Healthy diet for my NR who can’t/won’t eat solids

[Mmfineartstudio]

Background on Peanut (aka PeeWee) :
I’m estimating he’s around 13+ weeks old, fully furred, teeth have the orange color on them. His upper teeth barely came in, they are just slightly poking through the gums. Those little nubby teeth are also orange. Even though he can chew on things like apple sticks and tear them up, he cannot eat solids like blocks. (Attached picture of his teeth below, and someone is coming today to teach me how to trim his bottom teeth, as I’ve never had to do that before now 😳). He is currently eating 20/50 FV with baby cereal added in to thicken, 20 mugs about 3-4 times daily. In between feedings he gets a little bit of sweet potato baby food mixed with a crushed Harlan teklad 2018 block and a little bit of FV ultraboost. He can lick this off of a spoon and eat it ok, but is still all about his formula. He is extremely small for his age, weighed in yesterday at 294 grams. I’ve had him almost a month, he’s gained quite a bit of weight since I got him(over 60 grams), but he doesn’t seem to be growing much larger, just fatter. His front legs are also looking a little short for his body, but I don’t feel like his head looks like a dwarf. His energy and motor skills have improved tremendously, he is extremely playful and very sweet. Doesn’t stress out easily. His fur is shockingly soft.

I’m 98% sure that he’s a NR. My question is: if he’s never able to actually eat solids like booballs or blocks, what type of food do I need to be mixing up for his syringe feedings? Do I need to get extra vitamins to add in? Switch him to a different formula? Thanks everyone!
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[CritterMom]

If you make them properly, he can absolutely eat "Boo Balls" and they have the benefit of giving him the opportunity to sit up like a regulation squirrel, hold food in their little hands and eat.

First, getting a mini coffee/spice grinder like one of these: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=cuisinart+coffee+grinder&crid=3J9YM51XSSBB&sprefix=cuisinart+coffee+grinder%2Caps%2C93&ref=nb_sb_noss
will make all of this easier.

Either use a knife and chop a couple Henry's block as fine as possible, or throw it in your grinder. You want fine crumbs.

Find out what kind of nut butter he likes. Peanut? Almond? If you have a grinder, you can make walnut butter just from walnuts - they have so much oil in them if you toss a handful in and keep processing they will turn into walnut butter without adding anything else.

Put your Henry's crumbs in a bowl, add a small amount - maybe 1/4 teaspoon - of the formula powder, and in tiny amounts start adding the nut butter until you have a dough that is about the consistency of a firm cookie dough. Roll them in little balls. If you want to get fancy, roll the balls in some sesame seeds - they are VERY high in calcium. The balls will hold together so he can hold them but they are soft like dough so they really don't require chewing. You can riff on the recipe, too. Try adding small amounts of fruit or veggie baby food. The fact that they are made with the Henry's blocks mean you are getting the nutrition he needs.

You can also grind up the Henry's blocks, add more baby food and less nut butter and warm the mixture into sort of a warm oatmeal-like gruel and offer a warmed blob on a dish or spoon to him. One of my squirrels who could eat perfectly fine just LOVES that.

[McCarthy]

Background on Peanut (aka PeeWee) :
I’m estimating he’s around 13+ weeks old, fully furred, teeth have the orange color on them. His upper teeth barely came in, they are just slightly poking through the gums. Those little nubby teeth are also orange. Even though he can chew on things like apple sticks and tear them up, he cannot eat solids like blocks. (Attached picture of his teeth below, and someone is coming today to teach me how to trim his bottom teeth, as I’ve never had to do that before now ��). He is currently eating 20/50 FV with baby cereal added in to thicken, 20 mugs about 3-4 times daily. In between feedings he gets a little bit of sweet potato baby food mixed with a crushed Harlan teklad 2018 block and a little bit of FV ultraboost. He can lick this off of a spoon and eat it ok, but is still all about his formula. He is extremely small for his age, weighed in yesterday at 294 grams. I’ve had him almost a month, he’s gained quite a bit of weight since I got him(over 60 grams), but he doesn’t seem to be growing much larger, just fatter. His front legs are also looking a little short for his body, but I don’t feel like his head looks like a dwarf. His energy and motor skills have improved tremendously, he is extremely playful and very sweet. Doesn’t stress out easily. His fur is shockingly soft.

I’m 98% sure that he’s a NR. My question is: if he’s never able to actually eat solids like booballs or blocks, what type of food do I need to be mixing up for his syringe feedings? Do I need to get extra vitamins to add in? Switch him to a different formula? Thanks everyone!



