Is this formula killing the babies??

[CNeal]

Hello, I am new here. My sister just got two very young pink and grey baby squirrels. She got 3, but one just died tonight. She told me to buy her the esbilac for her to feed them, but my walmart didnt have it. So I bought her a different one. I will attach pics. Can someone please tell me if this is safe for the babies?? I am devastated to think that my mistake might have killed one of them!

[stepnstone]

Hello, I am new here. My sister just got two very young pink and grey baby squirrels. She got 3, but one just died tonight. She told me to buy her the esbilac for her to feed them, but my walmart didnt have it. So I bought her a different one. I will attach pics. Can someone please tell me if this is safe for the babies?? I am devastated to think that my mistake might have killed one of them!

Answered in another forum, copy to paste here...

Milk Replacer is not Esbilac. It is the wrong formula, does not contain all the type nutrients needed, not digested as well and usually causes diarrhea which in turn dehydrates baby. You said sister "just got" these babies, very unlikely the formula was the cause. That being said, you do need to get the correct formula with the pre and pro biotics.
Has she ever raised these babies before this? Does sister have a scale to be weighing these babies? Babies need to be weighed to be fed between 5-7% of their body weight, over feeding can be dangerous. Feeding with too large an instrument can be dangerous. Aspirating formula can be dangerous.
I'm attaching a link on baby squirrel care, please ask any concerns you may have and we'll do the best to answer them.
Go to this link. It's 6 pages long with the next button on the top right corner..
http://www.henryspets.com/baby-squirrel-care/

[stepnstone]

They were brought to her yesterday evening. She has attempted to raise a couple before that were brought to her by someone where her husband works, but they were both very sick when she got them and didnt make it. We have both done a ton of research, but every site says something different regarding food. Fox valley is the best, no dont ever use that! Esbilac is the best, no its killing babies! Goats milk, no never! We have ordered both of the mixed of the fox valley, waiting on delivery, now I read here that it is bad. We just want to save these babies, but I am so frustrated! We are continuing to rehydrate, and will be getting a scale tomorrow. They aren't taking much at a time of the rehydration fluid.

Fox Valley 32/40 became an issue when formula was changed, it sits like sludge in a young babies still developing digestive system, can cause failure to thrive and in some cases death. Since the change in formula, we at TSB do not recommend it's use.

Fox Valley 20/50 is a good formula.

Esbilac had changed it's formula, caused issues with babies and was black balled. The company changed back to it's orignal formula and everything is fine with it's use.

Goat's milk is fine to use as a temporary formula, long term use is not recommended as it don't have all the nutrition needed.
Some babies do not tolerate other formulas and Goat's milk becomes their alternative usually with additives to balance out the nutrition.

Outside the use of Goat's milk, liquid formulas are never to be used. They may represent to be like the powered formulas, they are not!

We do realize there is a lot of misinformation out there as well as information not being updated, researched or proven.
We at TSB pride ourselves in not being one of them! We do all of the above and You've now landed at the right place!

Hydration and formulas need to be fed very warm, you want it a bit hotter then you'd feed a human baby.
Please read from the link I sent you on baby squirrel care, it really can be a huge help. Henry's is an advocate
and also a member of TSB.

[CNeal]

I read on the fox valley website that the 20/50 formula was only for babies 4 weeks and older. Can it be used for the itty bitty pink babies with no fur? We are going to try to find esbilac tomorrow. I read about them changing the formula and it killing babies, but I never read that they changed it back! Thank you for that info!

[stepnstone]

I read on the fox valley website that the 20/50 formula was only for babies 4 weeks and older. Can it be used for the itty bitty pink babies with no fur? We are going to try to find esbilac tomorrow. I read about them changing the formula and it killing babies, but I never read that they changed it back! Thank you for that info!

What many of us do is start out our (younger) babies on Esbilac and when older transition to a 50-50 of fox valley and Esbilac.
Some members choose to transition completely to fox valley.
You may have also read to add heavy whipping cream and or yogurt to formula to add more calories. The extra cream can cause
diarrhea and is not recommended for young babies at least until their digestive systems become more stable.

[redwuff]

Please post a picture of your babies. That will help us guide you in their care. Most rehabber euthanize newborn or pinky squirrels. There is no need to do that. They are easy enough to raise, it takes round the clock feeding, but they are determined to live.

This little guy was just successfully released and enjoying life as they were meant to.

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[CNeal]

Here is a pic of one of the babies. They both look like this.

[redwuff]

I am going to guide you the way I do pinkies. I am not a big fan of Esbilac for babies younger than 3 weeks because it has blocked them up and caused bloat. Other people used Esbilac successfully. I start my babies on the goats milk formula. That formula is 3 parts goats milk, 1 part full fat yogurt, 1 part heavy whipping creme. I like using pasteurized goats milk from a health food store. I have not used powdered goats milk but other people have. When babies get to 3 -4 wks and are stable, I very slowly switch them over to fox valley 20/50 and keep them on that till weaned.

Your baby is very underweight and the formula will eventually cause malnutrition and diarrhea. On the right formula they will blossom and thrive.

What type of container do you have them in? What are you using to feed them with? You must get a scale and weigh them every day, preferably at the same time. You need to feed them betw 5-7% of the wt that is taken that morning. Keep a track of their wt in a log.

Your baby looks to be abt 14-16 days.