temp formula for an opossum any other helpful info?

[Carlala]

my cousin called me she has a baby opossum dont worry just like me knows all the work involved in a baby but i have not yet done an opossum i know the basics as does she is the temp formula for them the same as a squirrel? anything different i should know?

[HRT4SQRLS]

:wave123 Carlala

I know nothing about opossums. :dono Sorry! There are a few members here that are posse people. Send a PM or email to djarenspace9 or Chickenlegs and I'm sure they can answer any question you have about opossums. You might also want to check out the National Opossum Society website. Hope this helps. :thumbsup

[Unikorngrrl]

chickenlegs PM box is full, can't message her. I was going to ask about opossums too b/c no training here and trying to learn about opossums myself. Just FYI...

[CrazySquirrelLady]

temp for squirrels is fine for them.

if you know a cat that is nursing, they often will take a baby possum and raise it for you if you are so lucky!

They like veggies and fruits but I would wait to give those till they are pretty big.

haven't raised but 2 or 3

[Chickenlegs]

I'm out and.can't check theformula contents yet but ona temporary basis squirrel formula isway.better than bein hungry. How big is the baby? Will he eat on his own or will he.need.to. be tube fed? Oh gosh--let me read the rest of the thread. Sorry aboit the in box. Some of the stuff is priceless and I need to copy and save

[Carlala]

my cousin has it she said eyes open very tiny but active

[Chickenlegs]

Furred? Weight? The National Opossum Society has a recipe for food for young possums. They DO need formula and as he grows his nutritional requirements will change as will his need for protein (not much). A very young possum needs the kind of feeding schedule a very young squirrel needs--about every 2hours around the clock. Lile I said I'm out. Wasn't feeling well and hubby took me out for soup. I'm on the nook and it's slow going.

[Carlala]

ok i will do some research of my own as well she warmed him was going to rehydrate and then start feeding. she says fully furred and about the size of a newborn kitten

[Carlala]

she is eating the formula well

[Rhapsody]

I have raised many possums... and we do them the same as squirrels - feeding them Fox Valley (no yogurt) at 5-7% of their body weight every 5 hours until they reach 200 grams then we can start to add in the Peters Food that is approved by the NOS....... you feed this morning & night at 1/3 cup per possum with fresh chopped up vegetables & fruit on the side as they get bigger.

FOX VALLEY FORMULA
32/40 - for Opossums birth to 45 grams
25/30 - for Opossums 45 grams to weaning


You can read more about possums and get the PF Recipe on my FB Page:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Opossum-Care/468773769812948

Peters Food

1 cup dry Cat Chow
1 cup blended Mix Vegetables
4 TBSP Vanilla Yogurt

*add --1 Apple Berry (baby food jar) when recipe doubled

........ feed morning & night - 1/3 cup per each
........ add a little water if thick, before feeding
........ feed with assorted vegetables and mim. fruit
........ feed extra protein 1x wk (chicken, boiled egg or salmon)

*cooked chicken bones or neck can be given for calcium

[Carlala]

my cousin and i were talking and she feeds her cats and dogs a complete raw diet she has spent years studying it so in place of cat chow can she use the cat food she makes?

[CrazySquirrelLady]

my cousin and i were talking and she feeds her cats and dogs a complete raw diet she has spent years studying it so in place of cat chow can she use the cat food she makes?
doesn't sound like a good idea. :grouphug too small for it for weeks.

[Carlala]

oh i didnt mean now I meant when it was older and ready for solid foods =)

[kastillo]

From my research , I believe it would be ok if the protein content was not too high, I think they recommend a cat chow with protein content less than 30%.
I will go back and check my notes. I just joined NOS, and they sent me a binder of material the size of an encyclopedia! :D

[Carlala]

ok sounds good yeah anything I can learn that would be helpful would be great you can never have enough knowledge =)

[Chickenlegs]

Looks like you're in good hands. As far as possums are concerned, NOS is the standard bearer of possum care. Hope your little guy is doin just fine.

[kastillo]

How much do they weigh?

[Carlala]

i have been gathering lots of helpful info and ty everyone for your help suggestions and advice. also my cousin doesnt have a scale i told her she needs to go get one but for now i will post a picture

[Unikorngrrl]

OH MY what a sweet little baby!!!:Love_Icon

[kastillo]

At that age, it can probably start lapping formula on it's own.

Syringe feeding takes forever, they don't suck, just lap.

Have you got formula yet. I guess temporary would be goat's milk.