At least the uppers are finally showing, so there is hope.

You can chop up nuts, fruit and veggies to small, squarish pieces, about 1/8 to 1/4 inch in size, and chances are he will start eating it.

If that doesn't work (right away), you can crush and grind the block, add just enough baby food to make it into dough, then add some almond butter for better taste. Knead it into a consistent mass. Make enough for a couple days and keep air tight sealed in some cling film, and refrigerated. You can also add some Fox Valley but in this case it needs to sit over night in order to absorb some moisture.

PS: sweet little boy! I think he is a release candidate. He wants to be released into my arms lol

[Mmfineartstudio]

At least the uppers are finally showing, so there is hope.

You can chop up nuts, fruit and veggies to small, squarish pieces, about 1/8 to 1/4 inch in size, and chances are he will start eating it.

If that doesn't work (right away), you can crush and grind the block, add just enough baby food to make it into dough, then add some almond butter for better taste. Knead it into a consistent mass. Make enough for a couple days and keep air tight sealed in some cling film, and refrigerated. You can also add some Fox Valley but in this case it needs to sit over night in order to absorb some moisture.

PS: sweet little boy! I think he is a release candidate. He wants to be released into my arms lol

Haha thank you! Actually his uppers have always been showing, and in the almost month that I’ve had him, they haven’t grown any more.

[Mmfineartstudio]

If you make them properly, he can absolutely eat "Boo Balls" and they have the benefit of giving him the opportunity to sit up like a regulation squirrel, hold food in their little hands and eat.

First, getting a mini coffee/spice grinder like one of these: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=cuisinart+coffee+grinder&crid=3J9YM51XSSBB&sprefix=cuisinart+coffee+grinder%2Caps%2C93&ref=nb_sb_noss
will make all of this easier.

Either use a knife and chop a couple Henry's block as fine as possible, or throw it in your grinder. You want fine crumbs.

Find out what kind of nut butter he likes. Peanut? Almond? If you have a grinder, you can make walnut butter just from walnuts - they have so much oil in them if you toss a handful in and keep processing they will turn into walnut butter without adding anything else.

Put your Henry's crumbs in a bowl, add a small amount - maybe 1/4 teaspoon - of the formula powder, and in tiny amounts start adding the nut butter until you have a dough that is about the consistency of a firm cookie dough. Roll them in little balls. If you want to get fancy, roll the balls in some sesame seeds - they are VERY high in calcium. The balls will hold together so he can hold them but they are soft like dough so they really don't require chewing. You can riff on the recipe, too. Try adding small amounts of fruit or veggie baby food. The fact that they are made with the Henry's blocks mean you are getting the nutrition he needs.

You can also grind up the Henry's blocks, add more baby food and less nut butter and warm the mixture into sort of a warm oatmeal-like gruel and offer a warmed blob on a dish or spoon to him. One of my squirrels who could eat perfectly fine just LOVES that.

THANK YOU!!!

[CritterMom]

Keep the boo balls and all the other stuff refrigerated and covered so they don't dry out.

Nice drawings, btw. Animal expressions are HARD and these are really good - love the dorky dalmation and the pittie. Now where are the squirrels? :tap:tap:tap

[Charley Chuckles]

Keep the boo balls and all the other stuff refrigerated and covered so they don't dry out.

Nice drawings, btw. Animal expressions are HARD and these are really good - love the dorky dalmation and the pittie. Now where are the squirrels? :tap:tap:tap

Thanks for pointing out the drawings I didn't know what you were talking about.....
The drawings are awesome and yes need squirrels 🐿️😀

[Mmfineartstudio]

Keep the boo balls and all the other stuff refrigerated and covered so they don't dry out.

Nice drawings, btw. Animal expressions are HARD and these are really good - love the dorky dalmation and the pittie. Now where are the squirrels? :tap:tap:tap

Thank you! I had one squirrel drawing that’s already sold, and the second is on the drawing board right now!
321544

[Mmfineartstudio]

Thanks for pointing out the drawings I didn't know what you were talking about.....
The drawings are awesome and yes need squirrels 🐿️😀

One is in the works! It’s a big guy, 16x20 inches. I haven’t had time to work on it for a few weeks because, you know, baby season and all haha. 321545

[CritterMom]

Now THAT"S what I'm talking about! That is wonderful.

Go to this thread - the pics are just amazing, as is the entire thread. McCarthy has gotten a new camera so the last couple pages are even better. I bet if you ask him he would let you use some of them as inspiration.
https://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?67791-Its-time-for-a-grey

This one, too: https://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?58703-Mick-and-Mia