Little boy

[virgo062]

A little worried about this fellow. Something
Is just off. He's underweight 72 g. What
Little formula we get in him . Only 3-5 cc
Per feeding we have to force it. He's not
Sucking at all. Scrawny little thing.
Sneezing is better. He gets around
Pretty good when he wants to. When
He sleeps he is just as limp as he can be
We have the day one FV but I think
I need to get the newborn it's higher
In fat right?

[SammysMom]

Maybe add a bit of cream to add some fat?:grouphug :Love_Icon Little Boy:Love_Icon :grouphug

[virgo062]

Will try that I just ordered some more FV express order. This
I have also gets so thick you can't mix it 2-1. Hopefully
Will get my order tomorrow or the next day

[SammysMom]

Too thick with 2 parts water to 1 part FV? That's odd!:thinking

[virgo062]

I have been mixing 3-1 and the consistency
Is still thick. It's expires 12-13 so
That's not it...it's the weaning formula
But I think something is Wrong with
It.

[Nancy in New York]

I have been mixing 3-1 and the consistency
Is still thick. It's expires 12-13 so
That's not it...it's the weaning formula
But I think something is Wrong with
It.

Yeah that doesn't sound right at all.
Are you sure the directions are 1:2 ratio.
OR maybe they call it the weaning formula, because
they just hate it!!!!!!!!:tilt :poke
Why would anyone want to wean a squirrel anyway?:dono

[SammysMom]

Ask Nick for sure!!! He may know the answer immediately. For now maybe GM would be better? What d the more experienced think? If he isn't thriving and the formula seems "off" maybe best not to use it?:dono :Love_Icon :Love_Icon :Love_Icon

[Milo's Mom]

Virgo - I know you know all this but I am just putting it all out there...

Are you keeping him warm when feeding?
If the formula warm enough?
Have you tried adding Ultra Boost to the formula?
How are his poops?
Is he even slightly dehydrated?
Have you tried sugar water in between his feedings to keep his hydration up?
Have you mixed the FV at 4 water to 1 formula for extra hydration?

Just re-read...weaning formula....smart move to order the new FV...if it's not too late to add to the order, get yourself some Ultra Boost and maybe even the Vital HN.

Have you tried adding yogurt to the FV since he's on meds?

These are all of my initial thoughts and all of the things I would try if I were in your shoes.

Make a tiny little rice buddy and hold it next to him while feeding him so he stays nice and warm.

Many positive thoughts and prayers coming your way!!!

[virgo062]

Virgo - I know you know all this but I am just putting it all out there...

Are you keeping him warm when feeding?
If the formula warm enough?
Have you tried adding Ultra Boost to the formula?
How are his poops?
Is he even slightly dehydrated?
Have you tried sugar water in between his feedings to keep his hydration up?
Have you mixed the FV at 4 water to 1 formula for extra hydration?

Just re-read...weaning formula....smart move to order the new FV...if it's not too late to add to the order, get yourself some Ultra Boost and maybe even the Vital HN.

Have you tried adding yogurt to the FV since he's on meds?

These are all of my initial thoughts and all of the things I would try if I were in your shoes.

Make a tiny little rice buddy and hold it next to him while feeding him so he stays nice and warm.

Many positive thoughts and prayers coming your way!!!

He is dehydrated...I swear he was not yesterday...I just got back from the store I have yogurt and HWC...should we just do pedialyte now????

Maybe start the formula tomorrow? he's having no part of water

[virgo062]

He is warm during feedings because we have to Burrito him....His house is nice and toasty but he is not holding body heat...Still sneezing

[Milo's Mom]

I am worried about all of the salt in the pedialyte. Will he take water and sugar, no salt?

He's been dehydrated for several days now, right?

Do you have LR's to sub-q?

He's got to get hydrated...it's been too long.

If he's taking the pedialyte how about mixing 1/2 and 1/2 with water...at least cut the salt in half.

He needs the calories too. Mix the FV at 4:1 and do the hydration in between the feedings.

