Baby Squirrel Won't Poop

[segrsyd]

Okay, a friend found a baby squirrel and she gave it to me. I noticed he will not use his back left leg to push. His eyes are open and he is all furry. He moves around easily when he's not sleeping. I have had him since last night and I've fed him formula every five or so hours. The first times he went at the syringe eagerly, but this last time he was barely interested so I gave him about two or three ccs warm water. So far I haven't seen him pee and I haven't found any poop. I read he's old enough to go on his own, but I still have used a warm wash cloth to rub his tummy after each feeding. Also, he only has bottom teeth right now.

[ALittleNutty]

First when you got him did you rehydrate him fully before giving formula? You can test for hydration by gently pinching the skin between his shoulder blades. If it tents up he needs hydration. If it pops right back in place that's a good sign. A dehydrated squirrel can not digest formula.

What formula are you feeding him and how much? Do you have a scale to weigh him? Feedings are based on weight in grams.

[segrsyd]

I gave him water last night and his skin goes back to normal easily right now. I don't have a scale, but I'm giving him kitten formula. (I have been diluting it a little more than the directions say just so he stays hydrated)

[Rhapsody]

If he is having issues with his back legs I would suggest you locate some Prednisone for him, after you get his body weight in grams we can help you dose the medication...... hopefully the meds will give him back movement in his legs.

[ALittleNutty]

I gave him water last night and his skin goes back to normal easily right now. I don't have a scale, but I'm giving him kitten formula. (I have been diluting it a little more than the directions say just so he stays hydrated)

Kitten formula is not good at all. It is too high in protein and will cause digestive issues. Right now Esbilac powdered puppy formula with pre and probiotics is what we recommend. Usually you can find this at Petsmart, Petco and Tractor Supply stores. Do not get the PetLac even though it's made by PegAg as the formula is different. If you can't find the Esbilac locally you can order it online and in the meantime you can use this recipe. When you get the Esbilac you will have to transition slowly to it and we can coach you through that.

Homemade Goat Milk Formula (GMF)*: 3 parts goat milk, 1 part plain yogurt, 1 part heavy cream. Leave out the cream for the first few feedings and then add it in gradually. If diarrhea occurs, reduce or eliminate the cream for a few feedings.

As to the poop it may take a few days for him to start just depending on how long he was away from mom. Usually mom poops are dark brown and Esbilac poops are golden yellow and can either be shaped like balls or rice grains. Pasty pale poop is overfeeding. I would not be surprise if this one develops diarrhea due to the kitten formula. The sooner we get him off of that the better.

Here is some great information on raising baby squirrels. There is six pages of information.

http://www.henryspets.com/1-basic-setup/

[segrsyd]

It's only the one leg he won't push on he can lift it up. I can't get a gram scale right now either.

[Rhapsody]

I gave him water last night and his skin goes back to normal easily right now. I don't have a scale, but I'm giving him kitten formula. (I have been diluting it a little more than the directions say just so he stays hydrated)

No kitten formula....... STOP ASAP!!

You need Esbilac with Probiotics, feed at 5-7% of body weight every fours hours. You can purchase at your local pet store. You can feed diluted goats milk until the Esbilac is obtained.

Please flush the kitten formula out of the squirrels body with pedialyte, NOW, before any internal damage is done.

Homemade Pedialyte
1 cup hot water
1 tbsp sugar
1/4 tsp salt

*good in frig for three days
*warm before feeding

[Rhapsody]

It's only the one leg he won't push on he can lift it up. I can't get a gram scale right now either.

Is the leg injured or possibly broken? --trying to figure out if he needs Prednisone for spine injury or Infant Motrin for pain while he heals.

[segrsyd]

Is the leg injured or possibly broken? --trying to figure out if he needs Prednisone for spine injury or Infant Motrin for pain while he heals.

I think it might be broken. He can move it he just won't put weight on it.

[segrsyd]

No kitten formula....... STOP ASAP!!

You need Esbilac with Probiotics, feed at 5-7% of body weight every fours hours. You can purchase at your local pet store. You can feed diluted goats milk until the Esbilac is obtained.

Please flush the kitten formula out of the squirrels body with pedialyte, NOW, before any internal damage is done.

Homemade Pedialyte
1 cup hot water
1 tbsp sugar
1/4 tsp salt

*good in frig for three days
*warm before feeding


Okay, will do. What if he's not hungry to drink the pedialyte?

[Mel1959]

Offer it a drop at a time as much as you can get him to take every 15-30 mins.

[segrsyd]

Offer it a drop at a time as much as you can get him to take every 15-30 mins.
Okay, should I e offering him any other foods?

[ALittleNutty]

Not at this time. You want his diet to be formula and the blocks before anything is added.

[segrsyd]

Not at this time. You want his diet to be formula and the blocks before anything is added.

The blocks?? He drank about 1.5 cc of the pedialyte just now. how old is he, do you know?

[SquirrellyMom]

Would be easier to age and assist with leg if you have pictures. Some Wal-Mart's sell the proper formula just make sure to check ingredients. You can get a scale pretty cheap there too.

