8 Week Old Squirrel?

[JaneTheKidd]

Scrat is nearing 9 weeks of age. We'll be upgrading her housing to a guinepig cage soon (and then our 6 foot tall, 3x3 cage down the line). I have a few questions however:

1) Her poop has returned to a solid brown color, instead of mustard brown. I had given her pedialyte thinking she was dehydrated but it still remains brown. We're assuming it's due to her larger intake of solid foods (though we still feed her formula three times a day). Is this normal?

2)I bought some squirrel food from a rehab center that has pellets along with dried fruits and all that yummy stuff. She ate the dried fruits but left the actual pellets behind. Other than that, I often give her grapes (her favorite snack), lettuce, and other vegetables. Given she continues to not eat the food I spent 50$ on, would a diet like that be fine (just feeding her different fruits/veggies/nuts/etc)?

3)We have a water bottle for her (the kind that hangs upside down) and a water dish. Our concern is with the fact that she hasn't appeared to touch either. We're assuming she's still getting hydration because of the formula, but we're still worried she may not be drinking water on her own. Is there anyway we can get her to drink, or will she just start drinking once we quit formula in a few weeks?

4) I love my baby but her claws H U R T. I let her out of her cage a few times a day to run around my room, climb up curtains, and do her thing (and today we took her outside to play in the grass). My only problem is that she uses me as her personal tree and leaves so many scratches its insane. I don't mind this when I'm dressed in pants and a long sleeve, but where it reaches 98 degrees at 6pm I can't always be dressed as such. Is there any way to trim her nails properly? (I was thinking having her run around on the cement?)

5) Whats the recommended amount of time for her to be wreaking havoc in the house? I assume she'll do what she's doing now where she tuckers herself out and then goes to sleep somewhere in the room. This is good, right?

6) Last question: Is there anyway to potty train her? I know ferrets can be trained, but I'm not sure about squirrels. Im prepared to constantly clean her pellets and pee as i've been doing, but I wouldnt complain if there was an easier way (i.e. litter training).

Thank you so much! :happy

[Spanky]

1) Her poop has returned to a solid brown color, instead of mustard brown. I had given her pedialyte thinking she was dehydrated but it still remains brown. We're assuming it's due to her larger intake of solid foods (though we still feed her formula three times a day). Is this normal?

Yes, will darken up with solids.


2)I bought some squirrel food from a rehab center that has pellets along with dried fruits and all that yummy stuff. She ate the dried fruits but left the actual pellets behind. Other than that, I often give her grapes (her favorite snack), lettuce, and other vegetables. Given she continues to not eat the food I spent 50$ on, would a diet like that be fine (just feeding her different fruits/veggies/nuts/etc)?

Have you seen the Healthy Food chart?
http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?44440-Healthy-Diet-for-Pet-Squirrels

Now is the time to get her used to eating healthy and then she gets snacks only after she has eaten her block, then veggies... and lastly fruit. Dried fruit is not a great option. Once she stops taking the formula, if she is not eating properly, including a high quality rodent block, it will be deadly (MBD).

What did you spend $50 on? Henry's? If she is not eating it, it's likely because you are giving her other (less good or bad) options. It's like a child eating broccoli... given the choice between skittles and broccoli the Skittles will always get eaten! Take away the junk food until after she has eaten her healthy food. She will eat it if you stand firm and not give her junk. Eventually she learn she gets the treats after she eats the good stuff. Tough love is what is needed!


3)We have a water bottle for her (the kind that hangs upside down) and a water dish. Our concern is with the fact that she hasn't appeared to touch either. We're assuming she's still getting hydration because of the formula, but we're still worried she may not be drinking water on her own. Is there anyway we can get her to drink, or will she just start drinking once we quit formula in a few weeks?

Let her continue the formula for as long as she will, the longer the better. Especially since it seems her diet needs some improvements!


4) I love my baby but her claws H U R T. I let her out of her cage a few times a day to run around my room, climb up curtains, and do her thing (and today we took her outside to play in the grass). My only problem is that she uses me as her personal tree and leaves so many scratches its insane. I don't mind this when I'm dressed in pants and a long sleeve, but where it reaches 98 degrees at 6pm I can't always be dressed as such. Is there any way to trim her nails properly? (I was thinking having her run around on the cement?)

