What does this mean?

[My boys]

Hi all a friend of mine found this little cutie & she seems to be eating fine, goats milk, but she is worried that the babies belly is bloated I'm not sure what it is. I made her poop & it seems the right "mustard" consistantly but I don't know why her belly is bloated.
Thanks for your help

[Rhapsody]

This is baby difiently bloated and needs to be soaked in some warm water for 15 minutes from the waste down ASAP!! --as this can be a fatal disorder if not taken care of immediately. Some infant Gas X needs to be given as well...... ASAP!!

Please weigh the baby and ONLY feed it 5-7 % of its body weight to prevent any future bloat issues..... and always feed with a 1cc syringe (never an eye dropper) and nipple...... BUT at the moment Please HOLD ALL FORMULA and PUSH Pedialyte for no more than 24 hours.

Homemade Pedialyte
1 tsp SALT
3 TBSP SUGAR
1 QUART WARM WATER

[grinn75]

Also goat's milk is usually used as an emergency formula until you can get Fox Valley or some other squirrel specific formula. I don't think goats milk is a great option for long term use.

[Jackie in Tampa]

I like goats milk...
that alone did not cause bloat...

ok, now not every case of bloat requires gas x...

do not feed anything until bloat is gone...
no pedi or formula...

you need to find the reason why baby is bloated ...
cold formula?
undisolved formula?
cold baby?

I copy/pasted this...it's from Chris Clark


Bloat
This is not normally seen on arrival but may occur if an animal has been fed an improper formula or overfed. Be sure to follow the feeding instructions closely and the improper formula will not be an issue. If the baby does bloat, don’t feed or offer water until its resolved. You can offer a few drops of human baby gas drops (simethicone) to ease the gas. You can also soak the baby’s lower half in a warm water bath while you massage his tummy. Do this for 5 minutes or so, then dry the baby and let him rest in a warm spot for 15 minutes and try again. Your goal is to get the baby to pass stool, gas or urine, and relieve the bloat.


http://www.squirrelsandmore.com/custom/images/features/bloat.jpg
Extended stomach due to bloat



Now, back to taking care of that baby!
Once the body temperature is warm the baby will need to be re-hydrated. An animal will get dehydrated very quickly once away from the mother. If the skin tents when gently pinched, and the animal seems listless and weak, it is dehydrated. As mentioned above, it is always best to assume a baby is dehydrated to some degree and will need to be re hydrated. The best hydrating solution to use is Unflavored Pedialyte. It can be purchased at most grocery stores and pharmacies in the baby aisle. If you can’t find Pedialyte, you can use the generic for Pedialyte, but please make sure it is actually a generic for Pedialyte. If there is no other option, you can make your own by combining 1 teaspoon salt with 3 tablespoons sugar in 1 quart of warm water. It is extremely important to warm the babies first, then re-hydrate them before starting them on any formula,. When giving any liquid the temperature of the liquid should be luke warm, never hot and never cold.

The best way to administer the fluid is with a small syringe: preferably a 1cc and no larger than a 3cc syringe (http://www.squirrelsandmore.com/category/1434/oring-syringes.htm) You should be able to purchase an oral syringe in a pharmacy in the pediatric section or possibly your pharmacist will give you a syringe without a needle on it. The larger the syringe the higher the chance of aspirating the animal. ( See aspiration pneumonia above) If a baby aspirates the liquid, you will see it bubble out of his nose. We do not recommend using an eyedropper or baby bottle because they both allow the animal to aspirate the fluid very easily. If you have no choice but to use a dropper, try to not let the squirrel suck on the tip of the dropper but rather drip the fluid onto his tongue or lips and allow him to lap instead of sucking. It is natural for these animals to have a sucking reflex and the flow can be too large coming from a dropper. Use extreme caution.

If the baby is in very poor condition, it may need to be force fed very gradually.

This is very crucial and necessary information and is a must for a proper start.

Hold the baby in an upright position for feeding and rehydrating, never on its back.


http://www.squirrelsandmore.com/custom/images/features/feedingexample.jpg
Proper feeding position

You may use the hydrating solution for up to 12 hours if necessary giving the baby the solution every 2 hours. If you know there is no chance that you can get the baby to a rehabilitator in the near future, then after the baby is warm and re-hydrated, you may start it on formula. When feeding the baby watch his stomach size. . You do not want to over feed. The primary cause of diarrhea in wild babies is overfeeding. The belly should be round but not tight when he has had enough.