[virgo062]

Yeah that doesn't sound right at all.
Are you sure the directions are 1:2 ratio.
OR maybe they call it the weaning formula, because
they just hate it!!!!!!!!:tilt :poke
Why would anyone want to wean a squirrel anyway?:dono

Nancy I dont even know why I have this FV....it's some nasty stuff for sure. Little girl likes it ok but you cant mix it...I paid $30.00 for extra shipping I HOPE the good stuff will be here tomorrow. I'm going to mix the yogurt and HWC with it to try and sweeten it up some....Who knew they even made "weaning " formula...I'd wean too if I had to eat this:shakehead

[virgo062]

I am worried about all of the salt in the pedialyte. Will he take water and sugar, no salt?

He's been dehydrated for several days now, right?

Do you have LR's to sub-q?

He's got to get hydrated...it's been too long.

If he's taking the pedialyte how about mixing 1/2 and 1/2 with water...at least cut the salt in half.

He needs the calories too. Mix the FV at 4:1 and do the hydration in between the feedings.

Going to try that now

[virgo062]

Mixed him up some sugar water and he is sucking it down...grabbed the nipple for the first time...It's like he has come alive. How much can he have ?

[Milo's Mom]

Mixed him up some sugar water and he is sucking it down...grabbed the nipple for the first time...It's like he has come alive. How much can he have ?

if it's sugar and water only, I'd give him as much as he wants right now.

[virgo062]

:thumbsup he's had about 8 cc and wanting more:thumbsup he is not due to eat for another 45 min

[Milo's Mom]

Personally, I'd give it to him.

try some formula in an hour or so...just to get some calories into him.

[Nancy in New York]

:thumbsup he's had about 8 cc and wanting more:thumbsup he is not due to eat for another 45 min

Fantastic, I am so happy that he is taking to something.
Just make sure that his tummy does not get hard....I know you know all this.
Do you have a weight on him?

[virgo062]

Fantastic, I am so happy that he is taking to something.
Just make sure that his tummy does not get hard....I know you know all this.
Do you have a weight on him?

72 grams. Everything I (think) I know goes out the window when I have a sick one...That's why I have you guys to shake me up

[Nancy in New York]

72 grams. Everything I (think) I know goes out the window when I have a sick one...That's why I have you guys to shake me up


OK so you can do the 5-7% rule of thumb.
Which would be roughly ~3.5 cc's to ~5 cc's at each feeding. :thumbsup
BUT you know that you can go a little over,
as long as they don't get hard tummies and bloat.

[virgo062]

Hopefully feeding will go good. He has not
Been a good eater he grabbed the nipple
First time tonight with the Sugar water
Maybe feeding tonight will go better
With the yogurt

[Nancy in New York]

I have been mixing 3-1 and the consistency
Is still thick. It's expires 12-13 so
That's not it...it's the weaning formula
But I think something is Wrong with
It.


OK I went on the Fox Valley site and this is what it says about the weaning formula. I think that this may be something that makes the milk replacer a little thicker for when they are first learning to drink out of a bowl.
In any case it looks like this is something that you MIX with milk replacer not substitue for milk replacer.

Feeding directions

After animals have started to lap from a bowl, mix with milk replacer to make a thin liquid and feed in the bowl. As weaning progresses, gradually replace the milk replacer with water. Gradually introduce appropiate solid foods. When the animals are consuming enough of the solid foods, discontinue milk replacer and weaning formula entirely from the diet. Provide additional clean, fresh water.

[virgo062]

Yep read that tonight. Must have ordered it by mistake and
Didn't even notice ....what do u think about tonight's feeding ?
Mix it with HC and yogurt and hope I get the FV tomorrow?
What a stupid mistake :(

[virgo062]

I may have some goats milk ...CRAP.
Hell fire pay attention!!! I just ordered
When I ran out and put it in the freezer
Jesus Christ I'm gonna kill someone

[Nancy in New York]

Yep read that tonight. Must have ordered it by mistake and
Didn't even notice ....what do u think about tonight's feeding ?
Mix it with HC and yogurt and hope I get the FV tomorrow?
What a stupid mistake :(

Oh please forgive me, what is HC?
Do you mean heavy cream?
Not a stupid mistake, all of the products look the same,
I always make it a point to double check the bags to make
sure I am not taking out the ultra boost alone.....it's easy to do.

