New Baby Squirrel

[Shawnsmommy19]

HI all i am new here to squirrel board and i have a few questions.But first let me tell you about my baby Snickers.I found snickers on monday under a tree.He looks to be about 4 1/2 weeks old I left him their for 6 hours and no momma showed up. So i took him and put him on a 24 hour pedialyte only then i started with hartz puppy milk. Now i have switched him to just born kitten milk.He hasnt been peeing a steady stream though.I have to put a slight bit of pressure on his tummy at his bladder to make him pee and even then he only pees like 10-12 drops never a steady stream. He is eating 3-4 cc's at every feeding every 6 hours. I know he should be on FV but i have not had a chance to get any as i have been out of work and cannot afford it.I am located in Atlanta Ga. I have called every rehaber in my area and no one is able to take him so i am just gonna try to raise him myself. I would just like a bit more info on anything i am doing wrong. Thanks and God Bless
:thankyou

[Squippy's Mum]

Hi there - I am new to raising baby squirrels myself but I have a wee one named Squippy who I found when he was 2-3 wks old. The pee thing that worked for me was taking a kleenex or qtip and just sort of tickling him (in the appropriate region) and he started out with very little pee and as he adjusted more flow. I don't think applying pressure anywhere is a good idea as they are so small and who knows what else is being compressed in there.

Also, I understand from the folks here that kitten milk is not the right food for them - they need puppy milk - esbilac is available - though I hear some don't agree with it - it worked very well for Squippy.

Hope that helps a bit. Noticed nobody else answered you so thought I would weigh in with a couple of suggestions.

Good luck.

[Kristal]

Fox valley is cheaper than any other formula. You should get it. When you do you will have no more worries about nutrition and no more digestive upset, and ain't that a nice thing.
You may have to make him pee and poop by lightly (feather light touches) tickling his penis and tickling + gently pressing the sides of his anus. Soon he will pee on his own as he should be able to at that age. Please do not force it out of his bladder like that.

The best formula aside from FV is probably Jackies replacement formula:

3 parts goats milk
1 part heavy cream
1 part all natural vanilla or plain yoghurt such as danone

I suggest you use that until you can get FV. Also, he is likely dehydrated, so give him diluted formula, say half water, half mixed formula until you get one good pee. His digestive system is not working well since he is dehydrated.

[Kristal]

Also, take a look through this thread:

http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11782

I just read a really sad thread of someone who probably caused their baby to get aspiration pneumonia. It died within hours of the first posting here, so sad :(

So get a feeding syringe if you do not have one. This is absolutely crucial. And get the right formula or go with the goats milk replacement one if you cannot afford the 10$ or whatever it is for a pound of fox valley.

http://foxvalleynutrition.com/prod/pricing.asp?CID=1&PLID=1

Also there are some manuals at the bottom of that thread that will help you avoid easy to make but potentially lethal mistakes like that other poster made :(.

http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showpost.php?p=240788&postcount=3

[PDXErik]

Get goat's milk.

No esbilac (nope, not going to capitalize it).

FV as soon as possible.

To get them to pee, stay away from pressure on the bladder, put away your shame and rub them with a kleenex or something absorbant. Get intimate. Remember, mama makes them pee with her tounge. Be glad you don't have to go that route.

[Kristal]

Yea, some people use warm, moist cotton balls, soft cloths, q-tips or the like. I grew up on a farm and spent many hours walking through mucky animal poop, so I just used my finger while holding the squirrel over a towel. Yes, it does wonders for your constitution, such a childhood ;p

Either way is fine, but once he is hydrated he is probably going to pee on his own at his age. This is just a way to inspect the pee quality so that you can know when it is time to move to full strength formula. It should be a good stream, clear and no darker than light yellow.

[PDXErik]

Yea, some people use warm, moist cotton balls, soft cloths, q-tips or the like. I grew up on a farm and spent many hours walking through mucky animal poop, so I just used my finger while holding the squirrel over a towel. Yes, it does wonders for your constitution, such a childhood ;p

Either way is fine, but once he is hydrated he is probably going to pee on his own at his age. This is just a way to inspect the pee quality so that you can know when it is time to move to full strength formula. It should be a good stream, clear and no darker than light yellow.

That's how I did it. Hardcore. Besides, my q-tips are reserved for cleaning my AR-15, I need those.

[virgo062]

:wave123 I live not far from you...Depending on where in Atlanta you are probably less than 2 hours. I will take him if you decide it's to much. One rehabber in your area is out of town right now but would probably take him when she gets back....He really should be eating more than 3-4 cc's do you have a scale? He should eat 5% of his body weight. My two who are just a few weeks old will eat 2.5 cc now. I would also suggest some fresh veggies in his cage to munch on until he can be released.

[virgo062]

Also I am at work today in Fort O from 9-1 if your willing to travel I will give you some FV and order some more for myself...I think ASG is not going out of town until next weekend so she might take him and send him to me when Baxied goes down there next weekend...Hi Ho Hi Ho it's off to work I go

[atlantasquirrelgirl]

What part of Atlanta are you in? I can take him 10/23, and may be able to help you find somebody that can keep him in the interim.

