questions about rodent blocks, feeding, and pooping.

[LunaBaby]

So I'm new, my brother rescued some baby squirrels. And I have one. Her name is Luna she is the sweetest thing :) but as much as I search I find my self in a loophole.

I've been feeding her esbilac pre mixed. I have a syringe with a nipple to feed her after warming it up up in hot water. But I think she is 5-6 weeks old. So from what I found she needs to be introduced to rodent blocks. Henry's healthy blocks say they are for adults but that's what's recommended and I'm confused as to what type I need to get first. Also she has light brown soft poop. I'm not certain if that's good or bad. Again I've ran my self in circles and I want to do best by her.

So please let me know if my doing anything wrong and tips and tricks.325902

[CritterMom]

I hate to tell you, but the pre-mixed Esbilac is a big part of your problem. It is not even slightly similar to the POWDERED puppy Esbilac which is what you want and need to get. This baby won't wean for another 5 weeks at least. It will be in the same area as the stuff you got, is in a wide, squatty can and has either a fluffy white puppy or a brown black and white puppy on the label. He needs to be put on the right formula right away.

He will begin to experiment with the blocks - and the Henry's are the best - but will be taking formula and needs it for some time still.

It would be very, very good if the babies were raised together. They will do so much better that way.

[LunaBaby]

I hate to tell you, but the pre-mixed Esbilac is a big part of your problem. It is not even slightly similar to the POWDERED puppy Esbilac which is what you want and need to get. This baby won't wean for another 5 weeks at least. It will be in the same area as the stuff you got, is in a wide, squatty can and has either a fluffy white puppy or a brown black and white puppy on the label. He needs to be put on the right formula right away.

He will begin to experiment with the blocks - and the Henry's are the best - but will be taking formula and needs it for some time still.

It would be very, very good if the babies were raised together. They will do so much better that way.


Thank you so much!! I saw on here after I posted this that that powered it needed and it has to have the blue banner saying something like pre and probiotics. And I'll get that right away tho thank you very much. Do I need to slowly mix in the powder or just swap the formulas?

[CritterMom]

Thank you so much!! I saw on here after I posted this that that powered it needed and it has to have the blue banner saying something like pre and probiotics. And I'll get that right away tho thank you very much. Do I need to slowly mix in the powder or just swap the formulas?

Given that she is having issues, I would just swap to the powdered esbilac (make sure you don't accidentally get Goats Milk Esbilac), but do this. The first time you make up a batch, instead of doing 1 part powder to 2 parts water, do 1 powder to 2.5 water for the first couple feedings - just a little diluted. After that go to the regular 1 to 2.

Make sure you keep the esbilac powder in the freezer. You can mix it right out of the freezer. Mix it and let it sit in the refrigerator for at least several hours - overnight is better. Take out and heat each feeding separately - don't heat the whole batch. Don't heat the formula - discard uneaten after feeding. I have read that you can go 2 days in the refrigerator for formula but I do not - I make a smaller amount daily in the evening and let it sit until morning in the fridge to use it.

[LunaBaby]

Given that she is having issues, I would just swap to the powdered esbilac (make sure you don't accidentally get Goats Milk Esbilac), but do this. The first time you make up a batch, instead of doing 1 part powder to 2 parts water, do 1 powder to 2.5 water for the first couple feedings - just a little diluted. After that go to the regular 1 to 2.

Make sure you keep the esbilac powder in the freezer. You can mix it right out of the freezer. Mix it and let it sit in the refrigerator for at least several hours - overnight is better. Take out and heat each feeding separately - don't heat the whole batch. Don't heat the formula - discard uneaten after feeding. I have read that you can go 2 days in the refrigerator for formula but I do not - I make a smaller amount daily in the evening and let it sit until morning in the fridge to use it.

So I have gotten the powder formula I didn't have any near me with the fluffy white pup so I got the black down and white pup. But other than that she is getting closer to diarrhea I know I can't keep hydrating her with Pedialyte cause of the salt. I had to do that when I first got her about a week ago but did so only for that day. She still has all the energy in the world, she love to go exploring around the bathroom( easier potty clean up) so we just started her on the formulas today after letting it sit over night tho as suggested. She love the formula so no problem there lol

[CritterMom]

It is old and new versions of Esbilac's label so you got the right stuff.

So is this full on watery diarrhea? Do you have or can you get any Pepto Bismol? The pink liquid?

[LunaBaby]

It is old and new versions of Esbilac's label so you got the right stuff.

So is this full on watery diarrhea? Do you have or can you get any Pepto Bismol? The pink liquid?

I don't but I can get some, but her poop isn't watery it still has some shape, but it's getting worse. She runs with her butt down and it smears it. ( sorry if that was TMI)

[CritterMom]

Do you know her weight?

And yes, get a bottle if you can.

[LunaBaby]

Do you know her weight?

And yes, get a bottle if you can.

Like a kitten bottle or a bottle of the Pepto. And she around 100 grams maybe give or take one or two. I have ultra Pepto will that work or is that too much325922

[CritterMom]

LOL - no, NEVER a kitten bottle - just use the plain old original Pepto. I will send you dosing by PM.

This is how I like to use Pepto. Give the baby a dose and note the time you do so. Pepto doesn't cure things, kill bad bacteria or any of that. The active ingredient is bismuth, which is basically a type of clay. It mixes with the excessive liquid in the bowels and soaks it up. This slows the passage of what is in the bowels to a more normal rate instead of just racing through. And THAT allows the linings of the bowels, which become irritated from the diarrhea, to calm down a little. If there is nothing biologically wrong that is causing the diarrhea, like an infection or a parasite, it will often clear things up. The bismuth also dramatically changes the color of the poop and makes it very dark - sometimes almost black, and when you are used to golden formula poops and suddenly get black you are going to want to have a heart attack. Don't. It is normal - and helpful. You noted the time when you gave the pepto. Note the time when you see the first dark poops. Now you know how long it takes for the pepto to go from the front of the squirrel to the rear! If you see the dark poops and it is still runny, he can have a second dose. But if it is starting to form into more normal poops, hold off and see what happens the next couple times he goes. If the continue to become formed, you may be done. If it stays mushy, give a second dose. You are trying to get the poops to re-form, NOT to stop because he has had enough to constipate him!

It s important to give additional water while they have diarrhea or they can become dehydrated. Plain water, warmed like formula.