[virgo062]

I have some goats milk...looking for the recipe...Yes HC = heavy cream sorry

[Milo's Mom]

Take a deep breath, count to 10 and exhale slowly.

Defrost the GM, add the yogurt (I would not add the HC right now), add some extra water and feed tonight.

I might still do a few water/sugar feedings in between formula feedings for the little boy for tonight at least....just to make sure he's staying hydrated...

[virgo062]

Take a deep breath, count to 10 and exhale slowly.

Defrost the GM, add the yogurt (I would not add the HC right now), add some extra water and feed tonight.

I might still do a few water/sugar feedings in between formula feedings for the little boy for tonight at least....just to make sure he's staying hydrated...


48,49,50....WTF!!! Ok Im better...Found the goats milk:thumbsup

[virgo062]

Goint to feed the babies...GOOD LORD they are probably starving....Well not starving they do much on Healthy Blocks:thumbsup

[Nancy in New York]

Just in case you need the recipe.

For the first couple of feedings, I think I would skip the heavy cream.

3 parts goat’s milk
1 part heavy whipping cream*
1 part vanilla yogurt

Formula will last 48 hours in refrigerator.

[virgo062]

She ate like a pig. 4 cc. Him not so much
Barely got 1cc down him but he is
Full of sugar water. Will try again
In a few hours . He does seem more
Alert than a few hours ago. Thanks
Guys will let you know tomorrow.

[Nancy in New York]

She ate like a pig. 4 cc. Him not so much
Barely got 1cc down him but he is
Full of sugar water. Will try again
In a few hours . He does seem more
Alert than a few hours ago. Thanks
Guys will let you know tomorrow.

Plus if he took 8 cc's of the sugar water, he may be full.
Have a restful night, you are doing great!:grouphug

[island rehabber]

C'mon little boy -- you've got a whole lot of nice people rooting for you! :)

[virgo062]

Little Boy was up this morning and seemed much more alert he took 3 cc of formula and 1cc sugar water. It's like the sugar water woke him up:thumbsup

Little Girl....she is a biting Pig I think Knothead has met his match.

I think he is going to be fine now:thumbsup :thumbsup

It's amazing what a little FORMULA will do

[SammysMom]

If he liked the sugar water that much try dipping the tip of the nipple in karo or molasses. The sweet might get him tummy growling for more! It will also help to keep his blood sugar up. If you happen to have any Ensure around, it might not hurt to mix bit of it with the formula if he is still giving you trouble eating. It has good calories as well as nutrition and it is SWEET!:Love_Icon :Love_Icon :Love_Icon

[SammysMom]

:bowdown :Love_Icon :bowdown
I know a candy bar always gets me a bit perked up :D

[acorniv]

I have been mixing 3-1 and the consistency
Is still thick. It's expires 12-13 so
That's not it...it's the weaning formula
But I think something is Wrong with
It.

Yes, the weaning formula I got was thick as a brick - I couldn't figure out how to use it, so just moved on to solids at that stage. But weaning formula is not right for these babies. They need Day One.

I gave them Day One ( mixed 2-1) with a bit of heavy cream. He was still nursing, but not enthusiasticly, and towards the end, only sugar water, which is, of course, thinner. I suspected that is why he took it but not the formula.

Is he on Baytril?

[acorniv]

Little Boy was up this morning and seemed much more alert he took 3 cc of formula and 1cc sugar water. It's like the sugar water woke him up:thumbsup

Little Girl....she is a biting Pig I think Knothead has met his match.

I think he is going to be fine now:thumbsup :thumbsup

It's amazing what a little FORMULA will do

So glad there's improvement :alright.gif

Little Girl was a biter when I got her, but once she felt safe and trusted that she was going to be fed whenever she needed, she totally stopped. Teasing is a big no no - especially over food - :nono It's also really important that they not be teased if they're lucky enough to have a litter mate, because once that biting starts, it extends to littermates and then, rejection follows....It can mean the difference between a long and full life and - not. :Love_Icon

[acorniv]

Little Boy was up this morning and seemed much more alert he took 3 cc of formula and 1cc sugar water. It's like the sugar water woke him up:thumbsup

Little Girl....she is a biting Pig I think Knothead has met his match.

