5 - 6 Week old squirrel not pooping

[Cnk]

I have a 5 - 6 week old squirrel that is not pooping. It pees a lot and is eating and drinking fine. Is this normal for a squirrel of his age to not be pooping? What can I do to make him/her poop?

Also, at this age should I be feeding him/her something other than formula?

Thanks for the help in advance! :)

[stepnstone]

I have a 5 - 6 week old squirrel that is not pooping. It pees a lot and is eating and drinking fine. Is this normal for a squirrel of his age to not be pooping? What can I do to make him/her poop?

Also, at this age should I be feeding him/her something other than formula?

Thanks for the help in advance! :)

No, it's not normal for any age squirrel not to be passing it's bowels.
Questions; What formula are you feeding?
How long have you had him?
Is he bloated, stomach feel firm?
Are you sure he's not passing on his own?
Is he hydrated?

If baby is "backed" up offering hydration and doing a warm water soak (chest level) and
massaging from under arm pits down the sides can help to get things moving.

[Cnk]

No, it's not normal for any age squirrel not to be passing it's bowels.
Questions; What formula are you feeding?
How long have you had him?
Is he bloated, stomach feel firm?
Are you sure he's not passing on his own?
Is he hydrated?

If baby is "backed" up offering hydration and doing a warm water soak (chest level) and
massaging from under arm pits down the sides can help to get things moving.


We're feeding her Esbilac.
We've had her for 4 days.
Her stomach is not bloated and does not feel firm.
And she is hydrated.

A couple minutes after posting this thread she pooped out one little pellet. Should she be pooping more than that?

[Nancy in New York]

Where in NY are you located?
Are you planning on overwintering?
Do you want us to try to find a rehabber?
Can you post a picture of him/her.
How did you find him, what is the weight and
how much are you feeding.
Do you have the powdered Esbilac?
If so how are you mixing it? 1 part powder to 2 parts water?
Is the third ingredient on the can Dried Whey Protein Concentrate?
Sorry for so many questions, but it will help us
determine if there is a problem.

IF he is fully hydrated and eating enough to eat he should
be pooping every time after eating. Do you stimulate him?

[Cnk]

Where in NY are you located?
Are you planning on overwintering?
Do you want us to try to find a rehabber?
Can you post a picture of him/her.
How did you find him, what is the weight and
how much are you feeding.
Do you have the powdered Esbilac?
If so how are you mixing it? 1 part powder to 2 parts water?
Is the third ingredient on the can Dried Whey Protein Concentrate?
Sorry for so many questions, but it will help us
determine if there is a problem.

IF he is fully hydrated and eating enough to eat he should
be pooping every time after eating. Do you stimulate him?

Suffolk County
Yes we're planning on overwintering.
She fell out of a tree into the middle of the road.
Not sure how much she weighs.
Esbilac is not powdered.
No the third ingredient is not dried whey protein.
Have only tried stimulating a couple of times, but it didn't seem like it was doing much.

Thank you for replying! :)

[Cnk]

Oh! Almost forgot.. Here's to pictures of her sorry they're not the best lol.

263919263920

[Spanky]

The liquid Esbilac is no good for squirrels and usually leads to diarrhea and a failure to thrive. You really need to get the powdered Esbilac, third ingredient will be "dried whey protein concentrate".

It important to know their weight so you know you are feeding enough but not too much. A $20 kitchen food scale does the trick!

Also, can you please share how much and how often you are currently feeding her?

[Cnk]

The liquid Esbilac is no good for squirrels and usually leads to diarrhea and a failure to thrive. You really need to get the powdered Esbilac, third ingredient will be "dried whey protein concentrate".

It important to know their weight so you know you are feeding enough but not too much. A $20 kitchen food scale does the trick!

Also, can you please share how much and how often you are currently feeding her?

Okay thank you so much, Spanky. I will be switching formulas I am currently giving her 6 ml of formula every 4 hours.

[Spanky]

Okay thank you so much, Spanky. I will be switching formulas I am currently giving her 6 ml of formula every 4 hours.

Hard to really guess her weight in the pictures without reference (like her being next to say a soda can for perspective) but I would guess 6ml may be a little low. If you can get a kitchen scale and weigh her, she should get between 5% - 7% of her body weight in formula with every feeding. So, for a 100gram squirrel that would be 5ml - 7ml every feeding.

My wild guess would be your baby is 125gm - 140gm? But I may not have the best estimate, and like I said with out an object for reference guessing is even harder!

[Cnk]

Hard to really guess her weight in the pictures without reference (like her being next to say a soda can for perspective) but I would guess 6ml may be a little low. If you can get a kitchen scale and weigh her, she should get between 5% - 7% of her body weight in formula with every feeding. So, for a 100gram squirrel that would be 5ml - 7ml every feeding.

My wild guess would be your baby is 125gm - 140gm? But I may not have the best estimate, and like I said with out an object for reference guessing is even harder!

Here's some pictures of her next to a water bottle for reference so you can hopefully get a better perspective until I can get a kitchen scale.

