Baby Refusing to Nurse

[Banana1985]

Hi everyone!
My name is Briana and I have a little grey baby girl. My chocolate lab scooped her out of a drainage pipe near our backyard on Monday. She was stone cold and dehydrated. Warmed and re-hydrated her. Then started on esbilac with 1 tsp of cream per cup of reconstituted formula. Fell into the over feeding trap! I didn’t weigh her right away(my mistake) and was over feeding her by almost double. :-( so she got diarrhea. We are recovering from that (started 2 days ago and slowly getting firmer) refreshed her formula without the cream. Hydrated in between feedings due to the diarrhea for a day.
Now, the issue is she is refusing to nurse!! We never used a nipple but I even tried that today and hope! She will bury her face in her swaddling to avoid the syringe. Her first feeding was this morning at 8am and she refused it even tho she hadn’t eaten since last night at 10pm.
Could she still be recovering from the over feeding? She has never been an enthusiastic eater. She is also teething. Can I give her rodent block?
She weighs 118 grams as of last night. So I’ve been doing about 5-6ccs.
I estimate she’s between 5-6 weeks? Her tail curls up her back now. And she is very active and curious! Otherwise healthy.
Any advice or help would be greatly appreciated! Her name is Klover. Thank you all!

[cava]

Yes, you can give a rodent block at this age, but refusal to eat is concerning. Is it possible that she aspirated fluid into her lungs (hydration or formula)? If so this can cause aspiration pneumonia and refusal to nurse and lethargy can be the first signs. Nursing without a nipple can be difficult for them to latch on and suck v you pushing as she swallows.

Hold her up to your ear, do you hear a clicking sound in her chest when she breathes?

Do you have any left over ciprofloxicin/baytril or augmenten/clavamox (human/animal). We can help you dose if AP is suspected.

Thanks for helping her!

[Nancy in New York]

Make sure the formula is warm enough.
Try stimulating her before, or during feeding.
Sometimes they want to potty before eating.
What kind of Esbilac are you feeding, is it the dry powder?

[Javarat]

I have gotten babies at this age that refused formula.
They grew up fine on blocks, fruits, and veggies.
Tail curling up and over does not happen until 6th or 7th week.

I also agree with the previous comment about formula temperature.
First thing I try when a baby refuses is making it hotter.
Always test the temperature on your wrist, not the finger.
It may feel hot to your finger, but cold on your wrist (and in the baby's mouth).
I have had some that liked it so hot that it felt like hot coffee.

[stepnstone]

Fell into the over feeding trap! I didn’t weigh her right away(my mistake) and was over feeding her by almost double. :-( so she got diarrhea. We are recovering from that (started 2 days ago and slowly getting firmer) refreshed her formula without the cream. Hydrated in between feedings due to the diarrhea for a day.


A dehydrated baby will refuse to eat, diarrhea causes dehydration. Hydrating for a day most likely did not
bring her to full hydration since she is still dealing with diarrhea even if just in part.
Can you post a picture of this baby for a better eyes on assessment?

[Banana1985]

Y’all are awesome thank you!
I do not hear any clicking noises when she breathes. I have been checking for that.
She is definitely not lethargic! Loves to explore. I have her in a bin but also let her have free roam of my bathroom several times a day. And play with her.
She has never been big on the formula at all but she’s never refused it like she has today. I finally got about 2 cc’s down her. She also ate a whole rodent block.
She does have a little more diarrhea today. Less smelly tho and not as much.
I have played with the temp of the formula. Doesn’t seem to make a difference.
I was wondering about her age since she has hit a lot of milestones but still seems so little!
Should I still offer formula? If so how often? What solid foods would y’all recomm nd at this stage? Any other supplements to help her gain weight? And since she’s not nursing regularly I should get her a water bottle now right?

[stepnstone]

Were/are you feeding the powered Esbilac with pre & pro biotics as pictured?
300155

[Banana1985]

Yes, I am feeding the Esbilac with the pre and pro biotics.
She definitely has more diarrhea today. :( Just had some when I took her out to get a recent pic.
Should I hydrate? If so, pedialyte or something homemade? I've seen varying takes on this.
ANY info you can give is helpful! A step by step rundown/timeline would be great! LOL.
This is my first time; I have contacted a rehabber in my area but haven't heard back yet.
Here's her just 5 minutes ago. 300156

[stepnstone]

Yes, I am feeding the Esbilac with the pre and pro biotics.
She definitely has more diarrhea today. :( Just had some when I took her out to get a recent pic.
Should I hydrate? If so, pedialyte or something homemade? I've seen varying takes on this.
ANY info you can give is helpful! A step by step rundown/timeline would be great! LOL.
This is my first time; I have contacted a rehabber in my area but haven't heard back yet.
Here's her just 5 minutes ago. 300156

Her fur is spiky which does suggest dehydration.

Home made hydration fluid:
Re-hydration fluid:
1 teaspoon salt
3 Tablespoons sugar
1 quart water.
************
1/2 measure:
1/2 teaspoon salt
1-1/2 tablespoon sugar (3-teaspoons)
16 oz water (1-pint)
*************
1/4 measure:
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 tablespoon sugar (1-1/2 teaspoons)
8 oz water

Edit: She's cute as a button! :Love_Icon:grin2

[Banana1985]

Ok thank you!!
I’ll try that solution. How often?
Can I offer solid foods still? She is loving the rodent block. What other foods are goog to start with?
Since diarrhea is smelly does that automatically mean coccidia? Or not necessarily?

[Spanky]

Ok thank you!!
I’ll try that solution. How often?

You can provide the hydration like it is formula: 5% of her body weight every 4 - 5 hours. If she will not take that much at once, give smaller amounts more often.


Can I offer solid foods still?

Yes. What kind of rodent block are you providing?



She is loving the rodent block. What other foods are goog to start with?

Do not offer anything else for a week or so after she is eating her block very well and she is not being picky about eating it at all. After that you can start to introduce veggies, but always give her block first and other food only after she has eaten her block... here is the link to the healthy food chart:
https://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?44440-Healthy-Diet-for-Pet-Squirrels



Since diarrhea is smelly does that automatically mean coccidia? Or not necessarily?

Not necessarily, Esbilac diarrhea is smelly.. is the smell a "sweet putrid" smell?

Also, not to beat this to death but to be certain: She is getting the POWDERED version of the Esbilac and not the all ready liquid one?

Also, be sure not to "reheat" the formula. Heat up only what you will use for that feeding and discard the remainder of heated formula. Warming, re-refrigerating and then reheating can lead to refusal to eat and diarrhea. :thumbsup

:Welcome to TSB! Your baby is adorable (and does look a touch dehydrated).

[Banana1985]

Thank you!!
Ok I will do that for rehydration. When should I offer formula again?

Yes, it is the powdered esbilac and I do 1 part powder to 2 parts water.

She is getting Oxbow Essentials Mice and Young Rat rodent block.

Yes I would describe the smell as a sweet putrid burning smell. Pretty close to human diarrhea smell lol.

[stepnstone]

When a baby has diarrhea it is best to stick to the lower end at 5% on their feedings not 7% which is the maximum.
Once they are stable then you can gradually increase to 7% if necessary.

[Banana1985]

Ok so she took to the hydration solution well! About 5 ccs. Also used a nipple. She doesn’t latch on (never has) but just kind of laps at it. But did so enthusiastically. She played and shredded another rodent block. (Makes 2 today so far).
When should I try formula again? Should I wait for solid poops? And at about 6 ccs hydration every 4 hrs or more or less often??
Thank you!