Change in poop after switching formulas

[Phoxy8947]

I've been rehabbing a baby Eastern Chipmunk, and for the first couple days, I was feeding her the goat's milk mixed with heavy whipping cream and vanilla yogurt, and her poop was like hard, little black pellets... But the Esbilac came today, and I immediately mixed up a batch of that instead, and now her poop has changed to a light brown/tan/yellowish, soft, mushy, watery, loose consistency... Is this normal? Or is this diarrhea? And if it's diarrhea, then should I switch to giving Pedialyte for 12-24 hours, before continuing with diluted formula?? That's what my study guide/practice test for the wildlife rehabilitation license says to do... Help!

[island rehabber]

Did you just switch her suddenly to the Esbilac or did you transition? Sometimes a complete change without transitioning will upset their GI systems. Try adding back 1/2 of the old formula mixed into the Esbilac for 1-2 feedings. Offer her a little hydration in between meals if she seems dehydrated from having diarrhea. We always want to do things gradually with baby wildlife. :great

[Nancy in New York]

When switching formula we do a "mix" in order to avoid this.
You should feed her 3/4 GM formula to 1/4 Esbilac (mixed at 1 part dry formula to 2 parts hot water)
Give her this ratio for about 4 feedings.
Then go to 50/50 GM formula and Powdered Esbilac for about 4 feedings.
Then go to 1/4 GM formula and 3/4 Esbilac for about 4 feedings.
Then go to full strength Esbilac with NO GM.

Anytime there is dehydration from diarrhea, or vomitting
give her pedialyte between formula feedings. :thumbsup

Edit: I see that Island Rehabber is a faster typist. :)

[island rehabber]

Edit: I see that Island Rehabber is a faster typist. :)

Typed for a living for 11 years, back in the day. 90 WPM with no errors :rotfl

[Phoxy8947]

Did you just switch her suddenly to the Esbilac or did you transition? Sometimes a complete change without transitioning will upset their GI systems. Try adding back 1/2 of the old formula mixed into the Esbilac for 1-2 feedings. Offer her a little hydration in between meals if she seems dehydrated from having diarrhea. We always want to do things gradually with baby wildlife. :great

Damn, I feel stupid rite now... I thought the Esbilac was better to give than the goat's milk, which is why I hurried up and mixed a new batch and fed that rite away... I should have known better, since I literally JUST read that in my practice test yesterday!! Ugh, I feel like I'm just making one mistake after another, constant blunders... 😕 Thank u tho!! 😊

[Nancy in New York]

Damn, I feel stupid rite now... I thought the Esbilac was better to give than the goat's milk, which is why I hurried up and mixed a new batch and fed that rite away... I should have known better, since I literally JUST read that in my practice test yesterday!! Ugh, I feel like I'm just making one mistake after another, constant blunders... 😕 Thank u tho!! 😊

Not to worry, you'll catch on to all of this and it will be second nature. :hug

[Phoxy8947]

When switching formula we do a "mix" in order to avoid this.
You should feed her 3/4 GM formula to 1/4 Esbilac (mixed at 1 part dry formula to 2 parts hot water)
Give her this ratio for about 4 feedings.
Then go to 50/50 GM formula and Powdered Esbilac for about 4 feedings.
Then go to 1/4 GM formula and 3/4 Esbilac for about 4 feedings.
Then go to full strength Esbilac with NO GM.

Anytime there is dehydration from diarrhea, or vomitting
give her pedialyte between formula feedings. :thumbsup

Edit: I see that Island Rehabber is a faster typist. :)

Ya know, I literally JUST read this when I was studying last nite-- I don't know how I made such a stupid mistake, first I mixed only one part goat's milk instead of 3, and now this... Ugh!! I think I'm trying to cram too much info into my brain too fast, and I'm not retaining any of it... Anyways, yes, I'll try that-- slowly switch to the Esbilac... Thanks for ur help!! I'll have to keep checking the skin behind her neck-- the pinch test, for dehydration...

[Nancy in New York]

Ya know, I literally JUST read this when I was studying last nite-- I don't know how I made such a stupid mistake, first I mixed only one part goat's milk instead of 3, and now this... Ugh!! I think I'm trying to cram too much info into my brain too fast, and I'm not retaining any of it... Anyways, yes, I'll try that-- slowly switch to the Esbilac... Thanks for ur help!! I'll have to keep checking the skin behind her neck-- the pinch test, for dehydration...

Exactly, that's how to check for dehydration.
The poops aren't "that bad" I have seen it sometimes
where it's almost like water.
When you transition her slowly you should see them
firm up pretty quickly.
You could give her one drop of pepto bismol if it
continues. That will turn the poop blackish sometimes,
but not to worry.

[Phoxy8947]

Exactly, that's how to check for dehydration.
The poops aren't "that bad" I have seen it sometimes
where it's almost like water.
When you transition her slowly you should see them
firm up pretty quickly.
You could give her one drop of pepto bismol if it
continues. That will turn the poop blackish sometimes,
but not to worry.

Well, I'm still giving her infant ibuprofen... Is it safe to give Proto Bismol too if she's already getting the ibuprofen?

[Nancy in New York]

Well, I'm still giving her infant ibuprofen... Is it safe to give Proto Bismol too if she's already getting the ibuprofen?

Yes, if she has loose stools, give her ONE drop of Pepto.
How often are you giving the infant ibuprofen?
Makes she she stays well hydrated, both for the diarrhea and the
ibuprofen.

