Constipation!!

[BeeFernandez22]

Hello! I recently acquired two baby squirrels that are about 4-4.5 weeks old. I've had them for about a week and a half and up until now they have been doing great. I had rehydrated them with pedialyte and was feeding them a puppy milk replacement made by GNC. Saturday evening I was finally able to get ahold of the powdered Esbilac and have been feeding them that. The problem now is that the little girl, Ollie, has not had a bowel movement since late Sunday night. She is not acting sick at all and her tummy is not hard, but I am very worried she may get sick if she is unable to relieve herself soon. I have tried warm water baths a massages, along with the usual stimulation and no luck. She still pees very regularly so I don't think she is dehydrated. I have stopped her formula today and replaced it with just pedialyte hoping to have some luck but none yet. What can I do to help her go to the bathroom? Is she in immediate danger? Any help you guys could provide me with would be GREATLY appreciated. Thanks!

[SammysMom]

If they are eating any solids try little tiny pieces of raisin. I think I have seen diluted apple juice suggested too, but I am sure the real experts will be here soon.

[Rhapsody]

Natural Pumpkin Pie Mix (no seasoning) will clear the little girl right up..... this method is used by vets all the time for small animals.

Were you feeding the Esbilac 1:2 and were you using the powder formula? How often were you feeding the baby squirrel and how much?

Please trying giving her some Infant GasX and trying soaking her in some warm water again..... and keep up the pedialyte for the next 24 hours while stimulating her to go potty and gently rubbing her tummy.

After 24 hours of Pedialyte I recommended you feed her Fox Valley Formula made especially for Squirrels in mind @ http://www.henryspets.com/

[CritterMom]

If they are eating any solids try little tiny pieces of raisin. I think I have seen diluted apple juice suggested too, but I am sure the real experts will be here soon.

I hate to contradict, but please, never feed little babies raisins. Between the skin which is still on them and being so sticky, they are almost custom made for choking!

How much and how often are you feeding? Usually there is simply not enough food in their system to poop yet.

[BeeFernandez22]

No solids yet. Their eyes are still closed. I think Pisatchio, her brother, has been trying to nurse on her genitals as they were a little purple a couple days ago. I have seen him try, but thankfully that went away and I have not seen it happening since. I don't think that has any relation to the current problem, but maybe it could?

[Rhapsody]

P.S.

Homemade Recipe - until FV arrives
1 cup Goats Milk
1/3 cup Full Fat Vanilla Yogurt
1/3 cup Heavy Cream

(lasts 48 hours in frig)

[BeeFernandez22]

They have been getting 3cc of Esbilac (1:2 ratio) every 4 hours. Originally I had some issues with diarrhea so I have been hesitant to increase the amount of food.

[Rhapsody]

I would give GasX, soak in Warm Water, try the Pumpkin Mix to relieve the constipation, then continue with the Pedialyte for 24 hours, order the Fox Valley, feed the Homemade Formula til it arrives.... :thumbsup

[BeeFernandez22]

Thanks so much for everyones quick replies!! If I give her the pumpkin mix and gas-x, how much should I give her? And how much/how often should I be giving her the pedialyte? Should I continue to not give her formula?

[Rhapsody]

Hold ALL FORMULA while giving the Pedialyte...... for 24 hours.

[Rhapsody]

I would try to get a full syringe (3 cc) in her every 2 hours -
GasX - a few drops

[BeeFernandez22]

Okay, thanks!!! And how much of the pumpkin mix? Sorry so many questions.. I just don't want to cause any further problems for her!

[SammysMom]

I am so sorry for the poor information! Please contradict every time you see me sharing incorrect information. I just remembered Sammy using raisins, but he was probably older.

[CritterMom]

Yikes! Here I go again, contradicting.

Putting this baby on a 24 hour straight pedialyte regimen will increase her urination but won't result in any more poop. That requires solids. If she isn't pooping due to dehydration then pedialyte would be offered sandwiched in between the regular formula feedings, in other words, regular feeding and then an hour or so later, some pedialyte, then feeding, then pedialyte...

