Constapated 5 week old baby squirrel (Help Quick Plz)

[sparkz]

Hi we found a baby and from what we have read fig it to be about 5 weeks plus old,,
Its first time we have worked with a squirrel so we only know what we have read here and few other places,,
we have given it Pedolite for first 2 days as he from a pinch test looked to be dehydrated so gave him all he wanted for those two days+ and we had gone to only store and found some puppy milk replacement Plus
(Petag brand in soda lookin can,, please dont ask we change cuz this is all there is for
over 100+ Miles in any direction ONE WAY so we have that to work with))
so we gave him that for past few days 3, and have used tap water to cut it by about 50%
we have yet to see any turds, and my son who is the main care giver thinks its belly's gettin hard and
hes worried,, the babys seems active when he starts to feed it and after it eats it ( about 5 ccs?)slows down and wants to sleep,, so he had read here about stimulating and hes used a Q-Tip with warm water brushed on its butt to try to get it t go,, no luck so far after 10-15 Minuit?

what more can we do with stuff we may have here in house or how long to try to stimulate it, other methods?

Please advise ASAP if posb,
We shall try to check back as posb

TIA
Patrick & Sean
Eastern Kentucky Coalfields

[jbtartell]

Do u have Ny apple juice

[jbtartell]

That was do u have:grin3bany apple juice

[jbtartell]

If u dont try some sugar water be sure babybis warm and fluids are warm like a baby bottle

[sparkz]

About how much sugar? would it be good to add that to the pedolite? or tap water?
I can try to get to small store for some apple Juice today too do we delute it or?
plz let us know so we are clear

TIA
Patrick

[island rehabber]

No more Pedialyte......Instead, mix 2 cups WARM water with 1.5 TABLESPOONS of sugar. You can add a little bit of juice for taste if you have it.

Give the baby the fluids IN BETWEEN feedings of formula. If you are feeding every 4 hours, give fluids at the 2-hour mark. This should loosen things up and get him pooping. You can also massage his belly lightly, from under his arms down to his haunches.

Just for today, you may want to add a bit of water to the canned formula. Normally you don't do this, but in order to get things moving you should try it just today. Again, everything should be warmed before feeding.

[jbtartell]

Thank u maura.. :thumbsup good luck with baby keep us updated..:grin3

[island rehabber]

:thumbsup:thumbsup

[farrelli]

Apple juice would be a good idea. Sugar draws water into the gut, which softens stools, and apple juice also contains sorboitol which draws even more water in, and is used as a mild natural laxative in babies and patients who have just undergone abdominal surgery.

You want to watch out so as to not overdo it tough, ans you don't want diarrhea.

[jbtartell]

:thumbsup:thumbsup

[lilidukes]

Did I read this right and you are mixing the formula 50-50???

If so too much formula!

It should be 1 part formula 2 parts water.
Like 1 scoop formula 2 scoops water.

I like the watered down apple juice.

[Liza]

The original post said it was in a soda-type can.. this makes me think it is a liquid premixed formula.. It sounds like he is mixing THAT 50/50 with water... Sparkz- Is this correct?

"(Petag brand in soda lookin can,, please dont ask we change cuz this is all there is for
over 100+ Miles in any direction ONE WAY so we have that to work with))"

If I am right and this is what he's giving, it isn't providing the nutrition this little guy needs.. Since there is no other formula available, maybe you can use the goats milk mixture. My little ones have done great with that, and the ingredients are easy to find.. Start out with just the goats milk and yogurt.. after a week or so, add in the heavy cream..

1 cup Goats Milk * (if concentrate in a can - dilute to package directions)
1/3 cup Full Fat Vanilla Yogurt
1/3 cup Whipping Cream

[stepnstone]

If this is the product... constipation won't be their only problem! :shakehead
http://www.walmart.com/ip/PetAg-Liquid-Milk-Replacer-Plus-for-Puppies-11-oz/24446951

[Nancy in New York]

Would you like us to try to find someone to take this little one?

[stepnstone]

This baby is not getting the nourishment it needs and is
unable to properly digest the junk it is getting.

Neither presents a good outcome for this little
unless it's rectified rather quickly... :(

[jbtartell]

This is true.. Nancy can someone be found and be on stand by? just to move things along faster..

[Nancy in New York]

This baby is not getting the nourishment it needs and is
unable to properly digest the junk it is getting.

Neither presents a good outcome for this little
unless it's rectified rather quickly... :(

Exactly, that's why I was thinking if we could find someone that has
everything already, it would be so much better for this little one.
Poor little peanut.

[Nancy in New York]

This is true.. Nancy can someone be found and be on stand by? just to move things along faster..


I will need to know where they live.
Could you just give me the name of the city?

[farrelli]

You could do an IP location lookup. Not always accurate, but it is most of the time.