I think he is going to be fine now:thumbsup :thumbsup

It's amazing what a little FORMULA will do

So glad there's improvement :alright.gif

Little Girl was a biter when I got her, but once she felt safe and trusted that she was going to be fed whenever she needed, she totally stopped. Teasing is a big no no - especially over food - :nono It's also really important that they not be teased if they're lucky enough to have a litter mate, because once that biting starts, it extends to littermates and then, rejection follows....It can mean the difference between a long and full life and - not, because that littermate is their safety buddy for life. :Love_Icon

[acorniv]

Make a tiny little rice buddy and hold it next to him while feeding him so he stays nice and warm.

Many positive thoughts and prayers coming your way!!!

When I had these little guys they were just so chilled they could not get warm no matter what I did ( you may remember all my posts on that). They spent all their time sprawled across the rice buddy ( which was on a heating pad) and resented being removed to feed. Some of the time I knew Little Boy was not eating because the formula or sugar water cools almost immediately in the long nipple. I got so I was dipping the nipple in hot water, and then of course retesting it and trying to get it in his gob fast enough that it didn't cool again. I had the same issue with my first squirrel - she absolutely would not eat if the food was a shade less than optimal. I use a crock pot filled with water, which stays on until the babies are weaned. I also use a large 10 cc syringe ( shoot me, but it's how I learned, and I've never aspirated one), which has the benefit of keeping the formula warm longer. I've also been known to stick the syringe under the rice buddy to keep it warm while I swap out babies.

Gosh, I hope something here helps, and I'm kicking myself for not mentioning the heat thing earlier. He had gotten so tough to get food down by the time I passed him to you that I was sleepless from trying all night. He's the sweetest natured little thing. I hope he overcomes this.

[virgo062]

Teasing is a big no no - especially over food - :nono :Love_Icon

Teasing is a way of life in this house. No one is safe with Rick. He deserves every bite and scratch he gets:thumbsup

[virgo062]

Gosh, I hope something here helps, and I'm kicking myself for not mentioning the heat thing earlier. He had gotten so tough to get food down by the time I passed him to you that I was sleepless from trying all night. He's the sweetest natured little thing. I hope he overcomes this.

Heat is not a issue I always burrito them (heated fleece)while feeding it's easier for me and them....Between the Baytril, dehydration and wrong formula he was just going down fast. He has perked up and eating (slowly) a few drops at a time but he is walking his scrawny butt around the cage now:thankyou

I cant believe you people get so upset over the smallest things:rotfl :rotfl

Why cant everyone be as calm as me?:osnap :rotfl :rotfl :rotfl

[acorniv]

I am worried about all of the salt in the pedialyte. Will he take water and sugar, no salt?

He's been dehydrated for several days now, right?

Do you have LR's to sub-q?

He's got to get hydrated...it's been too long.

If he's taking the pedialyte how about mixing 1/2 and 1/2 with water...at least cut the salt in half.

He needs the calories too. Mix the FV at 4:1 and do the hydration in between the feedings.

When I had him, I'd get him well hydrated, but then he'd pee - a LOT, and be dehydrated again. I've never seen that before. Not super dehydrated, but not passing the skin lift test well, either. I did pedilyte for one daya dn switched to formula Little Girl guzzled the stuff - about 6-7 cc's ( she dribbled a bit), and Little Boy drank, not eagerly, but decently, about 5 before he seemed to just tire out. May have had 2 feedings like that and then woudl not take formula at all. I started to put him back on pedilte, and the board said no - sugar water. He loved the sugar water, and took 5 cc's and then 2 cc's several times - had to really coax those in, and was doing so every 2-3 hours. Last feeding before I handed him over to Deb, he only took 1 cc.