263924263925263926

[Nancy in New York]

This little one is older than 5-6 weeks, I would estimate easily 7-8 weeks due to the tail fluff.
When they are this age and older, I let them basically take what they want in formula.
However, since you are feeding 6 mls every 4 hours, you want to do this slowly. If he wants more,
go up to 8-9 mls. and make sure that his tummy is NOT hard. It will be larger, but that should go down
after a little while.
Are you feeding through the night?
How many feedings is he getting per day at ~6 mls.
I have some little ones here that I am babysitting.
They range in age from 6-7 weeks to 9 weeks.
The smallest one ~7 weeks is eating ~20 mls 3-4 times daily,
plus veggies, and HHB's
Are you sure he isn't pooping in his cage?
He definitely is NOT getting enough formula.
Is he still looking for more after 6 mls?
You can start him on HHB's.
I always get the picky blocks, they seem to prefer them over the others.
http://www.henryspets.com/squirrel-diet/

Here's one of my little ones from this morning, age is ~7 weeks.
This is not a great picture, I will get a better one of her size when she
wakes up.




https://nmognoni.smugmug.com/photos/i-3VFpGzf/0/M/i-3VFpGzf-M.jpg (https://nmognoni.smugmug.com/Mauras-little-ones-September/n-86nN3w/i-3VFpGzf/A)

[Cnk]

This little one is older than 5-6 weeks, I would estimate easily 7-8 weeks due to the tail fluff.
When they are this age and older, I let them basically take what they want in formula.
However, since you are feeding 6 mls every 4 hours, you want to do this slowly. If he wants more,
go up to 8-9 mls. and make sure that his tummy is NOT hard. It will be larger, but that should go down
after a little while.
Are you feeding through the night?
How many feedings is he getting per day at ~6 mls.
I have some little ones here that I am babysitting.
They range in age from 6-7 weeks to 9 weeks.
The smallest one ~7 weeks is eating ~20 mls 3-4 times daily,
plus veggies, and HHB's
Are you sure he isn't pooping in his cage?
He definitely is NOT getting enough formula.
Is he still looking for more after 6 mls?
You can start him on HHB's.
I always get the picky blocks, they seem to prefer them over the others.
http://www.henryspets.com/squirrel-diet/

Here's one of my little ones from this morning, age is ~7 weeks.
This is not a great picture, I will get a better one of her size when she
wakes up.




https://nmognoni.smugmug.com/photos/i-3VFpGzf/0/M/i-3VFpGzf-M.jpg (https://nmognoni.smugmug.com/Mauras-little-ones-September/n-86nN3w/i-3VFpGzf/A)

Sorry for the delay in response!

No we're not feeding her through the night.
We feed her about 4-5 times a day.
I'm positive she is not pooping in her cage.
Yes she was still looking for more, but we weren't sure if we should give her more or not.

[SammysMom]

I have a few who are that age and they are eating quite a bit more than that. I would let her have more. Maybe add 1cc per feeding to be sure it goes okay with her digestion. If her tummy isn't bloated she should be fine. He/she is adorable!:Love_Icon

[Nancy in New York]

Were you able to get a scale?
This way we can determine how much she should eat through the day.
She is ADORABLE by the way!
But we need to fatten her up a little. :hug

[Nancy in New York]

Here'e a picture of little Carrie, I believe they are the same age, just for size comparisons. :grin2
She eats ~ 75 mls of formula daily, along with HHB's and veggies.

https://nmognoni.smugmug.com/photos/i-wQxXW8f/0/M/i-wQxXW8f-M.jpg (https://nmognoni.smugmug.com/Mauras-little-ones-September/n-86nN3w/i-wQxXW8f/A)

[Cnk]

Unfortunately I wasn't able to get the scale I was really busy today.
She still hasn't pooped either and I'm getting very worried I've tried stimulating her and doing a warm water soak like stepnstone suggested and still nothing, but she does pee alot.

She is very adorable we have all fallen in love with her! :Love_Icon

[Cnk]

Here'e a picture of little Carrie, I believe they are the same age, just for size comparisons. :grin2
She eats ~ 75 mls of formula daily, along with HHB's and veggies.

https://nmognoni.smugmug.com/photos/i-wQxXW8f/0/M/i-wQxXW8f-M.jpg (https://nmognoni.smugmug.com/Mauras-little-ones-September/n-86nN3w/i-wQxXW8f/A)

Wow Carrie looks a lot bigger than our squirrel.

Not sure if you can see a size difference in the images below.
263939263940

[Nancy in New York]

Unfortunately I wasn't able to get the scale I was really busy today.
She still hasn't pooped either and I'm getting very worried I've tried stimulating her and doing a warm water soak like stepnstone suggested and still nothing, but she does pee alot.

She is very adorable we have all fallen in love with her! :Love_Icon

I can see why you have fallen in love!:Love_Icon
Try a little bit of apple juice in the hydration/water, and hydrate between
feedings.
When was the last time you saw poop?

[Cnk]

I can see why you have fallen in love!:Love_Icon
Try a little bit of apple juice in the hydration/water, and hydrate between
feedings.
When was the last time you saw poop?

The last time I saw poop was a couple minutes after I posted this thread yesterday, but it was only one little pellet.

[Cnk]

I can see why you have fallen in love!:Love_Icon
Try a little bit of apple juice in the hydration/water, and hydrate between
feedings.
When was the last time you saw poop?

The hydration/water is pedialyte, right?

[Nancy in New York]

The hydration/water is pedialyte, right?

NO don't use pedialyte for more than 24 hours.
Just give water and a splash of apple juice, OR a bit of honey in it. :thumbsup

[Cnk]

Just bought the powdered Esbilac just a little confused on how to make it.
How much water and how much powdered formula?

Thanks!

[Nancy in New York]

Just bought the powdered Esbilac just a little confused on how to make it.
How much water and how much powdered formula?

Thanks!

It should say on the can, but if not:
You do 1 part of powdered esbilac to 2 parts hot water.
Some let it sit for a few hours, in the refrig. and stir again before feeding.

[Cnk]

Good news, everyone! She's been pooping after every feeding today!! :bliss:poop:poop:poop

[stepnstone]

Good news, everyone! She's been pooping after every feeding today!! :bliss:poop:poop:poop

Nothing will beat what proper nutrition can accomplish for these littles.... :great