View Full Version : Please help, baby is not pooping!
Apsani3
09-22-2017, 01:58 AM
Hi all,
I found a baby squirrel under my carport on Saturday Morning (16th). I did attempt(twice) to reunite her with her mother, by setting her out by a tree where the squirrels frequent, but momma never came. I'm guessing her age to be 5 - 6 weeks. I gave her water on Saturday(sorry, I did not keep track at that time) and some Esbilac puppy formula with goats milk. I made her a bed out of a cardboard box an old sheet on the bottom and a sweatshirt to nest in. I also had a heating pad set on low under half of the box.
I believe I fed her the Esbilac goats milk for one feeding on Saturday and 4 feedings on Sunday with some more water before bed. I tried the stimulation after each feeding, but she was not peeing or pooping. I seen the post about not giving them the Esbilac puppy formulas with goats milk, so I went Sunday evening and bought the Esbilac puppy formula with prebiotics and probiotics. Mixed with 1:3 formula/water ratio. Also upgraded her bed to a tote instead of cardboard box. Sunday evening she weighed 106g.
Monday: 6:30am 5 cc's of formula. 10:30am 5 cc's of formula. 2:30pm 10 cc's of formula. 7:00pm 8 cc's of formula. 8:00 pm warm bottom bath (still nothing). 10:00 pm 2 cc's water. Weight 106g.
Tuesday: 5:30 am she took a couple swallows but was not interested. 8:30am she ate 8 cc's of formula. 11:45am 6 cc's of water. 1:45pm she finally peed!! Yay! 2:00pm she only ate a couple mouthfuls of formula, she was not interested. 4:00pm she had 5.5 cc's of formula. 7:00pm 3 cc's of formula. 9:00pm 1 cc of water. 11:00pm not interested. Still no poop. No sign of bloat, belly was round but soft. Sleeps mostly, with short bouts of activity(crawling, jumping, falling over :) ). Weight 112g.
Wednesday: 5:30 am not interested. 9:00am 3 cc's of formula. 11:15am .5 cc of water. 12:15pm 2.5 cc's water. 3:15pm 2.5 cc's formula. 5:30pm 2.5 cc's formula. She peed! Yay! 7:00pm 3 cc's formula. 8:30pm 3 cc's water. 9:00pm 3 cc's formula. 11:00pm not interested. No sign of bloat, belly still round and soft. Activity level the same. Still no poop. Weight 115g.
Thursday: Changed formula ratio to 1:2. 5:30am 2.5 cc's formula. 9:30am 2.75 cc's formula. Tummy is round and not hard but definitely firmer. 12:00pm tummy still swollen, skipped feeding. 2:00pm 2.5 cc's plain pedialyte. 4:00pm 1.75 cc's pedialyte. 6:30pm warm bottom bath. tummy went down, soft again but still no poop. 7:00pm 3 cc's pedialyte, 1.5 cc's plain water.
So now what? I'm not sure what to do at this point. After typing this all up it appears that she is not ready for the 1:2 ratio, but I was concerned that she was not getting enough calories with the 1:3 and that could be why she's not pooping??
please help!!
April
redwuff
09-22-2017, 03:41 AM
Hi April, welcome!
Yeah, she needs to be pooping. Any poop in her bed? Get some infant gas x and we can dose it for you. I wonder what kind of condition she was in when you found her. It would have helped if you had hydrated her more when you found her.
We have been having problems this year with esbilac with the tiny babies up to 3 - 3.5 week olds. Then mostly they are ok with it. I would hydrate her for 3 feedings tomorrow, no formula, use gas x, and start with a 3:1 mix for a couple of feedings, evaluate her and go to 2:1 the next day. She does need the calories, but more importantly her tummy needs to get happier.
It would help us if you would post a picture of her. Is this your first baby?
Apsani3
09-22-2017, 04:44 AM
Hi April, welcome!
Yeah, she needs to be pooping. Any poop in her bed? Get some infant gas x and we can dose it for you. I wonder what kind of condition she was in when you found her. It would have helped if you had hydrated her more when you found her.
We have been having problems this year with esbilac with the tiny babies up to 3 - 3.5 week olds. Then mostly they are ok with it. I would hydrate her for 3 feedings tomorrow, no formula, use gas x, and start with a 3:1 mix for a couple of feedings, evaluate her and go to 2:1 the next day. She does need the calories, but more importantly her tummy needs to get happier.
It would help us if you would post a picture of her. Is this your first baby?
