TEMPORARY Goat's Milk Formula***

[island rehabber]

TEMPORARY GOAT'S MILK FORMULA:


3 parts goat’s milk
1 part heavy whipping cream*
1 part vanilla yogurt

Formula will last 48 hours in refrigerator.

Goat’s Milk
This can be purchased at natural food stores such as Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods, and at most health food stores that sell groceries. It is a product for humans. Do not substitute commercial formula made for baby goats or other livestock sold at feed stores.

Goat’s milk is available fresh in a carton; evaporated in a can; and as a powdered milk. If you purchase either the evaporated or powdered versions, please blend them with water according to the package directions before using to make the formula.

Heavy Whipping Cream
This is found in small cartons in the grocery store near the coffee creamers and half and half. Regular heavy cream may be substituted if it is unavailable, but the heavy whipping cream has the highest fat content, and is preferred.

Yogurt
Yogurt has beneficial bacteria in it that soothes and settles digestion. Full fat yogurt is best, and a good choice that is very widely available is Stoneyfield Yobaby yogurt. However if it is unavailable, a low fat vanilla yogurt may be substituted. Avoid those that have artificial sweeteners in them. Vanilla and banana are both popular flavors, and the sweet taste of the yogurt helps to convince the baby to accept it.

It has been recently discovered that very small pinky squirrels do better with the ESBILAC PUPPY FORMULA, with probiotics, instead of Fox Valley. If the Goat's Milk formula is used, omit the heavy whipping cream for the first two weeks of life.

[pappy1264]

This needs to be a sticky! Great post! I got the Mayerburg (believe that is the name) Goat milk at Market Basket (the liquid, Whole Foods sells the powder).

[island rehabber]

It's stuck. :)

[Forest Haven]

I have fresh, raw goat's milk available. Do I still have to mix the milk with yogurt and whipping cream?

[pappy1264]

Yes. What are you feeding? If it is a very young squirrel, I would start first with just the gm adn yogurt to let its tummy adjust to that first and then slowly mix in the cream after several feedings with no issues.

[Forest Haven]

I haven't received my squirrels yet, but they have been on a canned goat milk/karo syrup/something else(can't remember) diet for almost a two weeks.

I will have to transistion them to fresh goat milk, but why is the cream needed since fresh milk is so rich and creamy anyway? The squirrels will be a little over 5 weeks when I get them.

[Anne]

I fed goat's milk formula for years, there was no other canned or powdered formula available. Goat's milk was more nutritional and digestible. Karo syrup was added to keep babies from getting constipated. Yogurt was no widely known is the US, and heavy cream was not used-unless someone decided to add it because a baby was horrible thin and couldn't gain weight. Many times the yogurt and cream added can cause diarrhea. Added one at a time for skinny babies (cream) or ones who don't have the correct gut flora (may have been on an anti-biotic) is OK. Fresh goats milk should have cream, as does the canned since it is homogenized.

If you don't agree with me-fine. I have done this with farm animals since I was a child, and have raised many,many baby squirrels in adulthood. Do as you please, I am just passing on my experience.

[Anne]

Fox Valley is the best for squirrel babies. Please everyone, order it as soon as possible. It is wonderful right from the pouch/bucket and really doesn't need anything added to it. Baby squirrels thrive on it and it is best.
Thank heavens, we have it to use!!!!!!!

[Kebtaz]

where can I buy this fox formula?

[CritterMom]

www.henryspets.com
www.foxvalleynutrition.com

[tayloriley47]

Hey everyone, I have been giving my little guy (4-5 week old Indian palm squirrel) this formula, since I cannot get Fox Valley, etc. Until I can find goats milk (I am scouring the city!) I make this with fresh cow's milk, yogurt, and I am slowly starting to introduce cream.

Yesterday, he was going fine but today his bms have become progressively softer and now (after second feeding of the day, 12:30pm) they are very soft, almost diarrhea I would say.

Less than 1/5th of the mixture is cream, yesterday it was only a drop, etc. Do you think I added cream too fast? In the days before he was on boiled milk/cream (unfortunately I didn't know any better). His health otherwise seems fine and he just opened his eyes last night. Please let me know what you think!

[Rhapsody]

I would with hold the cream...... it is not needed, but can be an added benefit for some extra fat & protein in the diet. But your little guy will do well on the milk and yogurt.

[Jackie in Tampa]

Royal Canine formula is available in your country I believe..

[tayloriley47]

Ok, thanks for the suggestion. Yes I am looking for Royal Canine! Going to a pet store this weekend to look for it. :)

[kastillo]

Can you freeze the GM formula after yogurt is added, or will it eliminate the bacteria in the yogurt?

