Baby Squirrel not drinking much formula and wanting to go back to sleep

[KibaAkina]

Ok, so my dad found a Baby squirrel a few days ago out alone on the rode, it looks around 6 weeks old. Tonight, It hasn't been wanting to eat much of it's formula and wanting to go back into it's bed and cover itself back up and go back to sleep. I tried feeding it again couple of hours later, and it didn't eat much, and decided it wanted to go back to sleep again.
Is there anything wrong with it? It was doing fine the first couple of days.
I mean, it acts fine and all, doesn't act like it's sick, it just wants to sleep all the time now.

Just gimme any tips on what I should do.
Thanks!

[astra]

Welcome.

In order to give you tips, our experts will need the following information:

1. What kind of formula are you feeding?
2. How much per feeding do you feed and how many feedings per day?
3. Any time, during a feeding, has he ever had formula come out of his nose?
4. Take him, put your ear to his chest and listen: do you hear any clicking? clicking with each breath?
If you hear clicking - it means he has aspiration pneumonia and needs antibiotics asap. Without ABs he will die.
Do you have access to a trustworthy vet? meaning, a vet who will not seize him from you and euthanize?
Do you have access to medications?
He will need either bactrim (smz), or batril that are commonly used.
If you do not have them, what do you have in terms of human antibiotics?
please list names, strength and form (pill, liquid etc).

5. In what enclosure do you keep him? a cage? a plastic container? how big?

6. What are his daily activities like?
Do you have photos?

As a newly joined member, you cannot post pics yet (all options will be activated in a couple of days, unless admin. activates them for you sooner).
But I could post pics for you.
But you have to email them to me within the next 15 min, because I am going to bed after that.
My email ad_astra81@hotmail.com

[KibaAkina]

Welcome.

In order to give you tips, our experts will need the following information:

1. What kind of formula are you feeding?
2. How much per feeding do you feed and how many feedings per day?
3. Any time, during a feeding, has he ever had formula come out of his nose?
4. Take him, put your ear to his chest and listen: do you hear any clicking? clicking with each breath?
If you hear clicking - it means he has aspiration pneumonia and needs antibiotics asap. Without ABs he will die.
Do you have access to a trustworthy vet? meaning, a vet who will not seize him from you and euthanize?
Do you have access to medications?
He will need either bactrim (smz), or batril that are commonly used.
If you do not have them, what do you have in terms of human antibiotics?
please list names, strength and form (pill, liquid etc).

5. In what enclosure do you keep him? a cage? a plastic container? how big?

6. What are his daily activities like?
Do you have photos?

As a newly joined member, you cannot post pics yet (all options will be activated in a couple of days, unless admin. activates them for you sooner).
But I could post pics for you.
But you have to email them to me within the next 15 min, because I am going to bed after that.
My email ad_astra81@hotmail.com
I'm feeding him Kitten Formula, I have read that kitten replacement formula is good for them. I just usually feed it until it's finished eating. No I haven't had any come out of it's nose, that hasn't been a problem, it has no clicking sound from it's chest. I do not know of any vet around me that would treat a squirrel since it's wild. :(
I have no access to medications, that would be suitable for a squirrel.
Tylonal (not sure how to spell that) I think that's the only thing I have right now.
I have a medium sized bird cage that I let it sleep in. I usually feed him every 3-4 hours, and then just let him run around until he gets tired and wants to go back in his cage to sleep.
Sorry for replying so late. If it's not any trouble, could you post them tomorrow? or whenever you have time. I will send them now.

[astra]

I am still up for another few minutes.

Yes, there is a lot of misleading info outer there, unfortunately.
Kitten formula is not good for them. Neither is puppy formula (esbilac).
In fact, they tend to develop many problems, often, fatal, when fed that stuff.

The best formula is Fox Valley, available either at www.foxvalleynutrition.com
or www.henryspets.com

While you are waiting for Fox Valley to arrive, you need to use Goat's Milk formula:

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.
__________________

[astra]

Also, if no formula came out of his nose, and there is definitely no clicking, then, there should be no pneumonia, and, hopefully, you won't need meds (fingers crossed).

A few more questions:

1. is he on a heating pad?
He should be on a no-auto shut off heating pad, set on low, positioned under half of his cage, giving him an option to move onto the unheated half if he gets too warm.
Baby squirrels cannot maintain body temp and should be on a heating pad.