However, he was quite active. He's VERY curious. and I often caught him peeking at me from beneath the covers. Or, he'd climb out and stand, looking quite strong, tail held up in an S behind his back, and pee on top of his blankets, looking for all the world like he was playing King of the Hill. Enough pee to cover a nickel. When he slept, he sometimes looked downright dead. Once I heard him clicking, but I massaged his back and he stopped and didn;t start up again ( I listened tohis chest from time to time). It wasn't after a feeding, and because he was just licking the tip of the syringe at that point, and always fed very slowly ( unlike Sister Girl the Piggylou!) I'm confident it was not from that, but from the cold he has. As Deb has said, it's hard to put a finger on what is going on. Animals with the sniffles feel lousy and have trouble with their appetites because their sense of smell is diminished, so possibly it's just that minor, but it's odd. Sine he had the sniffles and dried mucus on his nose when I got him, it's hard to say how he was before, however, he did have good energy and was pretty decently filled out ( as new orphans go) when I picked him up. The little girl however, was quite emaciated. I'll see if I can get photos posted - always a challenge for my Mac, with this list.

[acorniv]

Teasing is a way of life in this house. No one is safe with Rick. He deserves every bite and scratch he gets:thumbsup

Ricks a bad bad boy!:shakehead

Will he stop if he realises that in the end it endangers them in the wild? They NEED a good relationship with their sibs. When he teaches them to bite, he robs them of that and of ultimate safety. I KNOW loves them and he's just having fun, and wouldn't hurt them for the world, but he's teaching while he plays, and this is not a good thing to teach them.

I had a trio of wilds who grew up on my porch, and lived on it and in my yard for their entire 11 years. I've never seen such devotion in any living thing. If you look back for posts about Blind Bob, you'll see how they were. Their names were Francesca, Frederico and Fritatta, but somehow Frederico got the nickname Blind Bob and Fritatta became Nurse. Francesca died in a fall down our water spout when she was 10. Bob was born with catarats in one eye, and right after Francesca died, he got caught by a hawk or owl, and escaped, but with terrible abcesses all over his body, including his good eye. His sister Frittata/Nurse became so utterly devote to him that she would guide him and keep watch over him, from their drey, up to our porch each day, so he could eat. This trip took 4 hours each way, because he was in such pain from the abcesses, but Frittata/Nurse waited to feed herself until he was safely home again. This went on for 6 months, and then she disappeared, never to be seen again. I know she gave her life to protect his. He lived another few months, though he was never to fully regain his strength.

These three taught me reverence for the relationship between siblings. We humans truly do not know this depth of devotion. I promise you, if Rick ever saw it, he'd never tease another squirrel - at least not one who has a chance of that kind of relationship. :Love_Icon :Love_Icon :Love_Icon

[acorniv]

I wish I'd brought you my Day One - Rick said you had some in the freezer, but I guess it was the weaning? If I'd had my wits about me, I'd have brought a baggie of it just in case - and the rest of the cream too - goodness knows we don't need whipping cream at my house - I'm trying not to gain back the 9 pounds I just lost from having the flu :D

Worst comes to worst, give me a call and we'll try meeting up again - though it sounds like you'll get a shipment by tomorrow?

Do you have HHB? I didn't try giving them any, because I was down to 2 blocks and I was trying to stretch it out for Mokus (a new shipment arrived yesterday) but Little Boy might find them easier to eat with the sniffles. Will he eat pecans? Not a habit you want to get established ( nuts only diet) but it might put some meat on his bones.

[virgo062]

I have plenty of HHB's and the goats milk is working fine I just got a picture/text from Rick of Little Boy....5 cc's of Formula:thumbsup Guess we can leave the emergency room.....All is good at the Howard house:thumbsup

[acorniv]

I have plenty of HHB's and the goats milk is working fine I just got a picture/text from Rick of Little Boy....5 cc's of Formula:thumbsup Guess we can leave the emergency room.....All is good at the Howard house:thumbsup

:thumbsup :thumbsup :thumbsup :thumbsup :thumbsup :thumbsup :thumbsup

Here are some photos of them:

Little Girl is the more gray of the two. Notice how much thinner she is - I bet that's changed. There is one of her having her first meal, and one of him sleepily peeking at me, and one of him dead to the world ( thank goodness his little chest was going up and down! And the one of them going up my daughter's sleeve - Little Girl did that every feeding - and this time Little Brother followed her, because she had the heat.

[acorniv]

ooops - the sleeve photo and the one of Little Boy peeking didn't show up - here they are:

[newsquirrelmommy]

OMG klunk!!! Such adorable pics of them.:Love_Icon :Love_Icon