Two Baby Squirrels

[firerunner]

Hi everyone! First post here..:)

I am in the process of becoming a licensed wildlife rehabber my cliche seems to be birds, for whatever reason I manage to save and release more birds then most. But the vet called three days ago and now I have two baby squirrels.

Chipette - weighs in at 20 grams

and

Dale - weighs in at 15 grams

I am feeding them every three hours (even at night) and they are both eating about .75 to 1 CC each feeding.

Each are voiding successfully at almost ever feeding.

Have them on a heating pad in a quiet room.

I have had them for three days.


So really I just wanted to say hey, ask for any advice on ensuring these guys survive . what problems am I going to encounter and to just read read read the boards and learn as much as possible.

thanks for the advice!!!

[newsquirrelmommy]

:wave123 firerunner & :Welcome. Thanks for taking these little guys:thumbsup You will find a wealth of info here on this board and some pretty amazing people as well:grin2

[farrelli]

How old are they? What are you feeding them? Goat's milk? Are they well hydrated?

If you're unaware, proper feeding technique is critical. Here's a thread with video.

http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?36777-PROPER-FEEDING-TECHNIQUE!!

:Welcome

[firerunner]

How old are they? What are you feeding them? Goat's milk? Are they well hydrated?

If you're unaware, proper feeding technique is critical. Here's a thread with video.

http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?36777-PROPER-FEEDING-TECHNIQUE!!

:Welcome

Babies look to be about 2 weeks old (no hair, just getting their darker skin tone just in three days I have noticed the pink skin tone leaving and the darkness taking over, when we got them three days ago their ears were still pinned to their head this morning I noticed they have started to unpinned, eyes completely closed)

I am feeding them what the vet gave me and yes they are well hydrated. Our vet checked them over before calling me and kept them warm and on hmm not pedialyte but something similar to that until I picked them up. He had them about 7 hours before I got them. My Vet is helping me to obtain my wildlife license so he always examines everything for me, has taught me the proper way to feed etc (I have a GREAT vet!)


I am aware of proper feeding I have fed possums and even mice. They are pretty much fed all the same way SLOWLYYYYYYYYYYYY lol but yes I am aware of how to hold, feed etc.

What I am not aware of is things like diarrhea, this milk line I have been reading on, and I saw on a thread that someone was feeding them sugar water inbetween regular feedings, the vet never mentioned that - do I start that? What is the purpose of it?

thanks

[Shewhosweptforest]

:Welcome firerunner and :thankyou :bowdown the sugar water in between feedings is to help with hydration ...if your babies are hydrated its not necessary:thumbsup the darn milk line :dono I've never seen :jump sounds like you're doing everything right:thumbsup just be careful on the formula because not all vets have the correct knowledge on formulations ...ex: Esbilac which was the go to and great a few years ago has now been reformulated and can cause a lot of digestive trouble so we tend to go with the goats milk formula or Fox Valley...which I have had personal success with both:grin3

I have possies right now too:grouphug

Thanks for taking this road in your life and you are sooo lucky to have a caring vet leading your way :Love_Icon

[farrelli]

Yes, vets often get the nutrition part wrong. What is he having you feed them? Lots of vets give out Esbilac (as previously mentioned) or kitten formula, which is all wrong because it's too high in protein. They should also be fed 5-7% of body weight, sometimes more but dependent on healthy poops.

[firerunner]

Ok so the vet put them on powdered KMR food (Kitten replacer)

Well in my research all morning on here and another site it says Fox valley so I just got off the phone with Nick from there and He is overnighting the two formulas I will need for squirrels

along with instructions

so lets see

[farrelli]

Did you order the UltraBoost? It's a great additive for making plump babies.

However, if they are very young, goat's milk might be your best bet for a week or so. Please see the following thread about recent issues with FV and the very young:

http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?41878-FOX-VALLEY-amp-PINKIES-I-NEVER-thought-I-d-have-to-post-this

[firerunner]

Ok I did their 3 PM feeding and they had almost no milk line (that is so cool!) They both ate about 1 cc

However on the one when her milk lined formed it was a little to the side, is this a problem?

They are both voiding well!! Almost every feeding!

Nick has sent my FV overnight..so I will gradually switch them to that.


Here is a pic of them three days ago..

http://www.starlasdesigns.com/dale040813.jpg


http://www.starlasdesigns.com/chipette081413.jpg

Sheesh they have gotten dark in three days LOL