hasn't pooped since we found our squirrel

[nicolegrantier]

We found a squirrel on Thursday evening...I actually had been watching her all day hoping her mother would show up...anyway, in the evening we finally brought her in. She was scared and not terribly active...I'm not sure how much of this was health and how much was fear...anyway, the first night I gave her hartz puppy formula and water as that was all I could access (the only place to get esbilac is at the vets in our small town, which was closed). She drank it willingly. The next day I got esbilac and pedialite...both of which she drinks enthusiastically...holding on to the dropper like a bottle. She is now quite active and seems to want to be with you...My best guess based on pictures and the vet is that she is about 8 weeks old. My problem is that she has not pooped since we found her. She is peeing...I'm not sure how much, but she has done it on me a few times and her bedding is sometimes moist-ish. I'm very worried that I am doing something wrong...please help!http://i733.photobucket.com/albums/ww336/nicolegrantier/004-2.jpg

[island rehabber]

Bless you for saving her -- she's beautiful!!
If you started giving her Esbilac yesterday -- if I read your story correctly -- then don't worry about the poops. It will often take 1-2 days for a baby to start pooping after a long time without solid food. The fact that she's peeing means her insides are working so don't stress too much....believe me a few days from now you'll be saying "how the heck can such a small animal poop SO MUCH?" :D

[CritterMom]

After feeding her, you have to stimulate her to poop. Mama squirrel licks, we usually use a cotton ball or the like to stroke, stroke, stroke her genital and anal area to stimulate her her. It can take a while - five minutes...

How much are you feeding, how often and what does the baby weigh? Are you mixing heavy whipping cream into your esbilac? If not, you need to start doing that. If you go to the Nutrition page you will see several posts regarding the correct mixture, but I believe it is 1 part esbilac powder, 1.5 parts water, .5 part heavy whipping cream (17% milkfat, sold in a carton, next to the half and half in the dairy section).

Does she appear to be at all bloated?

[nicolegrantier]

Oh good! This is our first squirrel and I have been making everyone nuts reading up on her care! They seem so very delicate that I want to everything right for her. I'm glad she's a bit older...Anyway, thanks a TON for that piece of mind! I think she's awful cute myself!

[nicolegrantier]

After feeding her, you have to stimulate her to poop. Mama squirrel licks, we usually use a cotton ball or the like to stroke, stroke, stroke her genital and anal area to stimulate her her. It can take a while - five minutes...

How much are you feeding, how often and what does the baby weigh? Are you mixing heavy whipping cream into your esbilac? If not, you need to start doing that. If you go to the Nutrition page you will see several posts regarding the correct mixture, but I believe it is 1 part esbilac powder, 1.5 parts water, .5 part heavy whipping cream (17% milkfat, sold in a carton, next to the half and half in the dairy section).

Does she appear to be at all bloated?

Thanks for your response! I read about stimulating them...but I was told on one site that wasn't needed after 6 weeks or so and she's about 8 (according to the vet who had several). I tried it anyway though and nothing happened...though I didn't do it for anywhere near 5 minutes.

She is eating about 5cc every 2 to 3 hours, minus in the night. I let her eat until she doesn't want any more. Sometimes she eats as little as 3cc and other times she wants more. She does not want any solids. She is not bloated at all. I keep checking that.

When I went to the vets I was going to purchase the powder and buy whipping cream ( I had read that on anther site as well), but the vet assured me that she fed hers the liquid with great results and talked me into buying that instead. Should I switch her?

She weighs about 5 oz. This is my first squirrel so it's all new to me. Thanks so much for your help!

[Jackie in Tampa]

If she is 8 weeks, feed her 3-4 times a day...and roughly 10ccs each feeding, the formula should be warm, and using a 1cc syringe...at this age I do not use a nnipple, they will chew and choke :shakehead like cannibles!
she should be also introduced to solids, peeled apples and grapes, pecan halves, rodent block, and mine love avacodo..
she is gorgeous...and yep, maybe two days..
I cannot help with the ratio of esbilac, but Critter Mom knows alot!
I use and recommend FoxValley 1-800-679-4666
foxvalleynutrition.com...
never mix the formula with the pedialyte, I am not sure if I read that right or misunderstood what you wrote:dono :) ....
But your baby is gorgeous!:Love_Icon
what's her name?
love the pic with the cute little girl too!:Love_Icon

:Welcome :wave123 Welcome to TSB!

