6 1/2 week old female grey with diarrhea for 24 hours

[cleolovelee]

I have a 6 1/2 week old female grey who has had diarrhea for 24 hours. I haven't done anything diagnostic yet because I had this problem with her brother and it turned out to be overeating. So, all I have done up to this point is to monitor how much she is eating and make sure she doesn't over eat, and hope that the problem cleared itself up as it did with her brother. So far, it has not. Also, the consistency of the diarrhea is different. It's extremely slimy, similar to the consistency of honey that isn't sticky. There are some solid bits, but not much at all, and more or less, the solid bits are mushy. Sorry for being so graphic, but imagery helps!! She currently weighs 98kg (that is after eating only 4 cc's of formula). The formula I use is Goat's Milk Esbilac. I realize this is not Fox Valley, however I do not believe it is the formula since I have been feeding this to her since I received her before her eyes opened with no problems. I am not ruling it out, but I just don't think that's it. The only other thing she has eaten are some simple solids since she's just starting to ween: apple, avocado, pecan, yellow squash. Meds I have on hand are Amoxicillin 875/Clav K 125 mg tabs and plain Amoxicillin 875 mg tabs.

Thanks in advance!!!

[Sottinger]

Possibly one of the solids recently began? I read to introduce one at a time so there’s a process of elimination. Admittedly I didn’t before but I have since. My little guy got diarrhea about that age as well but cleared up in a couple days.

[Spanky]

Are you adding anything to the Goat's Milk formula? We prefer the Esbilac formula, the powdered version. We have seen the Goat's Milk Formula result in diarrhea and a failure to thrive.

At 6 1/2 weeks you can feed her some canned pumpkin, not the pumpkin pie mix, just plain ole canned pumpkin.

[island rehabber]

Try cutting out the apple for a few days. Even though we all think of apple as causing constipation vs. diarrhea (contains pectin) twice I have had baby squirrels who could not handle apple and did get the runs from it. You can give her a tiny drop of Kaopectate just to stop the diarrhea so she doesn't get dehydrated. It won't cure whatever is going on, you will still have to try to isolate the food that is the problem.

[cleolovelee]

The formula I am feeding her is Goat's Milk Esbilac, the powdered form. I don't add anything to it.

New symptom: she is now suckling at her own tongue. I don't know if this is related, but she won't take her formula now because she suckles at her tongue instead. I had to move her tongue over in order to get the nipple in her mouth, and then she just didn't seem interested. She doesn't appear to be dehydrated. Her eyes are bright. But, at the same time, she isn't as active as the others I have that are her age, or like she normally has been. I do have some canned pumpkin. I will try a bit of that.

Also, if it is the formula that is making her sick, which should I go with? I have read that Fox Valley is the best, but then I also read on a sticky in the Nutrition section that Fox Valley is no longer recommended? I am confused on that one...

[Spanky]

Not the Goat's Milk Esbilac, simply Esbilac. This one:
https://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=304622&stc=1

We discourage (strongly) the Fox Valley 32/40 in favor of the above formula for babies birth to 4 -5 weeks. After that they can be transitioned to Fox Valley 20/50 (20/50 is okee dokee). Many o us prefer to use a half Esbilac adn Helf FV 20/50 after their eyes open.

[stepnstone]

The only other thing she has eaten are some simple solids since she's just starting to ween: apple, avocado, pecan, yellow squash.
Just starting to wean should be eating a good quality rodent block before other solid foods were introduced.

[Mel1959]

Ditto on the rodent block, it’s very important that they eat one. I introduce Harlan Teklad which must be purchased online. Many use Henry’s, but if you start with Henry’s they likely won’t take the Harlan or any other hard black CN in favor of the Henrys.

Can you post a picture of this baby? When you mentioned about the tongue thing it made me wonder if your baby could be a dwarf. Dwarf squirrels have thicker tongues and are much more limited in their abilities than regular squirrels.

Infant rice cereal can also be added to the formula to help firm up the poo.

[cava]

It sounds like guppy mouth but I don't recall any older babies doing it, just those tiny, toothless babies. It's not dangerous, just like a suck trance, tongue stuck to roof of mouth, sucking nothing...happily.

[cleolovelee]

Oh I have been using the wrong formula. However, fortunately, I am at the bottom of my current can, so I am going to go get the correct one and transition with what I have left.