[SammysMom]

I am quite certain that freezing yogurt will kill the good bacteria.

[Milo's Mom]

Not wanting to contradict, but I've always been told that freezing yogurt does not kill the live bacteria...simply makes it dormant. In order to kill bacteria (good and bad) it needs to be cooked/heated.

There are likely to be some cultures that do not survive the freeze thaw process, but the majority of them should be just fine and may even begin to multiply again.

[JPlagg]

It does not kill the cultures they go into a dormant state. Once warmed they become active again.

[Gray Squirrel]

I fed goat's milk formula for years, there was no other canned or powdered formula available. Goat's milk was more nutritional and digestible. Karo syrup was added to keep babies from getting constipated. Yogurt was no widely known is the US, and heavy cream was not used-unless someone decided to add it because a baby was horrible thin and couldn't gain weight. Many times the yogurt and cream added can cause diarrhea. Added one at a time for skinny babies (cream) or ones who don't have the correct gut flora (may have been on an anti-biotic) is OK. Fresh goats milk should have cream, as does the canned since it is homogenized.

If you don't agree with me-fine. I have done this with farm animals since I was a child, and have raised many,many baby squirrels in adulthood. Do as you please, I am just passing on my experience.

Why not leave out the Karo syrup and add the yogurt and cream instead for baby squirrels? Constipation and diarrhea seem to be opposites. What percent fat is goats milk? I think raw cow's milk is a higher percent butter fat than the whole milk you buy in the store.

[Gray Squirrel]

Fox Valley is the best for squirrel babies. Please everyone, order it as soon as possible. It is wonderful right from the pouch/bucket and really doesn't need anything added to it. Baby squirrels thrive on it and it is best.
Thank heavens, we have it to use!!!!!!!

I think there is a resent post that says one commercially made formula is killing baby squirrels and I think it said it was made by Fox Valley. I use a formula similar to this temporary formula and I trust it more than the ones made commercially.

[cryjohn]

i was wanting to know if u can use milk replacement for goats for squirrles

[HRT4SQRLS]

You can use this recipe made with goat milk, heavy cream and yogurt as a TEMPORARY formula for baby squirrels. It is not a complete formula so you would need the transition to a complete formula like powdered puppy Esbilac with probiotics and prebiotics OR FoxValley 20:50.

[CritterMom]

You can use this recipe made with goat milk, heavy cream and yogurt as a TEMPORARY formula for baby squirrels. It is not a complete formula so you would need the transition to a complete formula like powdered puppy Esbilac with probiotics and prebiotics OR FoxValley 20:50.

So, no. You are referring to baby formula made for baby goats, right? The recipe in this thread is made with dairy grade goats milk available for humans, to which cream and yogurt is added because baby goats and baby squirrels have hugely different nutritional needs. Even then, it should be temporary only.

[elsie]

I got it.....thanks

[Sharrian]

TEMPORARY GOAT'S MILK FORMULA:


3 parts goat’s milk
1 part heavy whipping cream*
1 part vanilla yogurt

Formula will last 48 hours in refrigerator.

Goat’s Milk
This can be purchased at natural food stores such as Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods, and at most health food stores that sell groceries. It is a product for humans. Do not substitute commercial formula made for baby goats or other livestock sold at feed stores.

Goat’s milk is available fresh in a carton; evaporated in a can; and as a powdered milk. If you purchase either the evaporated or powdered versions, please blend them with water according to the package directions before using to make the formula.

Heavy Whipping Cream
This is found in small cartons in the grocery store near the coffee creamers and half and half. Regular heavy cream may be substituted if it is unavailable, but the heavy whipping cream has the highest fat content, and is preferred.

Yogurt
Yogurt has beneficial bacteria in it that soothes and settles digestion. Full fat yogurt is best, and a good choice that is very widely available is Stoneyfield Yobaby yogurt. However if it is unavailable, a low fat vanilla yogurt may be substituted. Avoid those that have artificial sweeteners in them. Vanilla and banana are both popular flavors, and the sweet taste of the yogurt helps to convince the baby to accept it.

It has been recently discovered that very small pinky squirrels do better with the ESBILAC PUPPY FORMULA, with probiotics, instead of Fox Valley. If the Goat's Milk formula is used, omit the heavy whipping cream for the first two weeks of life.




Is this still the correct formula to use and how long can they be on it? I have a pinkie less than 2 weeks old.... help please??

[Nancy in New York]

Is this still the correct formula to use and how long can they be on it? I have a pinkie less than 2 weeks old.... help please??