2. When you found him, did you rehydrate him?
When dehydrated, babies don't eat well, which leads to more dehydration, which leads to even less eating - you get the picture.
Have you done the tent test? (pinching skin b/w his shoulders - if it does not fall back right away, there is some dehydration).

However, tent pinch test is not always an accurate test for dehydration, b/c in very mild dehydration cases, it falls apart faster and is misleading.

So, you could try giving him some hydration fluid between feedings and see if that can help him perk up.
NEver mix pedialyte (the hydration fluid) with formula!!!!!
They should always be given separately.
There is a homemade recipe for pedialyte here.

3. Make sure you use 1cc syringes. That's the best and safest size to avoid aspiration pneumonia.
You can order them at www.henryspets.com
in the meantime, you can ask for a few at a pharmacy if you tell them that you have orphaned kittens to feed (obviously, don't tell them you have a squirrel).

[astra]

Homemade Pedialyte recipe:

1 tsp salt (teaspoon)
3 Tbsp sugar (tablespoon)
1 quart warm water
Mix all ingredients in warm water. Store in refrigerator for 48 hours.
Discard after that.

A few more questions:

1. Is the formula you are feeding warm?
They prefer warm, very warm formula. Squirrel mothers' body temp is about 104'. Of course, you don't want it too hot to avoid burning them, but it needs to be very warm.

2. You need to weigh him in grams and feed about 5-7% of his body weight per feeding.
Of course, that's just a rule of thumb and some babies eat more.
Also, you need to track his weight gain. He should be steadily gaining weight.
So you need a gram scale.

3. Are there any other family pets? They have to be kept completely separately from him, of course.

[astra]

here are pics

[astra]

ok, going to bed now.

Just forgot to emphasize that the heating pad should be under his cage, not inside the cage.

He is SO ADORABLE!!!!!!!!!!! Looks like a little foxer! :)

I hope, this info will last you till tomorrow.
Tomorrow our experts will chime in - please keep checking often.

Bigger pics would be better, of course ;)

[astra]

sorry, just re-read your second post and noticed that you let him run around.
Is the room is runs in squirrel-proof?

1. all house plants should be out of the room (most of them are poisonous)
2. make sure all cords are SECURELY hidden/covered/protected/etc. Too many tragic accidents happen
3. Make sure there are no holes, narrow spaces between furniture and walls etc where he can get stuck
4. make sure all potions/lotions/creams/make up/vitamins/supplements/ medications/etc etc etc - are completely out of his way
5. if there are toys of other pets - should be removed, b/c cat saliva, for instance, is deadly
6. Make sure that there are no markers, pens, etc with ink etc - that he could chew through and ingest
7. no tiny items that he can ingest accidentally
8. all toilet lids should be down ALWAYS
9. watch when you close doors behind you - they sneak up fast and quietly and a lot of tragedies happened when they would get crushed by a door

can't think of anything else at the moment... if I do, will add

but it is not a good idea for him to run free in the room all the time, as it may pose risk of accidents.
In the wild, at that age they spend most of their time in their nest/tree hole, they don't get to run around until they are much older.
He might be safer staying in his cage and only having supervised time outside of the cage but not the whole day.

He should not be jumping too much yet, or climbing too high b/c he is still too young and b/c he has not been on good formula, so his bones might be even more fragile right now

[KibaAkina]

Also, if no formula came out of his nose, and there is definitely no clicking, then, there should be no pneumonia, and, hopefully, you won't need meds (fingers crossed).

A few more questions:

1. is he on a heating pad?
He should be on a no-auto shut off heating pad, set on low, positioned under half of his cage, giving him an option to move onto the unheated half if he gets too warm.
Baby squirrels cannot maintain body temp and should be on a heating pad.

2. When you found him, did you rehydrate him?
When dehydrated, babies don't eat well, which leads to more dehydration, which leads to even less eating - you get the picture.
Have you done the tent test? (pinching skin b/w his shoulders - if it does not fall back right away, there is some dehydration).

However, tent pinch test is not always an accurate test for dehydration, b/c in very mild dehydration cases, it falls apart faster and is misleading.

