5-7% Help!

[ScrappyDo]

I have 2 babies that will be 3 weeks old tomorrow. It was my understanding to feed 5-7% body weight. I just found a thread on here saying that's to start! No one told me this and I feel like crying because my boy will ONLY eat 5%. How can I increase his intake? I just today added 1/4 fv for the extra fat because they aren't thriving as much as they should. I have to fight him to finish the 5%! She will eat a little more but I need to increase her intake as well. Still having poop issues (straining) which is why I added fv as was suggested. BUT, I was adding apple juice to their formula for the first morning feeding which seemed to help and during that feeding, I have no trouble getting them to stuff their bellies! Can I make their formula with part water part apple juice until their intake is increased? Any other suggestions to get them to eat more? I'm certainly not blaming anyone and the info is right there for everyone to read! I've just had to slowly browse this site because being on the phone or computer any length of time really messes with my bulging discs in my neck. I take full responsibility and would appreciate any advice.

[Rhapsody]

No need to worry..... a squirrel is to eat 5-7% of their body weight every 4 hours, so as long as your baby is eating at the 5% mark (give or take a mark) everything will be fine and the squirrel will increase its intake in time, no need to rush it.

[Nancy in New York]

I have 2 babies that will be 3 weeks old tomorrow. It was my understanding to feed 5-7% body weight. I just found a thread on here saying that's to start! No one told me this and I feel like crying because my boy will ONLY eat 5%. How can I increase his intake? I just today added 1/4 fv for the extra fat because they aren't thriving as much as they should. I have to fight him to finish the 5%! She will eat a little more but I need to increase her intake as well. Still having poop issues (straining) which is why I added fv as was suggested. BUT, I was adding apple juice to their formula for the first morning feeding which seemed to help and during that feeding, I have no trouble getting them to stuff their bellies! Can I make their formula with part water part apple juice until their intake is increased? Any other suggestions to get them to eat more? I'm certainly not blaming anyone and the info is right there for everyone to read! I've just had to slowly browse this site because being on the phone or computer any length of time really messes with my bulging discs in my neck. I take full responsibility and would appreciate any advice.

OK there is a great thread on the board that discusses this.
https://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?53433-Let-s-Discuss-the-5-7-Formula-Rule&highlight=
There are MANY rehabbers on the board that will always keep their babies on this "rule of thumb".
There are others with lots of experience that just instinctively know how much to feed even without weighing
them and they clearly go way above the 7% rule.
It depends on your success rate and what you are comfortable doing.
If your boy is eating the 5% that's fine. Many will want to take more and members are afraid to increase
the amount, and THAT is when we tell them that they can go beyond the 7% "rule of thumb"
I believe your little ones have had issues with constipation from the beginning so we would never suggest that
you increase the formula intake.
What did your little ones come in weighing and what do they weigh now?
Are you feeding the Fox Valley 20/50 AND Esbilac.
I personally wouldn't make their formula with apple juice.
I would hydrate in between with apple juice/water, but I'm not comfortable
diluting formula using it.

Edit: It is also posted on the board to feed according to age. :eek
I'm not sure where that came from as I have had little ones at 5 weeks
old weighing in at 96 grams to 204 grams.
There is NO way a 5 week old with this weight difference should/could eat the same amount. :shakehead
Scroll down on the page and you will see that they feed according to age.
That's a huge error IMO.
http://www.orphanedwildlifecare.com/squirrelcare.htm#13

[ScrappyDo]

OK there is a great thread on the board that discusses this.
http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?53433-Let-s-Discuss-the-5-7-Formula-Rule&highlight=
There are MANY rehabbers on the board that will always keep their babies on this "rule of thumb".
There are others with lots of experience that just instinctively know how much to feed even without weighing
they and they clearly go way above the 7% rule.
It depends on your success rate and what you are comfortable donig.
If your boy is eating the 5% that's fine. Many will want to take more and members are afraid to increase
the amount, and THAT is when we tell them that they can go beyond the 7% "rule of thumb"
I believe your little ones have had issues with constipation from the beginning so we would never suggest that
you increase the formula intake.
What did your little ones come in weighing and what do they weigh now?
Are you feeding the Fox Valley 20/50 AND Esbilac.
I personally wouldn't make their formula with apple juice.
I would hydrate in between with apple juice/water, but I'm not comfortable
diluting formula using it.

