Now Hydrated...But CONSTIPATED! Which is better? Molasses or apple juice?

[ScrappyDo]

Finally got my little boy Scrappy and his sister Girl hydrated! But they are definitely constipated! Eating well-Esbilac puppy 5-7% body weight. Scrappy's vent is protruding just a little but Girl's is fine. Scrappy's poo is dark and hard and not much of it and Girl's is yellow but hard but she is pooping more than Scrappy.

I just gave a gave a bit of molasses (a drop or two in a half shot glass of water) at 6. Regular feeding is at 8. Is that ok? I do have apple juice but looks like it has additives. Should I supplement between feedings until their poo is soft and yellow?

I have been fighting with my phone and computer all day to try to get pics to my email so I can download them on the computer but no luck so far.

How long should I stimulate them?? I am using emu oil and my finger because they were getting raw looking with tissue and cotton balls. I also tried warm water which really helped Girl but no go on poor Scrappy.

All I had available was a kitten formula for a day or two when I got them and they were fine and poop was good (not that they would have been long term). Should I switch to FV? Thank you for your much needed help!

[island rehabber]

The fact that they are pooping at all tells us they are not really constipated. Scrappy's poops may be hard because those are leftover poops from when he WAS dehydrated....this too shall pass. :grin2 I would hydrate in between feedings for the next day and things should regulate themselves.
I would not recommend switching to FV -- it can be constipating itself, in small babies, and you don't need that right now.

[SammysMom]

Do you have FV 20/50? If so, add 1/4 FV 20/50 for 3 feedings and then add 1/2 FV 20/50 and I keep them on half and half Esbilac and FV 20/50 until weaned.

I see Island Rehabber has had a different experience with FV so maybe it can go either way. I have just found that the extra fat in 20/50 can help move things along.

[ScrappyDo]

The fact that they are pooping at all tells us they are not really constipated. Scrappy's poops may be hard because those are leftover poops from when he WAS dehydrated....this too shall pass. :grin2 I would hydrate in between feedings for the next day and things should regulate themselves.
I would not recommend switching to FV -- it can be constipating itself, in small babies, and you don't need that right now.


That is great news! I get so worried! I felt like I almost lost these sweet babies when they got dehydrated (and it was my fault to boot! Nasty cardboard box!!!)! I will hydrate tonight and see how things go! Should I add molasses or just do the honey water I was doing last night? Thank you!!!

[ScrappyDo]

Do you have FV 20/50? If so, add 1/4 FV 20/50 for 3 feedings and then add 1/2 FV 20/50 and I keep them on half and half Esbilac and FV 20/50 until weaned.

I see Island Rehabber has had a different experience with FV so maybe it can go either way. I have just found that the extra fat in 20/50 can help move things along.

I do not have any fv 20/50 but I will order some tonight so I can have it just in case! If things do not improve before I get it in the mail I will definitely gradually get them on half and half! Thank you so much for your help!!

[ScrappyDo]

The fact that they are pooping at all tells us they are not really constipated. Scrappy's poops may be hard because those are leftover poops from when he WAS dehydrated....this too shall pass. :grin2 I would hydrate in between feedings for the next day and things should regulate themselves.
I would not recommend switching to FV -- it can be constipating itself, in small babies, and you don't need that right now.


Scrappy Do and Girly Bug both have yellow stools but still struggling a bit to push them out and they are hard. I've been supplementing molasses water between feedings but there is no change. How much apple juice in their formula would you suggest per cc? Thank you

[lilidukes]

For bloat and constipation I've started
using dandelion root tea.
Walmart carries it.
http://www.shape.com/blogs/shape-your-life/should-you-detox-dandelion-root-tea

[Nancy in New York]

For bloat and constipation I've started
using dandelion root tea.
Walmart carries it.
http://www.shape.com/blogs/shape-your-life/should-you-detox-dandelion-root-tea

Great suggestion. How do you dose this?

[ScrappyDo]

For bloat and constipation I've started
using dandelion root tea.
Walmart carries it.
http://www.shape.com/blogs/shape-your-life/should-you-detox-dandelion-root-tea

I drink it myself so I always have some on hand! How do you make it for the squirrels and how much do you give them? Also, I just came back from a rehabber in my area and she said they both look great! She also said the poop is supposed to look "like pellets", so maybe they aren't really constipated? It just seems like my boy Scrappy has a hard time getting it out! She also said to NEVER use Esbilac and gave me some FV 32/40!!! She said she never lost a squirrel. So now I am more confused than ever!!! Perhaps half and half of the Esbilac and fv 20/50 when it comes in like sammy's mom suggested? Or just add some dandelion root tea (I have roasted dl tea, is that ok?) to the Esbilac??

