No weight gain and little poop

[LittleAngel]

Hi Everyone,

My little guy is 4 weeks and I've had him for a week now. I had him on the Esbilac the one with out probiotics and he wasn't gaining weight and started to have runny poops. Thanks to Scooterzmom she helped me out. He's now on the Esblac with pre and probiotics since Friday. He takes it no problems. He had his first normal poop on Saturday morning but nothing like that since. He's had little balls - I'll post a picture. He still hasn't gained any weight either. Can someone please help me figure this out. I will add he has lots of energy and is a sweetheart!

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[CritterMom]

What ratio of powder to water are you using? How often are you feeding him? And what does he weigh?

[LittleAngel]

What ratio of powder to water are you using? How often are you feeding him? And what does he weigh?

I'm using 1 part powder and 3 parts water. He weighs 60 grams. I feed him every 3.5 to 4 hours. I just checked on him 20 minutes ago and he was up moving around. I picked him up and he started to have a poop. Much more that the first little ball this morning.

[CritterMom]

Full strenth Esbilac is TWO parts water to one part powder. You are feeding a dilute formula. This is good at first - when you are first introducing the little ones to formula, but you want to work up to full strength.

Don't do it all at once but over the next day or two go from 3 parts water to 2 parts water.

And remember, slow, gradual food transitions are the best way to avoid tummy issues. It is a little more of a PIA for YOU but better for them. :thumbsup

[LittleAngel]

Full strenth Esbilac is TWO parts water to one part powder. You are feeding a dilute formula. This is good at first - when you are first introducing the little ones to formula, but you want to work up to full strength.

Don't do it all at once but over the next day or two go from 3 parts water to 2 parts water.

And remember, slow, gradual food transitions are the best way to avoid tummy issues. It is a little more of a PIA for YOU but better for them. :thumbsup

Sounds good. I will start to move him to 2 parts water and 1 part powder. So once he's on full strength I should start to see weight gain and more poop? Sorry for all the questions. I just want to make sure he's doing good. :)

[CritterMom]

Yes. The more water there is in the formula, the less solids it contains overall, and those are what gets pooped out. He is likely going to like it a lot more - like the difference in taste for us in skim milk and whole!

You will also be increasing the amount of fats he is getting by not diluting it so much.

[LittleAngel]

Yes. The more water there is in the formula, the less solids it contains overall, and those are what gets pooped out. He is likely going to like it a lot more - like the difference in taste for us in skim milk and whole!

You will also be increasing the amount of fats he is getting by not diluting it so much.

Okay I see now. Thanks CritterMom!

[Spanky]

You will also be increasing the amount of fats he is getting by not diluting it so much.

Once the transition to 2:1 is complete the little guy will be getting twice (2X) the amount of solids (e.g. raw material for poop!) each feeding as he would get with 3:1.

I was compelled to add this as just a few days ago there was a baby getting formula diluted down to almost 6:1 and his mama was concerned about poop. After transitioning the little guy became a poop monster in short order (and weight gain improved as well)! :thumbsup

[LittleAngel]

Once the transition to 2:1 is complete the little guy will be getting twice (2X) the amount of solids (e.g. raw material for poop!) each feeding as he would get with 3:1.

I was compelled to add this as just a few days ago there was a baby getting formula diluted down to almost 6:1 and his mama was concerned about poop. After transitioning the little guy became a poop monster in short order (and weight gain improved as well)! :thumbsup

Thanks Spanky for passing that info on! :great

[Spanky]

How's your little on this morning; does he like his new full strength Esbilac?

I also wanted to check in on how much your little guy is eating at each feeding?

And how often is he getting fed?

Does he have a name yet?

Now that he is on full strength formula he should start to gain weight in a day or two (every day!). :thumbsup

[LittleAngel]

How's your little on this morning; does he like his new full strength Esbilac?

I also wanted to check in on how much your little guy is eating at each feeding?

And how often is he getting fed?

Does he have a name yet?

Now that he is on full strength formula he should start to gain weight in a day or two (every day!). :thumbsup

He's good. He had lots of little poops yesterday and a small one today. He is really enjoying the full strength Esbilac. He seems really content after a feeding. Before he would still look around for more.