Edit: It is also posted on the board to feed according to age. :eek
I'm not sure where that came from as I have had little ones at 5 weeks
old weighing in at 96 grams to 204 grams.
There is NO way a 5 week old with this weight difference should/could eat the same amount. :shakehead
http://www.orphanedwildlifecare.com/squirrelcare.htm#13




I AM using FV 20/50 and Esbilac. Using 1/4 fv at the moment. I got them on Feb 13th but did not weigh them until Feb 16. Started out: Boy weighed 15.5 g and now weighs 35.4 g. Girl weighed 17 g and now weighs 39 g. I really appreciate the help! I will supplement with apple juice/water if their stools do not improve with the fv and esbilac.

[ScrappyDo]

No need to worry..... a squirrel is to eat 5-7% of their body weight every 4 hours, so as long as your baby is eating at the 5% mark (give or take a mark) everything will be fine and the squirrel will increase its intake in time, no need to rush it.

Thank you! That makes me feel better! They are so fragile and I was afraid I was slowly killing them!

[redwuff]

From pinky to where you are now is slow going in the wt gain business. Most likely you will soon be seeing bigger weight gains. Have patience.:grouphug

[ScrappyDo]

From pinky to where you are now is slow going in the wt gain business. Most likely you will soon be seeing bigger weight gains. Have patience.:grouphug

Oh! I did forget to mention in this thread that they had gotten dehydrated (cardboard box ): ) So from the weightloss that happened on Feb 22 the boy was 19 g and yester day morning he was 35.4, girl was 21.7 and yesterday 39 g. Does that make a difference?

So in 9 days the boy gained 16.4 g and the girl 17.3

They do seem to like the fv/esbilac mixture better! The boy ate over 5% without forcing and the girl is eating close to 7%. Her tummy looks kinda big but it's not hard. Do they catch bloat on their stomach side or intestine side? She is full right now so the pics might not help.285497285498

[ScrappyDo]

Girly Bug is probably fine. Here is her belly 4 hours later and it's soft.285515285516

[Rhapsody]

As long as your babies are gaining weight they are doing well..... dont worry about their past weight issue focus on their present weight gain and keep it going smoothly...... you are doing a good job with them.

Concerning bloat...... their tummy will become big after each feeding, but as long as the stomach area remains soft and decreases in size before there next feeding all is well in the digestive system and there is nothing to worry about.
(bloat happens when the tummy remains big and is hard, no longer soft to the touch)

[ScrappyDo]

Update on adding 1/4 fv 20/50!

Both of my babies absolutely LOVE their formula now! I do not have to force that last little bit into them at all! And they have gained 5 g in less than 2 whole days! I will be using 1/2 fv starting this afternoon so they should pork up even more! lol

[Nancy in New York]

Update on adding 1/4 fv 20/50!

Both of my babies absolutely LOVE their formula now! I do not have to force that last little bit into them at all! And they have gained 5 g in less than 2 whole days! I will be using 1/2 fv starting this afternoon so they should pork up even more! lol

This is fantastic news.
Glad these little ones are finally on track, thanks to YOU! :hug

[SammysMom]

That 50/50 of Esbilac and FV 20/50 is the magic potion! So happy they are loving it too!:w00t

[Nancy in New York]

That 50/50 of Esbilac and FV 20/50 is the magic potion! So happy they are loving it too!:w00t

Yup you were spot on with this one Gayle.
You mentioned it on the 24th.
Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:w00t


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.

[ScrappyDo]

That 50/50 of Esbilac and FV 20/50 is the magic potion! So happy they are loving it too!:w00t

It sure is!! Can't figure out the hug thing lol but group hugs from me, Scrappy Do, and Girly Bug! 😘🐿