Esbilac UPDATE: OK to use

[Spanky]

PetAg, the makers of Esbilac puppy formula, has recently informed some Esbilac users that the “ingredient particles” of the calcium source in the Esbilac formula may be too large to be properly digested by small mammals. This change appears to have been made in recent months.

TSB has been seeing members report a higher than normal rate of diarrhea, constipation, bloating and now bone (MBD) issues with babies being fed the Esbilac formula in the fall 2019 season.

Update 10/02/2019
As a result of the Esbilac fiasco the following is a "permanent" formula for use for babies up to 4 weeks old.

hGMF+ (Homemade Goat's Milk Formula Plus (Not temporary, for use in babies up to 4 weeks)):

• 3 parts Goat's Milk
  
• 3 parts plain yogurt
  
• 2 parts heavy cream
• 1 Egg Yolk for per cup of formula

To make 1 Cup of formula:

• 6 Tablespoons of Goat's Milk
  
• 6 Tablespoons of yogurt
• 4 Tablespoons of heavy cream
  
• 1 Egg Yolk for per cup of formula
  

To make 1/2 Cup of formula:

• 3 Tablespoons of Goat's Milk
  
• 3 Tablespoons of yogurt
  
• 2 Tablespoons of heavy cream
  
• 1/2 Egg Yolk for per cup of formula (The unused 1/2 egg yolk can be saved in the fridge (covered) for the next day's batch)
  

We consider this to be super-perishable, so 24 hours in the fridge max.

More detailed information on this goat's milk formula can be found in the following link:
https://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/...ilk-Formula***

If your babies are 3 ½ weeks or older, please order Fox Valley 20/50 and transition your babies to that when it arrives. Here are links to a few of the on-line retailers of Fox Valley 20/50:

https://www.henryspets.com/fox-valle...formula-20-50/

https://www.amazon.com/Fox-Valley-DA.../dp/B00EFX23LM

If your babies are younger than 3 ½ weeks, we recommend you keep them on the temporary Goat’s Milk formula until they are 4 weeks old then transition to Fox Valley 20/50. Also please monitor this thread in event this recommendation changes and an alternative is identified (this is our hope).

We realize that not having an "off the shelf" option for baby squirrel formula will be inconvenient for many but raising healthy happy babies is our mission and that requires buying formula on-line… at least for now!

[Diggie's Friend]

I was wondering whether a small amount of plain whole fat goat kefir would be good to add to the goat milk to enrich it, seeing the kefir is high in fat and very low in sugar?

(scroll down to see nutrient profile)

https://redwoodhill.com/products/plain-kefir/

[RockyPops]

Not sure where to put this but the big yellow banner warning about Esbilac locks me out when I click on it. Says I dont have permissions or something.

Edit: Never mind, I tried it again and it went to the post.

[kcassidy]

I was wondering whether a small amount of plain whole fat goat kefir would be good to add to the goat milk to enrich it, seeing the kefir is high in fat and very low in sugar?

(scroll down to see nutrient profile)

https://redwoodhill.com/products/plain-kefir/

You don't need to buy Kefir. We know the above recipe works, no need to add more to it.

Spanky, if you're using Goats Milk, why wouldn't you just use GME It can be kept for 48 hours, where as Goats Milk has to be mixed for each feeding?

[Diggie's Friend]

You don't need to buy Kefir. We know the above recipe works, no need to add more to it.

I didn't say kefir was needed, nor was I challenging that this recipe doesn't work well as is.

I was just wanted to know if the source could be used, that is instead of whipping crème, as a source of extra fat, since its also high in nutrients. I knew someone that added yogurt, and wanted your opinion on this source as a possible option.

[LaurenKimberly888]

I just logged onto the board searching for help with what appears to be bloat and one of my 5 to 6 week old babies. Anything else I can do besides stop esbilac? Also, will I see any side effects from switching to the goats milk formula?