He is getting fed 2.5cc every 4 hours. I've been going by the 5% rule.

I call him Angel. :)

Thanks Spanky for checking up. :hug

[Spanky]

He's good. He had lots of little poops yesterday and a small one today. He is really enjoying the full strength Esbilac. He seems really content after a feeding. Before he would still look around for more.

He is getting fed 2.5cc every 4 hours. I've been going by the 5% rule.

I call him Angel. :)

Thanks Spanky for checking up. :hug

By the 5% rule Angel would weigh 50 grams now. I see where he was 60 grams yesterday and the other of your posts said he was 74 grams at one point. I just want to double check that you are confident in all those weights and he has lost up to 24grams (1/3)?

If it were me, and he was pooing and peeing well, I would start boosting him up towards the upper limits (7% or 3.5ml for 50 grams). Maybe increase by 0.5 ml each feeding until he is there and see how he does along the way. He has some lost growing time to make up. And because of that I would make sure he gets fed around the clock, every four hours for quite a while (at least a week, maybe 2) if you can pull that off. If not, try to minimize the overnight span between feedings to 6 - 7 hours if at all possible. :thumbsup

You do not want to make too many changes too quickly, so increase the amount Angel is getting first. Then after a few days we can talk about gradually adding some full fat yogurt to his formula so he gets some extra fat (and pack on some extra weight hopefully!).

And we need more pictures of Angel! We only have poop pics in this thread?!?!? :tap

[LittleAngel]

By the 5% rule Angel would weigh 50 grams now. I see where he was 60 grams yesterday and the other of your posts said he was 74 grams at one point. I just want to double check that you are confident in all those weights and he has lost up to 24grams (1/3)?

If it were me, and he was pooing and peeing well, I would start boosting him up towards the upper limits (7% or 3.5ml for 50 grams). Maybe increase by 0.5 ml each feeding until he is there and see how he does along the way. He has some lost growing time to make up. And because of that I would make sure he gets fed around the clock, every four hours for quite a while (at least a week, maybe 2) if you can pull that off. If not, try to minimize the overnight span between feedings to 6 - 7 hours if at all possible. :thumbsup

You do not want to make too many changes too quickly, so increase the amount Angel is getting first. Then after a few days we can talk about gradually adding some full fat yogurt to his formula so he gets some extra fat (and pack on some extra weight hopefully!).

And we need more pictures of Angel! We only have poop pics in this thread?!?!? :tap

He has lots a fair bit of weight. I'm not too confident on the numbers as I noticed my digital scale's battery is low. I will weight again today.

He does pee well and the pooing is coming along. I will increase his feedings by 0.5 ml to get to 3.5 ml (I'm sure he won't complain). I have been feeding him around the clock and will continue to do so.
I will keep you updated on how the increase is going. :)

This picture was taken on Saturday, he likes to climb on me. I will take a close up picture at noon for you guys. So you can see how adorable he his.:Love_Icon

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[Spanky]

This picture was taken on Saturday, he likes to climb on me. I will take a close up picture at noon for you guys. So you can see how adorable he his.:Love_Icon

Yes, more pictures please! :bliss:jump:bliss

Ok, yes, please share his daily weight here with us and we'll watch along with you!

And YES, he is ADORABLE!

[LittleAngel]

Another feeding done. I've noticed now that the formula is full strength Angel seems to get full faster and falls a sleep almost right away. He did take all 3cc's without hesitation. I did get a good pee, I also got a poo - it wasn't firm but it wasn't runny.

I did try to take a picture of him before I fed him, however he was a little active and wouldn't stay still.
I did manage to snap a picture after he was done eating. :thumbsup

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[LittleAngel]

Morning update.

Angel is now pooping after every feeding! :poop Its not perfect yet but getting there. He also has no problems when peeing.

His weight today is 51g; 1g up from yesterday!! :grin3

Now I have noticed he seemed more sleepy last night and this morning. He got up when I woke him and was alert and more than ready for his food. I'm mentioning this because usually he's up and staggering around waiting for his food in the am. Should I be concerned?

