Used Esbilac liquid puppy milk replacement

[johndevlin3]

My wife and I found two 4-5 week old squirrels. We consulted a vet and they recommended ESBILAC liquid formula. Yesterday both started having lite brown diarrhea. I've read so many conflicting reports on what to give them, can someone please give us a sound recommendation? I tried giving them 3cc's of water to help rehydrate. I also went out and bought some reglar yogurt considering it is now 9pm, to be prepared if I should discontinue the ESBILAC. Sorry for the weird post, we're just worried about them.

[Rhapsody]

While the Esbilac was widely used by us and other rehabbers years ago we can no longer recommend it after the company changed their formula
which ended in the loss lives of many precious baby squirrels...... we now recommend FOX VALLEY that is specifically created for Squirrels.

Fox Valley:
http://www.henryspets.com/
http://www.foxvalleynutrition.com/main/home.asp

While you are waiting for your Fox Valley to arrive - Feed:

1 cup Goats Milk (can - dilute per pck)
1/3 cup Heavy Cream
1/3 cup Full Fat Vanilla Yogurt

If your little one is dehydrated - Please hydrate with this Homemade Pedialyte

1 cup warm water
1/4 tsp salt (teaspoon)
1 Tbsp sugar (tablespoon)


WELCOME to TSB........ :wave123

[astra]

Welcome! :Welcome

Esbilac causes serious GI issues, with severe diarrhea and such.

Diarrhea causes dehydration.
Dehydrated babies won't eat.

In order to flush them, use pedialyte for a few feedings (homemade recipe below).
Then, order Fox Valley formula either on www.hernyspets.com or www.foxvalleynutrition.com. It is specifically formulated for squirrels and is the best for them.

While you are waiting for FV, use the homemade Goat's Milk formula (the recipe is below).

Here are two recipes... one for the formula but also one for Pedialyte in case your baby is dehydrated.

It IS important to make sure she's not dehydrated: do not feed formula to a dehydrated baby. First you make sure they are warm, very warm, and THEN you make sure they are well hydrated... and then you can think of feeding her formula.


Pedialyte Recipe

I quart warm water
3Tbs sugar
1tsp salt

Good for 24 hours

Do not administer for more than 24 hours.


Homemade Formula

1 cup goats milk
1/3 cup heavy cream
1/3 cup All natural vanilla yogurt (Liberty)

Mix well and keep in a glass container in the refrigerator.
Lasts 72 hours in the fridge.

Warm the formula to feed – only takes a FEW seconds in the microwave. BE CAREFUL NOT TO OVERHEAT, it will curdle the yogurt.

Do you have pics? It would help us evaluate their age and if you could weigh them it would also help. You can use a food scale (grams scale):grouphug

[astra]

Ok, Rhapsody beat me to it:D , I guess, two versions are better than one.:thumbsup

EDIT: while I am at it, just a few questions;

1. Do you know how old they are?... could you post pics to estimate their age?

2. Are they on a heating pad?... Put a no auto-shut off heating pad under half of the container, so that if they feel too warm, they can move off it. On low. Do not use towels or anything loopy as their nails get caught and ripped.

3. Throughout all the time while you are awake, check the pad periodically to make sure it doesn't glitch and it doesn't get too hot for them(there have been some accidents). That's why it's important to put the pad under half of the container only, not under the entire container. On low.
Also, the pad should be under the container, not inside of it (sometimes, by mistake ppl put the pad right into the container).

4. It's much better if they are in a plastic container, not in a cardboard box.

[Rhapsody]

Ok, Rhapsody beat me to it :D , I guess, two versions are better than one.:thumbsup2 are AWESOME!! --when they come from TSB - :thumbsup :thumbsup

[johndevlin3]

Sorry for the delay. Thank you for your response. I was advised to use 21st Century Milk replacer from someone that got back to me before I got back here.
The Squirrels are fine by the way. Solid stool and other developments progressing nicely. I wanted to note for anyone's future reference the difference in Nutritional value in 21st Century VS Esbilac liquid milk replacer.

Protein analysis- 21st Century (33%)
Esbilac (4.5%)

Crude Fat 21st Century (40%)
Esbilac (6%)

Crude Fiber 21st Century (5%)
Esbilac (0%)

Moisture 21st Century (10%)
Esbilac (85%)

[4skwerlz]

Sorry for the delay. Thank you for your response. I was advised to use 21st Century Milk replacer from someone that got back to me before I got back here.
The Squirrels are fine by the way. Solid stool and other developments progressing nicely. I wanted to note for anyone's future reference the difference in Nutritional value in 21st Century VS Esbilac liquid milk replacer.

Protein analysis- 21st Century (33%)
Esbilac (4.5%)

Crude Fat 21st Century (40%)
Esbilac (6%)

Crude Fiber 21st Century (5%)
Esbilac (0%)

Moisture 21st Century (10%)
Esbilac (85%)

Hi there. Seems like you must be comparing powdered 21st Century with liquid Esbilac.... That would explain the very large differences.

I've been hearing about this 21st Century puppy formula for the first time this year.

The protein/fat looks okay: 33/40 vs. 32/40 in FV. However, it does cost $22.00 per pound; almost twice what Fox Valley costs.

If you decide to continue to use 21st Cent, please keep us posted on how the babies do: keep track of their weight and watch for issues with diarrhea, etc.

[johndevlin3]

I don't have a scale to weigh the squirrels. I can tell you that currently they are progressing very well. Their stool is solid and plentiful :shakehead . I estimate they are 5-6 weeks old, probably closer to 6. They have become extremely active this week. We've found them playing and wrestling quite often. This is the first time we've cared for squirrels and I'm amazed at how strong they are and how rapid their growth. I'm currently making a cage to transition them where they belong.
Anyway we are pleased with the 21st Centry Powder. The Liquid Esbilac was terrible and I hope anyone reading this for help will either get the product this site recommends or 21st Century.