I have been monitoring the emergency threads for a while and have read them back many years, and I only remember two actual cases of constipation - both in older animals; one was an intestinal blockage and one was caused by an enlarged scent gland in an older male during rut. The others were babies that had not consumed enough solids to produce poop yet combined with anxious "parents."

I don't think the amount you are feeding is quite enough. The scientific methind is to weigh the baby in grams, calculate 5% to 7% of that figure, and feed that in cc's per feeding (a 100 gram squirrel would eat between 5 and 7cc of formula per feeding). The old way was if 5 weeks old, feed 5cc every 5 hours. If you weigh your babies I think you will find it is a big short.

Can I tell you how much I HATE Esbilac? Most people here do. It used to be the gold standard (but even then, it was supposed to be doctored with heavy cream and yogurt because it does not have enough fat for squirrels), but about 18 months ago they changed their manufacturing process to a single step drying process which renders the powder almost inpenetrable by liquid. That means that while it goes into suspension when you mix it, it doesn't actually absorb the water and dissolve. Feed your baby and the solids race through the body unabsorbed, resulting in diarrhea and in many, many dead baby squirrels.

I know. You just bought it and it is expensive. So many here have been there, believe me. You need to go to either www.henryspets.com or www.foxvalleynutrition.com and buy some Fox Valley formula. It is designed for baby squirrels and once on it they start to thrive. No diarrhea. Gain weight like little porkers. Plus they can go longer between feedings (sleeeeeep). I just can't recommend it highly enough nor can I urge you enough to change her, again, soon.

Until it arrives, do this with the esbilac. It doesn't make it GOOD, but it makes it better to the point where you should be okay until the other formula arrives - and this is the full strength - you may want to add a little more water and work up:

1 part esbilac
1-1/2 part water
1/4 part natural yogurt (vanilla or banana are good)
1/4 part heavy whipping cream

Mix very well and refrigerate a MINIMUM of 6 hours before feeding. This allows it to absorb a bit more.

Long winded, huh? I don't think your little girl is constipated; I think she hasn't had enough solids to poop, due to your deserved caution of feeding too much due to a diarrhea issue that is REALLY being caused by the formula brand.

[BeeFernandez22]

Thanks so much for the help! I will look into getting her some new formula. The Esbilac was pricey but I could never deprive her of what she needs to be healthy. Does anyone think the genital thing is an issue or could be contributing to the problem? (Her brother has been nursing on her, I suspect.)

[gs1]

hi: hopefully someone else can correct this ...

but no, i don't think this (constipation due to not enough solids/food etc thanks crittermom:thumbsup ) is due to her brother nursing.

it's the first time i've heard of a girl being nursed on but it happens often with a male being nursed on.

usually a sock over the area or increasing the feedings or even separating them (last resort) helps sort it out....

the main problem is if the penis becomes crusty and then the squirrel can't pee... then it's soaked with warm water and the crust very, very gently taken off... so he can pee again....

anyway ... i just wanted to say ...no this constipation thing is not due to that....:D :thumbsup

as for the esbilac ... it's pricey to throw it out ...but i'm also one of the ones who hates esbilac.... fox valley formula is made by someone who years ago used to work for them ... he's a wonderful man and with his company the animals always come first.... his formula is also inexpensive and wonderful....

it also takes longer to go through their stomach so the feedings can and should be spaced to almost 3 hours apart ... anyway ...that's transitioning later when you get it .....

here's a link ...http://www.henryspets.com/categories/Rehab-Supplies/

she is 4skwerlz a member here and has the syringes etc...

otherwise this is the fox valley page....

http://www.foxvalleynutrition.com/

:thumbsup

[BeeFernandez22]

Well she finally pooped!!! (And a rather large poop at that!) Yay!!! I can breathe now :) As far as the nursing- I have seen him nudging his face around her genitals and they were a purple color Saturday so I assumed it was the brother nursing. I could very easily be wrong. What else could cause that? And with the feeding, I notice you say FV can be spaced 3 hours apart... I've been spacing my feedings 4 hours apart per instructions from a site with feeding instructions... Is this not often enough? Sorry for so many questions..I'm a newbie at being a squirrel mommy :)

