Two babies from fallen oak tree but question on Karo syrup ??

[Roosmomma]

Hello to all!
I am a experienced foster mom of wildlife in the Maryland area . I recently took in two baby 3 week old squirrels ( almost 4 weeks) . I have plenty of past experience with my wildlife and vet tech expertise . However I joined this md forum to excel in my learning for the care of squirrels and also to help out others in their raising of babies or injured squirrels .
I would like to ask one thing as for mild constipation in a over eagerly fed male Stewi who is now up to 6ml every 4/5 hrs as of yesterday and not overfed or with no bloat in sight . However to lighten the load I am doing pedialite in between . What's the view on Karo syrup here ? I have not had to use it. I feel the little girl is going much more then he is and I want to be sure he is not to backed up. I attempted warm water bath and massages..no stool today for him but several for her..he looks like he needs to release some . Both are urinating at each feeding
Does anyone suggest Karo syrup if so for just newly turned 4 week olds with eyes closed , how much do I give him? I am also watering the formula a bit to help with his stool...and how often do you wait to use if they had one bowel movement last night ? Also he did eat double three feedings so I know that was part of the back up ( I figured growth spurt ) also no sign of dehydration .

[farrelli]

I think that most people prefer fruit juice or molasses (as it contains actual nutrients), but Karo is also used. A drop of olive oil is sometimes used too.

Btw, what are you feeding them? Puppy and kitten formula are generally recommended against. We prefer Fox Valley and the use of a goat's milk formula until a proper formula can be obtained.

:Welcome

[Roosmomma]

I always used kmr. I just found out about the forest valley today..they have been on kmr for a straight week. Just today I have had problems with mr. Stewi not popping and I know that ms.roo has had stool today 4 times today . So I am concerned. Since Stewie ate as much and has had one stool being last night .

[Roosmomma]

Fox valley ( sorry) also I always used apple juice in the past also. This is been 3 years since fostering squirrels . So KMR is not a good source now either ?

[jbtartell]

usualy it may take a few days to poopy.. lol soo I would not worry just yet.. the first thing is to get warm first then hydrate.. that is most important in the begining..:thumbsup I tryed to pm you but it is not working..

[Nancy in New York]

No, the Fox Valley is the absolute best, you will see the difference almost immediately.
If your little one is gassy, you can give infant gas x drops, just a drop or two.
Pedialyte is not to be given more than 24 hours.
There is an excellent reference here about hydration fluids written by a rehabber from Oklahoma Annette and her thought of pedialyte or homemade pedialyte, but most importantly when NOT to use salt or store bought pedialyte.
I will find it and post the link or copy and paste for you here.

[Nancy in New York]

Here is the info I was telling you about.
Excellent informaiton....as we always think to hydrate with Pedialyte instead of just sugar water.



"Ive been doing this a long time and have found out some things by necropsy, and some by a brilliant DVM with a double masters in nutrition. She has always picked my methods apart, and then told me "why". Today recovering dehydrated and emaciated animals is one of my specialties along with wounds and bone breaks. Ive got this down and I hope my experiences will help you to master these methods.
In small mammals as small as squirrels, you are always better off to re hydrate with glucose or sugar water than pedialyte when the animal is dehydrated from lack of fluids or milk. Theres a few reasons, but mainly the preservatives that are used in the commercial electrolytes for human consumption. In a human sized kidney, or even a large breed puppy, not a big deal, but in the kidneys of a tiny squirrel, you have these little filters the size of half to a whole pea, and they are battling to keep the impurities out of the blood which is now thickened and concentrated, in a body that cannot afford to flush them out because it cant afford the fluid loss to make urine. The kidneys are already in trouble. Those chemicals are immediately caught in the kidneys because the body cannot use them for anything. Pedialyte often contains dye and flavoring which should never be used, but the preservatives alone can cause problems you wont even see. In cross section
necropsies of kidneys for other rehabbers, I have found crystals, inflammation and blockage from Pedialyte and Gatorade. The Gatorade is just insane. I wont even drink it after seeing how the kidneys are affected. I have necropsied HUGE BLUE Gatorade kidneys! When the body is dehydrated and the kidneys are that small, we must only give the system things it can break down and use. There is no room for added chemicals. We have to stay as pure as possible.

I think most folks make their own rehydration fluid so skip that part unless pedialyte is part of the arsenal


In dehydration from starvation, just go with 1 tsp per cup warm water, infant glucose water or dextrose and water. The body can use that sugar. It makes a world of difference in stabilizing your baby and getting them back up. You can feed only the sugar water or glucose for a day, day and a half, and start adding your protein (formula) to the glucose or sugar water in reduced amounts, keeping them on the sugar until they rehydrate and their weight is back up. The BONUS to this is that they burn the sugar as energy which causes the body to store the protein, which brings weight up more effectively. The ADDED BONUS is that you can mix your protein and your rehydration fluid. You CANNOT MIX ELECTROLYTES AND PROTEIN. You cancel them both out by doing this. You will starve your baby of all help by doing this. Never never mix.
In an animal dehydrated from starvation or lack of fluids, they havent lost electrolytes as they would have from a case of diarrhea, to which an electrolyte can be used. Since sugar can actually cause diarrhea (which it will NOT do in a dehydrated animal), in an animal dehydrated from diarrhea, I recommend unflavored Pedialyte given BETWEEN protein feedings, or alternate with a starch like rice cereal water. I still use the infant glucose for this, and if I have to give an electrolyte, I use reconstituted mammal electrolyte powder.
Often protein can cause diarrhea if its an alien source, so pulling the protein and adding a starch will often do the trick. Remember, starch converts to sugar. Starch actually IS a long chain sugar, so no need to ad sugar when using a starch. Its amazing how the two are so similarly used by the body, but produce the opposite result in therapy!
Anyway, I hope something here helps!
Annette
Wild Heart Ranch

This may not help at all but those babies really are skinny--starving. Get better babies

[farrelli]

Thanks Nancy! I've never seen that before and it was very informative!

[Nancy in New York]

Thanks Nancy! I've never seen that before and it was very informative!


I know right!
We have always recommended Pedialyte when in fact it really is only needed if they have lost electrolytes such in diarrhea or vomitting.

[farrelli]

I knew that about electrolytes, but I never considered how small the filtration system is and that it apparently captures fairly small molecules, like dye.

[stepnstone]

:wave123 Roosmomma :Welcome
Curious as to what area of Maryland you are in, maybe I can help you out with some supplies if needed.
If you don't want to openly post your area, you can email me or send a private message.