Yes, she is my first squirrel baby. I've hand raised a two week old Pomeranian puppy in the past, but no squirrels. I think the baby was in pretty good condition when I found her. I have some pictures but haven't figured out how to upload them yet. I would like to find a rehabber in my area. I've been taking her to work with me so I can feed her (I have a private office so she isn't handled or exposed to too much.Only my boss knows that i bring her in) but I am very busy there and don't get to attend to her as much as i think she needs. She is so cute and quite playful at times and has quite the attitude when she's not happy with something I did, like pull the nurser away so I can squeeze the next drop up. Lol! Every day is a roller coaster ride though. At times she is very alert and will try to climb up my arms. She will hop around in her nest and go around the edges of her box trying to climb out and other times she seems lethargic. I will definitely get some gas x in the morning and do what you suggested above. I did have a scare earlier after posting. I went to feed her and she was limp. I rubbed her back and neck and she roused a bit but not much. I gave her some water because I thought she was dehydrated, but she would barely take any. She would grab on to the nipple and just hold it. I believe she was dying... I went and got some honey and rubbed it on her gums. She finally came around and was no longer limp so I diluted some formula and fed her that. She seemed to perk back up after that. She only ate 2.5 cc's though before falling back to sleep. Any help or suggestions is greatly appreciated!!!
Apsani3
09-22-2017, 05:24 AM
The bottom two pictures are of when I found her and the top picture with the nurser was yesterday afternoon. I'll try to get a better picture and upload. I have not seen any poop in her bed and I change them out every day. As far as hydrating, should I use the pedialyte, plain water, or a homemade recipe?
Thanks again!
April
Nancy in New York
09-22-2017, 07:23 AM
Is it me or does this squirrel have the appearance of a dwarf?
For 115 grams that is one bushy tail. :)
redwuff
09-22-2017, 08:27 AM
Is your baby very thin? When you pick it up does it feel so bony that it almost hurts to hold it? Nancy is right, that is a tail of an 8-9 week old. She is beautiful. Is it a fox squirrel?
Let's see what we can figure out for this precious baby.
Chickenlegs
09-22-2017, 10:23 AM
She DOES look like one ofthe dearest creatures on God's green earth--a dwarf baby. They are VERY special and VERY different. Could try a little apple juice in water. LOTS of hydration but she doesn't need the extra salt.
Nancy in New York
09-22-2017, 10:47 AM
She DOES look like one ofthe dearest creatures on God's green earth--a dwarf baby. They are VERY special and VERY different. Could try a little apple juice in water. LOTS of hydration but she doesn't need the extra salt.
It was that second photo that did it for me.
Apsani3 can you get a front photo of her so we can see her little legs
and a full head shot?
Do you legs appear shorter than a "regular" squirrel?
Does she have problems grasping when climbing?
Apsani3
09-22-2017, 11:47 AM
I did think she looked a little more "compact" than the pictures I was seeing. She is thin, but not bony. I think she is a fox squirrel. Her body is grey but face is reddish blond/brown.
She lost some weight yesterday, she now weighs 111g. Her tummy is soft again. She had 2.5 cc's of diluted formula at 4am. I know I'm supposed to be giving her water but after my scare last night I felt she needed a little more. I'm currently trying to get her to take some water, but she's not exactly cooperating. She will take a few drinks and then she paws at the blanket to cover her head. So I wait a bit until she will pops her head out a little while later looking for it. Lol! I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing, but it reminds me of my kids when they were little and didn't want to get up. You would pull the covers off them and they would grab them back and pull over their heads and burrow down.
I have some more pictures that I will post in a minute.
Apsani3
09-22-2017, 11:50 AM
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Sorry the pictures are not that great, It's hard taking them one handed.
Redwuff, I will follow your suggestion to give water for the next three feedings and add a little bit of apple juice as Chickenlegs suggested. How much apple juice should I add to the water?
Nancy, the only thing she has climbed upon is my arm and she's clumsy at it. I thought it was normal since she's kinda clumsy in general, like most babies when they are learning to walk.
Chickenlegs
09-22-2017, 12:02 PM
Check out special needs squirrels--there's a section on downes babies/achondraplastic dwarfs. TSB is becoming "dwarf central" as a lot of these special babies are here. Check out "Joey a dwarf squirrel" and Punkin and Tula" in the nursery. Dr. Emerson in Florida is becoming a "go-to" vet for dwarf issues. She is proud mama of Stuart Little who was raised by our own SammysMom. You gotchaself a blessing there. NO climbing unassisted or unless over a well padded area as they are unbelievably clumsy and she will fall like a squishy rock. Careful feeding as she will aspirate in a heartbeat. Some of these babies will be on formula for their entire glorious all too short lives. Mel's Joey had "megacolen" so talk to her about gut issues.