I have suspected issues with the new batch of formula and now my suspicions are confirmed. Despite it being 1 AM I’m heading to the grocery store now.

[LaurenKimberly888]

I just logged onto the board searching for help with what appears to be bloat and one of my 5 to 6 week old babies. Anything else I can do besides stop esbilac? Also, will I see any side effects from switching to the goats milk formula?

I have suspected issues with the new batch of formula and now my suspicions are confirmed. Despite it being 1 AM I’m heading to the grocery store now.

Also, should I immediately stop feeding esbilac in all 3 of my squirrels? One is showing severe symptoms. Initially it was loose bowels. Now he is slightly bloated with a more firm tummy. He’s the runt of the group.
The other 2 have had harder and darker stools but otherwise are not showing any I’ll symptoms. In those 2 should I stop immediately, slowly wean, or keep feeding esbilac until I can get some fox valley?

Thanks!
Lauren

[Spanky]

Spanky, if you're using Goats Milk, why wouldn't you just use GME It can be kept for 48 hours, where as Goats Milk has to be mixed for each feeding?

My initial post is the current consensus recommendation of the TSB Admins and what we have confidence in recommending. The following is my reply to the question fully acknowledging I am rookie when compared to the other admins and untold numbers of TSB members.

Esbilac and Goat's Milk Esbilac (GME) are both PetAg products...

a) While PetAg has said the GME does not contain the same dicalcium phosphate ingredient, at this point we are not convinced that the calcium issue is the only problem based upon what has been occurring with babies on the Esbilac this fall (this includes other species that have been impacted even more dramatically than squirrels).
b) We do not have large knowledge base and confidence upon which to confidently recommend the GME ***.
c) We do have the knowledge base and confidence in the homemade goat's milk formula.

But as in the original post, one of our very biggest concerns is not having an off-the-shelf formula recommendation at this time but we do hope that changes.

*** I created a new thread to discuss, share and build a knowledge base for GME here:
https://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/...38#post1299738

[Spanky]

Anything else I can do besides stop esbilac? Also, will I see any side effects from switching to the goats milk formula?

Also, should I immediately stop feeding esbilac in all 3 of my squirrels? One is showing severe symptoms. Initially it was loose bowels. Now he is slightly bloated with a more firm tummy. He’s the runt of the group.
The other 2 have had harder and darker stools but otherwise are not showing any I’ll symptoms. In those 2 should I stop immediately, slowly wean, or keep feeding esbilac until I can get some fox valley?

Thanks!
Lauren

If the symptoms that are showing are MBD, I would start them on the MBD protocol. If it is the diarrhea, constipation, bloat the Goats milk formula should help with that. At 5 - 6 weeks I would transition them over in just a few feedings and not over days.

[LaurenKimberly888]

Thank you. I will stop the esbilac cold turkey in the one with abdominal firmness and bowel issues. In the other 2, I will transition.

Thinking 75 esbilac/ 25 goats milk recipe to start?

Thanks again for the quick response!

[Ozzy2019]

[QUOTE=Spanky;1299706]PetAg, the makers of Esbilac puppy formula, has recently informed some Esbilac users that the “ingredient particles” of the calcium source in the Esbilac formula may be too large to be properly digested by small mammals. This change appears to have been made in recent months.

TSB has been seeing members report a higher than normal rate of diarrhea, constipation, bloating and now bone (MBD) issues with babies being fed the Esbilac formula in the fall 2019 season.

Update 10/02/2019
As a result of the Esbilac fiasco the following is a "permanent" formula for use for babies up to 4 weeks old.

hGMF+ (Homemade Goat's Milk Formula Plus (Not temporary, for use in babies up to 4 weeks)):

[LIST][*]3 parts Goat's Milk
[*][COLOR=#0000ff][FONT=comic sans


Is heavy cream the same thing as heavy wipping cream.?

Why do some rehabbers state that it should never be used?

Mary