4-5 week old baby won't potty

[Dr.Pepper]

Hi, I have a little baby that my grandmother found yesterday afternoon. She's about 4-5 weeks old as far as I can tell, eyes open and crawling a bit. I've been giving her fluids every two hours since she came to me. I've tried to get her to potty but so far, nothing. Is this because she was dehydrated?

[lilidukes]

Baby may not have anything inside to poo.

Hydration then formula and the poop will be rolling
out soon!:grin3

[Nancy in New York]

Do you want us to try to find a rehabber for you?
Remember if hydrating with Pedialyte, do not use
for more than 24 hours.
You can give plain water in between feedings if he
is still dehydrated some.
Start with giving him diluted formula, if it says to
mix with 1 Formula to 2 part water, use 3 parts water
for a couple of feedings.
Feed in the proper positon, and keep the syringe pointed
up to the roof of his mouth.
Not sure if you have raised squirrels before, so if you have
forgive me for giving instructions. :peace

We have members who don't see their squirrel poop for
days, so not to worry, as long as the tummy doesn't get
hard and bloated. :thumbsup

[SammysMom]

If you are not seeing the baby pee, that may be because she is still dehydrated. How much are you giving every two hours? Are you using a syringe pointed up toward the roof of her mouth? NEVER down toward their throat. Far too easy for baby to breathe the water in that way causing aspiration pneumonia.
Pictures can be very helpful for us to help you.

[Dr.Pepper]

Her name is Gidget, just so everyone knows :)

I started her first few feedings with pedialyte and over the past few hours have been diluting it to 1/2 pedialyte 1/2 water. I've been giving her 4-6cc each time, is that too much/little? She just wanted to gulp it down but I didn't want her getting too much at once. I am pointing the syringe up :)

I've raised kittens and rehabilitated baby possums, so I have a bit of experience in the raising/rehabilitating area. I have a lovely vet in my area who does treat squirrels if I need any immediate help/advice/treatment

I will post pictures when I can but as it is I'm posting this from my phone xD

I know pet feeding bottles are bad for baby, but is there some type of nipple I can get for the end of the syringe? I don't think she's fond of the hard plastic >.<

[Nancy in New York]

Her name is Gidget, just so everyone knows :)

I started her first few feedings with pedialyte and over the past few hours have been diluting it to 1/2 pedialyte 1/2 water. I've been giving her 4-6cc each time, is that too much/little? She just wanted to gulp it down but I didn't want her getting too much at once. I am pointing the syringe up :)

I've raised kittens and rehabilitated baby possums, so I have a bit of experience in the raising/rehabilitating area. I have a lovely vet in my area who does treat squirrels if I need any immediate help/advice/treatment

I will post pictures when I can but as it is I'm posting this from my phone xD

I know pet feeding bottles are bad for baby, but is there some type of nipple I can get for the end of the syringe? I don't think she's fond of the hard plastic >.<

Yes there are nipples you can get, but you would have to order they are not sold in stores.
Mothering Silicone Nipple is one
and the Miracle nipple is the other.


http://www.henryspets.com/syringes-and-nipples/

[Zeemiles]

I'm not sure what you're using to stimulate but I had better luck with my thumb or finger. I could get nothing with a qtip. Just my 2cents.


Ps. Do you know how hard it is to type with a Squeaks on your ipad?

[Dr.Pepper]

I've tried using a q-tip, a warm cloth and my finger, and nothing.

Also, I couldn't get her to eat last feeding time. She seemed too sleepy to want to eat. Is this good or bad?

[Squirlgirl]

She could just be full and doesn't want anymore, but seems with all the hydration that she should be peeing readily. Is she warm, does she hold her warmth when you pick her up? Take any pics yet?

[Squirlgirl]

Is she on a heating pad? Or have some type of heat source?

[Dr.Pepper]

She does have a hearing pad under half her cage. She was okay with sleeping there last night but when I tried to put her there this morning after her feeding she made a high-pitched crying noise until I picked her back up. She's been snuggled up asleep in my shirt since then. I'll see if I can upload pictures with my phone.