My brain is about to combust!!! lol But they do look healthy so that's awesome! But still concerned about the poop. It's yellow but grainy hard (you CAN mush them tho) kinda like bird seed? They are pooping actual (forgive me) turds now just tiny little pieces connected together. My head hurts. lol

[SammysMom]

DO NOT USE FV 32/40. Esbilac is the way to go. 32/40 has killed dozens of babies no matter what she says. Don't be confused, keep doing what you are doing. You are doing very well.:Love_Icon

[ScrappyDo]

Thanks for the confirmation! I think she was pretty old school. lol

[lilidukes]

Great suggestion. How do you dose this?

Mines in tea bags so I just make a cup
of tea add a little sugar. Give it the
same as hydration fluids.

[Nancy in New York]

IF you have the time, here's a great thread about Fox Valley 32/40
with links going back to 2013 about the problems.

http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?54405-WARNING-DO-NOT-FEED-Fox-Valley-32-40

[ScrappyDo]

IF you have the time, here's a great thread about Fox Valley 32/40
with links going back to 2013 about the problems.

http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?54405-WARNING-DO-NOT-FEED-Fox-Valley-32-40

Thanks! I will not be giving my babies that for sure!

[Nancy in New York]

She also said to NEVER use Esbilac and gave me some FV 32/40!!!



Just to clarify.
Years ago the Esbilac had major problems with the babies digesting
the formula. You will still see OLD posts on TSB where we did NOT recommend
Esbilac, but those are from years ago.

They have since changed their formulation and ingredients and it works perfect now.
As long as the third ingredient is dried whey protein concentrate
you are good to go. :w00t

The beauty of this board is that we have members from all over
the country and we share thoughts and opinions on
procedures/formulas/meds/diets etc. with and we see what works best.

TSB is current, and not just some static web page written years ago and never updated.

[ScrappyDo]

I got Scrappy Do and Girly Bug at 2 days old. They are 16 days old now give or take a day. They were both badly bruised on their little heads and body from a 20 foot fall. Scrappy had a pretty deep cut and a puncture wound on his head and his little pinky toe on his back paw looked almost torn off. I used colloidal silver on a cotton ball and everything but the toe has completely healed. I am still using silver (I already saw the debate on here about it lol) on his toe and added neosporin when he was 4 days old. There is still quite a large scab on his toe. I think it's not healing properly because he is a squirmy little thing and keeps injuring it. (Their bedding material is t-shirts so not to snag their nails). This morning when I got the little piggys out to eat, I noticed his little toenail had fallen off! Anyone have any ideas on what else I can do to help him heal? It does not looked infected.

Son is supposed to come help me today figure out why my phone will not send pics to my laptop. I can not seem to post it here directly from my phone. It's very hard to see anyway when I do take a pic I have to get so close it's blurry. I will post pics as soon as possible.

[Nancy in New York]

Photos from 2/24/17 :klunk:klunk
I'm not sure why these came out so small. :dono

Girly Bug
https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-gXFGRfv/0/O/i-gXFGRfv.jpg

ScrappyDo

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-WCb9TkN/0/O/i-WCb9TkN.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-jtKhqn6/0/O/i-jtKhqn6.jpg

[ScrappyDo]

Thank you, Nancy! I sent the toe pics and another of Girly Bug who was fine at early morning feeding and now looks dehydrated to me. She's eating like a pig! I will start hydrating her again. What could be causing it? I keep a wet paper towel in a dish in their container. 😔

[ScrappyDo]

Could it be warm water baths? I rinse them off gently after every feeding. I am at a loss!

[ScrappyDo]

Their container temp has been between 93-98 f and I just today started carrying them in a scarf around my neck.

[ScrappyDo]

Just to clarify.
Years ago the Esbilac had major problems with the babies digesting
the formula. You will still see OLD posts on TSB where we did NOT recommend
Esbilac, but those are from years ago.

They have since changed their formulation and ingredients and it works perfect now.
As long as the third ingredient is dried whey protein concentrate
you are good to go. :w00t

The beauty of this board is that we have members from all over
the country and we share thoughts and opinions on
procedures/formulas/meds/diets etc. with and we see what works best.