[pappy1264]

If you are going to raise him, I suggest you get a gram scale so you can keep an eye on his weight (you want to be feeding 5-7% of his body weight, so you should check his weight every day or every other day at the least.) Yes, get the FV.....that stuff is worth its weight in gold...but doesn't cost it! (And is smells SO GOOD!!! lol) Take the end of a tissue, wet it with very warm water and flick down there very fast, keep going when she starts to go. Although they usually are going on their own when their eyes open, it is good to continue doing that (until it is apparent they are not happy campers and are fighting you too much when you try). It is a good way to keep their bedding dryer, too, as they will not be pottying (as much) in it!

[squirrely pearly]

I am in Woodstock Ga, would be happy to help with him. I have FV, the correct syringes etc. If you want to raise him, I can get you some Fv and proper syringes and nipples. let me know!

[Shawnsmommy19]

Thank you everyone for your wonderful advice and i appreciate all of it. While that being said i would like to keep Snickers and raise him myself as a pet. Squirrely pearly i would really appreciate your help if you are willing to and anyone else that is willing to give me advice and anything eesle i appreciate it also.

[Shawnsmommy19]

Also i have went and bought goats milk and put him on it starting this morning. Should i still be feeding him around the clock or just dawn to dusk?

[island rehabber]

PLEASE remember it is very very expensive to PROPERLY keep a squirrel for any length of time, and also that they RARELY make good pets. There is a good reason why the state licenses people to raise and release wildlife and prohibits the public from doing so. Squirrels need high calcium vegetables at all times, (like fresh raddichio, escarole, snow pea pods, broccoli and cauliflower, etc. ) There is no "Purina Squirrel Chow" that you can buy on sale and throw in the cage. Moreover, it is illegal to have a pet squirrel in Georgia and, should your squirrel escape your home or your grasp and nip somebody he will be seized by your local authorities and tested for rabies. In case you aren't aware of it, that requires cutting off his head.

I could go on, but I will just sum it up with this:

THINKING OF RAISING THAT BABY SQUIRREL YOURSELF?

You've found a baby squirrel, and you've found The Squirrel Board. :thumbsup
You're here in the Emergency Forum and you've read a little bit about how to keep the baby alive. Maybe you've warmed the baby up and he's starting to get active and nuzzle your hand. Maybe you've tried a little warm Pedialyte and he loved it and he looks so cute while he's slurping that syringe and when he's all curled up in a ball. And you figure, smart person that you are, that you're doing so well, it can't be THAT hard to raise this baby yourself.......

Yes, it can.

Please ask yourself the following questions:


Are you prepared to go out NOW and find goat's milk to start him on formula, followed by Fox Valley Squirrel formula that can only be ordered ON LINE and costs upwards of $11 per canister?
Are you prepared to go wherever you have to go, NOW, to get a 1cc syringe to feed this baby properly without aspirating him?
Are you prepared starting right NOW to feed this baby as frequently as required by its age and condition, including getting up in the middle of the night?
Are you prepared to use, or go out and buy NOW, a heating pad without the automatic shut-off feature? It is an absolute MUST for baby squirrels. Other heat sources will not be adequate and the baby will die.
When your baby starts "clicking" and becomes lethargic because he accidentally inhaled a bit of formula, will you be able to get prescription-only antibiotics within the next 2 hours to save its life?
Are you prepared, LATER ON as the squirrel grows, to buy or build a series of appropriate cages for the animal's age, to buy expensive fresh produce which the squirrel requires for good health, to seek out skilled veterinary help even if you are in an "illegal state", and to learn how to "soft release" the squirrel in an appropriate release site so it will have a chance to survive in the wild?
Are you prepared to resist ALL temptation to "introduce" the squirrel to your household pets, thereby giving the squirrel the delusion that cats and dogs will not kill him when he is out in the wild? Are you prepared to keep the squirrel and the pets separate for the entire life of the squirrel? If you have answered NO to even one of these questions, you need to contact a qualified wildlife rehabilitator and we will help you do that.....
NOW.
__________________

[virgo062]

[QUOTE=Shawnsmommy19] While that being said i would like to keep Snickers and raise him myself as a pet.QUOTE]

You will change your mind in a few months:) Right now I would concentrate on raising him for release...If they made good pets ;) we would all have one...or six...it won't be long and you will be ready to set him free:rotfl

Good luck there are lots of people here waiting to help you through this. SquirrelyPearly is a excellent resource....Use her

[astra]

No esbilac (nope, not going to capitalize it).
:thumbsup :D :D :D

[astra]

While that being said i would like to keep Snickers and raise him myself as a pet.
wild animals are not meant to be pets. A squirrel is a wild animal and does not make a good pet. Moreover, with those VERY FEW cases when a squirrel became a pet, it was that squirrel's decision. It's squirrels who decide that they would like to be a pet, not their humans who decide that they would like to keep a squirrel as a pet.

