New Esbilac Spring 2024

[Mel1959]

I’ve read a couple of different posts from rehabber folks that have used the new Esbilac formula. I wanted to get some clarification on issues that may be happening.

Is the new formula causing loose stool? If so, is it only happening when babies want to take more than the 7% amount or all the time?

And this is probably the biggest question of all….why do we think that we can’t feed FV 20/50 to squirrels younger than 4 weeks of age? I realize that FV marketing provides two distinctly different formulas for different aged squirrels…FV 32/40 and FV 20/50. I understand that the ratio of ingredients is reflected in the numerical formula identification but that’s not the case with Esbilac or Royal Canin puppy formulas and we feed those beginning at a much younger age. So if FV had only one formulation of squirrel formula wouldn’t we use it in the same way as we do Esbilac and Royal Canin? Since we don’t recommend FV 32/40 because of its inability to be processed by neonate squirrels we actually have only one FV formula to use.

I had many, many conversations with my dear departed friend Patti (Hrt4sqrls), who I considered to be one of the smartest and most intuitive rehabbers I’ve known. She told me a story about someone who found very young squirrels (1-2 week olds) that were begun on FV 20/50 because that’s what the finder had on hand. When the babies were handed over to Patti at the 3-3.5 week point Patti continued with FV 20/50 and the babies did fine.

My point with this is with PetAg continuing to change the Esbilac formulation why can’t we just use FV 20/50 at an earlier age?

[island rehabber]

Very good question, Mel, and I've wondered the same thing because 20/50 is such a good product for squirrels. If the dreaded 32/40 has higher fat, can't we just add fat to the 20/50 when they are under 4 weeks old? Then back it off to the regular 20/50 when eyes open? I was truly disappointed with the new Esbilac because I thought we could beat the hype and that it would be fine in the long run...BUT, it was actually okay in the short run the first week or so. In the long run, as babies grew and took in more formula, their poops got awful. Not actually diarrhea but long, stringy, sticky poop. It would not clear up until babies were switched to 20/50.

[Mel1959]

Thank you for that clarification, IR. So maybe it’s ok to advise newbies to use homemade goats milk formula for the first couple of weeks with very young pinkies, switch to FV 20/50 with added fat, full fat yogurt or heavy whipping cream. Why do we even need to phase out the additional fat at any point? I have always used Ultraboost mixed with FV 20/50 from the beginning. I’ve never had pinkies, but I don’t think I’d hesitate to start a 2 week old baby on FV 20/50 and Ultraboost and continue through weaning.

Because of my rehab beginning with Joey (a dwarf) I have always used a 50/50 ratio of FV 20/50 and Ultraboost. The Ultraboost label advises that is the highest ratio that can be used. The recommended is 25% Ultraboost to 75% FV 20/50. I have never had loose stool or any other side effects with my 50/50 formulation.

[Charley Chuckles]

I also was going to ask if we could just use FV 20/50 and add ultra boost without adding cream ?

[Spanky]

Esbilac is actually a 33/40 formulation which is why we (I?) recommend that instead of FV 32/40 FWIW:
Guaranteed Analysis
CRUDE PROTEIN, min ............................................ 33.0%
CRUDE FAT, min .................................................. ....... 40.0%

And Zoologic 33/40 is also an option, but not for casual / one time squirrel care givers.
Edit: If you use the Zoologic you will find the milk line dissipates a bit slower than when feeding other formulas... I find the feeding times are extended by 30 - 60 minutes when using this formula!!!!

I have seen some folks that have had issues with Esbilac this season, but I have not had any issues myself. Only 8 babies this season though...

Ultraboost is 54% Fats and 25% Protein. So IMO the FV 20/50 is deficient is protein for those under 3 - 3.5 weeks... JMO

[Mel1959]

Ultraboost is 54% Fats and 25% Protein. So IMO the FV 20/50 is deficient is protein for those under 3 - 3.5 weeks... JMO


If Ultraboost is 25% protein and FV 20/50 is 20% protein would the combination of the two at a rate of 75/25
(FV/Ultraboost) be an adequate amount of protein? And if additional fat was needed mix the two at a 50/50 ratio? It seems like this formulation of FV 20/50 and Ultraboost would meet the needs of pinkies through weaning. At the very least it seems like it would work to transition from goats milk formula for pinkies to a 75/25 mixture of FV 20/50 and Ultraboost.

I’m just throwing this out there because it seems like relying upon Esbilac formulations continue to be a problem. Granted it’s not as drastic as it was at one time, but concerning nonetheless.

[Spanky]

I was just saying that you cannot get the protein up into the 30's range which is where we are generally told by the "experts" it should be for the first month.

On the flip side, if you use the Wildagain formula calculator, they do not differentiate between a pinky and older babies. They also say the analysis of mom's milk is 9.1% Protein and 12.4% fat... :dono If you play with the calculator you can drive yourself crazy and end up in circles! :grin3 Not all protein is equal nor fats....

Gayle (SM) is using the same recipe all the way, birth to wean, but I don't recall 100% what that mix is and don't want to misrepresent that... maybe she'll chime in here?!?!?!

[island rehabber]

All I can say about the ewildagain calculator is that it makes me feel the same way I used to feel before an algebra test: like I'm about to break out in hives. There has to be a better way! , 😁

[Spanky]

Gayle (SM) is using the same recipe all the way, birth to wean, but I don't recall 100% what that mix is and don't want to misrepresent that... maybe she'll chime in here?!?!?!

The following is from Gayle in a text message from quite some time ago.. not long after the most recent Esbilac fiasco:

"Half esbilac, half fv 32/40 and a 1/4 of the amount of total powder of heavy cream off the top of my head. Check out the calculator on ewildagain.org"

I could have left off the part about the calculator, but I know IR would appreciate it! :rotfl