TSB is current, and not just some static web page written years ago and never updated.


Would you please post Girly Bug's pic from today? Her skin has dried out and she looks dehydrated AGAIN just since her 3:30 feeding! I feed every 3 hrs around the clock.

[Nancy in New York]

Would you please post Girly Bug's pic from today? Her skin has dried out and she looks dehydrated AGAIN just since her 3:30 feeding! I feed every 3 hrs around the clock.


Let's keep all of your posts together.
I will merge the other posts with this one.
These are coming through so small it's hard to
see anything well.

Here's ScrappyDo

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-dz7c8D2/0/O/i-dz7c8D2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-3zb9SnN/0/O/i-3zb9SnN.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-R8vrbcJ/0/O/i-R8vrbcJ.jpg

[Nancy in New York]

Girly Bug
She doesn't look dehydrated to me.
Not sure why these photos are coming out so small. :hissyfit

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-J3XhzVh/0/O/i-J3XhzVh.jpg

[ScrappyDo]

Girly Bug
She doesn't look dehydrated to me.
Not sure why these photos are coming out so small. :hissyfit

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-J3XhzVh/0/O/i-J3XhzVh.jpg

Oh! That's awesome! Maybe her skin is just dry? Sometimes she seems so much more plump than other times!

I did send small pic files from my phone. Maybe that's why? If I have to send more I will not edit them to make them smaller.

I really appreciate your help!

[ScrappyDo]

Anyone have any ideas on how to keep poor Scrappy from repeatedly hurting his toe? I'm sorry. I know I'm aggravating the crap out of everyone.

[Nancy in New York]

Anyone have any ideas on how to keep poor Scrappy from repeatedly hurting his toe? I'm sorry. I know I'm aggravating the crap out of everyone.

Can you resend the photos of Scrappy's toe and I will resize,
but they are difficult to see. :)
I will put them on asap, but I'm on and off the board a lot.
I'm glad you're asking questions, that how we've all learned.:w00t

[Nancy in New York]

Geez, I've seen this before on the board, but can't remember what
was done for it.
Hopefully someone else will remember what caused this and what course
of action should be taken.

Scrappy's Toe :(

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-9qjpc2p/0/M/i-9qjpc2p-M.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-DXqS9rQ/0/L/i-DXqS9rQ-L.jpg

[Chickenlegs]

Poor little toes! There's no threads wrapped around his sweet toes are there? And nothing or no one chewing on them? Not caught on or in anything? Just thinkin--poor baby!

[ScrappyDo]

Poor little toes! There's no threads wrapped around his sweet toes are there? And nothing or no one chewing on them? Not caught on or in anything? Just thinkin--poor baby!

No, nothing like that. His poor little toe was injured when I got him at 2 days old. It looked like it was about to fall off! I was told Scrappy and his sister took a 20 foot fall. It did a number on him! It just will not heal because, true to his name, he is a scrappy little fellow! I do believe he is keeping it injured by crawling around. I've never seen fresh blood, it's just scabbed over, but it does not want to seem to heal and his little nail fell off yesterday. I did not see it happen though. It was there at one feeding and gone the next. I was just wondering if there was a way to stabilize it so he does not keep injuring it while crawling around. He can get quite active when he is hungry! Other than his poor little toe, he has healed nicely.

[ScrappyDo]

Update on Scrappy's toe. The scab fell off and the skin underneath is nice and pink with a tiny scar you can barely see. Nail is still gone, but even if it doesn't grow back, he will be fine!

Update on the bathroom issue: I added fv 20/50 at 1/4 fv to 3/4 esbilac and their poops improved immediately! It will be 48 hours today at 3 pm that they have been on it and they seem to be doing very well. So I will increase to 1/2 and 1/2 today at 3 and monitor.

Thanks for all the help!

[Nancy in New York]

Update on Scrappy's toe. The scab fell off and the skin underneath is nice and pink with a tiny scar you can barely see. Nail is still gone, but even if it doesn't grow back, he will be fine!

Update on the bathroom issue: I added fv 20/50 at 1/4 fv to 3/4 esbilac and their poops improved immediately! It will be 48 hours today at 3 pm that they have been on it and they seem to be doing very well. So I will increase to 1/2 and 1/2 today at 3 and monitor.

Thanks for all the help!

Fantastic update. It seems that many are doing better when the 20/50 is added, it has more fat than the Esbilac,
so it's a nice balance.
Thrilled to hear about little Scrappy's toe! :w00t