Help with Baby squirrel in Kentucky

[cowgirlfrazer]

I have found a baby squirrel, i have it in a container with a heat lamp, and some water and food, what i need to know is, while the baby drink on its own or do i have to feed it water, it seems to be around, 6-8 weeks old, eyes are open, and it crawls around.

[island rehabber]

Hi and welcome to TSB.
If you can post a pic of the baby it would help us a lot in determining its age, but at 6-8 weeks it should still get formula of some kind. We recommend Fox Valley Day One 20/50 -- but you must order it online so there is a goat's milk temporary formula you can make. (Recipe below)
The baby will not drink on its own yet at this age so you need a syringe to feed with. 1cc is safest, but at this age you could try a 3cc if you are very careful and feed slowly.
You should also be giving it a quality rodent block such as Mazuri (available at large pet supply stores) , or Henry's Healthy Blocks (available at www.henryspets.com) (http://www.henryspets.com)).

We may have members who are experienced squirrel rehabilitators in your area -- where in KY are you?

TEMPORARY GOAT'S MILK FORMULA

One of our senior members who posts as Jackie in Tampa uses an excellent temporary substitute, and it can be assembled from locally purchased ingredients:

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

Formula will last 48 hours in refrigerator.

Goat’s Milk
This can be purchased at natural food stores such as Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods, and at most health food stores that sell groceries. It is a product for humans. Do not substitute commercial formula made for baby goats or other livestock sold at feed stores.

Goat’s milk is available fresh in a carton; evaporated in a can; and as a powdered milk. If you purchase either the evaporated or powdered versions, please blend them with water according to the package directions before using to make the formula.

Heavy Whipping Cream
This is found in small cartons in the grocery store near the coffee creamers and half and half. Regular heavy cream may be substituted if it is unavailable, but the heavy whipping cream has the highest fat content, and is preferred.

Yogurt
Yogurt has beneficial bacteria in it that soothes and settles digestion. Full fat yogurt is best, and a good choice that is very widely available is Stoneyfield Yobaby yogurt. However if it is unavailable, a low fat vanilla yogurt may be substituted. Avoid those that have artificial sweeteners in them. Vanilla and banana are both popular flavors, and the sweet taste of the yogurt helps to convince the baby to accept it.

It has been recently discovered that very small pinky squirrels may do better digestively if, instead of being given Fox Valley formula straight, mix the Fox Valley 50/50 with the Goat’s Milk Formula assembled WITHOUT the heavy whipping cream.

*It is recommended that when just starting to feed a new baby that the first feedings be made without the heavy whipping cream. This will give their digestive systems a chance to acclimate from mama’s milk to our substitute without the harder-to-digest whipping cream. Once they accept the formula and are eliminating properly, the whipping cream can be gradually added in.

When your Fox Valley formula arrives, please transition your babies to the new formula slowly, by blending the Goat’s Milk Formula with the blended and liquefied Fox Valley formula, increasing the ratio of Fox Valley with each feeding until you are no longer using the goat’s milk. __________________

[MJS]

:wave123 WELCOME TO TSB...LET US KNOW A LITTLE ABOUT HOW YOU FOUND HIM/HER...HOW LONG HAVE YOU HAD HER, ETC.

[MJS]

HEY IR...SHE'S IN GRAYSON ABOUT 30 MILES FROM HUNTINGTON, WV

[MJS]

I HAVE FOX VALLEY, SYRINGES ETC...CAN MEET YOU IF NEED BE

[MJS]

ALSO HAVE A VET IF SICK OR INJURED

[island rehabber]

:thankyou MJS!! :thankyou

cowgirlfrazer, I so hope you will take MJS up on his offer! It is not a simple thing to raise a baby squirrel properly, and you will need all these things plus someone to show you how to use them. :thumbsup

[Nancy in New York]

I moved this thread out of the baby squirrel forum, and admitted her as a member so that I could pm her the new link.
I just emailed her also with this link telling her that there is help here.
So fingers crossed she will come back on. :thumbsup

[MJS]

:wave123 YOU'RE WELCOME IR...JUST PM'D MY NUMBER TO CGF WITH OFFER OF SUPPLIES AND/OR HELP. I'M SURE SHE'LL BE BACK ON :poke

[CrazySquirrelLady]

:)