I'd never recommend trimming a squirrel's nails; its part of their being a squirrel. Maybe someone else has different advice? :dono


5) Whats the recommended amount of time for her to be wreaking havoc in the house? I assume she'll do what she's doing now where she tuckers herself out and then goes to sleep somewhere in the room. This is good, right?

As much time as you can giver her (supervised), the more the better. But at least an hour a day if you can!


6) Last question: Is there anyway to potty train her? I know ferrets can be trained, but I'm not sure about squirrels. Im prepared to constantly clean her pellets and pee as i've been doing, but I wouldnt complain if there was an easier way (i.e. litter training).[/QUOTE]

Some will use a litter box. Try filling a pie pan with CareFresh type material and putting in the cage. Most will never get potty trained.

[JaneTheKidd]

Thank you for the response! I'll be sure to cut the junk food out starting now. I bought this here http://www.exoticnutrition.com/sqdiwifrnu.html as her food. It was 16$ shipping and handling.

Thank you for all the advice :)

[Spanky]

Yeah, I will venture to say that is "junk food". I don't doubt their claim that squirrels go "nuts" over it, but kids go "Nuts" over cotton candy at the circus, and adults go "Nuts" over deep fried Twinkies at the state fair, but none of that represents "good" nutrition. :grin3

Avoid any squirrel food promoting nuts, seeds and / or corn. These may be fine for an occasional treat, and wild squirrels which are much more active and have a much wider choice of natural foods to balance the junk, but these foods are a definite "no" for captive squirrels.

The foundation of their diet will be a high quality rodent block. Henry's Healthy Blocks (HHB) are the gold standard and made specifically for the nutritional requirements of squirrels. Two HHB's a day will ensure against MBD and provides loads of good stuff for squirrels. You can also provide unlimited amounts of other rodent block in addition to the HHB (Oxbow Regal Rat, Harlan Global Lab Blocks or Kaytee Forti-Diet)
http://www.henryspets.com/squirrel-diet/

[JaneTheKidd]

Yeah, I will venture to say that is "junk food". I don't doubt their claim that squirrels go "nuts" over it, but kids go "Nuts" over cotton candy at the circus, and adults go "Nuts" over deep fried Twinkies at the state fair, but none of that represents "good" nutrition. :grin3

Avoid any squirrel food promoting nuts, seeds and / or corn. These may be fine for an occasional treat, and wild squirrels which are much more active and have a much wider choice of natural foods to balance the junk, but these foods are a definite "no" for captive squirrels.

The foundation of their diet will be a high quality rodent block. Henry's Healthy Blocks (HHB) are the gold standard and made specifically for the nutritional requirements of squirrels. Two HHB's a day will ensure against MBD and provides loads of good stuff for squirrels. You can also provide unlimited amounts of other rodent block in addition to the HHB (Oxbow Regal Rat, Harlan Global Lab Blocks or Kaytee Forti-Diet)
http://www.henryspets.com/squirrel-diet/

Damn, and after all that money ;-; Well I just picked all the nuts and such out and left the pellets for her.

Thank you, I'll be sure to order some from Henry's :)

[JaneTheKidd]

The foundation of their diet will be a high quality rodent block. Henry's Healthy Blocks (HHB) are the gold standard and made specifically for the nutritional requirements of squirrels. Two HHB's a day will ensure against MBD and provides loads of good stuff for squirrels. You can also provide unlimited amounts of other rodent block in addition to the HHB (Oxbow Regal Rat, Harlan Global Lab Blocks or Kaytee Forti-Diet)
http://www.henryspets.com/squirrel-diet/

Which one would you suggest for a squirrel my age (I noticed the adult is for 6mo.+). I was thinking maybe the 'wild bites' for her?

[Spanky]

Which one would you suggest for a squirrel my age (I noticed the adult is for 6mo.+). I was thinking maybe the 'wild bites' for her?

The picky are squirrel's favorite and the "path of least resistance". :thumbsup