[gs1]

hi: absolutely her brother could have been nursing her.... i'd just never heard of it... yet....lol....:D

with fox valley you could space every 3-4 hours depending on the squirrel and if the belly is empty....

i'm not sure what you are feeding ... i think it's esbilac? and if it is ... i thought (just me ...) i thought it was spaced every 2.5 hours ....

well... i guess ..this is something for a rehabber to answer ....

i'm curious ...what's your dilution? (just curious)

oh ...lol... i'm a newbie too ... i've never had a baby squirrel to take care of ...anything i know i've learned from here.... and my constantly messaging some of my favourite people ...island rehabber, mrs.skul, jackie in tampa, mugzeema, crittermom, nancy in newyork, natures'gift... i'm always bugging them... poor things... i don't let them sleep ....:D

(just between you and me ... i wouldn't want to take care of a baby ... or even an adult ... i'd be a basket case... and i'm just inches from that anyway ....:sanp3 ):D

[gs1]

[QUOTE=BeeFernandez22]Well she finally pooped!!! (And a rather large poop at that!) Yay!!! I can breathe now :) QUOTE]

oh yay!!!!!!!!!

and we have a special smilie for that ..... introducing (drum roll) ......:drummer ....:drummer...:drummer .... the poop smilie...:poop

:jump


:poop :poop :poop :poop :poop

[gs1]

And with the feeding, I notice you say FV can be spaced 3 hours apart... I've been spacing my feedings 4 hours apart per instructions from a site with feeding instructions...

ok ... i'm not sure...again ...rehabbers most welcome to reply lol....

i just read about the schedule and it did say for a 5 week old every 4 hours ... and that was with esbilac & heavy cream .... i'm not sure if you've got the cream in the esbilac...

anyway ... when the rehabbers come on they'll let you know better....

but usually if they're nursing each other ... you could increase the feedings or decrease the spacing ... ... again someone else will confirm...

i guess we'll need to get a weight on them and then they'll be able to tell you how much you should be feeding ...

and i also think you're going to use the emergency goats milk recipe ....

and then transition to half that/half fox valley when it arrives ...

and then fox valley either full strenght or diluted to begin with ...

(easy as pie no??? :D )

ps: ask a million questions and keep asking ... there's no such thing as a stupid question ... i've been asking for a long time and still can't find one....:D :thumbsup

[Rhapsody]

Well she finally pooped!!! (And a rather large poop at that!) Yay!!! I can breathe now :)
That is good to hear..... :thumbsup :multi
Did you give her any pumpkin mix or did it just happen to be her time to go?

[CritterMom]

A lot of times the genital nursting is caused by hunger/ More food at each sitting or feeding closer together may help.

If not, you will have to make her a little jumpsuit from a baby sock or the like. It can get very sore if you don't.

Give your leftover esbilac to an animal shelter - that's what I did with the wildly expensive can of kitten milk I bought in error...the shelters love our mistakes!

[Rhapsody]

Yikes! Here I go again, contradicting.

Putting this baby on a 24 hour straight pedialyte regimen will increase her urination but won't result in any more poop. That requires solids. If she isn't pooping due to dehydration then pedialyte would be offered sandwiched in between the regular formula feedings, in other words, regular feeding and then an hour or so later, some pedialyte, then feeding, then pedialyte...


No Problem..... I should of explain my reasoning - the pumpkin mix was to treat the constipation (stated was over a week) and the 24 hour of pedialyte was to deal with the dehydration, not to produce poop.

But - Thanks for your Clarification of your treatment and what it is to be used for (produced / induce poop) ...... as I too learn while reading TSB. :thumbsup

[BeeFernandez22]

Hahaha!! The poop smile just made my day!! The dilution on the Esbilac was 2:1 and yes, I was adding the cream. I can't thank everyone enough for the help. Any advice/tips are ALWAYS appreciated. I feel like a terrified new mommy and up until I found this site I was just aimlessly googling! You guys are GREAT!!!

[BeeFernandez22]

She actually pooped on her own... Well, with stimulation. But no additional aid needed! I guess I was just being a worry-wart!

