Esbilac

[Paisley Squirrel]

I have a question about the Esbilac. Is it just the powder that is causing problems in the squirrels or the pre mixed also?
The last squirrel I raised, was given the esbilac goats milk, pre mixed from cans.
Thank you

[island rehabber]

We covered the whole Esbilac issue in depth in this thread:

http://www.thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=20629

I do not believe the goat's milk Esbilac has had problems, but I'm not positive. From what I understand, some folks have been able to use the pre-mixed without a problem but just as many say their babies had horrible diarrhea on it. Frankly, I stay away from anything made by PetAg now -- I only use Fox Valley Nutrition products.

[Rhapsody]

May I ask how long its has been since you raised this Squirrel? - Thank you.

[virgo062]

I always used the powder....Never seemed to have a problem with that

[BeeFernandez22]

The pre mixed does not have nearly enough nutrients or fat in it.. you have to add cream and yogurt.. I had bought the powdered for my two kids and found that they were not ever getting normal poops. When I switched to Fox Valley they instantly turned normal. It is MUCH cheaper than Esbilac, and smells better too :) Please look into it! Foxvalleynutrition.com or Henrys Healthy Pets online sells it too (and is cheaper on shipping!!!).

[Rhapsody]

I always used the powder....Never seemed to have a problem with thatNeither did I for five years until I lost a 6 week old female "Sandy" back in November of 2010 (broke my heart) - now I use Fox Valley..... there is nothing as awful as having to watch a baby squirrel die from the undigested powder that got stuck in their digestive tract, which by the way is the issue Esbilac is having with their new formula.

Background - Unexplained problems emerge during 2009
http://www.ewildagain.com/Nutrition/Esbilac%20Manufacturing%20Changes.htm
Young animals that eat an inadequately dissolved formula are consuming less nutrition and can develop diarrhea and grow more slowly. The inadequately dissolved and undigested milk products in an animal’s GI tract are a great place for bacteria to grow – and infections to develop.

:shakehead :Love_Icon :shakehead :Love_Icon :shakehead

[virgo062]

Neither did I for five years until I lost a 6 week old female "Sandy" back in November of 2010 (broke my heart) - now I use Fox Valley..... there is nothing as awful as having to watch a baby squirrel die from the undigested powder that got stuck in their digestive tract, which by the way is the issue Esbilac is having with their new formula.

Background - Unexplained problems emerge during 2009
http://www.ewildagain.com/Nutrition/Esbilac%20Manufacturing%20Changes.htm
Young animals that eat an inadequately dissolved formula are consuming less nutrition and can develop diarrhea and grow more slowly. The inadequately dissolved and undigested milk products in an animal’s GI tract are a great place for bacteria to grow – and infections to develop.

:shakehead :Love_Icon :shakehead :Love_Icon :shakehead

All I can attest to is my personal experience......And I have never lost a squirrel on Esbilac.....I now use FV because it fills them up quicker.....But I've released many healthy Esbilac babies so I really don't have anything bad to say about it

[Rhapsody]

All I can attest to is my personal experience......And I have never lost a squirrel on Esbilac.....I now use FV because it fills them up quicker.....But I've released many healthy Esbilac babies so I really don't have anything bad to say about itI understand..... I too released many healthy babies that were feed Esbilac, but then again that with their old product, not the NEW! :thumbsup

[BeeFernandez22]

I have never lost babies on it and none of mine were sick, they just never had normal stools. Very soft and watery which could lead to dehydration. I have read many many horror stories from others though, who used the new Esbilac powder and I was just not willing to take a chance.

[Paisley Squirrel]

Thank you all. It's been a couple of years since I raised a baby squirrel. I had read the other thread on the esbilac and thought I had better ask about the pre mixed. I try to keep a can on hand just in casean emergency comes up.
Thank you again.

[Rescue04]

i always used the powder....never had a problem with it. it is just so expenisive.

[Kelly Brady]

I too used Esbilac for quite a while with no problem. Then came the new formulation.
Popped the lid on a new container and I darn near lost a baby on it. As soon as the water poops hit, I suspected the Esbilac from stories that had started to sufrace here on TSB. So I got switched over in time and I am lucky my little one lived. Sorry you lost your baby Rhapsody. Many did.:shakehead
Another wonderful thing I am grateful to TSB for.
The Esbilac hit the trash, and FV has proven to be amazing. Happy, healthy, chunky babies.

[Paisley Squirrel]

Ok. While I was in PetsMart this morning I checked to see what they had. They sell the GNC Premium Milk Replacer, Goat's Milk Liquid for puppies. I bought a can to compair it to the Esbilac Goats milk. The only difference in the ingredients is that the esbilac contains "Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex". I called GNC and asked if they had any informatin on feeding their puppy, goats milk to squirrels. They do not.

[Paisley Squirrel]

I just read about Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (Vit K) being added to pet food. From what I read it isn't good.

[BeeFernandez22]

The GNC stuff is awful! Do not use it! I too bought that before I found Esbilac. I don't think Petsmart carries Esbilac anymore... I had to go to Petco to find it. Fox valley is powder form and keeps well in the freezer! Cheaper than anything you find at Petsmart! ( I shop at Petsmart and had the same problems when I started :) )

[Rhapsody]

. I try to keep a can on hand just in case an emergency comes up. You can always use the Goat Milk Recipe in an ER - all items are on hand at your local Grocery Store.

Homemade Recipe
1 cup Goats Milk
1/3 cup Full Fat Vanilla Yogurt
1/3 cup Heavy Cream

(lasts 72 hours in frig)