Baby won't Poop

[gams]

I have two babies, one male, one female. Approx 3-4 wks old. Have had them for 5 days. They are starting to get hair. I have done everything I have read about and the male will not poop. They look about the same and eat about the same. (espilac 1-2). I massage him, with tissue, used warm wet cotton, even put warm water on his bottom. I have given him, literally about 4 drops of apple juice diluted with 1/2 water. What do I do? I am so worried about him.

[rippie-n-lilgirlsmom]

gams, you said you have had them for a few days. How did you aquire them?
Were they fully hydrated with Pedialyte before putting them on Esbilac.
When you say 1-2 are you talking about a 1cc syringe?
Sometimes it takes them a while to be able to have a bm because they are malnurished and there is nothing to poop?
Which form of Esbilac are you feeding are you feeding the canned or the powdered?
Sorry so many questions at once Welcome to the Squirrel Board!

[gams]

Thank you so much for your reply. I got them when someone had a tree cut down in their yard and later discovered them is the debris. I did give them some pedialite but now I'm wondering if it was enough. I'm using powdered Esbilac and mixing it l part milk to 2 parts water. I have had them 41/2 days. Their eyes are not open, they are just now getting the grey hair. What do you think. Thanks so much.

[gams]

Oh, I forgot, they are taking about 2cc in a syringe each feeding.

What about the apple juice? Is the pedialite ok to use after 48 hrs - the bottle says to discard after opening 48 hrs.

[rippie-n-lilgirlsmom]

Pedialte should still be ok!! You could alternate the pedialyte and the esbilac.
Give the esbilac at regular feedings and inbetween give the pedialyte. 3-4 week old will take more than 2cc!! I have the same age squirrels and they take around 4cc. per feeding just give the pedialyte inbetween. See how that goes for the next 24 hrs. I believe this is just because they are not eating enough.

[Mars]

Let's try this. Can you give your baby a drop of vegetable oil? I would take him off formula and back onto pedialyte for a day (24 hours) replacing his normal feedings and see if we can flush the system. Then start back on to formula slowly with esbilac 1 in 4 for 3 feedings and then 1 in 3 for three feedings before going back to 1 in 2. I add 1 part organic live cultured yogurt to my formulas. ( vanilla is good ) This adds a bit more protein and probiotics. :)

[MsOakley]

Our rehab group says the pedialyte can last in fridge a long time (months). As long as it's not cloudy and doesn't have anything floating in it, it is still okay to use. The discard warning is for human babies.

[gams]

:thankyou MARS, thanks so much. This is such a wonderful place to go to. Where do you get the yogurt? I will try that. I didn't know so many people cared as much as I do. Bless U

[rippie-n-lilgirlsmom]

Grocery store Ihave always bought the plain dannon vanilla.
Make sure it has no artifical sweeteners. You can also get organic.

[Buddy'sMom]

Where do you get the yogurt? I will try that.

:wave123 and :Welcome

You can get the yogurt at most any grocery store. One brand is Stonyfield Farm. If you don't see that brand, look for "active cultures" on the label. Vanilla is a generally well-accepted flavor.

:grouphug :grouphug

[gams]

To all who have helped me I want to say thank you so much. He has FINALLY POOPED!!! We were so thrilled. I alternated pedialite with esbilac for several feedings. I think they were both much more dehydrated than I realized. They still don't seem to be taking as much esbilac as most of you say they should be taking. I have been feeding them about every 4 to 41/2 hours. By the looks of the other pictures you have shown I'm pretty sure they are about 3-31/2 weeks old. They are starting to show signs of growing hair. They are very active when they want to eat and then they just sleep. BOY, do they steal your heart. My granddaughter named them Daisy and Duke. Maybe I will learn how and send you some pictures. Should I feed just formula now? Blessings to each of you for caring so much!:thankyou :thankyou

[hazel]

Hey gams!

Glad your baby is doing better. :D

I had been wondering about the 48 hour limit on Pedialyte myself so I asked the vets that I work with about it. According to them, Pedialyte is an excellent medium for growing bacteria!

I now buy the 8oz. bottles that come in a four pack and use sterile needles and sterile 60cc syringes to draw up and store the Pedialyte - it's way overpriced and a drag to have to throw it away.

At the very least, be cautious not to to put anything non sterile into the bottle and don't pour excess Pedialyte back into the bottle.

Hope your little squirrels grow big and strong :thumbsup .

[rippie-n-lilgirlsmom]

Most rehabber save their Pedialyte by freezing it in ice cube trays.
I would continue with the pedialyte inbetween feedings for another day or so.
Then I would still give it (Ped) a few times a day, thats what I would do everything works better when the baby is hydrated.

[gams]

:jump We did get excited when he pooped. I think it is a good idea to stay with the pedialite in between too. Thanks. The little female just doesn't eat as much as the male. Do they just eat and sleep at this age? It's been a long time since I had them this small. Also, the little girl is sucking on his little pee pee. What about that? Thanks to everyone, you are all great!!:thankyou

[rippie-n-lilgirlsmom]

I would suggest getting a set of nipples from Chris's Squirel store.
The babies have a strong need to suck this can and will cause big problems for little boy!
Yes, pretty much all they do is eat & sleep right now.
http://www.squirrelsandmore.com/product/845/Nipple_and_Syringe_Sample_Set.htm
also at Chriss they sell Mazuri rodent block & zupreme primate diet which minelike best they will need to have this in their beds to nibble on before long I suggest you also get that.
http://www.squirrelsandmore.com/category/1429/Foods.htm
also the bone slices are great to chew on for their teeth, raising squirrels isnt cheap!