So, you could try giving him some hydration fluid between feedings and see if that can help him perk up.
NEver mix pedialyte (the hydration fluid) with formula!!!!!
They should always be given separately.
There is a homemade recipe for pedialyte here.

3. Make sure you use 1cc syringes. That's the best and safest size to avoid aspiration pneumonia.
You can order them at www.henryspets.com
in the meantime, you can ask for a few at a pharmacy if you tell them that you have orphaned kittens to feed (obviously, don't tell them you have a squirrel).
I have no heating pad at the moment, I have used a small bottle and put warm water in it. Would that be safe?
I did try that test, he didn't seem dehydrated. The first day he didn't want to drink anything, but the next day he was all up for drinking the formula I gave him. Thanks!!
And I am gonna try the re hydration formula right now, just to be safe!
I think what I have is a 1cc syringe..I'm not totally sure, it's pretty small, though.
To answer your next post-
Yes, I usually warm the formula up before feedings, but not too hot.
There is one other pet, it is a dog. I usually keep the door shut, and I do not let it in my room at all.
I just hope this little guy survives. It will break my heart if he doesn't.

[astra]

please, get the pad - when they chill, their systems shut down and they go downhill.
He absolutely needs a pad.

I am not sure about the bottle, can it spill?

You can also make a rice buddy: fill a sock with rice, tie it up and heat it in the microwave so that it is very warm (don't know how many minutes as microwaves vary), very warm but not too hot to burn him.
Squish it to break up any hot spots that might have formed.
Wrap it in a fleece blankie and put it with him (or without the blankie if the 'buddy' is not too hot).

But you will need to re-heat it every few hours.

Also, while you are awake, you can keep him inside your t-shirt, next to your body, so that he can feel your body warmth and if you keep him next to your heart, he will feel your heartbeat and that sometimes does miracles.

I don't know if there are any 24hr pharmacies where you are to get a heating pad, but if you keep re-heating the 'buddy' and the bottle, and keep him next to your body whenever you can, he might be ok till the morning when you can go and get the pad.

JUST DO NOT SLEEP WITH HIM - You will roll over and squish him - too many accidents happened that way.

[KibaAkina]

sorry, just re-read your second post and noticed that you let him run around.
Is the room is runs in squirrel-proof?

1. all house plants should be out of the room (most of them are poisonous)
2. make sure all cords are SECURELY hidden/covered/protected/etc. Too many tragic accidents happen
3. Make sure there are no holes, narrow spaces between furniture and walls etc where he can get stuck
4. make sure all potions/lotions/creams/make up/vitamins/supplements/ medications/etc etc etc - are completely out of his way
5. if there are toys of other pets - should be removed, b/c cat saliva, for instance, is deadly
6. Make sure that there are no markers, pens, etc with ink etc - that he could chew through and ingest
7. no tiny items that he can ingest accidentally
8. all toilet lids should be down ALWAYS
9. watch when you close doors behind you - they sneak up fast and quietly and a lot of tragedies happened when they would get crushed by a door

can't think of anything else at the moment... if I do, will add

but it is not a good idea for him to run free in the room all the time, as it may pose risk of accidents.
In the wild, at that age they spend most of their time in their nest/tree hole, they don't get to run around until they are much older.
He might be safer staying in his cage and only having supervised time outside of the cage but not the whole day.

He should not be jumping too much yet, or climbing too high b/c he is still too young and b/c he has not been on good formula, so his bones might be even more fragile right now
He usually doesn't run around too much maybe 1-2 minutes. I don't let him run around the room without me in there. I put him back in the cage, he usually goes right back to sleep. :)
Also! How much of the Re-hydration formula should I give him? He seems to love it!

[astra]

yes, the dog should be in the other end of the house, so to say.
Never underestimate the dog's predator instinct. They can break through closed doors to get to their prey.
So, can't be too cautious.

When you feed him, make sure he is either upright or lying on his stomach.
Point the syringe up, sort of into the roof of his mouth.
Never feed him on his back.
Go very slowly, super slowly. It's better to go slowly. Usually, they say if he is getting mad at you for going too slow, you are going at the right pace.

And do try hydration for a few times between feedings.
I know I said it before, but can't stress enough - never mix pedialyte with formula, always give them separately.

