Pedialyte formula error?

[pete.maple.ont]

Hi:

When I was researching what to do to feed the baby squirrels that I found, I found a webpage that had instructions for making a solution with water + salt +sugar. I noticed that Thesquirrelboard.com had the same type of formula but there was a discrepancy in the amount of sugar that each formula used. The original webpage and its instructions are as follows


Choice #3: Homemade rehydration fluid: 1 qt. Water, 1 tsp salt, 3 tsp sugar. This is meant only for situations wherein, for some reason, you cannot get pedialyte or lactated ringers. It is not a full electrolyte solution, but is better than nothing.

source: http://www.squirreltales.org/

The same formula on Thesquirrelboard.com website has the
following


*If you can’t find Pedialyte at the store, here is a
recipe for homemade Pedialyte:

1 tsp salt (teaspoon)
3 Tbsp sugar (tablespoon)
1 quart warm water
Mix all ingredients in warm water. Store in refrigerator.

Source: http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21626

Note the discrepancy in the amount of the sugar for the
same quantity of water and salt. The squirreltales.org
website uses 3 teaspoons and on this website it specifies
3 tablespoons. I just wanted to point this out in case there is an error. Which is the correct amount and is one of them wrong enough to be detrimental for its stated purpose?

All comments welcome.

[island rehabber]

It should definitely be three TABLEspoons sugar. :)

[pete.maple.ont]

Hi:

Thanks for posting. I emailed the person at that website and referred them to this thread to alert them.

[pete.maple.ont]

I received a reply from the person I emailed. Here is the gist of it.


Pete, that formulation is not a real rehydration fluid. It is water, salt, and sugar. It does not have the three most important electrolytes that regulate blood pressure and heart rate, and other functions. It is only to be used in a case where one cannot get a proper fluid. Water can save a life, sugar can raise blood sugar levels, and salt can help retain fluid, but none of those correct the chemical imbalances caused by dehydration. The differences you noted in the two mixes are not going to make a difference. Only real rehydration fluids will do that.

So the gist is that the rehydration formula is better than nothing but is not a first choice. My guess is that for moderate dehydration you could probably get away with using this stuff and not have to use the real stuff. When the dehydration is more severe you need the real rehydration fluids, as is spelled out on the squirreltales.org website.

I was just curious if using 3 tablespoons was too much or 3 teaspoons too little. Next time i'd go with 3 tablespoons.

Thanks