Bananas: can they cause diarrhea?

[Wolfe]

Today I deviated a bit from my squirrels feeding.
I say a bit, but it seemed to have a grater effect I hadn't imagined.
I gave her some pieces of ripe yellow banana. I've given her some before, but today I might have given her one or two too many pieces.
I thought bananas were suppose to make one constipated, at least in humans. Anyways I'm a worry wart, so needless to say I'm very worried.
I tried to feed her some formula not long ago and she did not seem very interested at all, and very oddly she seemed full, like her belly was as if she just finished eating, but it had been 6 hours since her last feeding. Can she be bloated from eating to many banana more than 8 hours earlier?
Lastly I want to say I found her poop in stages but 100% in what order. There were her little regular pebbles, then pieces much bigger than I've ever seen her poop before and they were very soft, not diarrhea at all, and just 2 or 3 spots were it seemed a whole lot less solid. It dosent stink, and it got lighter as it softer.
She is a gray squirrel and around 9 weeks old.
The formula I give her is the legit fox valley formula.
I would absolutely appreciate some info, should I be very concerned? Or not so much? I plan on buying some pedialite tomorrow if this problem persist in case of dehydration. But beyond this, I have no clue what to do.
Please please help :(

[squirrellove89]

she will be ok she just isnt used to it so it probably just upset her belly. also she is full because it is a solid not liquid so it lasts longer =) no reason to worry unless it persists:thumbsup

[sdreamcatcher]

She should be fine :). You may have given her a bit too much at once if she gets loose but I sometimes gave my babies banana mixed with yogurt and fv when they were moving to solid food with no issues.

If she is actually having diarrhea then yes pedialyte would be needed but from your description it doesn't sound like this is the case? IF he tummy is hard then bloat is a concern, but when mine were eating solid foods they did have days where they wanted less formula. Let her wean herself; some days she will want more formula, and some days she will be more interested in solid foods.

Do you have pictures? What is her name?

[Wolfe]

I don't know how exactly. And I'm sorry but it seems I made a duplicate thread. I'm using my phone and I'm not great at using it so that might explain it. If a mid would delete this one that would be great. Thank you.

[Wolfe]

Well thank you. I can sleep easier now. Her name is rain. Or little rain. I'll get a picture soon :D

[sdreamcatcher]

Well thank you. I can sleep easier now. Her name is rain. Or little rain. I'll get a picture soon :D

Aww that's a great name!! I can't wait for pictures, yes sleep well; these little buggers will scare the heck out of you mine did especially my first :tilt

[Duckman]

Well thank you. I can sleep easier now. Her name is rain. Or little rain. I'll get a picture soon :D

Being from Washington State, I love the Rain. I am sure I will love Little Rain too! (I'm a sucker for a squirrel!!)

Ditto on the she will be ok. Tummy upset, but she will clean out pretty quick. Just make sure she stays hydrated. Do the pinch test every 2-4 hours just to make sure, until her poops are back to normal. :grin3

[Unikorngrrl]

A squirrel really should NOT be eating fruit at this age period. Formula and blocks ONLY. Then you start with the green leafy stuff that is from the healthy diet. Once eating the blocks and green stuff VERY well, not just shredding, you start with other vegetables and then move to ONE small piece of fruit per day and/or ONE nut per day. Nuts and fruit are purely treats for captive squirrels and hold NO nutritional value. Feeding fruits this early makes them not want to eat their healthy foods. This should have been the FIRST response that you got!!

Yes the fruit probably upset her tummy and caused gas. More than usual will also make them too full. Formula is your main concern at this age. Then blocks. Bananas aren't the best fruit to give if you're going to give fruit either. Here is a link to the healthy diet and the calcium to phosphorus ratio list. The idea is to keep a 2:1 calcium to phosphorus ratio in their diet. Meaning that they should get double the amount of calcium than phosphorus.

Cative squirrel diet pyramid: http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?39275-Healthy-Diet-for-Pet-Squirrels-(Revised-2-13)

Ratios: http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?15397-Food-Data-Chart-Update-Calcium-to-Phosphorus-Ratios

You should also read through the nutrition forum. ALL of IT!! It's extremely important for cative squirrels as they are very prone to MBD which causes severe pain and inevitably death.