[segrsyd]

Would be easier to age and assist with leg if you have pictures. Some Wal-Mart's sell the proper formula just make sure to check ingredients. You can get a scale pretty cheap there too.

Here's two quick pictures, he's sleeping,but he does open his eye and move around.
278067278068

[segrsyd]

He pooped last night, but it was like tiny black raisins. Is this normal??

[ALittleNutty]

If you can get a video of him moving that would be helpful in trying to figure out what is going on with the leg.

Blocks - many of us use Henry's Healthy Blocks (you can shop on the link I sent about the squirrel care sheets) when starting them on solids. There are other products made by Zupreem and Mazuri that are also good. You can find them at Christine's Squirrels and More. We introduce blocks when eyes open and you want to feed formula for as long as the squirrel will take it. Many will refuse the syringe as they get older but they will drink it from a dish. The formula and blocks will help protect against MBD(metabolic bone disease) and it is critical that they get the best start with us before being released.

I see from the pics that you have him in cardboard. You will need to find cage soon as he will begin to chew. Check craigslist or ask friends who have had small animals. A large plastic tote will work for another week or so while you find a cage. Cardboard tends to dehydrate them plus they can chew right through it.

Dark poop is mom's milk coming through his system and dry usually means he's not getting enough hydration. I would offer only sugar water until you get the right formula.
2 cups water and 3 Tablespoons of sugar Store in the refrigerator and serve very warm. Never feed a cold squirrel and never give cold formula or hydration food as they will not digest it.

[segrsyd]

If you can get a video of him moving that would be helpful in trying to figure out what is going on with the leg.

Blocks - many of us use Henry's Healthy Blocks (you can shop on the link I sent about the squirrel care sheets) when starting them on solids. There are other products made by Zupreem and Mazuri that are also good. You can find them at Christine's Squirrels and More. We introduce blocks when eyes open and you want to feed formula for as long as the squirrel will take it. Many will refuse the syringe as they get older but they will drink it from a dish. The formula and blocks will help protect against MBD(metabolic bone disease) and it is critical that they get the best start with us before being released.

I see from the pics that you have him in cardboard. You will need to find cage soon as he will begin to chew. Check craigslist or ask friends who have had small animals. A large plastic tote will work for another week or so while you find a cage. Cardboard tends to dehydrate them plus they can chew right through it.

Dark poop is mom's milk coming through his system and dry usually means he's not getting enough hydration. I would offer only sugar water until you get the right formula.
2 cups water and 3 Tablespoons of sugar Store in the refrigerator and serve very warm. Never feed a cold squirrel and never give cold formula or hydration food as they will not digest it.

Okay, thanks. I'll try and get a video in a little bit.

[segrsyd]

If you can get a video of him moving that would be helpful in trying to figure out what is going on with the leg.

Blocks - many of us use Henry's Healthy Blocks (you can shop on the link I sent about the squirrel care sheets) when starting them on solids. There are other products made by Zupreem and Mazuri that are also good. You can find them at Christine's Squirrels and More. We introduce blocks when eyes open and you want to feed formula for as long as the squirrel will take it. Many will refuse the syringe as they get older but they will drink it from a dish. The formula and blocks will help protect against MBD(metabolic bone disease) and it is critical that they get the best start with us before being released.

I see from the pics that you have him in cardboard. You will need to find cage soon as he will begin to chew. Check craigslist or ask friends who have had small animals. A large plastic tote will work for another week or so while you find a cage. Cardboard tends to dehydrate them plus they can chew right through it.

Dark poop is mom's milk coming through his system and dry usually means he's not getting enough hydration. I would offer only sugar water until you get the right formula.
2 cups water and 3 Tablespoons of sugar Store in the refrigerator and serve very warm. Never feed a cold squirrel and never give cold formula or hydration food as they will not digest it.

I can't get my video to upload. But in this picture you can see he is opening up his toes on his good leg and not on the other. When he does walk, he holds the bad leg up and hobbles around. He does put a little pressure on it, but only if his leg isn't extended.

[ALittleNutty]

The curled toes look like a pain response. Maybe a close up pic of that foot from several angles might help. Check for injuries to each nail and also look to see if maybe there is a hair wrapped around a toe. We have had that happen before. It helps to use either a magnifying glass or some strong reading glasses. I've also taken shots with my phone and enlarged them on the screen to see details that might be missed with just our eyes.

Infant Tylenol can be given but someone else will have to dose that according to his weight.

[segrsyd]

The curled toes look like a pain response. Maybe a close up pic of that foot from several angles might help. Check for injuries to each nail and also look to see if maybe there is a hair wrapped around a toe. We have had that happen before. It helps to use either a magnifying glass or some strong reading glasses. I've also taken shots with my phone and enlarged them on the screen to see details that might be missed with just our eyes.

Infant Tylenol can be given but someone else will have to dose that according to his weight.

Okay, I will do that in a bit thanks for your help. How often should he be pooping by the way?