How Much Does a 4ish-Week Old Squirrel Need to Eat/How Often?

[kktrout]

Hello! I recently found a baby squirrel in my front yard and need a little bit of help. I have had him for about 5 days and he is looking much healthier (he was skinny and dehydrated when I found him). Although, once he got his appetite back, about two or three days ago, he has been eating like CRAZY. If I wait two hours between feedings, he will go nuts over eating and scramble all over the place like a madman. It's like he can't get it down fast enough. I am afraid to make the duration between feedings any longer in case he gets even more hungry. I have been feeding him anywhere between 1.5 to 3cc's, but now I'm beginning to think I am either feeding him too much, or too often, because he's getting a little bloated and having very wet, orange-ish poops. To avoid what looks like diarrhea, and possibly even more serious issues, how should I approach this problem?

[kastillo]

How much does he weigh (a kitchen scale that shows grams works)? How often you feed? What are you feeding him? Do you have a picture?

[Rhapsody]

Your little guy needs to be feed 5-7% of its body weight every four hours.

[Rhapsody]

BABY SQUIRREL CARE:

First thing needed is to warm the squirrel.
Now check for any injuries and/ or wounds.
Hydrate the squirrel right away (use a 1cc syringe) and go slow.
Give homemade pedialyte every hour for eight hours (max 24 hours).
Once hydrated make Goats Milk formula, feed 5-7% of their body weight every 4 hours.

IMPORTANT: Babies must be kept WARM --NEVER feed a cold baby.
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+ Emergency Care for Baby Squirrels +
1. Warm the squirrel (never feed a cold squirrel)
2. Place in plastic container or box w/ pieces of fleece
3. Rehydrate the squirrel (feed pedialyte first 24 hours)

Homemade Pedialyte
1 cup warm water
1/4 tsp salt (teaspoon)
1 Tbsp sugar (tablespoon)

4. Slowly feed with a 1cc syringe - head UP tail DOWN
5. Keep warm at all time - fill bottle with hot water (cover bottle with sock)
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Homemade Goats Milk Recipe:
1 cup Goats Milk * (if can - dilute)
1/3 cup Full Fat Vanilla Yogurt
1/3 cup Heavy Cream (frig section)

(lasts 72 hours in frig)
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WARMTH:

1. Heating Pad, on low with a fleece blanket on top --place the squirrel in the blanket.
2. Rice Buddy --put rice in sock (tie off) microwave for 30 sec - place next to the squirrel.
3. Fill empty water bottles with hot water and slide into a single sock (each) place next to squirrel.

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Once the squirrel is settled in order Fox Valley formula:
http://www.henryspets.com/
http://www.foxvalleynutrition.com/main/home.asp (32/40 birth to 4 wks – 20/50 4 wks & older)
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[kktrout]

I feed him every 2-2.5 hours. Right now he's eating Esbilac (the liquid kind). We read online that the mixture should be 2 tablespoons formula to 1 tsp heavy cream. I don't have a picture quite yet, but I could take one and post it--I'm looking for my camera as we speak. I measured his weight, and I would give a very rough 78 grams. Thank you so much for replying!!

[kktrout]

Thanks, Carolyn! And I measure his weight in grams, right? (I'm so new at this.)

[Rhapsody]

I'm beginning to think I am either feeding him too much, or too often, because he's getting a little bloated and having very wet, orange-ish poops. To avoid what looks like diarrhea, and possibly even more serious issues, how should I approach this problem?Knowing now that you are feeding him Esbilac I am going to say this is what is causing the bloat (which can be fatal) and the diarrhea, therefore, I strongly suggest that you stop feeding the Esbilac now and flush the body with a few feedings of the homemade pedialyte --then start him on the goats milk formula (minus the heavy cream at first).

Order the Fox Valley (20/50) --then you can slowly wean him onto it after the formula arrives.

P.S.
All formula are mixed 1:2
(formula/water)

[kastillo]

At 78 grams, he should be eating 4-5.5 cc formula each feeding (about every 3 or 4 hours). Do you have a syringe with a nipple that measures in grams? You can order syringes, nipples, and formula from http://www.squirrelsandmore.com/ . I think the Fox Valley 32/40 is for squirrels that age.

[Wonkawillie]

Esbilac is not good, any wen site that say it is good, are old outdated web site. Esbilac changed its formula and it is no longer good for squirrels. Can be fatal. Stop now and move on to the homemade goatmilk formula or Fox valley.