The NOS doesn't have a recommendation for temporary formula.

I have used both Fox Valley and the NOS recommended formula on opossums, which is a complicated recipie that includes Esbilac. Let me know if you want it, I will PM it to you.
Both formulas seem to work well.

Also they say all opossums coming into rehab need prophylactic antibiotics, an amoxicillin antibiotic and nystatin. They have compromised immune systems, they are not placental, and get their antibodies from momma's milk.

You can use "AmoxiDrops" oral pediatric suspension (50mg/mL) dose at 10mg/lb. I think that would be 1 mg per 60 gram infant once a day for two weeks.

Nystatin prevents the overgrowth of yeast in the oral cavity and GI tract. Also a pediatric suspension dosed at 0.25cc/lb.
Give this dose separate from antibiotic 30 min after. And continue it for three days after stopping the antibiotic.

All this info is from my NOS info packet.

[kastillo]

I have raised many possums... and we do them the same as squirrels - feeding them Fox Valley (no yogurt) at 5-7% of their body weight every 5 hours until they reach 200 grams then we can start to add in the Peters Food that is approved by the NOS....... you feed this morning & night at 1/3 cup per possum with fresh chopped up vegetables & fruit on the side as they get bigger.

FOX VALLEY FORMULA
32/40 - for Opossums birth to 45 grams
25/30 - for Opossums 45 grams to weaning


You can read more about possums and get the PF Recipe on my FB Page:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Opossum-Care/468773769812948

Peters Food

1 cup dry Cat Chow
1 cup blended Mix Vegetables
4 TBSP Vanilla Yogurt

*add --1 Apple Berry (baby food jar) when recipe doubled

........ feed morning & night - 1/3 cup per each
........ add a little water if thick, before feeding
........ feed with assorted vegetables and mim. fruit
........ feed extra protein 1x wk (chicken, boiled egg or salmon)

*cooked chicken bones or neck can be given for calcium

Also use this when it starts to eat solids, if it's 50 grams or better, I start to offer peter's possum food as about 10% of diet. 90% formula.

[Carlala]

my cousin made up some formula well she is waiting for the FV. and the baby seems to be doing really really well. also I will have her get antibiotics if she didnt already she may have i think i told her to but i will double check ty for reminding me =)

[CrazySquirrelLady]

i tell you! easiest thing with possies is to find a nursing momma CAT.

They make good mommas for possums. I had one that nursed 12 babies.

you should have seen that cat with all those baby possies riding her around, their little hands clutching the cat fur.

everywhere momma cat went she had 12 possies riding her around. lol

[Carlala]

yeah would be perfect if only i had a nursing cat lol all of the cats i know are spayed lol

[Chickenlegs]

um--sometimes Nystatin is hard to come by so tho NOS doesn't say anything about it, I'd think any sort of animal safe anti-fungal that can be dosed down. Your local vet might have some suggestions or the good possum folks here. Amoxydrops can also be hard to come by but Amoxycillin is available at feed stores and can be dosed down.

[Carlala]

somebody else asked this on another thread and has not got a reply and since it would be helpful for me as well I am going to ask here. what do u use to worm them, and what age?

[crazy4squirrels]

FV is the best formula and Amox is good but sulfatrim is very good. Baytril is not rec because it affects the growth plates. NO GOAT MILK they are lactose intolerant. Eyes open they can lap from a spoon.

[Rhapsody]

somebody else asked this on another thread and has not got a reply and
since it would be helpful for me as well I am going to ask here. what do u use to worm them, and what age?I replied in the other thread.....


DE is widely used among the opossum word to naturally deworm them..... just remember to mix in their food for a
full 4-6 to completely kill off the worms so the possums does not have any problems later on.

DE:
http://www.earthworkshealth.com/pets-animals.php

RX:
Clavamox & Flagyl (metronidazole) is also used to deworm opossums.

[kastillo]

NO GOAT MILK they are lactose intolerant.

:thankyou I had no idea they were lactose intolerant!

[Rhapsody]

:thankyou I had no idea they were lactose intolerant!They are not actually lactose intolerant as we feed them cheese to get their poops solid and there is yogurt in the Peters Food...... they would not be able to handle this on a regular basis if they were lactose intolerant --its more that they cannot handle the high protein matter that is found in milk, this is what upsets their sensitive tummies. I often use Goats Milk "diluted" to get through a week if I receive a possum in and need to order some Fox Valley..... and all my possums have always been fine.