Diarrhea won't go away

[Nikkie906]

Hello! I have two baby squirrels (Tracy Turnblad and Flat Stanley) that I have been taking care of for about four weeks. They are around 6 weeks old. They have had diarrhea now for almost ten days. Tracy had blood poops for a day and was dehydrated about a week ago. My vet gave me fluids to give her subcutaneously and the blood poops went away, but they both still have diarrhea. A rehabber friend told me I had been overfeeding them, which cause the diarrhea to start. If anyone has any ideas of what I could be doing wrong, please help. Here are some details about them and our routine:

Tracy: 77g
Stanley: 85g

They are fed 4.5 and 4 ml Esbilac, based on their weight.

Formula is mixed 1 part powder to 3 parts water, as directed by rehabber friend.

They still act like they are starving after feeding, so I give them homemade pedialyte after the formula until they seem satisfied, usually about 3ml.

I just received my squirrel blocks, but they aren't too interested yet. They gnaw for a second then lose interest, and haven't actually "eaten" any of it.

[HRT4SQRLS]

Are you feeding liquid Esbilac or the powdered puppy Esbilac with probiotics and probiotics?

They should be eating 5-7% of the body weight per feeding.

For the 77g baby.... Between 3.85- 5.39 ml
For the 85g baby.... Between 4.25- 5.95ml

The formula should be mixed 2:1 (2 parts water to 1 part powdered formula)

I bet they ARE hungry. Your diluted formula isn't nearly enough nutrition. The diarrhea is definitely not from over feeding. How often are you feeding them?

[HRT4SQRLS]

It's possible the diarrhea is caused by entirely too much water in the diet.
Very dilute formula and a lot of hydration fluid would equal liquid poops. I don't think they are getting nearly enough nutrition.

[Nancy in New York]

It's possible the diarrhea is caused by entirely too much water in the diet.
Very dilute formula and a lot of hydration fluid would equal liquid poops. I don't think they are getting nearly enough nutrition.

You are absolutely right HRT4SQRLS and their weights indicate this.
They are extremely tiny/underweight for squirrels this age.
Can you post a picture?

[Nikkie906]

Thank you so much! I was feeding 4-5ml diluted 2:1 every three hours before being told I was overfeeding. I currently feed every 5 hours (was told 6 but it didn't seem like enough). I was going with 5% of their weight to avoid overfeeding. I will change back to 2:1 and go with 6 or 7%. Should I also go back to every 3 hours?

They are active and seem ok other than the diarrhea, which I guess is lucky. I'm so glad I found you guys!!!

[Nancy in New York]

Hello! I have two baby squirrels (Tracy Turnblad and Flat Stanley) that I have been taking care of for about four weeks. They are around 6 weeks old. They have had diarrhea now for almost ten days. Tracy had blood poops for a day and was dehydrated about a week ago. My vet gave me fluids to give her subcutaneously and the blood poops went away, but they both still have diarrhea. A rehabber friend told me I had been overfeeding them, which cause the diarrhea to start. If anyone has any ideas of what I could be doing wrong, please help. Here are some details about them and our routine:

Tracy: 77g
Stanley: 85g

They are fed 4.5 and 4 ml Esbilac, based on their weight.

Formula is mixed 1 part powder to 3 parts water, as directed by rehabber friend.

They still act like they are starving after feeding, so I give them homemade pedialyte after the formula until they seem satisfied, usually about 3ml.

I just received my squirrel blocks, but they aren't too interested yet. They gnaw for a second then lose interest, and haven't actually "eaten" any of it.

When you do up the powdered puppy esbilac make sure that you use HOT water and let it sit in the refrig for about 6-8 hours
so that the powder completely dissolves, whisking it often to get it completely stirred up.
Remember 1 part dried formula to 2 parts HOT water.
Just to be sure, is this the one you have?
https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-VTCXht8/0/d17c683d/O/i-VTCXht8.jpghttps://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-VpVv8FQ/0/68fb4e8c/M/i-VpVv8FQ-M.jpg

[Nikkie906]

Yes, I do have the correct formula. I haven't been letting it sit in the fridge though. I will make some now per your instructions. How often should I feed at this age?

[Nancy in New York]

Yes, I do have the correct formula. I haven't been letting it sit in the fridge though. I will make some now per your instructions. How often should I feed at this age?

