Fox valley 32/40 6 week squirrels

[pennyridingwhitehorse]

I have 2- 5 week old squirrels and 1- 7 weeks.
I have had them on fox valley 32/40 since about 2 weeks. It’s time for me to buy a new bag and i should move up to 20 /50 ; it won’t get here in time. Should I just switch now to esbillac? It’s easy to get near my house and I can start mixing gradually. What kind of Esbillac should I buy. The 32/40 would be here in two days, but the 20/50 will take over a week. I had no idea.
Many thanks from Buster, Burtie, and Buffy

[SamtheSquirrel2018]

I have 2- 5 week old squirrels and 1- 7 weeks.
I have had them on fox valley 32/40 since about 2 weeks. It’s time for me to buy a new bag and i should move up to 20 /50 ; it won’t get here in time. Should I just switch now to esbillac? It’s easy to get near my house and I can start mixing gradually. What kind of Esbillac should I buy. The 32/40 would be here in two days, but the 20/50 will take over a week. I had no idea.
Many thanks from Buster, Burtie, and Buffy

Hi Pennyridingwhitehorse:
First of all and obviously "off issue" but concerning me nevertheless is Buster's health status! We didn't get an update on Buster's Thread after the dosing PM was sent and I have feared the worse but since but you mentioned Buster in this Thread so I assume he is doing ok and hopefully has had no further signs of a UTI or new health concerns!

Now to the formula questions; ordinarily, none of us recommend using FV 32/40 especially for Pinks because it has turned hard in the Squirrels stomach and caused a number of fatalities! That being said, your Squirrels are eye opening age and beyond and have been consuming 32/40 apparently without incident since 2 weeks of age! Am I reading this correctly as it appears from what you have said, that you do not have any formula currently on hand and that your cannot obtain any additional 32/40 for 2 days and that the FV 20/50 will take over 1 week. IF this reading is correct, my recommendations would be different than if your still possessed some 32/40. Please clarify this and I will get back with you promptly.
Regards,
SamtheSquirrel

[pennyridingwhitehorse]

Thank you so much for responding! And Buster is doing excellent. Every day I sing your praises of this Squirrel board! I am so sorry I have not posted an update( it took me two days to figure out how to post another question. I’m still getting used to this.) he’s doing great. He is peeing and pooping ; he is so happy !
I do have formula I have 32/40 and I have enough for about four days. I didn’t know I needed to change the formula now and I can’t the the 20/50 for a week. I can buy more 32/40 and get that in time . I guess my question is- are they going to get enough nutrition for the next week or so using 32/40?

[SamtheSquirrel2018]

Thank you so much for responding! And Buster is doing excellent. Every day I sing your praises of this Squirrel board! I am so sorry I have not posted an update( it took me two days to figure out how to post another question. I’m still getting used to this.) he’s doing great. He is peeing and pooping ; he is so happy !

Thanks for the update on Buster and I'm so glad to hear that he is doing well! Is he still on antibiotics? OK, enough of my questions about Buster on the wrong thread!

I do have formula I have 32/40 and I have enough for about four days. I didn’t know I needed to change the formula now and I can’t the the 20/50 for a week. I can buy more 32/40 and get that in time . I guess my question is- are they going to get enough nutrition for the next week or so using 32/40?

To answer your question quite simply, yes, the FV 32/40 (32% Protein & 40% Fat) should be fine until you receive the FV 20/50 (20% Protein & 50% Fat). The Esbilac Formula that most of us recommend is Esbilac Puppy Milk Replacer POWDER (NOT the liquid) and interestingly, it contains 33% Protein and 40% Fat which are essentially the same concentrations of these two major nutrients as the FV 32/40. Again, not to belabor this but just for the record, if you were just starting out with a diet for these Squirrels and they were a couple of weeks old; I'm certain that everyone here including myself would strongly recommend AGAINST using FV 32/40 because of prior very tragic complications to its use BUT you have been using it apparently with great success so using it until you receive the FV 20/50 may be a valid option FOR YOU and THIS CASE ALONE (I want to caution all readers of this post to please NOT even consider using 32/40 because of the prior well documented and often fatal complications associated that have been associated with its use with baby Squirrels)!

After 4 weeks and really at 3-1/2, Squirrels being fed Esbilac Puppy Milk Replacer POWDER can be transitioned from this to FV 20/50 or as some of us do, the Squirrel can be transition to a half and half mixture of Esbilac Puppy Milk Replacer POWDER and FV 20/50 (Spanky is one who does this and I also do this as do some others here on TSB). This would be an option for you as well and you could begin the transition to the Esbilac and when the FV 20/50 arrived you could then transition from using just the Esbilac to transitioning in the FV 20/50 until your reach a mixture of half of each. A simpler option would be to get the FV 20/50 ASAP and simply use the FV 32/40 until the 20/50 arrives and then perform a fairly quick transition and get rid of the 32/40 and just use the 20/50 until weaning!

Also, these Squirrels should begin exposure to quality Blocks such as Henry's Healthy Blocks (HHBs) (the Picky Blocks seem the to be the tastiest based upon emails and written accounts from many Squirrels?), Mazuri Rat and Mouse Diet or Teklad 2018. This is really beginning of eating solid food but this phase of nutrition should ALWAYS begin with offering nothing but Blocks until the Squirrels are avidly consuming them and then you can begin to add some other healthy foods. Initially, the Squirrels will simply shred the blocks without eating much or any of the block. Be patient and don't give the any other solid foods until they are definitely consuming the Blocks. HHBs are very concentrated and two blocks for babies that are fully consumed is all that is needed to provide full nutritional support although they will need other food as 2 HHBs weigh only about 10 Grams. The other quality Blocks can be free-fed which means you can provide as much as the Squirrels want of those. Of great importance is for you to continue Formula feedings as the Squirrels should decide themselves when they are weaned! This usually occurs between 14-16 weeks but may take longer! Also, once your start giving foods other than formula, it is essential that you thoroughly check the cages at least at the end of each day for stashes. HHBs have no preservatives and can spoil rapidly. Here is a link to Henry's Pets Baby Squirrel Care Guide for any added info you can benefit from; https://www.henryspets.com/1-baby-squirrel-care-guide/
and here is a link to Henry's Healthy Food Pyramid where the heathiest foods (quality Blocks are at the wide base and fruits, nuts and other treats-yes nuts are treats for captive Squirrels, are at the tip of the pyramid. Other than Formula until the Squirrels wean themselves, quality Blocks should comprise at least 80% of a captive Squirrels solid food diet until they are in the Release Cage! https://henryspets.com/healthy-diet-for-pet-squirrels/

Other things to transition to after eyes open is step by step to a larger enclosure and a water source with clean fresh pure water is available at all times and changed every day. A water bottle and/or a shallow bowl with some round approximately 1 inch pebbles placed in the the bottom to keep the bowl from tipping and help prevent the Squirrel from sticking too much of its face in the water and possibly aspirating.

Well, that's far more than you wanted but I have a very rare day off and I since I usually type post on my tiny phone while at work; I have a real keyboard now just couldn't stop typing!
Regards,
SamtheSquirrel

[pennyridingwhitehorse]

Oh my goodness! Thank you so much! Your wisdom is greatly appreciated! You can never overload me with too much squirrel information!
Buster has a few more days on antibiotics.
I will order the blocks from Henry’s as well!
In the day time I put them in a large enclosure with their boxes my husband built. it’s warm, safe and dry on our porch- so they can acclimate to sounds and weather.
They are beginning to romp and play.
Thank you for all your help!