Cow's milk as an additive

[Caecus Morio]

There are quite a few warnings around the board concerning cow's milk. While I've only been a member for a matter of hours, it seems to me that there is a pretty strong anti cow's milk consensus around here.

So my question is: Why? Is there something inherently wrong with cow's milk that makes it dangerous for squirrels?

I understand that cow's milk is not a complete dietary substitute for a mother squirrel's milk. I understand that cow's milk does not supply necessary vitamins and nutrients that a growing squirrel needs. I understand that a high quality milk replacement is essential for the health of a young squirrel.

However, straight up milk replacement powder mixed with water (even using 175 degree water, a immersion blender, and 4 hours rest) tastes pretty horrible.

My little squirrel friend refused to drink a drop. I tasted the stuff and agreed with her assessment. First, I added a couple pinches of sugar, tasting it along the way until it was halfway palatable. She drank that right up. But being a health conscious squirrel friend, I didn't want to continue feeding her sweetened condensed milk in the long term lest she become a little furry diabetic.

I tried the plain powder again to no avail. My next trick was to add a small amount of whole milk. She loves it.

Here on the forums, and in a few other internet sources, adding a bit of heavy or whipping cream to the powdered milk solution is advocated as a supplement. Yet no one advocates adding a bit of whole milk.

Am I missing something?

We're all aware that heavy/whipping cream comes from cows right?

So why is it that adding cream is apparently good but adding milk is forbidden?

[CritterMom]

Lactose is the problem - they do not digest lactose, and whole milk has much more lactose than cream does. And yes, I know that doesn't seem like it would be right, but it is! Honestly, cow's milk, despite the commercials, isn't REALLY good for anything but calves (and yes, I drink it, but I still know that is true).

I would suggest the Fox Valley milk replacement - it smells like vanilla cake mix!

If you are having issues with your squirrel accepting formula you are a lot better off adding a smidge of heavy cream than adding milk.

[Caecus Morio]

Isn't lactose an ingredient in Fox Valley? I'm using the 20/50 by the way.

I've always been under the impression that young mammals can digest lactose, it's the adults that have a problem.

[island rehabber]

Caecus Morio, are you saying that the "milk replacement powder" your squirrel refused to drink was Fox Valley 20/50? How old is this squirrel?

[Caecus Morio]

The first powder she refused was 21st century puppy which I bought after reading here (http://www.ewildagain.org/Milk%20Replacers/Milk%20Replacer%20Update%20Jan%202011.htm) that it had ok levels of all the recommended minerals and that Esbilac was... questionable. They were the only two at my local pet shop and I needed something before the WV arrived.

The biggest difference I've noticed between the two is the ease of mixing WV compared with the 21st Century stuff. While the WV smells better, they both taste pretty atrocious to me. Apparently my furry friend and I have similar taste.

By the way, I'm not opposed to adding heavy cream instead of whole milk, and I have confirmed that whole milk does have about 2% more lactose than cream. I'm just having trouble seeing how a couple mLs of whole milk added to the powder solution to make it more palatable is bad, but adding cream to up the fat content is best practice.

[Caecus Morio]

However, I do see the value in unambiguously steering people away from cow's milk as a dietary staple.

Reading some of the horror stories on here makes me think that the the cow's milk ban is blowback caused by people thinking skim milk and sugar puffs is what a rescued wild animal needs.

[island rehabber]

However, I do see the value in unambiguously steering people away from cow's milk as a dietary staple.

Reading some of the horror stories on here makes me think that the the cow's milk ban is blowback caused by people thinking skim milk and sugar puffs is what a rescued wild animal needs.

