baby squirrel help

[Carlala]

my sister works at a vet office and somebody came in with 2 baby squirrels and at the office she works at the vet assistants take babies home when people bring them in until they dont require around the clock care anymore. well I have experienced with bottle babies i have been caring for an assortment of exotic babies since I was very young. however I have never had squirrels before they are very cute and I am more than confident I can provide them with whatever is needed but I am not sure what normal is for them. one of them is missing a leg and It looks like it was born that way. I have some stuff that worries me. they have been eating well until tonight and their last feeding they didnt seem horrible interested i did however get a bit in them. And I am stimulating them to potty but when they go they scream and i am worried about it me stimulating doesnt seem to bother them but going does and I am not sure what squirrel poop should look like to know if it is normal or not. right now I am feeding esbilac and baby rice cereal mixed with it because they are a bit older. I am guessing 5-6 weeks? they have fur and their eyes are open. one of them licks it up off of a plate the other is still using a dropper. If anyone can help with this and give me a bit of direction that would be great.

[pappy1264]

Diet is wrong. What does their poop look like? Can you get pics of them? Get ride of the baby cereal. And Esbilac changed their formulation, so not really recommended anymore for squirrels. Fox Valley is what most are using, but it has to be ordered online (google Fox Valley Nutrition). Maybe someone is close to you that can get some to you so you can get them on it. How long have their eyes been open? They may not need to be stimulated anymore.

[skarabrae]

No rice cereal... I used esbilac until my Fox Valley formula (http://foxvalleynutrition.com/main/home.asp) arrived in the mail, but I fortified it with cream and a probiotic yogurt (4 parts esbilac, 1 part cream, 1 part yogurt, I do believe). Most of the members here will suggest using a goat's milk formula for the babies until you're able to get some Fox Valley onhand.

I would still be syringe feeding both of them - absolutely. That way you know exactly how much they are eating. To give you an example, my guys are 5.5 weeks or so and they eat 10-14cc every 4 hours or so. Really, how much they eat depends on their body weight. We're supposed to feed 5-7% of their body weight every feeding, but I don't have a scale so I go by how full they look/feel and as long as their stools are yellow and firm we're good to go.

At almost any pet store, you can get a baby bottle with nipples that fit amazingly on the end of a luer lock syringe - toss the baby bottle in the garbage it's useless and dangerous to use it for the squirrels (or any other small animal for that matter) as they will easily get the fluid into their lungs. The nipple makes it a lot easier to feed them, believe me.

ETA: My local vet clinic gives me my syringes for free. I know they had them at Walmart once because I asked. Be careful what you tell people... I don't know about where you're from, but here it's illegal to have baby squirrels without a license. I tell everyone I have orphaned kittens *snicker*

Keep them warm, if you don't have a heating pad (it's suggested to put a heating pad on low, half on/half off under their box) I made several rice buddies (a cup of rice or so tied up into a sock) and nuked them for 30 seconds... I'd put one in every hour on one side of their cage... wouldn't you know, they would always be snuggled up next to it.

Remember - first thing! No more rice cereal! Get some cream into their formula. Get them on heat (if they aren't already).

Hopefully someone on here will be able to find a rehabber for you to bring them to. That little one without the leg is special needs and definitely will need some extra help.

ETA: If they continue to refuse their food, they may have acquired an illness that requires antibiotics. You will absolutely need to get them to a rehabber if that's the case because they can go downhill very quickly... hopefully it was just one weird feed (it happens), but if it happens again I would start asking for phone numbers.

[Wonkawillie]

Oh boy, lots to know
need heating pad. Never feed a cold baby.
Esbilac is bad. You goat milk formula until you can get some Fox valley Squirrel formula.
No rice cereal. They are way too young and this will fill them and constipate them.
No eye droppers. Use a 1CC sirynge, and go very very slow. They aspirate easily.
Are they clicking when breathing/ If so, they have pneumonia. You need Baytril asap.
They need to drink quite a bit of formula if they are 5-6 weeks. maybe 4-5 cc per feeding or even a bit more.
They should be very eager to eat. If they are not, then something is wrong.
Formula poop should look like little golden nuggets. Well formed nuggets. Esbilac causes a lot of GI problems.
Can someone copy and paste all the good technical info here for this person? I just threw this on as I had seen no response yet.

[pappy1264]

You may want to add some feedings of pedialyte, if they are constipated from the rice cereal (which if they are screaming they may be). Do not add to formula, feed in between meals or in place of a meal or two to try to get things moving. Yes, heating pad, on low, under half of enclosure. You can also pic up some needless syringes at a pharmacy (tell them you found an orphaned kitten). They are older, so you can use them without a nipple if needed (also, at 5-6 weeks, pick up so Mazuri rodent block to put in with them. they are young, but will soon begin gnawing on them.)

[Carlala]

I live in warren michigan I will get some goat milk asap and yogurt and cream. their poop is very tiny very hard little balls. I have have a syringe I can use. they are drinking quite a bit the dropper I am using is 1ml and they drink several of those until they are full and sleepy. I know it is illegal to have them. I have been raising exotics since I was 12 and they are at a licensed facility which I have lived at over the years I dont currently live there but that is where the squirrels will go when they are older. I am not sure how to put pics of them on here but I will try. thank you everyone for the helpful advice. also they are not aspirating I know what that sounds like I have raised baby foxes cootimundaes ring tailed lemurs and lots of other creatures

[Carlala]

http://s1167.photobucket.com/albums/q621/carlala2/

there are a few pics of them hope that helps

[Carlala]

update- they both ate really well and Now I will be running out to get all the correct things I need for them. I have only had them for 3 days today so I know they are still getting used to things. thank you thank you thank you for all the advice everyone =)

[skarabrae]

Aww!! They're black babies like mine :Love_Icon

They definitely look about a week older than my babies though... maybe 6 weeks or a few days over six weeks?

I would definitely recommend getting the fox valley formula, not only is it better for them but it's also WAY CHEAPER! And I'm a cheap ass so that's good for me :D

[Carlala]

is there anywhere that sells fox valley or is it order only? I was thinking maybe k-9 on mound in warren mi they tend to have products that nowhere else does. i will order some today if they don't I am all about having the best and being the best for my babies =)

[Carlala]

they could be a little over 6 weeks but to be honest I dont know because I just kinda had them handed to me.

[pappy1264]

Hard to tell from the pics, but their fur does look a little spikey to me (which can be indicitive of being dehydrated). I would pick up some pedialyte and see if you can get some into them.

[SammysMom]

I thought the same thing Pappy. The Fox Valley is only available online I think. It is very easy to order though. If you call the number on their website they will be happy to help you.
Website: http://www.foxvalleynutrition.com/main/home.asp
Sales / Technical Service: (800) 679-4666

[Carlala]

i will get some pedialyte for them now. =)