Jen413
09-22-2017, 12:19 PM
Oh you DO have a sweet lil dwarf!!! She is precious!!
Apsani3
09-22-2017, 12:23 PM
Check out special needs squirrels--there's a section on downes babies/achondraplastic dwarfs. TSB is becoming "dwarf central" as a lot of these special babies are here. Check out "Joey a dwarf squirrel" and Punkin and Tula" in the nursery. Dr. Emerson in Florida is becoming a "go-to" vet for dwarf issues. She is proud mama of Stuart Little who was raised by our own SammysMom. You gotchaself a blessing there. NO climbing unassisted or unless over a well padded area as they are unbelievably clumsy and she will fall like a squishy rock. Careful feeding as she will aspirate in a heartbeat. Some of these babies will be on formula for their entire glorious all too short lives. Mel's Joey had "megacolen" so talk to her about gut issues.
I will check that out, thank you! Sadly, I live in Missouri and am afraid to take her to a vet for fear of them taking her from me. I had also found a Wildlife Rehab Center in Ballwin, MO but was hesitant about taking her there because they also rescue birds of prey and I've heard "rumors" that places like that will often feed babies that need extra attention or care to the birds. :eek
Jen413
09-22-2017, 12:30 PM
I would be hesitant to take her to ANY wildlife center unless you could confirm it was a good place from someone on TSB with experience with them. Because she's a dwarf most would likely put her to sleep. If you can't keep her, your best bet is to let the amazing people here find someone safe that will give her a forever home. Dr. E is in Florida and would more than likely speak with you over the phone. She's amazing and goes above and beyond for squirrels.
lennysmom
09-22-2017, 12:51 PM
Oh she is precious!:Love_Icon:klunk I agree with jen413, if this little one is indeed a dwarf, a rehab center would be a bad idea since dwarf squirrels are non releasable. They have special needs in their care. She defiantly has all the features of a dwarf squirrel. As others have said, if you are unable to keep her, we may be able to find her a loving forever home.
crazy4squirrels
09-22-2017, 01:29 PM
How adorable. Yes, this baby will indeed need special care as she is a dwarf.
redwuff
09-22-2017, 01:57 PM
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Sorry the pictures are not that great, It's hard taking them one handed.
Redwuff, I will follow your suggestion to give water for the next three feedings and add a little bit of apple juice as Chickenlegs suggested. How much apple juice should I add to the water?
Nancy, the only thing she has climbed upon is my arm and she's clumsy at it. I thought it was normal since she's kinda clumsy in general, like most babies when they are learning to walk.
So l would follow the advice of those folks on here that have experience with dwarf babies. You have a rare gem! If you are not up to the task of giving her a permanent home, let us know and we might be able to get her to someone that is able to do that. Thankyou for giving her the super care already. Does she have a name?
When you post a picture, please give us some advance warning about the.........
Cuteness overload!!!
TubeDriver
09-22-2017, 02:04 PM
A dwarf Foxer! :klunk As others have said, these little ones are unusual and require a whole different level of care due to their issues with food, thermoregulation and general health. But they are also very, very sweet. I would absolutely not bring this little one to a WildLife Center because she would almost certainly be euthanized. :(
There are folks like ChickenLegs and others here who are experienced rehabbers who have cared for this type of squirrel. They can be a wealth of knowledge for you.
:w00t
Apsani3
09-22-2017, 02:09 PM
Thank you so much everyone! I would love to keep her, but am realistic enough that I need to check out more on caring for dwarf babies. I don't want to be selfish and keep her just because I want to. I have not named her, we have just been calling her baby because I was preparing myself to give her up, but this new information kind of gives me permission to keep her. :grin2 I will definitely read up on all that is involved and make a decision from there. I do feel more confident knowing that there are so many of you willing to help. I can't thank you enough!
Oh and how much of the gas x do I give her and how often?
redwuff
09-22-2017, 04:43 PM
I suggested gas x, but I am conceding to those more experienced with dwarfs to advise and guide you:grouphug
I love how mad she looks and her cute little snoot!:Love_Icon
Apsani3
09-23-2017, 10:13 PM
Update:
I gave the three feedings of water yesterday and she peed a lot after the third. The next feeding I gave her diluted formula and then some more water before bed.