Also, pedialyte should not be given for longer than 24 hours.
So, if you still need to hydrate after that, you can use a sweetened water, or plain water, or water mixed with some apple juice (no added sugars, of course)

[astra]

Also! How much of the Re-hydration formula should I give him? He seems to love it!
not knowing how much he weighs it's hard for me to tell, but you can be safe with a few cc's to start. Not too much so that he does not get too full and does not end up taking less formula when formula feeding comes.
See how he does.

[astra]

do order FV and start Goat's milk formula.

Kitten formula has no nutrition for them and that causes malnutrition, which can lead to a host of problems, often starting with lethargy etc etc etc.

So, Fox Valley and Goat's Milk until FV arrives

[KibaAkina]

yes, the dog should be in the other end of the house, so to say.
Never underestimate the dog's predator instinct. They can break through closed doors to get to their prey.
So, can't be too cautious.

When you feed him, make sure he is either upright or lying on his stomach.
Point the syringe up, sort of into the roof of his mouth.
Never feed him on his back.
Go very slowly, super slowly. It's better to go slowly. Usually, they say if he is getting mad at you for going too slow, you are going at the right pace.

And do try hydration for a few times between feedings.
I know I said it before, but can't stress enough - never mix pedialyte with formula, always give them separately.

Also, pedialyte should not be given for longer than 24 hours.
So, if you still need to hydrate after that, you can use a sweetened water, or plain water, or water mixed with some apple juice (no added sugars, of course)
yeah, I never put it on it's back!
Alright :)
The only thing I have right is the kitten formula...I have no way getting to the store at this hour to get the goats milk formula :( which sucks.
argh.
And to answer your question about the bottle - no it does not spill. I put it in a small water bottle that I can twist the cap off and back on tightly. I usually put it under some clothes that the squirrel can lay by.
Don't worry I will never sleep with him! :)
Thank you for your help!
If there is anything else I need to know, please let me know!
Thank you again.

[astra]

If there is anything else I need to know, please let me know!
Thank you again.
ok, this is really bad - I am still up :eek:
But I promise I am going to bed right after this posting.

Just wanted to say to please keep checking here tomorrow - more experienced people will be on and will be able to give you much more expert advice.
So, please keep checking in.

And thank you for caring for a little helpless creature!!!!
Good night ! (for real this time ;))

PS. and hang around even after he gets better - there is so much to learn about caring for these creatures. CHeck Nutrition Forum for Healthy Diet for pet squirrels. VERY important!!!!

[pappy1264]

Good job, Astra. Is he making any sounds when he breathes? Suddenly being very sleepy and not wanting to eat makes me concerned about aspiration pneumonia. Yes, kitten formula is not good for them (puppy formula is better, although the esbilac changed and is not the best,

How is the little one this morning? You really should have him on a heating pad (on low) and you should also be weighing him so you know how much he should be eating.

[KibaAkina]

Good job, Astra. Is he making any sounds when he breathes? Suddenly being very sleepy and not wanting to eat makes me concerned about aspiration pneumonia. Yes, kitten formula is not good for them (puppy formula is better, although the esbilac changed and is not the best,

How is the little one this morning? You really should have him on a heating pad (on low) and you should also be weighing him so you know how much he should be eating.
No, there's no sound when he breathes.
He's actually doing a lot better this morning :) I'm going to be getting the goat milk formula stuff today, so I will keep him on that until I get the Foxy Valley formula.

[Jackie in Tampa]

what part of Ky are you in/near?
Glad he is doing better...
:bowdown TY for finding TSB, rescueing the baby and getting all the proper supplies!!!!!:alright.gif :Love_Icon :bowdown
You have been given great info by Astra and Pappy{heating pad, so important}!:thumbsup

[KibaAkina]

what part of Ky are you in/near?
Glad he is doing better...
:bowdown TY for finding TSB, rescueing the baby and getting all the proper supplies!!!!!:alright.gif :Love_Icon :bowdown
You have been given great info by Astra and Pappy{heating pad, so important}!:thumbsup
:)
I'm living around the North/East part of Ky.

I am going to look at the heating pads today, also!

[astra]

any news?

[KibaAkina]

any news?
No bad news :)
He's doing pretty good, I got the Goat milk formula and stuff, and a heating pad!
And he really likes the Formula! :D