3 week old squirrel not gaining weight

[Sperkleswermp]

I recently took in 2 baby eastern gray squirrels. They were found under a fallen tree after a hurricane came through, their mother was unfortunately squished. Someone else took care of them for a week then handed them over to me. Both squirrels were very underweight when I got them 3 days ago, but one of them isn’t gaining weight. They’re on Esbilac with pre and probiotics. Both peeing and pooping regularly. Poop is healthy and solid. Squirrel 1 weighed 50g when I got him, he eats 2.5-3.5ml (however much he’ll eat of 3.5ml), 5 feedings a day. He has only gained 2g since I got him. I’m measuring before their morning feeding and after I’ve helped them go potty. His brother started at 48g and is now at 55g, which I still think is slow gaining but better than 2g. Could this be an adjustment period since I just took them in? I’m not sure how much the previous caregiver was feeding them or how often.

New to this group and unsure of how to add images but I have about a hundred pics of them for once I figure it out.

[Spanky]

I recently took in 2 baby eastern gray squirrels. They were found under a fallen tree after a hurricane came through, their mother was unfortunately squished. Someone else took care of them for a week then handed them over to me. Both squirrels were very underweight when I got them 3 days ago, but one of them isn’t gaining weight. They’re on Esbilac with pre and probiotics. Both peeing and pooping regularly. Poop is healthy and solid. Squirrel 1 weighed 50g when I got him, he eats 2.5-3.5ml (however much he’ll eat of 3.5ml), 5 feedings a day. He has only gained 2g since I got him. I’m measuring before their morning feeding and after I’ve helped them go potty. His brother started at 48g and is now at 55g, which I still think is slow gaining but better than 2g. Could this be an adjustment period since I just took them in? I’m not sure how much the previous caregiver was feeding them or how often.

New to this group and unsure of how to add images but I have about a hundred pics of them for once I figure it out.

We love pictures!

Could the one not gaining weight be dehydrated still? It might be worth trying to give that one a couple feedings of water (add just a little molasses/honey/syrup/sugar in my order of preference if that is need to entice him to drink the water. I'd give that either 2 feedings or ever other feeding for a couple feedings. Being dehydrated can interfere with being able to digest and process the formula correctly.

And yes it could simply be an adjustment period.

Are you using the powdered Esbilac and not the pre-liquid version? Be sure to store the opened powder in the freezer (fridge at a minimum). Despite what the bag may says about room temperature storage IT WILL go rancid at room temperature. We see this all too often.

[Sperkleswermp]

We love pictures!

Could the one not gaining weight be dehydrated still? It might be worth trying to give that one a couple feedings of water (add just a little molasses/honey/syrup/sugar in my order of preference if that is need to entice him to drink the water. I'd give that either 2 feedings or ever other feeding for a couple feedings. Being dehydrated can interfere with being able to digest and process the formula correctly.

And yes it could simply be an adjustment period.

Are you using the powdered Esbilac and not the pre-liquid version? Be sure to store the opened powder in the freezer (fridge at a minimum). Despite what the bag may says about room temperature storage IT WILL go rancid at room temperature. We see this all too often.

Thank you so much for your reply!! I will definitely give some more water. I didn’t realize that could interfere with their digestion, I figured the Esbilac would hydrate. I did give them water once but then I saw that over hydrating is just as bad.

Is there a limit to how much I should give them? Can I give him a whole 3ml if he drinks it?

I am using the powdered but didn’t know about the freezer thing so thank you.

[Spanky]

Normally the formula provides enough hydration, but when they are moderately or severely hydrated additional water is needed. Food int eh stomach results in fluids rushing to the stomach to help with digestion, just water in the stomach results in the fluids rushing into the tissues (hydration). First step recommendation with rescues is always hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. Food come later FWIW.

For a 48gram squirrel, 3ml per feeding is fine. Yes at this age and condition they can be fed too much which usually results in whitish diarrhea.

I am attaching some feeding cheat sheets for reference.

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