[grampyngramy]

It is my daughter's n wife's b day I have to get some balloons n flowers get home. I can b on the road in two hrs get directions from louisville

[Duckman]

They haven't returned in 2 hours. This is not good.

[grampyngramy]

I am on my way from work now I am fifty miles from home.

[grampyngramy]

I am driving and typing when I can. I have formula some meds ape juice I can get a small tub with fleece a d hand warmers for heat. But I will need at least 1.5to 2 hours before I can head that way.

[farrelli]

For future reference, those chemical hand warmers aren't great. They can vary wildly in temperature and I've seen some recalls where they made them so hot they caused burns. Too cold ain't great either.

[pixiepoo]

They probably wanted to raise it themselves...

I've done warm water enemas before with really constipated babies. Just have to be very careful when doing it.

[grampyngramy]

I would never trust a ha d warmer but I figured if it was wrapped up I other cloth a d if I started when I left but then again I may have someone with me to hold it.

[SammysMom]

As long as you are paying attention to the temperature ALL of the time, it is okay as long as it's wrapped up. Just do not EVER feel you can leave it unattended for more than a few minutes. A sock filled with uncooked rice and microwaved can also serve as a heat source for a brief trip. Just be sure to squish it around after heating it to be sure there are no "hot spots" that could burn the baby.

[grampyngramy]

They haven't returned in 2 hours. This is not good.

Just praying for the little one

[sparkz]

Thanks for replys,,

(to me seems more active then when first posted)

We have him taking small amounts of sugar water (1/2CC) but really wants the formula we have diluted by 50%
yes canned stuff PetAg Brand in soda looking can "Milk Replacer Plus" we stopped the pedolite (sp) as instructed,,
and now only have offered the "" 1cup Tap to 3/4 TBS white Sugar"" as mentioned,,

he's not Cold we have him, when not handled in a large cat carrier with newsprint floor with clean rag and a tunnel made of cardboard and a paper towel roll for toy / Cover,
and a 300Watt Heat Lamp light over it to hold about 75-80*f
(We raise lots of farm Birds so know to keep warm not *hot and from drafts) trying to adapt our bird stuff for him
hes not had a BM that I can find as of yet but has Peed a few times,, and seems VERY happy and very active not sluggish as all,, But After a few minuits hes worn out and takes a nap untill you nudge him and hes off again,,
maybe i over reacted with the thing *But better safe then very sorry"\

If this is not best choice for a milk for him,, what / how might we fortifie it for now to make it a better mix?
Yogurt, butter milk? Please advise..

We would love to raise it but do have a few question as we are lots better at birds & Horses then with wildlife,,


from our reading we think hes about 5-6 weeks old hes wide eye-ed, full fur-ed out with white fur underside and gray bushie tail,, Posb hes Older looks just like a miniature gray, no pink on him
what might we look for to place his age?


Thanks for help thus far,,

il try to check back in sooner
Patrick
(Lost Creek, Kentucky)

PS;
We hope to raise him, but I also want him to do well,
and we will need to find a better source for feed then only game in town (Wal-mart)
Our Only Choice for food was >> http://www.walmart.com/ip/PetAg-Liquid-Milk-Replacer-Plus-for-Puppies-11-oz/24446951
so it was that or Kitten milk, and we had read to use the Puppy milk (last can on shelf to boot),,

[Duckman]

I am driving and typing when I can. I have formula some meds ape juice I can get a small tub with fleece a d hand warmers for heat. But I will need at least 1.5to 2 hours before I can head that way.

Do you have an inverter? You can use a non auto shut off heating pad, and plug it into an inverter and that will give you heat. If there is a Wal-Mart or K-Mart close, they have them pretty cheap. I would trust that over those chemical hand warmers, since they do burn at non regular rates. What might be the right temperature on moment can be 40 degrees too hot 5 minutes later, and that much of a difference can kill a baby before you even know it.

[sparkz]

ADDED; Also hes VERY VOCAL,, sound like chatter when hes playing now

[grampyngramy]

Do you have an inverter? You can use a non auto shut off heating pad, and plug it into an inverter and that will give you heat. If there is a Wal-Mart or K-Mart close, they have them pretty cheap. I would trust that over those chemical hand warmers, since they do burn at non regular rates. What might be the right temperature on moment can be 40 degrees too hot 5 minutes later, and that much of a difference can kill a baby before you even know it.

I do have a inverter in the truck. The wife's car has 110 outlet built in. The other 3 vehicles just have the 12 volt outlets. Should 2 or 3 heating pads.

PS to auto correct. What the Hell is ape juice.

[CritterMom]

Most of the time, baby squirrels aren't constipated, they just don't have enough solids in them to poop out yet.