Make sure the baby is awake. You can wake him by wiping his face and belly with a warm damp cloth. To the baby, this will feel a little as if its mother was licking it.

The formula may be fed the same way as the hydrating solution, with a syringe and very gradually. The best formula to use is Esbilac (http://www.squirrelsandmore.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&product_id=1522) or Milk Matrix Zoologic 33/40 (http://www.squirrelsandmore.com/product/1799/zoologic-milk-matrix-33-and-40-24-oz.htm) by PetAg. Esbilac (http://www.squirrelsandmore.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&product_id=1522)can be purchased at most pet shops or here at Chris's Squirrels and More, BUT, we prefer you purchase the Esbilac immediately at a local pet store. The squirrels do not have time to wait for delivery from Connecticut. DO NOT allow the pet store employees to talk you into a different formula to be used as a substitute. Remember, most pet stores specialize in domestic animals, and their employees usually have no knowledge about care of wildlife.

Esbilac comes premixed, or in powder form. If you purchase the powder form, you will mix it more dilute to begin with. This will be easier on the babies’ digestive system. Use one part powder and four parts of water, and mix what you will use at one feeding. Mix in all the lumps, and use a strainer if you need to. For each of the next feedings make the formula more concentrated by adding less water until you are mixing the formula at 1 part formula powder to 2 parts water.

If you have bought liquid Esbilac than you should still add an equal part of water for the first feeding and then less at each subsequent feeding, until you are feeding it full strength. The formula should be luke-warm, but never hot.

Never feed the babies any kind of cow’s milk or soymilk. These milks are quick killers for wildlife. Please DON’T use homemade formulas that can be found on the Internet. These are totally inappropriate for squirrels and the long-term effects can be deadly for them. These homemade formulas are stated as being the best when in reality they are the worst. Please do not follow them.

Remember, do not overfeed the animal, the belly should be full and round but not tight. A good guideline to use is the animal should be getting 5% formula to his body weight. If you have a small scale that can measure grams you can figure the feedings that way. A squirrel weighing 100 grams would get 5% of his body weight at a feeding, or 5 ml of formula. But remember, that is only a guideline, every animal is different. Do not go by age but rather the size and condition of the animal.

Formula should be fed every two or three hours depending on the age of the animal. (Example: A 5-week-old squirrel will be strictly on formula and not yet on solid foods, so he will need to be fed every three hours. A seven-week-old squirrel will be nibbling on solid foods, and will need formula about four times a day, or every 4 hours.

Young squirrel babies who still have their eyes closed or who have just opened their eyes will need to be stimulated to urinate and have a bowel movement. You stimulate the baby by wiping his abdomen and genital area with a warm damp cloth. The baby should have a bowel movement and urinate, but if he has not had food for quite sometime you may not see a bowel movement immediately.

It is important to check the size of the stomach before you feed him another feeding. If the stomach size is not smaller by the time the baby is due for another feeding then the animal has not been able to digest his meal from the last feeding. Don’t feed him yet. Stimulate to see if he will have a bowel movement, or urinate. If not, he may have gas,or bloat or may be constipated. If you think this may be the case, then you can soak the lower half of his body in warm water and massage his back, sides and abdomen. He will need to pass gas or some stool to relieve the problem. Don’t allow him to become chilled while you work with him.

[My boys]

Thank you all for your help I will pass all of this information on I also told my friend to register with The Squirrel Board I have learned so much & thank each of you for your help with my boys & now with my friends baby!
You guys ROCK!!!

[Jackie in Tampa]

remember esbilac is no longer used {the article is older}
Fox Valley is choice.:thumbsup

[Rhapsody]

Any one know how the little fella is doing? - :dono

[Rhapsody]

ok, now not every case of bloat requires gas x...
Just my personal protocol....... as I believe there is no REASON to SUFFER in PAIN (or other) if a product can help relieve suffering or the issue, but then again --thats ME!! ....... :D & :thumbsup


Mother Natures Rescue / Bloat Protocol
http://mothernaturesrescue.webs.com/care.htm

1. Give Infant Gas-X (1-2 drops)
2. Soak in Water Warm (rub tummy)
3. Hold Formula (until bloat is resolved)
4. Give Pedialyte (if longer than 6 hours)

[My boys]

Hi no update yet but I dd send my client to this site I just hope that she listened to me 8)
Eve

[My boys]

The baby is doing great & the owner is now using FV :wott

[grinn75]

Good to hear! :thumbsup