madameflan
03-24-2019, 12:48 PM
Hello!
I am raising two baby squirrels, likely between four and five weeks old. White tummy fur is almost entirely grown in, eyes open, tails fluffing, and top teeth are starting to come out. I have recently been switching them from esbilac to fox valley 20/50. I followed the dilution instructions in Henry’s squirrel care - 25/75 for 24hrs, then 50/50, then 75/50.
My little girl seems fine, but last night I went in to check on them and noticed a little bit of yellowish smear on their blanket and weird darkish poop everywhere. Noticed my little boy had stains around his poor little butt and legs. I gave him a little 5-min warm water soak and stimulated and he passed a little bit of the light yellow gooey diarrhea stuff. I fed him his full dose of 100% fox valley (as according to the schedule I was following, that was the time for their first feeding of the full formula). Afterwards I did more research on squirrel diarrhea and gave him 2ccs of honey-sweetened water. Henry’s website suggests that I skip a few feedings and focus on hydrating. So this morning for his feeding I skipped the formula and have given him only more honey-water. He has pooped a little bit, and it seems a little more formed again, but dark. He himself also looked quite round and possibly bloated last night.
A bit more general info: I do have a scale, so I try to keep their feedings between 5-7% body weight. The esbilac i was feeding them was the canned kind with the probiotic banner. I have had them for 3 weeks now. I decided to switch them to fox valley cuz many say it’s the best formula for baby squirrels, and Betelgeuse (the one with diarrhea) seemed to be struggling with a little constipation in this last week or so. He is an eager eater who tends to gulp his food. I try my hardest to keep his eating at a good slow rate, but I think when my dad takes his shift, he pushes the plunger a little faster then I would like, although it’s not that fast. Aspiration hasn’t seemed to be a problem so far, luckily. I feed with a 1cc syringe and miracle nipple, my dad prefers to feed with a 3cc and miracle nipple. In total we feed them 5 times a day, with 4-5 hours between each feeding, and with a maximum 8 hour overnight break so that we can have decent sleep schedules.
I have read that the diarrhea can become deadly very quickly and I love this little guy and don’t want his sister to be alone :( any advice? Am I right to only hydrate for a few feedings? My dad, who is helping, is afraid that he will starve. I’m afraid if the diarrhea killing him faster than starving though.
Thanks for advice! Apologizes for the very long post, just want to answer as many questions as I can upfront.
I am raising two baby squirrels, likely between four and five weeks old. White tummy fur is almost entirely grown in, eyes open, tails fluffing, and top teeth are starting to come out. I have recently been switching them from esbilac to fox valley 20/50. I followed the dilution instructions in Henry’s squirrel care - 25/75 for 24hrs, then 50/50, then 75/50.
My little girl seems fine, but last night I went in to check on them and noticed a little bit of yellowish smear on their blanket and weird darkish poop everywhere. Noticed my little boy had stains around his poor little butt and legs. I gave him a little 5-min warm water soak and stimulated and he passed a little bit of the light yellow gooey diarrhea stuff. I fed him his full dose of 100% fox valley (as according to the schedule I was following, that was the time for their first feeding of the full formula). Afterwards I did more research on squirrel diarrhea and gave him 2ccs of honey-sweetened water. Henry’s website suggests that I skip a few feedings and focus on hydrating. So this morning for his feeding I skipped the formula and have given him only more honey-water. He has pooped a little bit, and it seems a little more formed again, but dark. He himself also looked quite round and possibly bloated last night.
A bit more general info: I do have a scale, so I try to keep their feedings between 5-7% body weight. The esbilac i was feeding them was the canned kind with the probiotic banner. I have had them for 3 weeks now. I decided to switch them to fox valley cuz many say it’s the best formula for baby squirrels, and Betelgeuse (the one with diarrhea) seemed to be struggling with a little constipation in this last week or so. He is an eager eater who tends to gulp his food. I try my hardest to keep his eating at a good slow rate, but I think when my dad takes his shift, he pushes the plunger a little faster then I would like, although it’s not that fast. Aspiration hasn’t seemed to be a problem so far, luckily. I feed with a 1cc syringe and miracle nipple, my dad prefers to feed with a 3cc and miracle nipple. In total we feed them 5 times a day, with 4-5 hours between each feeding, and with a maximum 8 hour overnight break so that we can have decent sleep schedules.
I have read that the diarrhea can become deadly very quickly and I love this little guy and don’t want his sister to be alone :( any advice? Am I right to only hydrate for a few feedings? My dad, who is helping, is afraid that he will starve. I’m afraid if the diarrhea killing him faster than starving though.
Thanks for advice! Apologizes for the very long post, just want to answer as many questions as I can upfront.