Yes, to be honest it's a little like how the government now portrays asbestos. You know: " IT'S ALWAYS DEADLY EVEN IF YOU JUST SAY THE WORD "ASBESTOS" you will DIE!!!!! Well of course, that's not true, and in its stable and useful form it is a perfectly wonderful element. But we need to "TELL THE PEOPLE IT'S BAD so they don't mess with it."
That's kind of what TSB is doing. My contention has always been that if some people hear that there's a cheap, easy way to feed a squirrel they will ALWAYS take that path even if it's horrible for the animal, and not even consider the more expensive, CORRECT formula that needs to be ordered online. (Because many, many people are jerks.) SO.....tell people that a drop of flavoring from the carton in the fridge is ok and the next thing you know they will be feeding nothing but cow's milk -- scalded or not....:shakehead:shakehead:shakehead. That's why we are zero tolerance on cow's milk. :D

Honestly, in 8 years and over 150 baby squirrels I have never had a baby who absolutely refused Fox Valley after two or three attempts.....unless they were very 'old' babies, i.e. 7-8 weeks. They may turn their heads at it once, twice, even three times....but let them sleep with a tummy that has only had Pedialyte and they wake up in the morning LOVING Fox Valley. I never add anything to it except Ultra Boost, made by FV. Others have different methods, but this one has worked really well for me.

[liulugoommohome]

I am jovial with sense of hospitality and humour. Like walking under rain and sunshine.Seeking for a relationship that can last for a better future.
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[Shepard]

It looks very good

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[LeilaNami]

My squirrel baby decided she wanted nothing to do with FV formula at 9 weeks old. Other people can chime in on this but my thoughts are that every squirrel is different. If a squirrel is choosing to refuse formula but is willing to eat solid foods, would that be a sign of the animal naturally weaning itself off formula, even if it is without the mother's refusal as assistance?

[island rehabber]

My squirrel baby decided she wanted nothing to do with FV formula at 9 weeks old. Other people can chime in on this but my thoughts are that every squirrel is different. If a squirrel is choosing to refuse formula but is willing to eat solid foods, would that be a sign of the animal naturally weaning itself off formula, even if it is without the mother's refusal as assistance?

It is normal as the weaning process typically begins at 8 wks old. I have had early weaners, one or two over the years, who started cutting back on formula even at 7 weeks old. Drove me NUTS. :shakehead But, they turned out fine because they ate the good solid foods and their blocks as well. I will tell you, however, that they did not have the nice fluffy tails that my other babies did who continued to take formula until 10-12 weeks old.

[LeilaNami]

It is normal as the weaning process typically begins at 8 wks old. I have had early weaners, one or two over the years, who started cutting back on formula even at 7 weeks old. Drove me NUTS. :shakehead But, they turned out fine because they ate the good solid foods and their blocks as well. I will tell you, however, that they did not have the nice fluffy tails that my other babies did who continued to take formula until 10-12 weeks old.

I'm assuming that has to do with a decrease of protein in their diet at an earlier age? :dono Donut just flings her hands up whenever I offered it. :rotfl

[island rehabber]

I'm assuming that has to do with a decrease of protein in their diet at an earlier age? :dono Donut just flings her hands up whenever I offered it. :rotfl

I love when they do that! I call it "Doin' the Yucky" :rotfl:rotflI've yet to be able to get it on video....see if you can :poke:D
Yep, it's probably due to protein deficiency. One of my first black squirrels, Rocket, gave up FV at 7.5 weeks old and his tail looked awful (to me) right up until release. The problem was, he'd been living with an elderly Chinese man for over a month who fed him rice milk and pignoli (pine) nuts. ONLY. If he'd stuck with the FV he might have had a nice coat but you know, nothing tastes as good as pignoli nuts. :shakehead

[stepnstone]

I am jovial with sense of hospitality and humour. Like walking under rain and sunshine.Seeking for a relationship that can last for a better future.
:threadjack Lordy, where do these people come from... :shakehead

I have a sense of humor too and find it
pretty laughable when one comes to a squirrel site
looking for a personal hook up. :rofl4

[island rehabber]

:threadjack Lordy, where do these people come from... :shakehead

I have a sense of humor too and find it
pretty laughable when one comes to a squirrel site
looking for a personal hook up. :rofl4


:jump:jump

[ohwiseone]

:goodpost

This thread made me feel better about my boys.:crazy They are 9 weeks and starting to wean on their own and it makes me nervous!! Esp the MBD thing.:osnap I tell you it keeps me up at night just thinking about it. "did I remember to sprinkle calcium on the veggies tonight??" With them drinking less and less formula I worry about the calcium intake. I guess I need to relax and just con't what I've been doing. *sigh*