View Full Version : Scooter's bunched up...
Scooter the Squirrel
09-13-2011, 06:21 PM
Hi, all.
Scooter is a grey squirrel, 6-7 weeks old. We've had him 8 days. After the first couple days he pooped pretty regular. The past 2 1/2 days he only poops with much stimulation, and it comes out in little clumps of pellets -- bunches of 6-8 pellets, around 50 total pellets at a time.
Should we hydrate him a bit? If so, what ratio to formula?
He is still on Esbilac, the FV is due in tomorrow.
He is not pooping covertly in his cage or overtly on my shoulder.
Thanks
Nancy in New York
09-13-2011, 07:02 PM
Hi, all.
Scooter is a grey squirrel, 6-7 weeks old. We've had him 8 days. After the first couple days he pooped pretty regular. The past 2 1/2 days he only poops with much stimulation, and it comes out in little clumps of pellets -- bunches of 6-8 pellets, around 50 total pellets at a time.
Should we hydrate him a bit? If so, what ratio to formula?
He is still on Esbilac, the FV is due in tomorrow.
He is not pooping covertly in his cage or overtly on my shoulder.
Thanks
You can give him 5-7 cc's of pedialyte a couple of times in between feedings. Then feed as you usually would. How often do you feed and what amount? I am guessing if he is this age, that his weight is approximately 120 grams? Can you weigh him? Let him eat what he wants of the formula, most likely it will be less because you are hydrating him, but that's ok. (But no more than 5-7% of his body weight for now).
When you get the FV do the recommended transition. First and second feeding 1/2 FV and 1/2 Esbilac. Third and fourth feeding 3/4 FV and 1/4 Esbilac. On the fifth feeding go full strength Fox Valley. Some would transition slower, some not at all. Since he is having some problems do it this way, and you can add a little heavy cream to the FV too, that may make him less constipated.
*When you do the transition formula, mix the FV according to the directions and mix the Esbilac according to the directions, and then combine together into the suggested ratios...i.e. 1/2 FV 1/2 Esbilac and so on.
Scooter the Squirrel
09-13-2011, 09:12 PM
Thanks, Nancy.
We've been feeding him approx. every 4 hours, 6am to 10 or 11pm, no nite feeding. Amount is right around 7-8cc, about a tsp and a half. We haven't been measuring exactly, just letting him take what he wants and keeping an eye on belly firmness.
We just weighed him: 193g. Will doublecheck that when he wakes up.
Thanks for the FV transition advice, too.
Scooter the S.
Scooter the Squirrel
09-13-2011, 09:27 PM
Just confirmed weight at 192g
Nancy in New York
09-13-2011, 09:28 PM
Thanks, Nancy.
We've been feeding him approx. every 4 hours, 6am to 10 or 11pm, no nite feeding. Amount is right around 7-8cc, about a tsp and a half. We haven't been measuring exactly, just letting him take what he wants and keeping an eye on belly firmness.
We just weighed him: 193g. Will doublecheck that when he wakes up.
Thanks for the FV transition advice, too.
Scooter the S.
193 grams....that's a wonderful weight. You know that we love pictures....:) At that weight he actually could be eating 10-14 cc's at every feeding. We usually go by the 5-7% of their weight to figure out how much they should be eating. Are you using syringes? Good luck with this little one, I bet he has just taken your heart.:Love_Icon
Scooter the Squirrel
09-13-2011, 10:43 PM
Hi again, Nancy
He may be 7, going on 8 weeks. We're still unsure. His tail is getting bushy.
I will confirm the accuracy of our new scale tomorrow -- just to be sure.
My girlfriend usually gets him to eat more than I do, so he could be getting more cc's. He's been getting nibbles of avocado, apple, pear, green bean and broccoli, too. Not all at the same time, and just a couple times a day.
I'm getting a syringe tomorrow (3cc?). Been carefully using an eyedropper to avoid aspiration.
Yup, he's pretty much got us wrapped around his little paws. I just picked up materials to build him a 6'x5'x5' cage to play in as he becomes more active. Figure I'll put his nest box and some good size branches in it so he can practice climbing. His release date will come too soon.
Here's a pic from last nite. That's my boy. :D
adorable little guy....:D :D :D
get several 1cc syringes ....less chance of aspiration.....
if you call henrys healthy blocks http://henryspets.com/
http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/member.php?u=2247
she can mail them to you ...plus you can get the healthy blocks for him and the fox valley.....:thumbsup
or make them yourself....
http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=27994
Scooter the Squirrel
09-14-2011, 09:46 AM
Thanks, gs1!
I've been told there's a strong family resemblance -- to me, not girlfriend. :D
FV and HHB's are already on the way -- should arrive today. Will order syringes and procure a disposable for the interum.
He drank 2cc's of pedialyte this morning. Will try a little more later.
Scooter the S
Nancy in New York
09-14-2011, 01:36 PM
Oh he does resemble you.....just adorable.:Love_Icon :Love_Icon
Just give him a few feedings of the hydration fluid in between his usual feedings. You can also try a little bit of orange juice ~1 cc.
If you need syringes, just pm me your address. I have plenty and am willing to share. :D
:D :D :D glad he takes after you....
be very, very careful with all syringes ... aspiration is so common and leads to pneumonia.....
that's why the smaller (1cc) the better.....
as well if he ever gets some coming out his nose tip him upside down and gently wipe with toilet paper....
:thumbsup
Scooter the Squirrel
09-14-2011, 09:11 PM
Hi, All.
