HELP NEEDED IN MIAMI (again!) [Archive]

Isazichy

09-05-2012, 05:33 AM

My cat brought in this 4 weeks (maybe) baby squirrel. Never raised one and I am not sure I want to learn how to do it. My kids want to keep him but I am not sure is a good idea. I bought a can of cat liquid formula and have been trying to feed him with a siringe. I think he is eating some, but not that much. As I have been reading is a lot of work, not that I mind, but I am afraid of doing something wrong. He is really cute.! I even woke up in the middle of the night to feed him and heat his pad to keep him warm.
I want to give him a chance. I will try to find his mom today but if I don't is there someone that can take him in Miami?
I will stay home today to take care of him but I need to get to work tomorrow, I since he is so small, he needs someone full time!

Jackie in Tampa

09-05-2012, 06:03 AM

:Welcome
Hoping admin can move this post and start a new thread for you so you can be seen..
tinfoil tinfoil tinfoil tinfoil tinfoil tinfoil

oh dern..we just went thru this a few days ago...
hard to find sq rehabbers in the miami area..
I ended up with Alvin from Miami this past weekend..

Two things come to mind immediately..
first , cats have deadly bacteria in their mouths...it is always best to treat any found sqs with Antibiotics to be safe. Cats carry pasteurella:shakehead

do you have any pet ABs on hand or human ABs?
maybe pediatric ABs?

also kitten formula does not have enough nutrition to sustain sqs..
You will need to make a goatsmilk based formula for starters..then order Fox valley Powdered formula for sqs.

I will copy paste this info from another post from our administrator.:thankyou ----------------

***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 (http://www.foxvalleynutrition.com/) and www.henryspets.com (http://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.
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