Peanut the princess has poo problems!

[kaatybird]

Peanut is eating like a champ the last few days. We had a little bit of an issue with constipation today though. We did everything we knew (warm water bath, gas drops, lots of stimulation) and Auntie Cheyenne gave us some tips when we got desperate! This actually produced a couple normal colored but fairly hard poo's. I know there is more in there, but she definitely seems less bloated and uncomfortable. Any suggestions from you squammys out there?
Side note: She is still on the GM, yogurt & heavy cream mixture. As I am in a difficult area regarding mail, her FV should be in on monday. I did cut back the heavy cream in her formula, as I assumed it probably wasn't helping her poo issues.
:thankyou:thankyou

[Nancy in New York]

. We did everything we knew (warm water bath, gas drops, lots of stimulation) and Auntie Cheyenne gave us some tips when we got desperate! This actually produced a couple normal colored but fairly hard poo's.
:thankyou:thankyou

I have seen this advised on the board before, and it scares me.
I would never recommend sticking any kind of needle up a squirrels rectum to get it to poop.
Please, please this should have never been allowed to stay on the board, this is NOT a safe practice for
ANYONE and I have been doing squirrels a LONG time.:shakehead
Where has this ever been done for constipation, what am I missing?

[SammysMom]

Thank you Nancy! This is so dangerous. far too easy to cause internal injury. TSB cannot allow such practices to be recommended on open board.

[kaatybird]

I have seen this advised on the board before, and it scares me.
I would never recommend sticking any kind of needle up a squirrels rectum to get it to poop.
Please, please this should have never been allowed to stay on the board, this is NOT a safe practice for
ANYONE and I have been doing squirrels a LONG time.:shakehead
Where has this ever been done for constipation, what am I missing?

I agree that it did sound a bit scary, but as I have worked in the healthcare field for along time I basically just used it as a very small suppository. If this is a bad idea, could you possibly offer any other advice as to how I could continue helping my little poo today? I am not opposed to any advice from someone who has been doing this for a long time, seeing as how I am very new and just trying to do my best by this little girl. Thank you.

[SammysMom]

Hydration is huge! Sugar water or molasses and water. either one helps and it is better to approach from what's going in than from the end that should be going out.

[kaatybird]

Hydration is huge! Sugar water or molasses and water. either one helps and it is better to approach from what's going in than from the end that should be going out.

Thank you so much! I have been giving her sugar water or pedialyte in between feedings (just .5 cc's or so) a few times a day to keep her hydration up. I haven't tried molasses water yet, will try little bit now! :)

[SammysMom]

You can give her a little plain molasses right in her mouth but be careful not to give too much. It can cause loose stool.

[chybear]

I have seen this advised on the board before, and it scares me.
I would never recommend sticking any kind of needle up a squirrels rectum to get it to poop.
Please, please this should have never been allowed to stay on the board, this is NOT a safe practice for
ANYONE and I have been doing squirrels a LONG time.:shakehead
Where has this ever been done for constipation, what am I missing?

So what do you suggest when the baby is completely constipated for 24hours and the needles the only thing to get anything out?
I tried everything i was told and nothing ever helped him until i used the needle.:dono:confused:

[Unikorngrrl]

I recommended it. It is not the first thing that you would want to try, but when a squirrel can't go, there is a piece of poop that you CAN see, and you can safely pick at it lightly until it comes out so that the baby can live, I fail to see the problem with it. No one is suggesting you shove things up a rectum where it could cause damage, only carefully pick at what you can see. We do it in Veterinary offices and they do it for human babies! And I will continue to recommend it before I'll let a baby die from it!!

Not to mention, it's been successful here on the board at least 3 times now with no injury...sounds like a good alternative to death to me!

[kaatybird]

i just want to add that the word "needle" is giving off a bad idea here. I am aware that it is very dangerous to advice anyone to insert anything into any orifice. I feel it should be said that the "needle" in question was in NO way sharp or pointy at all. But very blunt and only used to slightly stimulate the VERY inside of the anus. I appreciate everyones advice, I just wanted to add that. Thank you guys.

[lilidukes]

I had always used diluted apple juice for constipation
even with very young pinkies. Never have I had to stick
anything into their anus. Never have I ever lost one
with this problem.

So far 3 have not been injured but what about the 4th???
3 out of 4 is not acceptable.


How long have you all been raising squirrels??

[Unikorngrrl]

I had always used diluted apple juice for constipation
even with very young pinkies. Never have I had to stick
anything into their anus. Never have I ever lost one
with this problem.

So far 3 have not been injured but what about the 4th???
3 out of 4 is not acceptable.


How long have you all been raising squirrels??