[Mars]

That's about all they do - eat and sleep. :D they will becoem moer active as they get older. Genital sucking can cause problems. If it gets too bad you may have to separate them. :)

[island rehabber]

Sometimes genital sucking can be solved by changing their feeding schedule: go to more frequent feedings of slightly less formula. In other words, the idea is not to let them get hungry in between because that's when she'll start sucking. Worth a try, anyway.

[gams]

Hi, this is Gams back again. My female baby has had diarreah tonight. She was acting sluggish and I had given her just a taste of yogurt. Could that have caused the diarreah? I have started her back on pedialite only and she had not had it any more. Do I do anything else? Seems like they are so fragile. Also I had mentioned that she was sucking on his genitals and I have separated them but have noticed that he is red and swollen. Do I do anything for that. I put a little triple antibotic on it. Is that ok? I have ordered some things from Chris's store like recommended. Thanks to all. You are just great!!! Oh, his poop is still just fine.

[Mars]

:)
Hi, this is Gams back again. My female baby has had diarreah tonight. She was acting sluggish and I had given her just a taste of yogurt. Could that have caused the diarreah? No, not unless it was very high in sugars such as the fruits on the bottom kinds. Organic live cultured yogurt are very good for baby. I put a 1/2 part into all my formulas each feeding until weaned. I have started her back on pedialite only and she had not had it any more. Do I do anything else? How old is baby now and what has been her feeding schedule and formula until now?? Seems like they are so fragile. Also I had mentioned that she was sucking on his genitals and I have separated them but have noticed that he is red and swollen. Do I do anything for that. I put a little triple antibotic on it. Is that ok? Yes. A soothing ointment is best. Be careful a scab does not form to block his ablity to pee. This will need be soaked off. I have ordered some things from Chris's store like recommended. Thanks to all. You are just great!!! Oh, his poop is still just fine.

[gams]

Mars, thank you again for your help. Seems like I take two steps forward and one step back. She was doing better and now has very loose stools again. She ate good the last two meals. I mixed pedialite and espilac at a two part ped to one part esp. I do have them separated and he is doing fine.

I also have another little female. Very small. No hair but her skin has turned the grey color ready for the hair to start coming in. Should I keep them separated or can I put them together?

I am exhausted! Gotta go try to get some sleep. Bless you all.

[island rehabber]

hi Gams -- for what it's worth, I was taught not to mix Pedialyte with esbilac. According to Shirley Casey in the 2-day Squirrel Seminar I took, one will cancel out the benefits of the other and result in more dehydration or more stomach upset. If the squirrel is dehydrating and you want to give pedialyte, give her the Pedialyte in between her Esbilac feedings. But don't mix them together. I'm sorry I don't recall the scientific terms for both of these fluids which contradict each other (Mars may know of the top of her head, LOL) but I know I was told not to mix them. :)

[rippie-n-lilgirlsmom]

Can you explain the poops are they applesauce type diarrhea. How would you describe the consistency?

[gams]

Describe the poops, ok! At first it was kinda dark and veeery loose (she was laying in it). Then it was probably like applesauce or thick mustard. Now it is pretty formed. I hope all stays as is.
Can I put a new baby in with the older baby? No eyes are open.

[gams]

I would! :thumbsup Babies love to lay together and snuggle. :grouphug


Hi again. This is Gams. My babies are doing great. I have not been able to find any of the calcium that is recomended for the babies. The only thing I found was Pet Tabs at the vet that had 2.5% calcium plus magnesium and other minerals, etc. What do you all recommend?

Also, my little boy's eyes opened yesterday and he is eating good, pottying good, etc but after he eats a couple of times I noticed he was shaking a little kinda like a person when they are cold. What does anyone think?

Blessings to all for your help.

[Mars]

If he just openned his eyes they do shake a bit as they are still unsteady on their feet. Or is it a trembling like he is cold?? Does he become cold to the tuoch?? Are his feet cold?

[squirrelsrule&bunniestoo]

Don't mix pedialyte in place of water for their formula. I haven't ever heard about how squirrels react to it, but I know it will kill a baby bunny. They digest the pedialyte faster than the esbilac powder and then they are left witht the goopy esbilac in their gut and they can't digest it. That builds up and kills them. What I do is mix the formula normally with 2:1 using water and esbilac and then add pedialyte to that. That will not cause any digestive problems.

[rippie-n-lilgirlsmom]

Hi gam! Good to hear babies are doing great, as long as they are taking formula there is no need for extra calcium you are good to go untill they wean themselves and we will cross that bridge when we come to it!!
Just to touch base they are on their heating pad thats set on low...right?
Also when they start getting around they are wobbly, and unsteady.
Is this what you are seeing or actualy shaking?

[gams]

Thanks to all who reply. They are all on 2 to 1, water to esbilac. He shivers like a person when they are cold. His feet may be a little cold but he is warm. They are all still on the heating pad. How long do they have to stay on the heating pad? Sometime they have a great appetite and sometime they will hardly eat. Even the baby (about 3 wks old). The other two's eyes have just opened. The one with eyes opened is the one that shakes. He did not shake the last time I fed him. Do you still have to stimulate them after their eyes are open? Thanks again.:thankyou

[Mars]

They should start going on their own in the next week. Please continue to stimulate until you have seen they are doing it by themselves. If they are maintaining their own body temps well you can now offer heat at night only for the next week or so then they should be fine without it. If they are still hugging the heat they still need the heat. Try spacing your feedings out a bit to say every 4 hours and see if they eat more consistantly for you. :)