[Dr.Pepper]

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[Squirlgirl]

WHAT A LITTLE DOLL!!!! She looks hydrated. Are you sure that she didn't pee on her blankies. Her eyes being open, she may not have need your help to pee, even though we stimulate new kids to see urine color and pray for poop.

[Unikorngrrl]

Sometimes it takes a minute for them to potty even when you're hydrating. I wouldn't be concerned yet. She probably is very full if you've been giving her all of those fluids. And smell the bedding she is in. I know, gross, but she may very well be peeing and you don't know it. Poop will probably take a day or more. Make sure her tummy goes down before you give anymore so that you don't overfill her. You could try some diluted formula next. Half formula already mixed with water and and equal half of water. That's what I would do anyway... :thumbsup

[Dr.Pepper]

She just got her first part-formula meal and she went nuts! Couldn't get enough of it. I gave her about 9 cc, is that too much? Her belly is a bit round but still squishy. She weighs about 80 grams right now if that helps. I just wanna make sure she's getting the right amount.

[farrelli]

That would be too much. The rule is 5-7% of body weight, so you should be feeding 4-6CCs on an 80g squirrel. You can go a little over that, but you have to pay attention to digestion and avoid bloat or undigested formula.

[Dr.Pepper]

Okay, I'll cut back on it, thanks!

[Squirlgirl]

:thumbsup

[Dr.Pepper]

Update: Gidget peed a little bit for me at her 6:30 feeding and I just got a bit of poo out of her :grin2

She's also getting a bit more active. She can't walk very well right now but she's crawling all over the place.

And some cute pictures of Gidget curled up with her kitty :3

[CrazySquirrelLady]

odd that i am subscribed to this thread, but my POST IS MISSING.... now that was a funny post, and i don't see why you all DELETED IT...... booo hissss boooo....

[Dr.Pepper]

Gidget is now having diarrhea, and her tummy is pretty firm. could this be from the over-feeding? What should I do now?

[SammysMom]

Would it be possible to get a picture of the baby's tummy? When was the last time she ate and how much did she eat? What are you feeding?

[farrelli]

Make sure she stays hydrated. She may have gas, so a drop or two of INFANT simethicone (Gas-X) can help.

[Nancy in New York]

80 grams for a little eyes opened squirrel is severely underweight.
Is she a foxer, if so, her weight is extrememly concerning.
Where in Washington do you live? Perhaps we can find a rehabber
that has other babies her age that she can be paired with, she will\
thrive with others.

[Dr.Pepper]

10:30 today she had about 5 cc of a pedialyte/water/ puppy formula mixture. I live in walla walla and as far as I know she's a grey squirrel, I believe that's all we have in my town. She really does not want me taking pictures of her tummy, but I tried.

[SammysMom]

Never mix pedialyte with formula! What puppy formula are you using? We really need to see her tummy to know if she is bloated or not. Hold her up like this

[Dr.Pepper]

I'm currently using esbilac. My mother showed me how to make it so it dissolves really well but I will be getting fox valley soon.

[CritterMom]

I'm currently using esbilac. My mother showed me how to make it so it dissolves really well but I will be getting fox valley soon.

Looks like a very skinny little fox squirrel. Can you check the label of the esbilac and tell us if it advertises that it has probiotics?

[Nancy in New York]

Looks like a very skinny little fox squirrel. Can you check the label of the esbilac and tell us if it advertises that it has probiotics?

I too think it's a foxer. :)

[Dr.Pepper]

The formula has prebiotics and probiotics. Should I keep feeding her or lay off for a bit and just give water?

[SammysMom]

Feet look like foxer feet to me.:Love_Icon

[CritterMom]

The diarrhea is probably from overfeeding.

I would dilute the esbilac with 50% water (make it per the package directions then cut the mixture 1/2 and 1/2). Feed the prescribed amount - 5-5% of body weight) for the next few feedings and see what happens with the poops. Don't overfeed. If the poops firm up. start diluting the esbilac a little less at each subsequent feeding until you are at full strength. BTW, stick with the esbilac for now and don't switch to Fox Valley.