Well your little ones are going to have to play "catch up", but we don't want to do this too fast.
I would feed them smaller amounts, (basically what you have been feeding at the 5% rule of thumb)
for a while of the correct strength (1 part dry formula to 2 parts hot water).
At this point I would NOT cut back any feedings, they need the nutrition.
Just make sure that their bellies don't get hard after feeding.
They should feel like an inflated balloon, but not hard.
How often are you feeding them now?
Hopefully with the correct ratio they will feel more full.
Also stop the pedialyte, if they are hungry down the road
we will slowly increase the "rule of thumb" percentage.

[Nikkie906]

Currently every 5 hours

[Nancy in New York]

Currently every 5 hours

Is that through the night as well?

[Nikkie906]

Yes, longest they ever go is every 6

[Nancy in New York]

I would try to get in 5 feedings in a 24 hour period.
We just need to get them on the right track. I don't want to cut
back feedings at this point, nor do I want to shock their system.
They need to catch up, but it has to be slowly and without cutting back feedings
for now.
How many feedings do you typically get in, in a 24 hour period?

[Nikkie906]

At least 4 feedings

So, just to be sure - I should stick with the 5%, maybe every 4 hours to get in 5 feedings for sure?, of the 2 to 1 formula. Correct?

I'm having a hard time getting photos to upload, but will post some as soon as I can figure it out.

[Nikkie906]

292288

Stanley, finally taking interest in his squirrel block!

[snottbaby]

feeding too much. too fast,or too often.
in vitamin section at the store,find ACIDOPHILUS.
mix 1/8 teaspoon per 1/4 cup milk formula.
if in talet form,crush it into a fune powder.
also,baby will become dehydrated when stools are runny,and this is dangerous to life!
re hydrate by feeding Pedialyte(found in baby section at store(no flavor kind).
feed a few feedings with this only. no formula.
baby wont know the difference.
it may take a few days for baby's stools to become normal.
please be careful to only feed a baby 5 percent of the baby's weight.
little squirrels a gluttens,but you must not let them over eat. it can kill.

[Nikkie906]

Update on Tracy and Stanley:

Per your advice, I have been feeding 5% body weight of the 2:1 Esbilac every 4-5 hours. They are still not eating the squirrel block, just playing with it and making a mess.

Stanley has gained 4grams since my original post! He has gone from 77 to 81 grams and looks great. His poops are pretty much normal.

Tracy has somehow lost a gram😢. I increased her today to 7%. She is still energetic, but needs some weight on her. She still has diarrhea.

The only difference I can think is that Stanley was on antibiotics for possible aspiration pneumonia. Could there have been a little stomach infection issue? Should I give Tracy antibiotics?

Any other foods I should introduce?

[Nancy in New York]

Update on Tracy and Stanley:

Per your advice, I have been feeding 5% body weight of the 2:1 Esbilac every 4-5 hours. They are still not eating the squirrel block, just playing with it and making a mess.

Stanley has gained 4grams since my original post! He has gone from 77 to 81 grams and looks great. His poops are pretty much normal.

Tracy has somehow lost a gram��. I increased her today to 7%. She is still energetic, but needs some weight on her. She still has diarrhea.

The only difference I can think is that Stanley was on antibiotics for possible aspiration pneumonia. Could there have been a little stomach infection issue? Should I give Tracy antibiotics?

Any other foods I should introduce?

I would not give antibiotics to Tracy.
What was Stanley on antibiotics for?
No other foods for now. The formula should be their
main source and they will mostly nibble on their block
until they get the hang of it.

How bad is her diarrhea? Can you get a picture?
Are you hydrating in between feedings?
I would give her a little homemade pedialyte OR water with a touch of honey for taste.
(not too much honey just a tad)

[Nikkie906]

Stanley was on antibiotics for symptoms of aspiration pneumonia. I am not hydrating in between because the advice I was given here was that the diarrhea was likely from too much water in their diet. I will get a picture of her diarrhea.

[Nancy in New York]

Stanley was on antibiotics for symptoms of aspiration pneumonia. I am not hydrating in between because the advice I was given here was that the diarrhea was likely from too much water in their diet. I will get a picture of her diarrhea.

Oh ok, yes I remember.
OK just keep an eye on her that she doesn't become dehydrated
with the diarrhea.
Do the pinch test between her shoulders and see how long it takes for the
skin to go down.
Here is an EXCELLENT video showing you how to hydrate a squirrel and
when to tell if they are hydrated. Well worth the few minutes it takes to watch.

Here's the site, go down about 1/3 of the way and you will see a section saying dehydration,
scroll down a little to the video "How to re-hydrate a baby squirrel"
and click that on.

https://www.squirrelsandmore.com/pages/basic-steps-to-taking-care-of-a-baby-squirrel

[Nikkie906]

Awesome, thank you! She is not dehydrated, which is why I'm so confused 😣