Thanks Nancy, I got syringes today. I really appreciate the offer. :thankyou
Thanks gs1 for the "after aspiration" instructions. I'd rather know what to do now, than be frantically searching if it happens. :thankyou
Okay, Scooter update: I've been hydrating him today. Now he's peeing like a racehorse, but his pooh is still clumpy.
Any ideas? Do squirrels use a laxative at times? I've cut his fruit and veggie nibbles to next to nothing.
We're going to start transitioning to FV tomorrow morning -- as per Nancy's instructions. Aiming to start HHB's Friday.
Still working on getting him a dietary rodent block (as opposed to the supplemental HHB's). No one had them locally. No Teklad, Misuri, no Zupreme Monkey Biscuits, no Kaytee Forty blue bag either. Sheesh. Will order them .
Any input on his pooh is greaty welcomed. Thanks, Scooter the S.
it's really good if you do a search on aspiration now....
there's more to it than what i just gave you.....
then there'll be the frantic search for baytril for aspiration pneumonia....
poops don't know but if he's not on fox valley already that could be the reason...
esbilac really clumps up their digestion....like cement......
most tsbers freak out just at the name esbilac...
(the ingredients/process was changed and since then it's done much more harm than good)
hopefully nancy will have better ideas... cls.
i'd like to see his poops perfect before you start the hhbs ...and then i'd keep the hhbs as the rodent block of choice... they're the best on the market...all human grade #1 quality....
:)
squirrel laxatives for older babies ..canned pumpkin or watermelon juice... search on constipation ... :) ...must run....
Nancy in New York
09-15-2011, 07:48 AM
Hi, All.
Thanks Nancy, I got syringes today. I really appreciate the offer. :thankyou
Thanks gs1 for the "after aspiration" instructions. I'd rather know what to do now, than be frantically searching if it happens. :thankyou
Okay, Scooter update: I've been hydrating him today. Now he's peeing like a racehorse, but his pooh is still clumpy.
Any ideas? Do squirrels use a laxative at times? I've cut his fruit and veggie nibbles to next to nothing.
We're going to start transitioning to FV tomorrow morning -- as per Nancy's instructions. Aiming to start HHB's Friday.
Still working on getting him a dietary rodent block (as opposed to the supplemental HHB's). No one had them locally. No Teklad, Misuri, no Zupreme Monkey Biscuits, no Kaytee Forty blue bag either. Sheesh. Will order them .
Any input on his pooh is greaty welcomed. Thanks, Scooter the S.
Can you get a photo of his poop? If you look around, we have all shown our squirrels poop at one time or another. It may be perfectly normal, but we will have to see. Sometimes it's clumpy, sometimes not...what may be "normal" to one squirrel may be a little different to another.
No laxatives. He may not even have a problem....lets just see the picture, and we will determine then. Did you try a little diluted orange juice? Do 25% water and the rest juice...I would start him out with 2 cc's, he is a large squirrel and can handle that. BUT after we see the poop photo....:D
Scooter the Squirrel
09-15-2011, 10:50 AM
Morning, All.
Thanks again, gs1. Will do.
Here's a couple pooh pics from yesterday (maybe wed. nite -- we have a collection :D ) The pics are of the same pooh. The color is darker due to drying. I don't have a good shot from yesterday.
Yesterday he only have one good clump and the rest single pellets (total numbering around 12-14)
The hydration may have taken a bit to affect him. This morning he readily drank 5cc pedialyte and is a spunky little guy.
We've begun the FV transition. Erred on caution's side and did 1:3 part ration (FV to Esbilac) for his early morning feeding. 50/50 for next, and so on.
Thanks again, Nancy!
S the S
Nancy in New York
09-15-2011, 11:21 AM
They actually don't look bad to me at all. And it certainly seems like there is enough there.
One thing about the pedialyte....DO NOT give for more than 24 hours. You can hydrate him with plain water if he is still having ISSUES, but I would bet that once on the FV he will do just fine. If his poops still seem a little hard, put a little bit of heavy cream in the FV, and he should be just fine.:thumbsup
Scooter the Squirrel
09-15-2011, 12:58 PM
Thanks, Nancy!
He seems to be doing better today. Thanks also for reminding me to limit the pedialyte. He seems to be pooping better, too.
One more quick question: Does that seem like an awful lot of poop to come out at one time? It's around 50 little pellets.
2nd quick question: Do they prefer to poop at any particular time -- after meals, at nite -- or is it totally random?
You and gs1 have been an incredible help. :thankyou
Next feeding will be another 50/50 mix, then 3:1 tonite.
:thumbsup good to hear....
no idea if that's a normal amount of poops but i'd guess he needs to stabilize himself.....
stimulating before and after feedings helps things a lot....
less mess in nest too....
:grouphug
Nancy in New York
09-16-2011, 07:44 AM
Thanks, Nancy!
He seems to be doing better today. Thanks also for reminding me to limit the pedialyte. He seems to be pooping better, too.
One more quick question: Does that seem like an awful lot of poop to come out at one time? It's around 50 little pellets.
2nd quick question: Do they prefer to poop at any particular time -- after meals, at nite -- or is it totally random?
You and gs1 have been an incredible help. :thankyou
Next feeding will be another 50/50 mix, then 3:1 tonite.
No that really doesn't seem like a huge amount of poop. I do notice when I take my little ones out first thing in the morning, and they run all over me, seems I get a huge amount....like it just keeps coming.:) I sometimes would look at it, and think how did all of this come out of you!!!!:rotfl
Actually when they get out of the cage at anytime, for play as opposed to for eating, that's when I see "tons". Perfectly healthy....Now if he weren't pooping, that's when we would worry.:thumbsup
Great transition too on the formula! How does he like it?
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