or does he seem to hold it and his bladder gets really big?

As long as you are mixing the formula with 2 parts water to 1 part Esbilac powder, you shouldn't have trouble with dehydration since you gave pedialyte for a number of feedings already. Does he have a shallow dish in his cage so he can get a drink? That may help, make sure it is VERY shallow though, like a baby food jar lid or applesauce lid, something tiny like that. Have you started him on any solid foods yet?

[rudyspappa]

I usually use towels and baby blankets in my babies cages. Just make sure there are no holes in the towels. Then you can wash and reuse them.

As far as the pooping problem, is it possible he has some spinal trauma from the fall from the nest? You said he couldn't move his legs at first, so maybe he had some trauma and now the swelling is going down and he is regaining use of his legs, it just may take longer for the swelling to go away. The problem if he has spinal trauma is not that he isn't digesting well or anything like that, he just doesn't feel that he needs to go, so the poop will sit in him for longer until he actually goes, making him constipated. Is he peeing normally or does he seem to hold it and his bladder gets really big?

As long as you are mixing the formula with 2 parts water to 1 part Esbilac powder, you shouldn't have trouble with dehydration since you gave pedialyte for a number of feedings already. Does he have a shallow dish in his cage so he can get a drink? That may help, make sure it is VERY shallow though, like a baby food jar lid or applesauce lid, something tiny like that. Have you started him on any solid foods yet?

Hi,

He does have swelling. However, his leg is nearly 100% He climbs like a squirrel with no real problems. He DOES hold his bladder it seems like until he goes a ton when he pees. I have been using esbilac as prescribed and have been alternating feedings with the Pedialyte. As far as solid foods I only have given him ared grapes which he loves and pecans which he simply chews and spits out. And I do keep an tiny lid of water in his cage that he seems to ignore.

I too think he may have suffered a spinal injury from the fall since the branch him mother nested in is roughly 40 feet in the air. Rudy is a miracle baby for surviving that. I think another week or 2 of tender loving care and he should be ok. I just hope to get his constipation problem corrected soon.

Thanks all,
- Nick