Flying squirrel poop problems

[michaylab]

Okay so my 6 week old flying squirrel has been having a hard time pooping and when she does it is thick, long, and a brown color. I have been giving her a mix of some foods but I stopped that until I find out what the problem is. The only hard good she is chewing on is the Henry's block. I give her fox valley 32/40 with cream and yogurt. I just recently took away the cream. She has a water tube she drinks out of and I give her extra water, just in case, in between her formula feedings.

[michaylab]

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[HRT4SQRLS]

Hi michaylab,
We've had problems with the tiny babies not being able to digest the FoxValley 32/40. At 6 weeks old your baby should be past this problem by now. Thick, long and brown ... I guess you're saying the baby is constipated.

I would give the baby some diluted apple juice in addition to the formula for added hydration. If this doesn't help, I would try a few feeding of FoxValley diluted 3:1 with water to see if the extra water in the formula helps move things along. I would ease back to the 2:1 because she does need the calories. The cream in the formula shouldn't cause constipation. It's usually the other problem, loose poop.

[michaylab]

Thank you :)

[michaylab]

Okay her poop is still dark color and it stinks. I haven't been feeding her much because it seems like she's bloated

[michaylab]

^

[michaylab]

Does someone have an idea on what's going on?

[Mommaluvy]

I have no experience with flyers. But can you post a picture of the poop he has or is able to pass?

I was a abit confused as you had said at one point that it is long and solid but not formed??

Internet has a way of confusing people where PIctures sometimes tell the tale better. If that makes any sense. If you can't post pics...PM me and I'll send you my email and you can email em to me.. and I can post them for you. That way we can get a look at what your seeing.

So do you have pictures of this little ones belly from the side and from the front.. and a picture of the poo.. I know that sounds gross but I am dead serious.

[michaylab]

Yeah she can poop but she makes noises when she does. I will take a picture of poop when she goes again. Her belly is back to normal. I will message you for email because I can't get it load on here when I do it

[michaylab]

I messaged you.


I gave her a little bit of a pecan today and it made her constipated.

[pixiepoo]

Why did you stop giving her the cream mixed with the FV? I would add that back in. She needs the added calories. Also, at 6 weeks she should still be on primarily formula. Is she on formula? How often, how much and how much does she weigh?

[michaylab]

I stopped because I figured since she was having problems it would help..
Yes she is still getting formula and at the time I was giving her solids too. But I'm not giving her anything but water until her belly goes back down and she can poop without having trouble. My scale is broke so I can't say until I get a new one

[Mommaluvy]

Here is a picture of her squirrels poo. Is this the poop of one squirrel or two?
Sorry for the delay.. Had some technical difficulties unrelated to this, 245618

[michaylab]

Thank you

The poop is from one squirrel and she wasn't even done yet.

[Mommaluvy]

Ok.. Well two of those turds look weird. You might try adding that cream. BUT i have no experience with Flyers.. Bumping so that some flyer people might see.

[michaylab]

They are really big. I'll put a little bit of yogurt and cream with formula and see what happens

[michaylab]

She pooped again and this time it is a lighter brown and softer. She hasn't had any solids either. So I think the nuts is what made her tummy act up.

[HRT4SQRLS]

michaylab, Seriously, those are the most normal squirrel poops I have ever seen. I think you're over analyzing this. In a previous post you mentioned that you only have her on water. I hope I misunderstood that. Are you meaning formula and water? I hope so because your baby needs food.

You mentioned she looked bloated. You're not over feeding are you? You need to get a scale? A 6 week old flyer would weigh somewhere between 30-40g. At 30g you should be feeding between 1.5-2.1ml. At 40g you should be feeding between 2-2.8ml. I would definitely get that scale. This a large range for a tiny flyer. Make sure the milk line goes away (or mostly does) between feedings. You don't want to be putting new formula on top of undigested formula in the gut. This will cause bloat.

I would give the baby some block. Give her a tiny piece. See how it goes. I would give her a tiny piece of apple. I would not give her nuts at this age. If the poop is hard or she is constipated I would give extra water or the diluted apple juice. She will take that better than water. :thumbsup

[michaylab]

Okay this is my first time so I'm just asking. I thought they were suppose to be golden yellow. She had a hard time when I fed her solids, but I gave her a nut with it so it was probably the nut. Yes I only had her on water with a drop of apple juice a couple of feedings because of having trouble pooping. She has been chewing up a block a day. She also has a water tube that she drinks from so she likes water.

I'm getting a new battery for the scale that I have. I bought a scale a week ago and it stopped working 😒

[pixiepoo]

Yea I would def add the cream back. Can you post a pic of her? She should be fully furred with no visible milk line on the belly because of the fur at 6 weeks. :) the poops on the right look more normal but the ones on the left look big for a flyer. Could just be they clumped together which happens. Poops are usually golden-yellow when the babies are only on formula, in particular the fox valley. Once they start eating some solids it gets darker. For example, my boy is still on nearly all formula but nibbles on blocks. yesterday his poop was nearly all yellow then he had like a poop and a half that was dark brown. ;)

[HRT4SQRLS]

When they are on FV exclusively, yes, the poops are golden ... but with these other things added ... cream, yogurt and solid foods they will be darker.
The nut probably did upset her tummy. I would hold off on nuts for now. Of course, they LOVE nuts. The problem is that if they start eating nuts first, the blocks will taste nasty to them and they will reject the blocks. They will become picky eaters. Remember, nuts are not healthy for captive squirrels. When she is older she can have a nut as a treat after she eats her healthy foods.

For now, I would continue with the formula. In addition to formula you can give her small pieces of block. When she is eating the block well, I would start adding healthy veggies and a little fruit as a treat also. Have you seen the Healthy Flyer diet? Their diet is similar to grey squirrels except that they get additional protein like meal worms, WaxWorms, baked chicken or cooked eggs. They also get mushrooms for VitaminD.

[michaylab]

Yeah I have printed the diet plan out today. She likes the block lol Im surprised. I heard about them being picky too so I will make sure that doesn't happen.

Thank you for replying with that information. I'm not as worried now.

[michaylab]

No that's how big her poop gets when she ate a nut. I have it under control now. Her belly is full of hair.

I can't put a pic of here unless someone does it for me.

[HRT4SQRLS]

Her belly is full of hair.

I can't put a pic of here unless someone does it for me.
Uhmmm ... what does that mean? Flyers are not like cats. I will send a PM with my email. I will post the pic for you.

[michaylab]

Sorry I have had problems with internet connection lately.

I meant as in her belly is furry? She looks like she is suppose to don't worry lol sorry. She is doing much better :)