I gave her some more diluted formula for her early am feeding and then the rest of the day followed with water. she has started peeing after each water feeding and she finally pooped, it was only a little (about the size of a couple of poppy seeds), but hey it's a start!! She has also been more active today and staying awake longer. :dance Hopefully we are on the right path now. Here are some pictures from this morning.
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https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-BWwXW9D/0/879a4cc8/M/i-BWwXW9D-M.jpg
Not sure why the one picture is upside down, or how to fix it. :gigg
EDIT: I fixed your picture! :)
She's so sweet! I'm very happy you finally got:poop:poop:poop
Jen413
09-23-2017, 11:05 PM
Love that little pouty face. She's precious. So glad you are making progress. :dance
lennysmom
09-24-2017, 12:24 AM
Oh her sweet face is SO adorable! :Love_Icon:Love_Icon:Love_Icon Glad to hear she's more active, eating and pottying better now - such a great update!:w00t
Apsani3
09-24-2017, 12:51 AM
She's so sweet! I'm very happy you finally got:poop:poop:poop
Lol! Me too!! Yay for poop!! :serene
Apsani3
09-24-2017, 12:58 AM
Love that little pouty face. She's precious. So glad you are making progress. :dance
Me too!! I'm so glad that I found her. I am officially obsessed. 💕
Nancy in New York
09-24-2017, 07:23 AM
She is just too adorable for words.
We probably have only seen 7-8 dwarfs on the board
in all the years TSB has been here.
And I never recall a dwarf foxer. She's just stunning.
Oh, and I turned your picture, she's too cute not to. :Love_Icon
Apsani3
09-25-2017, 08:14 AM
Update:
Not sure why the one picture is upside down, or how to fix it. :gigg
EDIT: I fixed your picture! :)
Thank you!
Apsani3
09-25-2017, 08:38 AM
Another update:
Yesterday was a bit of a roller coaster again. She was down to 104g.😩 I gave her sugar water in the morning and then fed diluted formula for the rest of the day. She was back to doing the guppy mouth- she had stopped doing that days ago- but she was eating very well. She pooped out the rest of the old poop (still brown) and some newer poop (golden yellow). She did not urinate as far as I could tell. Tried to give her some more water before bed, but she would not stay awake. I woke up at 1:30 to try again and she was cold and barely responsive. The heating pad was on, but I could barely feel the heat through the bottom. I will have to buy another one today. Anyways, I rubbed honey on her gums, warmed her up and got some water into her.
I removed the towel that was in between the heating pad and the bottom of the tote and made sure the bottom was warm before returning her to bed. I also added a pre-warmed sweatshirt and made a nest out of it, hoping it would help retain some heat.
I wasn't sure how I was going to find her this morning, but she was warm and responsive. She is 106g this morning, so that is something. 😊 I gave her formula diluted with sugar water and she peed afterwards. Yay! Hopefully today goes better.
Any suggestions on how to proceed from here? I was thinking formula diluted with sugar water, with some plain sugar water in between.
I'm also ready to admit that I'm in way over my head and I want this little girl to survive!! So, i would really appreciate your help in finding her a more suitable forever home with someone who has experience and better access to a veterinarian.
I am willing to travel to get her to a new home.
redwuff
09-25-2017, 02:12 PM
Let's see what we can do!:grouphug
Milo's Mom
09-25-2017, 02:36 PM
Let's see what we can do!:grouphug
Do you have someone in mind or do you want some help? I've got a good friend/rehabber in the OP's state that may be able to help, depending on location.
EDIT: The woman I have in mind is on standby.
Apsani3
09-25-2017, 10:12 PM
Do you have someone in mind or do you want some help? I've got a good friend/rehabber in the OP's state that may be able to help, depending on location.
EDIT: The woman I have in mind is on standby.
Thank you!! I have contacted her and am meeting up with her tomorrow. It's so bittersweet ☹️ But I am comforted knowing that she will have a better chance with someone with experience and access to medical care. She is such a sweet little creature. 😊 Thank you again to everyone who offered assistance!
Milo's Mom
09-25-2017, 11:59 PM
Thank you!! I have contacted her and am meeting up with her tomorrow. It's so bittersweet ☹️ But I am comforted knowing that she will have a better chance with someone with experience and access to medical care. She is such a sweet little creature. 😊 Thank you again to everyone who offered assistance!
You are very welcome. She will be treated like the little Princess she is. :grouphug
Chickenlegs
09-26-2017, 12:23 AM
WONDERFUL! A forever home for the princess. We just got to Iowa. I was about to make a raid! Doncha love the grumpy face!
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