I've been raising baby animals in general for 26+ years, a vet tech for 4 years, and squirrels, I did three 10 years ago and I now have 13 baby greys and 2 baby flyers. I've done a minimum of 20 litters of Eastern Cottontails (lost TWO that were injured when I got them), probably 30+ itty bitty kittens, multiple puppies and/or litters, and the 3g mouse, which I also used this technique on. Chybear's had been on apple juice and everything else recommended on the board. Babies die from bloat on here all the time. Not only is this NOT the place to argue about it and attack someone, I will not continue with it since it's childish!!! Have you ever heard of a fecal loop?!? They're commonly used in Veterinary practice and it IS the same aspect... I again mention, this is not a first nor 5th recommendation, it's only in severe situations and to be carefully explained and done.

[kaatybird]

I had always used diluted apple juice for constipation
even with very young pinkies. Never have I had to stick
anything into their anus. Never have I ever lost one
with this problem.

So far 3 have not been injured but what about the 4th???
3 out of 4 is not acceptable.


How long have you all been raising squirrels??

I appreciate the advice. As I have stated many times in this thread alone I have not been doing this long, and was panicked after a day of all of my known methods not working on my little girl. I was just looking for advice, or things that had worked for other rehabbers. I just assumed that was what this forum was for. Didn't mean to cause any hostility.
I will add that Peanut is doing much better, all bloat is gone and her appetite is definitely back on track. In case anyone was worried about her condition. tinfoil

[Nancy in New York]

My point is, I don't like this practice mentioned on the open board where people may think it's acceptable to try by anyone other than a trained vet.
We get people on here all the time that look at posts and pick and choose what they want to try.
This has not been an endorsed practice by anyone that I know of on the board, and unless you are a vet, I would hesitate ever trying this on a squirming squirrel.

[kaatybird]

My point is, I don't like this practice mentioned on the open board where people may think it's acceptable to try by anyone other than a trained vet.
We get people on here all the time that look at posts and pick and choose what they want to try.
This has not been an endorsed practice by anyone that I know of on the board, and unless you are a vet, I would hesitate every trying this on a squirming squirrel.

I do agree with the fact that people who have not been properly trained and/or would take the word "needle" as a literal sharp sewing needle could read this and misinterpret. I understand that when online you do need to be more careful about what you say because you never know who will interpret it as something it isn't suppose to be, and for that I apologize. This should not be attempted by someone who does not understand the anatomy of a VERY small animal. :)
Thanks again to TSB for all of your help and useful information.
kaaty

[kaatybird]

I've been raising baby animals in general for 26+ years, a vet tech for 4 years, and squirrels, I did three 10 years ago and I now have 13 baby greys and 2 baby flyers. I've done a minimum of 20 litters of Eastern Cottontails (lost TWO that were injured when I got them), probably 30+ itty bitty kittens, multiple puppies and/or litters, and the 3g mouse, which I also used this technique on. Chybear's had been on apple juice and everything else recommended on the board. Babies die from bloat on here all the time. Not only is this NOT the place to argue about it and attack someone, I will not continue with it since it's childish!!! Have you ever heard of a fecal loop?!? They're commonly used in Veterinary practice and it IS the same aspect... I again mention, this is not a first nor 5th recommendation, it's only in severe situations and to be carefully explained and done.

Thanks so much Uni for helping Chybear and Jax out so wonderfully. Which in turn has helped myself and my Peanut in SO many ways. I couldn't have gotten her past the pinky stage without you guys. And now the feisty little girl is trying to escape from my lap as I type this! She is thriving and I have you guys (and a week of sleepless nights, and SERIOUS undereye bags!) to thank for it! :thankyou:Love_Icon:Love_Icon:thankyou

[island rehabber]

While I understand that those who have had specialized training (vet techs, etc) may very well employ this method using a particular type of less harmful instrument, we need to remove the term "NEEDLE" from every mention of this practice otherwise I will be forced to delete them. For better or for worse, TSB is in the position of advising the general public how to stabilize wildlife in distress and sometimes even to keep them -- we cannot have people sticking hypodermic or sewing needles into tiny babies' rectums, and that is exactly what I thought you all were recommending here until I read the details about the type of "needle".

So, whether you call it a "fecal loop" or whatever, please do not call it a "NEEDLE". Call it a rounded instrument; a q-tip, whatEVER. Just not a needle.
That said, I will put my two cents in: I have never, in 10 years of rehabbing, had to do this for constipation in a baby squirrel. I'm not saying it's not something that can be done in an extreme situation, but I've never had to do it. I don't panic when babies don't poop for a day or so, unless they are neonates. Constipation doesn't automatically lead to bloat; don't panic. :peace