Giving formula as paste instead of liquid

[Br@ndon]

Is it be acceptable to give a squirrel formula as a paste that can be eaten with other foods? This instead of liquid through a syringe. The little guy has been eating for a couple week and can can climb pretty well. I'm just wondering because if they can eat and drink, do they need to have the formula through an oral syringe?

[HRT4SQRLS]

Is it be acceptable to give a squirrel formula as a paste that can be eaten with other foods? This instead of liquid through a syringe. The little guy has been eating for a couple week and can can climb pretty well. I'm just wondering because if they can eat and drink, do they need to have the formula through an oral syringe?

I would not feed formula as a paste. I wouldn't want to risk bloat or some other problem. As long as they will take formula I would offer it because it is the best insurance against Metabolic Bone Disease.

You might try offering the formula in a small bowl. Some will mix the formula and then add yogurt. This will make it thicker and some babies will eat it out of a bowl. I will warn you, they get VERY messy when they eat it like this.

How old is your baby? Age of course, matters also.

[Br@ndon]

Thank you for the advice. What exactly is bloat? The expansion of dry food absorbing moisture after ingestion?

To give you a little more background, I'm asking for a few reasons. The first is this guy is about 60 - 70% the size of an adult squirrel. His teeth look pretty big to me when he yawns. He eats a variety of foods. Henry's squirrel blocks are his favorite by far.

I gave him a proper squirrel house to sleep in, meant to be his home when I eventually move him outside. He loves the house a great deal. It's made scheduled formula feedings a challenge because he sleeps behind a predator guard and comes out when he feels like it.

This isn't a problem for me because I work at home, so I can make sure he gets the recommended amount of formula. The challenge is I need to travel all next week. So I'm trying to come with a way for someone to give him the formula that may not be comfortable feeding him by a syringe. So I figured blending the formula into food might do the trick.

A bowl will work, but as you said, sometimes he's messy and gets it all over his face. He'll let me "groom" it off of him with a cloth, but that might not work so well for a stranger. He's of course capable of grooming himself, but I didn't know if the formula building up on his skin or over time would be an issue over time. Is it OK to let him have a bowl and clean himself off?