Today, Mavis had fairly normal poops. They were still a bit mushy, but they were more well formed. This evening, however, it was back to the slimy stuff. Her brother Charlie is now experiencing the same thing. So, I am apt to think it IS the formula after all. So, I will be changing that.

The suckling issue cleared itself up. I think maybe she just didn't realize the nipple wasn't in her mouth?? It's not something she's ever done before (or any other squirrel I've rehabbed), and it must have been a one-time thing, because her last two feedings were uneventful.

I don't have any Henry's rodent block on hand, but I do have some Squirrel Veggie Square Mix that I purchased from squirrel nutrition.com. It says to add fruit puree to it and bake. Will these work until I am able to get the rodent squares?? I have attached pix for reference. I also have rat kibble for emergencies, though I am not sure how I came to have it, and I never feed it to my squirrels.

I cannot figure out how to turn these right side up... sorry!!

Also, it appears from my view to have uploaded three images: two instruction sheets, and the pic of the powdered mix in the bag. The only instruction sheet that should have been uploaded is the one for Veggie Squares.

304649304651

[cleolovelee]

I switched formulas and it seemed to do the trick! Haven't had any diarrhea since switching (two feedings so far). Thanks for all your help!! :)

One more question: about how long should squirrels be on formula on average?

[stepnstone]

I switched formulas and it seemed to do the trick! Haven't had any diarrhea since switching (two feedings so far). Thanks for all your help!! :)
One more question: about how long should squirrels be on formula on average?

We do not recommend weaning them, we allow formula as long as they will take it.
When they are ready, they will wean themselves. Time can vary from baby to baby.
Formula is your baby's best assurance against MBD, once weaned a good quality rodent
block becomes that assurance.

[Sottinger]

Please note refrigeration or freeze instructions for open containers. I didn’t and still need to reorder even the powdered milk replacement. Just an FYI tid bit =)

[Spanky]

I switched formulas and it seemed to do the trick! Haven't had any diarrhea since switching (two feedings so far). Thanks for all your help!! :)

Great update! :bliss
:bliss:bliss

[cava]

Oh I have been using the wrong formula. However, fortunately, I am at the bottom of my current can, so I am going to go get the correct one and transition with what I have left.

Today, Mavis had fairly normal poops. They were still a bit mushy, but they were more well formed. This evening, however, it was back to the slimy stuff. Her brother Charlie is now experiencing the same thing. So, I am apt to think it IS the formula after all. So, I will be changing that.

The suckling issue cleared itself up. I think maybe she just didn't realize the nipple wasn't in her mouth?? It's not something she's ever done before (or any other squirrel I've rehabbed), and it must have been a one-time thing, because her last two feedings were uneventful.

I don't have any Henry's rodent block on hand, but I do have some Squirrel Veggie Square Mix that I purchased from squirrel nutrition.com. It says to add fruit puree to it and bake. Will these work until I am able to get the rodent squares?? I have attached pix for reference. I also have rat kibble for emergencies, though I am not sure how I came to have it, and I never feed it to my squirrels.

I cannot figure out how to turn these right side up... sorry!!

Also, it appears from my view to have uploaded three images: two instruction sheets, and the pic of the powdered mix in the bag. The only instruction sheet that should have been uploaded is the one for Veggie Squares.

304649304651

I wouldn't use these at all. They are mostly nuts and although they throw a ton of vitamins in to counter the risk for Metabolic Bone Disease, you're starting them on a delicious nut based product with the intent of switching to a more nutritious product that isn't going to be mostly nuts and they may refuse it.

They'll be ok with formula for a few more days until what your ordered gets there. Plus you just changed formulas, better to let them settle into that before starting something new so quickly.

[cleolovelee]

Wow. I had no idea about the weaning. It actually makes sense tho. I nursed my daughter till she was one, and then pumped when she no longer wanted to nurse. I pumped for a solid two years........................ So, it makes sense that a squirrel would need formula for just as long (in squirrel time). Good advice!! Also, I never even though to refrigerate the formula. I am putting it in right now. Brand new can just opened yesterday. :)

Can I just say how really glad I am that I found this site??? I have learned more on here in the past three days than I have all summer!!! What a wealth of information!!!! Thank you all so much!!