Edgar and Lucy

[lindseychristine]

We have two baby squirrels about 5 weeks old. We think they're doing well. We had started them on esbilac formula and they began looking bloated and constipated. We've ordered fox valley formula and have them on the goats milk formula until then. They've finally pooped, but we're worried they're still a little bloated. Any advice?

Not sure how to upload pictures.

[farrelli]

You can't post pictures yet as your account hasn't been approved yet. You can email them to me at farrelli-at-rcn.com and I'll post them. I'm going out at maybe 1:30 or a bit later.

Are you keeping them warm and stimulating them to go to the bathroom? Are they hydrated? Are you feeding them a certain % of body wright or all that they'll take?

[lindseychristine]

http://file:///Users/kstover/Pictures/iPhoto%20Library/Previews/2013/03/19/20130319-115511/pUbRT%25SdRjGNtJugLBFG8g/IMG_0216.jpg

[lindseychristine]

Yes, we are keeping them warm and stimulating them. We're generally feeding them all they want, perhaps we're feeding them too much?
I will email the pictures to you!

[farrelli]

If you overfeed them, it can cause bloating. I'm no expert on babies, but I think at this age it should be about 7% of body weight. Do you have a scale, ideally in grams where you can weight them?

I await the pics. Pics of the bellies would be ideal.

[farrelli]

Here's the pics, adjusted for upload.

[farrelli]

The second to last looks a bit bloated, but I'm not an expert. You do have to watch bloating because it can interfere with breathing. If you want to take action before an expert chimes in, you can submerge their lower bodies in warm water and gently massage their bellies, sides, and genitals to get things moving. Dry them thoroughly afterwards. Don't let them get chilled. We can investigate things like infant gas drops later.

Please describe the poop - color, firmness, frequency.

[lindseychristine]

Thank you for posting pics!

Their poop is yellowish brownish. A little softer today, but still in a solid clump.
Yesterday barely any poop, and darker colored.

[lindseychristine]

Only one poop yesterday, twice so far today.

[farrelli]

Are their bellies hard and roundish or soft?

[lindseychristine]

Their bellies are soft. The boy, Edgar, pooped again, so that makes it 3 times so far today.

[CritterMom]

Soft is good. They should feel like a balloon half filled with water, nice and soft and squishy. Bloat feels tight and hard like a little drum - or a balloon filled with air. They are gorgeous!