Nutrition forum: http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?191-Squirrel-Nutrition

We DO NOT recommend fruit in formula or in anything else here!!! :nono (An exception may be if we're having trouble with diarrhea, constipation, eating at all or dehydrated and the squirrel won't take fluids. Otherwise, no fruit...)

[farrelli]

Here's a good answer for you:

http://healthmunsta.hubpages.com/hub/Do-Bananas-Cause-Constipation

It's much like the conundrum on pumpkin/squash, some say it causes loose stools, some the opposite. It's actually more of a regulator. The high fiber will absorb moisture, thereby softening hard stools (it makes them bulkier, but soft), but if there's too much of it, it absorbs a lot of moisture and makes stools loose.

Also know that sugar pulls water into the gut, so too much sugar will generally cause loose stools too.

[sdreamcatcher]

A squirrel really should NOT be eating fruit at this age period. Formula and blocks ONLY. Then you start with the green leafy stuff that is from the healthy diet. Once eating the blocks and green stuff VERY well, not just shredding, you start with other vegetables and then move to ONE small piece of fruit per day and/or ONE nut per day. Nuts and fruit are purely treats for captive squirrels and hold NO nutritional value. Feeding fruits this early makes them not want to eat their healthy foods. This should have been the FIRST response that you got!!

Yes the fruit probably upset her tummy and caused gas. More than usual will also make them too full. Formula is your main concern at this age. Then blocks. Bananas aren't the best fruit to give if you're going to give fruit either. Here is a link to the healthy diet and the calcium to phosphorus ratio list. The idea is to keep a 2:1 calcium to phosphorus ratio in their diet. Meaning that they should get double the amount of calcium than phosphorus.

Cative squirrel diet pyramid: http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?39275-Healthy-Diet-for-Pet-Squirrels-(Revised-2-13)

Ratios: http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?15397-Food-Data-Chart-Update-Calcium-to-Phosphorus-Ratios

You should also read through the nutrition forum. ALL of IT!! It's extremely important for cative squirrels as they are very prone to MBD which causes severe pain and inevitably death.

Nutrition forum: http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?191-Squirrel-Nutrition

We DO NOT recommend fruit in formula or in anything else here!!! :nono (An exception may be if we're having trouble with diarrhea, constipation, eating at all or dehydrated and the squirrel won't take fluids. Otherwise, no fruit...)

He said he deviated from her normal diet and offered banana. I used to offer fruit too and I still do. She has the proper formula so obviously he did some reading on his own. Replies last night were to let him know for that one time she would be ok, as long as she isn't bloated and doesn't have diarrhea. For the record, when I have offered mine fruit they did not get stomach upset or gas and were fine.

[Wolfe]

218480
This is her. Today she's been 100% normal. Thank you all for your help and concern.

[Duckman]

This is her. Today she's been 100% normal. Thank you all for your help and concern.

:Love_Icon:Love_IconShe is DARLING!:Love_Icon:Love_Icon

[sdreamcatcher]

218480
This is her. Today she's been 100% normal. Thank you all for your help and concern.

Oh she is TOOOO CUTE!! I m glad she is better today; amazing how such tiny critters can freak you out! Do read up on the links for healthy diet to keep her healthy even as she weans (and let her wean herself). She will need to be overwintered of course (meaning more time for you to enjoy her cuteness :grin2).

[Unikorngrrl]

He said he deviated from her normal diet and offered banana. I used to offer fruit too and I still do. She has the proper formula so obviously he did some reading on his own. Replies last night were to let him know for that one time she would be ok, as long as she isn't bloated and doesn't have diarrhea. For the record, when I have offered mine fruit they did not get stomach upset or gas and were fine.

She said she deviated (increased) from the amount she normally gives. WE DO NOT RECOMMEND FRUIT FOR BABY SQUIRRELS ON TSB!!! That includes for yours!!! It makes them NOT want to eat their healthy stuff and it holds no nutritional value. You fill them up with something that doesn't offer them anything of value to grow on. If you read you'll see where we repeatedly say no fruit, at least until they are much older and are eating all of their healthy stuff first!