Don't feed too frequently. You want to feed them until their tummy is about 2/3 full then wait until that formula has been digested until you feed again. "Topping off" every hour or so is what causes bloat, which is just fermenting undigested formula.

This is a fox squirrel. Are the squirrels in your area grey on top with golden orange tummies and undersides? Those are fox squirrels. Gray squirrels don't have the golden orange - their tummies are white and they are a little smaller.

[Dr.Pepper]

if she is bloated, what can I do to help her? Should I cut back from feeding her every two hours to, say, every four or so? Should I start with the formula mix right now then or keep giving water until the bloating goes away?

[CritterMom]

If she is bloated - it is hard to tell from the pic - the tummy will feel tight like a drum. I use balloons as a comparison - healthy baby tummy feels like a balloon half filled with water - soft and squishy. Bloat feels like a balloon filled with air - tight and sort of hard. If bloated, do the following:

Give the baby a few drops of infant simethicone (Baby Gas-x) from any drug store. Then try soaking his lower half (from the armpits down) in a bowl of warm water - same as body temp - and while he is in there, gently stroke his tummy in a downward stroke. The warm water helps them to relax their muscles, the simethicone will help break up gas bubbles and the stroking stimulates the intestines to move stuff through.

Hold off on food until the gas is out, then start with the half and half stuff.

[Dr.Pepper]

I did try soaking earlier, and it seemed to help a bit. her tummy feels taught, but I wouldn't say hard. I'll go get some of the Gas-x now.

[Dr.Pepper]

should I give her water still or hold off on that too?

[CritterMom]

should I give her water still or hold off on that too?

Give her some Gas X (remember - the BABY kind) first and then give her a hydration only feeding 15 or 20 minutes later - you can use just sugar water or even plain water for this. Then if the tummy looks good, go to the half formula half water. Baby needs food as soon as it can digest it.

[Duckman]

Feet look like foxer feet to me.:Love_Icon

She is definatly a Fox Squirrel. They range up into Walla Walla so she isn't out of place. I have 2 here that I can currently rehabbing. Unfortunately, I am 3/4 of the state away (I am on the West side of the mountains).

[Dr.Pepper]

so how often should I be feeding her?

[CritterMom]

Shoot for 5% of her weight about every 4 hours as long as the food is digested. It is going to be cut with water at first and will digest faster than just formula would so check a little before 4 to see if everything is digested. Once the poops are normal and the formuola is full strength you will be able to feed a little more and not as often.

[Dr.Pepper]

okay. I gave her the medicine about 15 minutes ago and soaked her again. How long should it take for her tummy to soften?

[Dr.Pepper]

when can I give her the meds again if she needs them? her tummy's a little better, I gave her a bit of water to keep her hydrated.

[farrelli]

Infant Gas-X, right? I think you can give them every 2-4 hours, just a drop or two.

[Dr.Pepper]

The store I went to didn't have the Infant Gas-X so I got the infant store brand instead. Its the same exact thing though.

[Dr.Pepper]

How long should it take for her tummy to get better? I don't want her going without food too long

[farrelli]

Are you still doing the massages and soaks?

[Dr.Pepper]

yes

[farrelli]

How long has it been since given food? After awhile, it might be a good idea to start introducing very diluted formula.

[Dr.Pepper]

She hasn't eaten since 10 this morning

[Dr.Pepper]

here's recent tummy pictures.

[farrelli]

I'm not an expert, but the tummy doesn't look bad to me. How is it feeling? Has she eaten again? 24hrs without food isn't good.

[CritterMom]

Start feeding her some diluted formula. Make sure it is warm and make VERY sure she is warm - like over a heating pad warm. They need to be warm to digest.

[Duckman]

The tummy looks good for a Fox Squirrel. They usually have a more distended tummy than the Grays or Douglas squirrels I find in Washington. Give her diluted formula every 4 hours (using the 5-7% rule) and keep checking for dehydration (do you know how to check this?). Can you also give us an update on her? It is 2:30pm Pacific here.