Hello! I’m so pleased to find this community. My neighbor is caring for an eastern grey squirrel (we think approximately 15 weeks old). I’m trying to be a good squirrel ‘auntie’ and help out
Risyu is currently eating Exotic Nutrition rodent blocks (but don’t worry, I told her about Henry’s Blocks!), vegetables, fruit, occasional dried crickets and a few nuts 3 or 4 times a week.
I found the Healthy Diet for Pet Squirrels chat which has been extremely helpful.
She has Fox Valley Day-One Formula 32/40 for Baby Squirrels that he still gets (or is offered) a few tablespoons a day. Do you think that is okay? It is mixed with boiling water - so I haven’t noticed that it looks too thick, but I know this is the wrong formula for him. Would it be best to ween him from formula, and only offer water?
He has a pet water bottle as well as a very small water dish with rocks in it to stabilize it.
Lately, when we feed him (which is generally twice a day, morning and evening) he turns his back when he is eating. It also looks like he is storing food, so she tries to remove the visible stores every day. In the morning he is offered 2/4 rodent blocks, then vegetables and wild foods. Most late mornings he is given some fruit in his play area before I leave. He isn’t offered food again until evening.
Does this sound okay? Should we put his food in a bowl and leave it for him, or hand feed him? Is it appropriate for him to have some food available to him to during the day?
He scratches a lot, and bites his tail and hands. He had one dose of advantage for kittens about 1 week ago and that didn’t seem to help.
Over the weekend he got a tiny (less than half a grain of rice) of ivermectin on a nut. When I saw him afterwards, I felt like he was a little wobbly and drowsy. Even this morning when I visited, it seemed like he would be in the middle of playing and just stop, get very still, and begin to close his eyes. Does this sound like normal behavior or perhaps a side effect of the medication?
I made him a few little toys with natural jute, sticks, and wood blocks left over from another project. There isn’t glue or anything like that on the toys - but I’m uncertain if all woods (like cedar and curly maple, which I’m using) are safe for him to chew on.
Thank you for this treasure trove of information!