[Nancy in New York]

I just saw this thread. I also saw that you cannot afford Fox Valley. Without insulting you, because I honeslty don't mean to, you said that you are out of work and cannot afford the Fox Valley. That will be the cheapest thing that your squirrel will eat. Once they are off formula, that is when the money goes out faster than it comes in...buying everything that you will need to keep him healthy. I know when they are tiny, everyone gets attached to them. They think that they will stay cute and cuddley...but they don't. They will bite...when they get mad, or for no reason at all, they will scratch, not on purpose, but their nails are worse than any cats nails. My gorcery bill just for the ones that I have was $90.00 just on the veggies...You cannot feed these guys just anything. Their systems are so delicate, that if you screw up with them getting proper nourishment, they go down hill so very fast. I am telling you, you will regret this decision if you intend to do this right. I know that you came to this board looking for help, and this is exactly what you are getting. You have no idea what a bad decision keeping this little squirrel is, I swear to you. And have you thought about a cage for him? Those will cost about $200.00. And the toys that he will need and the houses and everything that goes with this?
There are people here who have everything that is needed for your little one to be raised properly and you will be giving him the greatest gift you can...you will be putting him in the hands of somebody with experience, he will be able to have litermates...squirrels do need buddies, and you will have the gratification of knowing that your little one is living the life he was meant to have NOT the one that you chose for him....please reconsider your decision...not only for this little squirrel but for yourself.
I also saw that you have 5 dogs and a 3 year old.....:shakehead This is not a good inviorment for a squirrel, not at all.
Please get in touch with Squirrely Perly or Virgo through pm or right on the board here...you will not regret your decision.

[Kristal]

Yep, I can attest to all this. I am a first time squirrel rehabber (not licensed) with four baby juvies that I have had since infanthood. If you are doing this right it is not like having a pet at all, but rather like they own you. They just take up all your free time. I have barely done the dishes in the last week because my kits need exercise, for example. And yes, very expensive. They are a source of considerable frustration if you do it right. Yes, they are amazing and beautiful, but there is a huge price to pay.

And if you do not do it right, you can easily kill them, and that will make you cry and cry and feel so guilty, and rightly so. Because here are all these people who are willing to give the little one the things s/he needs to survive. Take it seriously.

[Kristal]

I forgot to mention, transition to new formula slowly. It's recommended to change by 25% every other feeding, otherwise they are very vulnerable to digestive upset. As adults it is ok to change food every day, but not as babies.

This is the page where I learned most of my beginning stuff from:

http://www.orphanedwildlifecare.com/

It's a lifesaver, imo. It's pretty comprehensive.

[Nancy in New York]

I just wanted to post a couple of photos of what my four eat in the morning. There is cauliflower, broccoli, asparagus, mushrooms,sweet potato, carrots, butternut squash, peas. brussel sprouts, turnip, avocado, couple of grapes (peeled), apple. I vary this too throughout the week...same amount just different veggies. Then at around 12:00 I put in a bowl with blocks, oxbow rat chow, just a couple of nuts, and usually some beans, or a veggie that they didn't have in the morning. Then around 4:00 they get a huge spring salad, again with added veggies. As I said this is costly to do it right. Fox Valley is CHEAP compared to feeding them a healthy diet once they are on solids.

Two of these bowls are at least 2 1/2 deep and they are filled...this is expensive to feed these little ones right!
http://i673.photobucket.com/albums/vv95/nancym518/2010%20Babies/IMG_6680.jpg

http://i673.photobucket.com/albums/vv95/nancym518/2010%20Babies/IMG_6682.jpg

[crazysquirrels]

Nothing cheap about a healthy diet for a squirrel. I do think I can feed a village in Africa on the same money I spend I one squirrel.

[ShereeJacobi]

HI all i am new here to squirrel board and i have a few questions.But first let me tell you about my baby Snickers.I found snickers on monday under a tree.He looks to be about 4 1/2 weeks old I left him their for 6 hours and no momma showed up. So i took him and put him on a 24 hour pedialyte only then i started with hartz puppy milk. Now i have switched him to just born kitten milk.He hasnt been peeing a steady stream though.I have to put a slight bit of pressure on his tummy at his bladder to make him pee and even then he only pees like 10-12 drops never a steady stream. He is eating 3-4 cc's at every feeding every 6 hours. I know he should be on FV but i have not had a chance to get any as i have been out of work and cannot afford it.I am located in Atlanta Ga. I have called every rehaber in my area and no one is able to take him so i am just gonna try to raise him myself. I would just like a bit more info on anything i am doing wrong. Thanks and God Bless
:thankyou
Believe me, you do not want to keep this baby squirrel. I am having to deal with MBD, because like you, my daughter wanted to keep the baby squirrel instead of give it to the rehab folks here, and now it is partially paralyzed and almost died because of Metabolic Bone Disease. It has been a gruesom regimate because what Petco/Petsmart said was a great diet didn't even come close. On top of that, the formula can go on for weeks, not just stop when they get their teeth as we thought which was almost a fatal mistake. They are adorable but I have spent hours and hours of reading and driving these folks crazy on this website trying to keep my daughters alive. Please, do the right thing and give it to a rehab person. Don't end up with a dead or paralyzed squirrel. :thankyou