[CritterMom]

:jump :jump :jump :jump

Isn't poop wonderful!!

[jlynratcliff]

Someone mentioned earlier that giving fluids while comstipated wouldn't help and feeding solids would help. I disagree. If constipated for several days adding more food to her digestive system won't push the poop out and can make the constipation worse. Creating more toxins of constipation. Keeping her hydrated is supposed to be very helpful when constipated. This is true for animals &humans. If there is too much blockage adding more is just going to make it worse ...ending up with toxins building up and making the situation worse. Please if this happens again keep giving fluids as it will help ...it may even help soften the hardened blockage. Its why people say to drink lots of water to help things "move" as they should. I suffer with gi issues due to medications....it is never better to add more food if I haven't been able to "go" for a long time.

[jlynratcliff]

I have one other item...it was mentioned the baby didn't have enough food to poop....but ur talking about just her not having enough formula right?

[Rhapsody]

I have one other item...it was mentioned the baby didn't have enough food to poop....but ur talking about just her not having enough formula right?
Correct (it was mentioned the baby might not have enough) - hence why it was suggested to alternated formula feeding with pedialyte hydration. :thumbsup

[gs1]

They have been getting 3cc of Esbilac (1:2 ratio) every 4 hours. Originally I had some issues with diarrhea so I have been hesitant to increase the amount of food.

ok...and i read that you also added cream....

they're 4-5 weeks old....

did you get a weight on them? ... i think people use kitchen scales...

when you get the weight someone can help you figure out how much to feed them and how long apart spaced....

as well pretty soon now you'll have your fox valley and then transitioning and then eventually the straight fox valley at 3 hours or so apart....

http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=27491

there have been problems with squirrels on the straight fv if spaced too close together... their stomachs need to be empty before refilling them...

(problems like bloat and constipation... and if so ... ease back on formula and soak the squirrel in a tub of warm water, massage gently, stimulate, watch bubbles come out .. hopefully poop )

[CritterMom]

Someone mentioned earlier that giving fluids while comstipated wouldn't help and feeding solids would help. I disagree. If constipated for several days adding more food to her digestive system won't push the poop out and can make the constipation worse. Creating more toxins of constipation. Keeping her hydrated is supposed to be very helpful when constipated. This is true for animals &humans. If there is too much blockage adding more is just going to make it worse ...ending up with toxins building up and making the situation worse. Please if this happens again keep giving fluids as it will help ...it may even help soften the hardened blockage. Its why people say to drink lots of water to help things "move" as they should. I suffer with gi issues due to medications....it is never better to add more food if I haven't been able to "go" for a long time.


You are absolutely right - that is why I suggested swapping off formula (that is what passes for 'solids' when they are babies) and pedialyte. My concern was taking the baby OFF formula and feeding ONLY pedialyte for 24 hours. Now THAT will not make poop! Lots of pee, though.

[BeeFernandez22]

Sorry, I don't know how to put the little quote things on my replies.... But I don't have a weight on them yet. I have a kitchen scale but it does not weigh in grams, unfortunately. I can go get one tonight after work though. Are digital ones best? I will post a pic on here and you guys can tell me what you think about the estimated age.. Their eyes are closed but I'm pretty positive they're between 4 and 5 weeks. I have been noticing their little eyes sorta "twitching" so I think they should be opening any day now.

[CritterMom]

The digital ones are nice - I have a digital postal scale that I got from Staples pretty cheapl I like it because it has a nicel wide, flat plate that you can sit them on.:thumbsup

[BeeFernandez22]

Here are the babies :) They are quite squirmy at the moment so little Ollie has squirmed her way out of the photo. Poor Pistachio is just trying to nap haha! I've noticed Ollie seems to have a tinge of reddish color to her hair that Pistachio does not. Is this a female thing? Do you guys agree they're about 4- 4.5 weeks?

[Tara L]

OMG!! They are the cutest little things & I think your age guesstimate sounds about right. Congratulations & good luck to all of you.

[BeeFernandez22]

Also, do you guys think these are Grey Squirrels?

[Rhapsody]

Also, do you guys think these are Grey Squirrels?They look like greys to me - :thumbsup