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Don't mind the milk on his face. I took the picture before I wiped it off.

[LittleAngel]

I'm happy to report Angel is doing very well!! :bliss

He is now pooping normal poops after every feeding and his weight is now 56g!! :dance He still has a lot more to go but he's getting there!

Thanks everyone for all your help! :Love_Icon I will continue to let you know how he's doing.

[Spanky]

Thanks for the update!

And I am sorry no one replied to the sleepy head message... I take it from today's post it was just a lazy morning for him the other day and he took a while to wake up. Not unusual for this to happen occasionally; only be concerned if it is repeated pattern or continues all day long.

There are mornings when I do not see single "yard squirrel" until late in the morning, like 10AM or so. I get literally dozens of visitors most mornings so when they are ALL MIA it is easy to notice (in fact they are usually my alarm clock!). Sometimes it seems obvious why they are not out of their nests, like nasty weather. Other times I cannot figure it out, but all the squirrels on the same page even if I am not there with them... :thinking

[LittleAngel]

Thanks for the update!

And I am sorry no one replied to the sleepy head message... I take it from today's post it was just a lazy morning for him the other day and he took a while to wake up. Not unusual for this to happen occasionally; only be concerned if it is repeated pattern or continues all day long.

There are mornings when I do not see single "yard squirrel" until late in the morning, like 10AM or so. I get literally dozens of visitors most mornings so when they are ALL MIA it is easy to notice (in fact they are usually my alarm clock!). Sometimes it seems obvious why they are not out of their nests, like nasty weather. Other times I cannot figure it out, but all the squirrels on the same page even if I am not there with them... :thinking


No worries Spanky. He was just having a lazy morning. :)

Yes I've noticed that too. Most mornings I have lots of squirrelies playing in my yard and some mornings where I don't see them all day!

I just went to give Angel is afternoon feeding and was greeted with a wonderful surprise!! :gigg

One little eye is open!

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[LittleAngel]

Angel continues to do well! He now weighs 66g. Both of his little eyes are open and he is looking so adorable!! :grin2

I'm wondering when I should start introducing rodent blocks? I should mention his top teeth are in.

Thanks again.

[Spanky]

Another great update! :thumbsup

You can start placing the block in the cage with Angel now. They usually just "shred" up the block at first, but should start eating it more and more over the next week or so. Do not introduce other solid food until he is eating the block well, and even then always give the block first and only after that gets eaten provide the veggies. After Angel is eating veggies well, you can introduce fruit. In many weeks after he has a healthy diet, you might give him a nut as the occasional treat. Eventually you want him to be able to break into a walnut (in the shell) since that is one of the important tests to know he is ready for the big wide world of tall, tall trees! :squirrel3

[LittleAngel]

Another great update! :thumbsup

You can start placing the block in the cage with Angel now. They usually just "shred" up the block at first, but should start eating it more and more over the next week or so. Do not introduce other solid food until he is eating the block well, and even then always give the block first and only after that gets eaten provide the veggies. After Angel is eating veggies well, you can introduce fruit. In many weeks after he has a healthy diet, you might give him a nut as the occasional treat. Eventually you want him to be able to break into a walnut (in the shell) since that is one of the important tests to know he is ready for the big wide world of tall, tall trees! :squirrel3

Thanks Spanky! He is doing so wonderfully! :clap

I will start with a block today. I'll keep you updated on how that goes. Thanks again for all your help!! :thumbsup

[LittleAngel]

Angel is doing great! He's now up to 93g!! :bliss He's is now getting playful and has little bursts of energy. Sooo cute to watch!

I have introduced the block but he only takes little licks/nibbles everyone once and a while. Is that normal?

Also I believe he's suffering from milk burn - he is a messy little eater. I'll post pictures. I have been using dawn soap but the fur on his cheeks is dry and hard. I don't want to scrub his face but not sure how to make it normal again. The fur on his arms and hands are soft but balding in spots. Is there more I should be doing to make it better. He doesn't scratch or itch. Its not red either.

Thanks for your help.
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