[island rehabber]

I think I'm trying to cram too much info into my brain too fast, and I'm not retaining any of it.....

Phoxy, if I may make a suggestion: I think you also are confused by lack of continuity in your threads about the critters you're caring for, because they are all separate. I think that having one thread for your squirrel and one for your chipmunk with all the posts contained within them would be very helpful -- both for you and for those of us trying to help you. You don't need to start a new thread with each new incident; the post would go in the thread about that particular critter.

(for example, I lump everybody into seasonal threads, "IR's Place, SPRING 2017"....much easier to navigate!)

[Phoxy8947]

Yes, if she has loose stools, give her ONE drop of Pepto.
How often are you giving the infant ibuprofen?
Makes she she stays well hydrated, both for the diarrhea and the
ibuprofen.

I give her the infant ibuprofen at each feeding, every 3-4 hours...

[Phoxy8947]

Phoxy, if I may make a suggestion: I think you also are confused by lack of continuity in your threads about the critters you're caring for, because they are all separate. I think that having one thread for your squirrel and one for your chipmunk with all the posts contained within them would be very helpful -- both for you and for those of us trying to help you. You don't need to start a new thread with each new incident; the post would go in the thread about that particular critter.

(for example, I lump everybody into seasonal threads, "IR's Place, SPRING 2017"....much easier to navigate!)


Thanks!! I wasn't sure if I was allowed to do that, becuz there's separate forums for nutrition and baby squirrel questions and other small critters... I thought I had to post to the appropriate forum-- ok, I'll try that.. Thanks!!

[Nancy in New York]

I give her the infant ibuprofen at each feeding, every 3-4 hours...

OK I would stop that now as we don't want to give any drug
unless it's absolutely necessary.
IF you see her experiencing any discomfort then give her some,
but not unless she absolutely needs it.

[Phoxy8947]

OK I would stop that now as we don't want to give any drug
unless it's absolutely necessary.
IF you see her experiencing any discomfort then give her some,
but not unless she absolutely needs it.


Ok, Thanks! 😊 Her eye opened back up yesterday, so she probly doesn't need the ibuprofen anymore anyways... And she's becoming more active, actually leaving her bed in the corner of the cage, and climbing around, up and down the ramps...

[island rehabber]

Thanks!! I wasn't sure if I was allowed to do that, becuz there's separate forums for nutrition and baby squirrel questions and other small critters... I thought I had to post to the appropriate forum-- ok, I'll try that.. Thanks!!

If you start threads in your squirrel's name and then the chipmunk's name, admins (like myself) can move your old posts into the appropriate thread. Only thing is, you have to give me a list of what goes where. :grin2

[Phoxy8947]

If you start threads in your squirrel's name and then the chipmunk's name, admins (like myself) can move your old posts into the appropriate thread. Only thing is, you have to give me a list of what goes where. :grin2

Thanks!! I'll do that either as soon as I get home (had to run to the store for more vanilla yogurt to mix in the formula), or I mite just wait til the next time I post something... Thanks again!! 😊😊

[Phoxy8947]

I mixed the formulas like u guys told me to, and her poop has firmed up a little bit, but it's still the same color-- Now it's like a pasty consistency, and still like honey mustard yellow in color... I'm giving her Pedialyte every 2 hours, in between feedings (which are every 3-4 hours)... Am I still doing something wrong? Is her poop supposed to be like This? Or the hard black pellets that she was passing the first day or 2 that I had her??

[cava]

The hard black pellets were mother's milk poops. The yellow poops will be your formula poops. And eventually, when adult food is introduced, they will just look like good ol'poop.:grin3

Continue what you're doing and don't overfeed, it can also cause diarrhea. Slow and steady.

Also, why the pedialyte still? Does she seem dehydrated or refusing to eat enough formula? If not, discontinue the Pedialyte. The formula provides nutrition and hydration.

[Phoxy8947]

The hard black pellets were mother's milk poops. The yellow poops will be your formula poops. And eventually, when adult food is introduced, they will just look like good ol'poop.:grin3

Continue what you're doing and don't overfeed, it can also cause diarrhea. Slow and steady.

Also, why the pedialyte still? Does she seem dehydrated or refusing to eat enough formula? If not, discontinue the Pedialyte. The formula provides nutrition and hydration.

She refuses to eat enough formula, and I thought she had diarrhea, so I thought I needed to rehydrate her.... Also her fur was wet earlier, it appeared that she was sweating-- altho that mite have been from me becuz she was in my shirt and I was sweating-- and then she got formula all over her face, so I wiped her down with a baby wipe... (or tried to at least-- she won't sit still long enough to allow me to stimulate her to use the bathroom or anything)

[cava]

I'm sorry, I forget her story and don't know where your other ones are. Is this a baby or injured adult?

You can use a warm water washcloth for cleaning. Mine tolerated that really well.

Ok, I read back and understand why the pedialyte. Keep doing what you are doing! It sounds like it's firming up if it's paste today.

[Phoxy8947]

I'm sorry, I forget her story and don't know where your other ones are. Is this a baby or injured adult?

You can use a warm water washcloth for cleaning. Mine tolerated that really well.

This is a baby Eastern Chipmunk that my husband brought home a few days ago, after his coworker threw a rock and hit it in the head and knocked her unconcious, and her eye swelled shut...

[cava]

Yes, I realized after I wrote that and made an edit.

Did you read it?

[Phoxy8947]

Yes, I realized after I wrote that and made an edit.

Did you read it?

Yup, thank u very much for ur help!! 😊😊