Results 1 to 11 of 11

Thread: Baby on apparent eating strike

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Sep 2019
    Location
    NY State
    Posts
    40
    Thanked: 46

    Default Baby on apparent eating strike

    Hi there,

    I have had a baby squirrel for two weeks and have a question. I'm guessing that he is about six weeks old now. This morning, I added a little heavy cream to his formula because yesterday, it seemed as if the formula wasn't filling him up for as long as before. On average, he is taking 15cc's each feeding and eating 4-5 times per day. I tried introducing rodent block, but he doesn't seem very interested in it. He hasn't eaten since this morning's feeding - about 8 hours. He is reluctant to entertain the idea of taking the formula from the syringe, which has never happened before. He has been alternating between long naps and playing all day, as normal, just going a very long stretch without eating. He has been steadily gaining weight - over 100 g this last week. (I would be more accurate if he would sit still for a second in the container on the scale.) Any ideas what's going on?

    Thank you,
    Leslie Ann

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Location
    Planet Earth
    Posts
    17,915
    Thanked: 13299

    Default Re: Baby on apparent eating strike

    Quote Originally Posted by Leslie Ann View Post
    Hi there,

    I have had a baby squirrel for two weeks and have a question. I'm guessing that he is about six weeks old now. This morning, I added a little heavy cream to his formula because yesterday, it seemed as if the formula wasn't filling him up for as long as before. On average, he is taking 15cc's each feeding and eating 4-5 times per day. I tried introducing rodent block, but he doesn't seem very interested in it. He hasn't eaten since this morning's feeding - about 8 hours. He is reluctant to entertain the idea of taking the formula from the syringe, which has never happened before. He has been alternating between long naps and playing all day, as normal, just going a very long stretch without eating. He has been steadily gaining weight - over 100 g this last week. (I would be more accurate if he would sit still for a second in the container on the scale.) Any ideas what's going on?
    Thank you,
    Leslie Ann
    If he is around the 6 week mark and your feeding formula 4-5 X a day it's too often.
    Filling up on formula, not hungry, not going to be interested in block.
    Step-N-Stone
    State Licensed
    Wildlife Master Rehabilitator


  3. 2 TSBers pass along the fuzzy thanks to stepnstone:

    island rehabber (09-15-2019), Leslie Ann (09-15-2019)

  4. #3
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Location
    eastcoast
    Posts
    4,810
    Thanked: 5578

    Default Re: Baby on apparent eating strike

    There might be a couple of reasons he is not interested in eating. Has he continued to not eat?

    #1. Any chance he has aspirated? Is he also lethargic?

    #2. When a baby is about to bust out with diarrhea they will not be interested in eating.

    Let us know if either of those are have occurred, let us know. A healthy 6 week old do not go on hunger strikes.
    redwuff
    State Licensed
    Master Wildlife Rehabilitator

  5. #4
    Join Date
    Sep 2019
    Location
    NY State
    Posts
    40
    Thanked: 46

    Default Re: Baby on apparent eating strike

    Thank you so much for responding. There is no sign that he's aspirated. He has had bursts of energy today, but has been sleeping a lot. When I hold the syringe up to his mouth, he curls his head into my hand - a definite refusal. I did get him to take a few sips of water from the water bottle that I attached to his cage today, he drank about 2 cc of formula a little while ago, and consumed a few bites of a green bean. He has only pooped a bit today. I am worried. He has definitely wriggled his way into my heart.

  6. #5
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Location
    eastcoast
    Posts
    4,810
    Thanked: 5578

    Default Re: Baby on apparent eating strike

    What formula are you feeding to your baby?
    redwuff
    State Licensed
    Master Wildlife Rehabilitator

  7. #6
    Join Date
    Sep 2019
    Location
    NY State
    Posts
    40
    Thanked: 46

    Default Re: Baby on apparent eating strike

    Esbilac

  8. #7
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Location
    eastcoast
    Posts
    4,810
    Thanked: 5578

    Default Re: Baby on apparent eating strike

    Please read the mustard banner at the start of this site.
    redwuff
    State Licensed
    Master Wildlife Rehabilitator

  9. #8
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    City Island, Bronx, NY
    Posts
    51,452
    Thanked: 17932

    Default Re: Baby on apparent eating strike

    I also agree that 4-5 feedings per day is too often at his age. 3-4 at the most. Make sure the formula is warm enough -- is the whipped cream being added later so that it cools off the formula? Also, why add whipped cream at all....it will often give babies diarrhea unless it is part of a formulated combination such as the goat's milk formula described in our Esbilac thread.
    Island Rehabber
    NY State Licensed
    Wildlife Rehabilitator


    "Ancora Imparo" (I am still learning)
    Michelangelo


    *
    If you can't afford the vet,
    You can't afford a pet.
    NEGLECT IS ABUSE.

    "Better one day in the trees, than a lifetime in a cage."

    '...and the greatest of these, is Love. '

  10. Serious fuzzy thank you's to island rehabber from:

    stepnstone (09-15-2019)

  11. #9
    Join Date
    Sep 2019
    Location
    NY State
    Posts
    40
    Thanked: 46

    Default Re: Baby on apparent eating strike

    Finally, he appears to be back on track. He took 9cc's for me tonight. I am going to be changing his formula and skip the heavy cream. Not sure if that had anything to do with the feeding strike today, but it seems odd that he had it this morning, for the first time. Thank you!

  12. #10
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
    Location
    Jupiter, FL
    Posts
    31,376
    Thanked: 13302

    Default Re: Baby on apparent eating strike

    I would suggest switching to Fox Valley 20/50. They love it and no need to add in anything.
    Squirrels, squirrels and more squirrels....
    Prayers for the people who make this a better world...
    savesquirrels@sbcglobal.net



  13. #11
    Join Date
    Sep 2019
    Location
    NY State
    Posts
    40
    Thanked: 46

    Default Re: Baby on apparent eating strike

    It's ordered. Thanks!

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •