Feeding Issues

[hawkinz]

Hola!

I am new to having baby squirrels, but for the most part all has seemed to go fairly well. I have a male and female squirrel who lost mom. I have had them now for almost two weeks. As far as I can tell they seem to be 7-8 weeks old. This week they have starting curling their tails over their backs. They have lots of hair all over. They have top and bottom teeth.

Initially, I had them on pedialyte. They wouldn't eat any veggies or fruits and would crush nuts, but I only gave one or two a day. I went through the "Oh no, he needs calcium stage". Then went through the sister is nursing brother and making him all swollen and scabbed stage. Moved from heating pad to heat lamp. Finally, gave them a ESBILAC and yogurt combo for 3 days and before realizing the dangers of that they stopped taking it.

Now, they have the pedialyte in an auto drip. They love pears. They get two yogurt chips a day. They have a mineral block. And every day or so I give them a nut or two. However, while they have great energy, they aren't eating anything else. They won't take spinach, lettuce, apples, bananas, orange, carrot, celery. What or how can I introduce something else into their diet successfully?

Ideas? Or correction in what I am doing?

Thanks a bunch!

Travis

[island rehabber]

STOP THE PEDIALYTE NOW!!

It cannot be given for more than 24 hours! They need FORMULA. Fox Valley 32/40 or 20/50 depending on their age. This constant pedialyte is going to swell their joints because of the excess sodium and kill them. I AM not KIDDING -- we have seen this before on this Board.

AND PLEASE STOP THE HEAT LAMP -- these are NOT used for squirrels and can burn them severely. This has ALSO happened on this Board -- believe me we've seen it all and we can help you not to make the same mistakes!

[stepnstone]

STOP THE PEDIALYTE NOW!!

It cannot be given for more than 24 hours! They need FORMULA. Fox Valley 32/40 or 20/50 depending on their age. This constant pedialyte is going to swell their joints because of the excess sodium and kill them. I AM not KIDDING -- we have seen this before on this Board.

AND PLEASE STOP THE HEAT LAMP -- these are NOT used for squirrels and can burn them severely. This has ALSO happened on this Board -- believe me we've seen it all and we can help you not to make the same mistakes!


Worth repeating!!

:sanp3 "pedialyte in an auto drip" ...now that's a first for my eyes!:shakehead

[Nancy in New York]

Can you post pictures?

First off, they have only been on formula for 3 days from the time you got them?

I worry these little ones may be malnourished, so pictures will help a great deal.

As mentioned....no pedialyte.

I can ship some Fox Valley formula to you, it will probably get there Tuesday at the latest, Wednesday....

They need calcium NOW, and the Fox Valley is the best source and the complete diet. Their main diet SHOULD still be formula.

You will have to do the tough love with them, and make sure that they eat....

I am worrying that their little bodies are shutting down....so try to post some pictures,

and we are here to help and pull these babies through.

There is a danger in the Esbilac but the danger in raising them of Pedialyte far outweigh the Esbilac issue.

[CritterMom]

And there is another option that you can use until the FV gets to you. The ingredients for the goats milk formula is available at any health food grocery (like Trader Joe's or Whole Foods):

***While waiting for the Fox Valley to arrive...

Temporary Formula for Infant Squirrels – The Goat’s Milk Formula

Because of recent manufacturing issues, Esbilac and other puppy formulas are no longer being recommended for squirrels or other wildlife. The formula that TSB recommends, Fox Valley Day One, is currently available online at www.foxvalleynutrition.com and www.henryspets.com. But those require shipping and this baby squirrel needs food NOW.

One of our senior members who posts as Jackie in Tampa uses an excellent temporary substitute, and it can be assembled from locally purchased ingredients:

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 may do better digestively if, instead of being given Fox Valley formula straight, mix the Fox Valley 50/50 with the Goat’s Milk Formula assembled WITHOUT the heavy whipping cream.

*It is recommended that when just starting to feed a new baby that the first feedings be made without the heavy whipping cream. This will give their digestive systems a chance to acclimate from mama’s milk to our substitute without the harder-to-digest whipping cream. Once they accept the formula and are eliminating properly, the whipping cream can be gradually added in.

When your Fox Valley formula arrives, please transition your babies to the new formula slowly, by blending the Goat’s Milk Formula with the blended and liquefied Fox Valley formula, increasing the ratio of Fox Valley with each feeding until you are no longer using the goat’s milk.