Baby Sq in NC NEEDS Fox Valley!

[jtyler787]

Good Afternoon All....
I found a baby squirrel 2 weeks ago this sunday, I went into the pet store and they directed me to use KMR kitten formula, and from reading its not good for the squirrel. When i found him his eyes were closed and now they are open, Ive looked at videos etc. to see if my squirrel was acting the same as others on the net and he his. He's eatting good pooping good and pee is clear. Hes also eatting grapes and monkey biscuits apples etc. Should I keep feeding hime the KMR?? How harmful is it??? Advice PLEASEE!! I really cant afford getting him anything else besides the kmr that i have, but i hate to think that he's not being treated right either, and the nearest rehab center is over an hour away. PLEASE HELP I want him to grow up strong and healthy and to be released when hes old enough...any advice or help would be soo greatly appreciated thank you in advance.

[Pond Luvr]

Just go buy goats milk, vanilla yogurt and heavy cream. Mix 1 cup goats milk 1/3 cup other two and feed that instead of kmr. i know rehabbers that only feed the goats milk and the babies grow up fine..not so with the kmr.

[astra]

Welcome,:Welcome

Thank you for caring:grouphug

Unfortunately, KMR is bad, bad, bad.
Bad because it does not provide the needed nutrition. Babies become malnourished and often die, or don't develop well.

He needs Fox Valley.
As you have probably seen, it can be purchased either at www.foxvalleynutrition.com or www.henryspets.com.

While you are waiting for FV, you can use home made goat's milk formula.

Unfortunately, yes, caring for a baby squirrel is demanding financially.

We could try and find someone in your area who could take the baby.
If you manage to find someone, will you be willing to give the baby to someone who has the experience and needed supplies?

[island rehabber]

PondLuvr has a good point.
KMR will be ok for awhile, but then squirrels begin to fail on it. it is WAAAY too high protein (cats, which it is made for, require more protein than almost anything alive) and WAY too low in fat. :nono

I am going to move this to a new thread for you, and will also contact some of our NR members to see if anyone has some Fox Valley they can get you.

[astra]

just a few more things:

1. is there a no auto shut off heating pad under half of his container, set on low? if not, please get one. Babies need supplemental heat

2. At this age, he should not be eating anything but formula. He can be introduced to rodent block, but nothing else.
Especially, no grapes - they are a choking hazard for adults, let alone babies.
Monkey biscuits will do for now, but he will need quality rodent block.
Again, the block - Henry's Healthy Block - can be purchased at www.henryspets.com it is specifically formulated for squirrels

Commercial rodent block - Kaytee forti diet for rat and mice (blue bag), Mazuri - can be found at pet stores.
Harlan Teklad can be ordered at www.thecraftyrat. com

For the future:

With commercial block you might need to supplement with extra calcium
With HHBs - no supplementation needed.
Also, commercial block you have to feed a lot
With HHBs - only two per day,
so in the end, HHBs are more cost-effective

[astra]

***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.
__________________

[Saverywood]

I live close enough to Jacksonville to meet you in Wilmington. I have extra Fox Valley that I will share with you. Just PM me. :)

[Saverywood]

Also, I just got an extra bag of Henry's blocks in the mail today :D that I can share with you too. IF Wilmington is still too far for you...I can meet you in Holly Ridge or Surf City, if that helps. Let me know. :Welcome

[jtyler787]

hello everyone, thank you for all your advice and words of wisdom! I am not able to afford any of the goats milk products right now, on the first i will be able to due to the fact that im an injured single veteran living off my retirment check. I would give him to someone whos better suited to keep him but as of right now im the only thing he's got.

[jtyler787]

Saverywood!

It says im not able to send you a pm cause i think im a new member and have not yet been approved or something idk but you can email me if you would like jtyler787@ gmail.com.

[Saverywood]

Will do!

[Saverywood]

I sent you an email last night & again this morning; did you get them? :dono

[Jackie in Tampa]

The last time he was logged on was 7pm last night..
hoping he comes on soon..
hoping we can find someone to intervene and take sq..
thanks to all involved...
hoping hoping hoping

[jbtartell]

I live close to charlotte nc.. 10 min. how close is that to you?

[Jackie in Tampa]

I live close to charlotte nc.. 10 min. how close is that to you?he's 8in Jacksonville laura..is that close.?
i will google

edit..TOO FAR! he is coastal NC

[Jackie in Tampa]

one way or another..coastal NC is a jackpot of rehabbers..
I have several listed..:thumbsup
hoping finder comes back on SOON with good update..

[jbtartell]

Ohh ok,:sanp3 I would have took the baby if he was closer.. Good luck and hope you have help soon..:grouphug

[jtyler787]

Hello all i tried to order the formula on fox valley website n there was no where to put in credit card information. where do i pay for it?

squirrel is doing fine as of now im gonna try n get the temp milk stuff n hopefully ot wilm help. ill ad more later!

[Saverywood]

Did you get my email? I can meet you - just tell me when & where. :)

[Saverywood]

:dono

[Jackie in Tampa]

Hello all i tried to order the formula on fox valley website n there was no where to put in credit card information. where do i pay for it?

squirrel is doing fine as of now im gonna try n get the temp milk stuff n hopefully ot wilm help. ill ad more later!
I thought you were asking for a rehabber to take over...:)
Sqs are cute, but can be seriously costly and all sqs found currently and under three months def needs to be overwintered..meaning several different cage sizes
also baby sqs need to be raised with other babies sqs..
please do not let the babies cuteness hinder his entire future..
thank you..
wildlife is wildlife and needs to be cared for as such..
it's for the sqs best interest..
saverywood can help, she has supplies and is willing..:bowdown
please let her rehab him, ty good person

[jtyler787]

*UPDATE*

Hey ya'll, I just wanted to update everyone on everything and say thank you to all of you who gave me advice and helped. I want to ESPECIALLY say thank you to Savrywood for all of her help and advice and understanding! I have or will be getting all the things I need for "Loci". He should be up to par and where he should be within the next few days! I will keep in touch and def. check here if I need any advice or have questions! Thank ya'll once again!

Juan
:thankyou :thankyou :thankyou :thankyou :thankyou :thankyou :thankyou

[Squirrelis]

Hi:D jtyler I thought you said you want to give him to someone that is better suited to raise him- several good people on this board have offered but you choose to not accept:thinking So why did you ask
Squirrels are adorable no doubt but are expensive and hard work to raise- please reconsider one of these kind people's offer to take the baby to raise with other babies so it will have a buddy-please give him the best chance to live and be free one day in the trees like God intended him to be
And Thankyou for you service to our country:Flag