Can you get goats milk? Wal Mart sells it. They make dry powder, canned condensed, and regular fresh in a carton. If you buy either canned condensed or the dry powder, you must FIRST dilute it according to the package directions. Then, mix

3 parts fresh or properly mixed dry/condensed goats milk
1 part yogurt - full fat is good, flavor is okay. I like Stoneyfield Yobaby, but any yogurt with "live cultures" in it will do.

and pick up a little carton of fresh heavy whipping cream.

Use the goats milk and yogurt mix for the first couple days until you get good poops, then you will slowy add in 1 part of the whipping cream. It is rich so do it slowly - but they need the fat.

[farrelli]

Kitten formula is better than nothing, but not by much. Cats have a high protein, low fat requirement and squirrels are the complete opposite. You might call that Walmart and see if htey have goat's milk. Many do. Sometimes fresh, sometimes dehydrated in a can by the condensed milk and such. The employees often don;t even know they have it. Many grocery stores carry GM. If you've got a Trader Joes, they'll have it. If you get it and mix it with yogurt and cream, as in our directions, it's pretty good for them.

If you absolutely can't get that or the regular puppy Esbilac and have to use the kitten stuff, can you tell us how much fat is in it? Mixing it with full fat yogurt might be in order.

Btw, could you provide us with a picture. We can tell a lot from one.

[jbtartell]

Great idea farrelli and nancy praying they come back before baby gets to sick:Love_Icon

[sparkz]

What about our adding Yogurt to this milk? to try to get it up to par for now? we are looking for better feed milk but until we get it any thoughts or experience with that?

Hoping to find some Goats milk fresh / dry / and or other milk formula, in the AM
so what other foods might be good to have on hand from experience?

also have Apple Juice and we have cut it by 50% with tap water to keep him "juicy" and no BM yet,,(loves apple juice)
but as i look at the feed its got no fiber so I would think one would not see much until we have fiber in him,,

we are trying to ge camera for a photo as starting to think maybes hes older then 5-6 weeks
hopeful the photo would help with that issue

any more Ideas and thoughts from experince?

TIA for your help thus far

Patrick

[farrelli]

How long has it been since poops? You might have to use straight apple juice or maybe even move to something more serious.

Has anyone mentioned tummy massages? Gently massage his tummy and sides, ideally in a very warm water bath.

When you feel his tummy, is it hard? It should feel soft, like a partially filled water balloon.

This could all be very, very serious if it's been a long time since pooping.

He's peeing, right?

Total guess on the formula, but maybe:
1 cup goats milk
1/3 cup dannon all natural vanilla yogurt

[SammysMom]

Okay, how much and what has he eaten in the last few days? How much formula and how many feedings per day?

[jennjenn]

scared for this baby!!!

[Nancy in New York]

scared for this baby!!!

Poor little peanut, I sure hope they come back and let us
know how the little one is doing.
We "could" have helped so much, but they don't come back for long. :Cry

[sparkz]

He's e so doing fine so far we added some yogurt to the milk and hes perked right up and real friendly and active *Now,,
Guess someone says the mom was squeezed by car days before we found him so he was in real trouble when found, he had no food or mom for 4+ days so was a bit taxed,, but we have him doing well on food and are reducing the yogurt in food and giving some apple juice with water at about 6hr and feed at 6hr so job ever 3hrs to watch and feed,, but doing well on milk, yogurt, apple juice, water, and under a bird light at 70-80*f..

(seems he was starving when we had watered the feed, when we added the yogurt at 50% and then watered hes fattened right up and got active and healthy, so next we will add more dog milk substitute)

Thanks to those who helped
we shall check in as posb.

Thanks again

[sparkz]

forgot to say he will now eat 120cc of feed or more each feeding and about 30 cc water mix so hes an eatter for sure,,

[squirrelsrule&bunniestoo]

If he's eating 120 ccs he's an adult for sure, no baby can eat that much. Can you post a picture of him?

[pappy1264]

Ummm, I am assuming '120 cc's per feeding' is a mistype??? lol

[Liza]

I sure hope it's a mistype- 120ccs is about half a CUP.. That is way too much for a baby that age, even if you only feed every 6 hours, and even if its watered down. What exactly are you mixing with what for formula now?- I may be just misunderstanding, but this confuses me- "are reducing the yogurt in food and giving some apple juice with water at about 6hr and feed at 6hr " and "added the yogurt at 50% and then watered"...He should be on either Fox Valley, Esbilac with pre and probiotics, or Goats Milk formula.. When people told you to add yogurt to the soda-can Pet Ag stuff, it was to get you though until you could get the proper stuff to keep him healthy.. Really, at this age he is growing at an amazing rate, and needs the RIGHT nutrition so he can lead a long and healthy life.. Just because he is active and bright eyed for now on the Pet Ag doesn't mean he will stay that way..
We would LOVE to see a picture, by the way..

[jennjenn]

hope this baby is doing better!!