Hi new here :) with 2 babies and some questions

[cinm]

Hi Everyone,

So I am a new squirrel mom as of aug 20th 2 female grey squirrels came to me at 10 pm first time raising squirrels (2-3 weeks old 35 grams each and dehydrated and emaciated ).They came severely dehydrate and being fed kitten milk .There tree was cut down on sunday and they popped out of the tree on monday and then went to someone on tuesday and then we finally got them thursday night .Good thing as I don't think they would of made it.The came severely dehydrated I was not really prepared for squirrels so fed them every 2 hours the first night (no stranger to doing this as I raise frenchies and have to get up every 2 hours) so friday looked online read what I could still feeding them every 2 hours found liquid esbilac at the vet ordered powder off line .10 pm friday finally found out I could give them lactaid ringer (i have all this in my cupboard) so took them off food and did 12 hours straight every 1.5 hours all night and they finally bounced back started them slowly on formula mixed with lactaid ringer got 3/4 of the way with just formula and got diarrhea went back to more lactaid ringer and less formula and then finally got them on 100% formula and nice golden nuggets.There on the powdered esbilac now they have gone from dehydrated and emaciated 35 grams at 2 weeks old and now 90 and 92 grams at 3-4weeks old I feed them every 3 hours even at night about 4.5 ml .Does everyone think I can do every 4 hours with them during the night.I raised a racoon 2 years ago got him in may at 90 grams and raised him till fall at 30 lbs and found his place to hibernate on his own outside and always come and go to see us and get fed but independatly on his own.I was hoping to do the same with these guys but I dont see how that would be possible as we are going into september and there is snow on the ground in oct at 5 months old will be jan and -40 do you think next spring i could get them out on there own? Sorry so long but Hi again Cin and 2 girls with no names yet ;)262573262572

[CritterMom]

Using the 5% to 7% of body weight rule, they should be eating between 4.5 to 7cc per feeding. You are at the low end of that. You may want to see if you can feed them just a little more and space the feeding out a bit - yes to your every 4 hours at night BTW.

The responsible rehabbers in the north overwinter their babies and do exactly as you describe - put them in the release cage in the spring when the leaves reappear on the trees. :thumbsup

[cinm]

Thanks for the answers I have tried to feed them more I am at 5 ml and that is all they can take then it starts to come out there nose

[Spanky]

Be very careful about the formula coming out of the nose, they are easily susceptible to aspiration pneumonia (AP). Please pay attention to the breathing over the next day or so for any clicking sounds when they breath.

They'll need antibiotics if AP develops, so it might be nice to be prepared in advance.