Not eating well with tight tummy!!

[newsquirrelmommy]

Between yesterday and today my Ginger seems to not want her formula. She will take it but not really jumping on the syringe like usual. She has been taking less and less at each feeding. She actually gagged last night and she only had 1cc in about 10 mins. She chews the nipple a lot too. It's almost like she's full already. She does eat her block and is still acting normal and playful but she does tremble a little bit almost like she's scared. Her and her sister are both 7 weeks and her sister is still loving the formula. She seems to be going to bathroom ok but her belly feels tight. I rubbed her belly today and I could feel little bubbles, almost like gas. Could she be weaning already? Could she have gas that is making her bloated?

[farrelli]

Is her belly tight and round? It should feel more like a partially full water balloon. If tight, she needs a drop of gas-x (or some type of simethicone) and to have her belly and sides gently rubbed, ideally while half submerged in warm water. Bloat is bad and can kill.

[CritterMom]

Is her belly tight and round? It should feel more like a partially full water balloon. If tight, she needs a drop of gas-x (or some type of simethicone) and to have her belly and sides gently rubbed, ideally while half submerged in warm water. Bloat is bad and can kill.


What he said - you want INFANT SIMETHICONE - Baby Gas-X from any drug store.

What are you feeding? How do you prepare and store it?

[newsquirrelmommy]

She eats fox valley about 10-14cc's 4x day and weighs 185. I will try the gas x. I make 2 days worth and store it in the fridge. She also gets block 2x day.

[CritterMom]

May want to feed a little less or space the feedings out some. If they haven;t digested their last feeding, feeding MORE will cause everything to start to ferment in their belly and cause bloat.

Do you keep your FV powder in the fridge or freezer?

[newsquirrelmommy]

May want to feed a little less or space the feedings out some. If they haven;t digested their last feeding, feeding MORE will cause everything to start to ferment in their belly and cause bloat.

Do you keep your FV powder in the fridge or freezer?

I was thinking about going to 3x/day feedings but her sister is always hungry. Should I just take away one feeding for her only? She does love her block. I keep my FV in the fridge always:D and let it stand overnite in fridge when I first make it for them so it settles.

[gs1]

how is she doing?

if this is bloat it is incredibly dangerous... worst case scenario: bloat will stop circulation to some of her organs and that will cause the organs to start dying... if that happens it can't be reversed.

I prefer unflavoured simethicone but farellis' & cms suggestion is probably easiest for you to find right now....

I used to use unflavoured simethicone for my rabbits and if I'd used too much they had loose stools once or twice.... which wasn't dangerous considering the alternative of bloat. (they recovered quickly).


The other suggestion (with baby squirrels ((not rabbits)) is to soak her up to her armpits in warm water and very, very gently massage her stomach ... if she starts passing gas you'll see the bubbles float to the top. ... I think that 15mins would be ok.

i'll go back in the archives to check on the amount of time and will re post if there's a problem.

[gs1]

this is a good recent thread on bloat and the causes.

http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=39475&highlight=bloat


this is an older thread .... something that must be emphasised is don't feed a bloated baby - the only thing to give would be simethicone and even that is scary ...the reason is there's no room in the stomach if the baby is bloated.

http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=28208

In this thread Jackie in tampa advises to soak the baby in warm water for 5 mins and then repeat.

stimulate and massage slowly in a downward motion too.

always keep the baby warm to avoid a chill. If you can please read the threads before attempting the soak.

:grouphug & best wishes.

[gs1]

stimulate and massage slowly in a downward motion too.


this is while in the warm water soak.:D

[Milo's Mom]

10-14 cc's 4 times a day and she's 185 grams?

Uhm, my math might be wrong but that is A LOT of food....the guideline of 5-7% of weight per feeding.

Squishy is 185 grams and just today did he graduate to 12 cc's per feeding. Prior to that he was at 9. (and he's NOT skinny...Mr. Squishy has a squishy belly)

[Nancy in New York]

10-14 cc's 4 times a day and she's 185 grams?

Uhm, my math might be wrong but that is A LOT of food....the guideline of 5-7% of weight per feeding.

Squishy is 185 grams and just today did he graduate to 12 cc's per feeding. Prior to that he was at 9. (and he's NOT skinny...Mr. Squishy has a squishy belly)

I think she is pretty close to the guidelines. I have had little ones take lots more than the 7%.
But then again, I know what to look for so they aren't overeating.
I always make sure that their tummies are not bloated though, and that the formula is digested before feeding the next time.
Did you say that she is pooping?
I'm just wondering if she is weaning early?
Especially if she is actually eating her block.
Not sure what you mean by the shakes, is that something new?

[newsquirrelmommy]

Hey everyone thanks for all the info. Ginger is doing good and eating well now. She weighed in a little while ago at 193, and her poops are normal. She is being very playful too. I also dont feel that I'm feeding her to much. Most of the time she takes 11cc's sometimes less and sometimes more but I never over feed her or her sister. I also picked up some gas-x as well just in case.

Nancy she is pooping normal. She doesn't actually shake but kind of trembles when I pick her up and then stops when she gets comfortable. She gets 2 small pieces of block a day and she loves it. I will keep my eye on her tummy and eating again tomorrow.

[Nancy in New York]

Hey everyone thanks for all the info. Ginger is doing good and eating well now. She weighed in a little while ago at 193, and her poops are normal. She is being very playful too. I also dont feel that I'm feeding her to much. Most of the time she takes 11cc's sometimes less and sometimes more but I never over feed her or her sister. I also picked up some gas-x as well just in case.

Nancy she is pooping normal. She doesn't actually shake but kind of trembles when I pick her up and then stops when she gets comfortable. She gets 2 small pieces of block a day and she loves it. I will keep my eye on her tummy and eating again tomorrow.


This sounds great. Not sure what the little trembles are, I wonder if she is just excited?
So glad that things are back on track!
:grouphug

[newsquirrelmommy]

Not sure either what it could be but I will keep my eye on it:D

[Nancy in New York]

Not sure either what it could be but I will keep my eye on it:D

Oh I know you will, you are a great squammy. :grouphug

[newsquirrelmommy]

Oh I know you will, you are a great squammy. :grouphug


:thankyou :D

This morning Ginger ate normal and no trembles:thumbsup