The GMF is only a very temporary formula.
Neither is nutritionally correct for raising a baby even for a few weeks.
I have heard that the "new" GMF with the egg yolk is causing diarrhea.
I really believe that your best option would be to get
Zoologic along with Fox Valley 32/40 and use a 50/50% blend.
https://www.squirrelsandmore.com/products/zoologic-milk-matrix-33-40-24-oz?_pos=482&_sid=116c192e6&_ss=r

Many others have gone back to the Dry Powder Esbilac Formula (with great success) as long as the expiration date is ON or AFTER October 2021.

[Sharrian]

The GMF is only a very temporary formula.
Neither is nutritionally correct for raising a baby even for a few weeks.
I have heard that the "new" GMF with the egg yolk is causing diarrhea.
I really believe that your best option would be to get
Zoologic along with Fox Valley 32/40 and use a 50/50% blend.
[url]https://www.squirrelsandmore.com/products/zoologic-milk-matrix-33-40-24-oz?_pos=482&_sid=116c192e6&_ss=r[/

Many others have gone back to the Dry Powder Esbilac Formula (with great success) as long as the expiration date is ON or AFTER October 2021.

I have some FV but can’t find the Zoologic. everyone is out. I guess my best option is the GMF until I can find it or the Esbilac?
Thank you!

[charles93]

TEMPORARY GOAT'S MILK FORMULA:


3 parts goat’s milk
1 part heavy whipping cream*
1 part vanilla yogurt

Formula will last 48 hours in refrigerator.

Goat’s Milk
This can be purchased at natural food stores such as Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods, and at most health food stores that sell groceries. It is a product for humans. Do not substitute commercial formula made for baby goats or other livestock sold at feed stores.

Goat’s milk is available fresh in a carton; evaporated in a can; and as a powdered milk. If you purchase either the evaporated or powdered versions, please blend them with water according to the package directions before using to make the formula.

Heavy Whipping Cream
This is found in small cartons in the grocery store near the coffee creamers and half and half. Regular heavy cream may be substituted if it is unavailable, but the heavy whipping cream has the highest fat content, and is preferred.

Yogurt
Yogurt has beneficial bacteria in it that soothes and settles digestion. Full fat yogurt is best, and a good choice that is very widely available is Stoneyfield Yobaby yogurt. However if it is unavailable, a low fat vanilla yogurt may be substituted. Avoid those that have artificial sweeteners in them. Vanilla and banana are both popular flavors, and the sweet taste of the yogurt helps to convince the baby to accept it.

It has been recently discovered that very small pinky squirrels do better with the ESBILAC PUPPY FORMULA, with probiotics, instead of Fox Valley. If the Goat's Milk formula is used, omit the heavy whipping cream for the first two weeks of life.









Thanks for whipping cream tips

[Bugtussle]

My little squirrel is def a pinky - 11grams, eyes tight shut. I found a recipe for goats milk formula (3 tablespoons goat
milk, 3 tbs yogurt, 2 tbs heavy cream, 1/2 egg yolk; makes 1/2 cup formula) on the Henry's pets website. But reading thru these threads, should I be omitting the heavy cream and egg yolk? I didn't have a store nearby with the Esbilac puppy formula with probiotics

[Spanky]

My little squirrel is def a pinky - 11grams, eyes tight shut. I found a recipe for goats milk formula (3 tablespoons goat
milk, 3 tbs yogurt, 2 tbs heavy cream, 1/2 egg yolk; makes 1/2 cup formula) on the Henry's pets website. But reading thru these threads, should I be omitting the heavy cream and egg yolk? I didn't have a store nearby with the Esbilac puppy formula with probiotics

Hi BugTussle... Henry's has updated it's site with what THEY are recommending as a formula for pinkies through 3 weeks as opposed to the "Temporary Goats Milk Formula" that you are referring. There was an issue with Esbilac a few years ago which prompted this change of the formerly temporary formula and the recommendation to use it for up to 3 weeks... the Esbilac issue has been corrected.

PERSONALLY, I would use the temporary formula (not the one on Henry's) and order some Esbilac on-line.. switch over when the Esbilac comes in.. that is my recommendation. I have been seeing and helping quite a few folks on the board (TSB) that used the formula at Henry's for a few weeks and frankly, the babies are underweight, frail and seem to have a dickens of a time transitioning formula. I use Esbilac for pinkies when I cannot get any Zoologic 32/40 and the thing with the Zoologic is you need to buy way more than you need for a single pinky.

[Bugtussle]

Thank you so much. Baby is not wanting to eat this morning and seems frail. His skin is very sticky and clammy. I've cleaned him after every feeding so not a "dirty" issue. He does seems to be struggling this morning. I appreciate the info on temp formula. I mixed up your recommended recipe last night. I think I will sub in the next feeding with pedialyte (no flavor) -instincts tell me he needs to be rehydrated. Thank you for being so helpful and caring.