EDIT: with her weight, we can tell you exactly how much she should be eating...5%-7%

[nicolegrantier]

If she is 8 weeks, feed her 3-4 times a day...and roughly 10ccs each feeding, the formula should be warm, and using a 1cc syringe...at this age I do not use a nnipple, they will chew and choke :shakehead like cannibles!
she should be also introduced to solids, peeled apples and grapes, pecan halves, rodent block, and mine love avacodo..
she is gorgeous...and yep, maybe two days..
I cannot help with the ratio of esbilac, but Critter Mom knows alot!
I use and recommend FoxValley 1-800-679-4666
foxvalleynutrition.com...
never mix the formula with the pedialyte, I am not sure if I read that right or misunderstood what you wrote:dono :) ....
But your baby is gorgeous!:Love_Icon
what's her name?
love the pic with the cute little girl too!:Love_Icon

:Welcome :wave123 Welcome to TSB!

EDIT: with her weight, we can tell you exactly how much she should be eating...5%-7%

Thanks! She is eating more every feeding so I think she'll be up to 10 cc soon...maybe just taking a bit to get used to it all. I didn't mix the pedialyte with the formula. I gave that to her to start, than esbilac. I have been offering solids but so far no interest. I'll keep trying. Her name is Cashew...but we are considering changing it to Matilda...I will try finding critter mom in a bit to find more on feeding. It seems everyone (and every site) has just different enough advice to keep me guessing! LAF! She seems happy and active though...She will grab your fingers and try to suck on them sometimes. When she does this I feed her...even if it hasn't been that long since her last feeding. I assume it means she is still hungry. If you say she sould be doing 10cc though that would make sence. I'll continue to try to get her on a more regular schedule...I think as she gets used to things it wont be to hard. She weighs about 5 ounces. Thanks again!
Nicole

[Jackie in Tampa]

weigh in grams...
if she is 5 ounces, she would weigh 140 grams!
TSB has great baby sq info...I will post a link, in that link, click on the three purple sub titles...they are written by great rehabbers and full of correct info. You can ffinding feeding and develpement schedules there as well as cage info, sexing, aging and general health!
http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21626

Does she have a cage yet?
we recommend no towels as bedding...fleece and tshirts are great.
A water bottle and some non sprayed branches of non toxic trees are also good at this teething age! Stuffed animals without eyes are also fun in any size.
If you haven't purchased a cage, bigger is better of course, but pad the bottom real well, and 1/2 inch bar spacing is best. Sq have snapped their teeth and can get nose/cage rub, as well as breaking limbs while playing on the top! JMO
Many members build their own cages as well.:thumbsup
we love pics..:Love_Icon

[nicolegrantier]

weigh in grams...
if she is 5 ounces, she would weigh 140 grams!
TSB has great baby sq info...I will post a link, in that link, click on the three purple sub titles...they are written by great rehabbers and full of correct info. You can ffinding feeding and develpement schedules there as well as cage info, sexing, aging and general health!
http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21626

Does she have a cage yet?
we recommend no towels as bedding...fleece and tshirts are great.
A water bottle and some non sprayed branches of non toxic trees are also good at this teething age! Stuffed animals without eyes are also fun in any size.
If you haven't purchased a cage, bigger is better of course, but pad the bottom real well, and 1/2 inch bar spacing is best. Sq have snapped their teeth and can get nose/cage rub, as well as breaking limbs while playing on the top! JMO
Many members build their own cages as well.:thumbsup
we love pics..:Love_Icon

Thanks! I'll go check it out. This afternoon I finally got her to esat some solids...pecans, strawberries and avocado...and guess what...she pooped some nice dark, solid little squirrel poops! Yippy!!!

As far as a cage goes we bought the supplies to build her one today...It's going to be 24x24X36...hoppfully that's gig enough. I am using a wooden frame with wire in the inside (so she can't chew the wood), and wire with tiny little 1/2 inch squares that she loves to climb all over! It isn't done yet but she has been helping and seems to approve! I attached her nest (a little basket she loves) about 1/4 of the way up and made her several fleece "sleeping bags" and cut up fleece to make her little nests of. I also put in a water bottle and ceramic food dish. I put a plexi glass insert in the bottom for easy cleaning...what else should she have? I plan on puting in some climimg toys...branches ans shelves, maybe a ladder...any ideas?
Thanks,
Nicole