Nursing On genitals and diarrhea

[Eve]

Hello, I'm from Panama and I really don't know what to do because strangely in my country there are no specialists in wild animals when we are one of the countries with more wild animals. I found a squirrel on a road and it was very small without opening his eyes and barely filled with hair, I went to a local veterinarian and she told me to give him cat milk (KMR formula) and I gave it to him for about 3 and a half weeks, but he always had diarrhea which I thought was normal because of the change to formula. Then the squirrel had wounds on his penis and I started to investigate and it was that he was nurse On his genitals. Currently after going to another veterinarian and being able to find this page for squirrels, I inquired a few days ago before they accepted me to publish and I suspended the cat milk and bought Esbilac powder milk, administering it every 5 hours 14cc because I calculate that it is approximately 6 weeks old already has his eyes open, jumps and explores. I also sold his penis with a cotton and elastic adhesive straps that I change every time he urinates. The diarrhea worried me a lot because it was already a long time and his anus was already swollen and hurt from that; he still has diarrhea, but I don't know if I'm already on the right track. I don't know what else I should give him (water or pedialyte) because I feel guilty and that no "expert" knew how to guide me and I want him to live and be free.
Actualization of his condition: well, he urinates well of transparent color without a bad smell and 1 hour ago he pooped and it is much harder and dark brown, it is no longer yellowish liquid. But I don't know if I should give it water.

[Spanky]

Additional water (hydration) between feedings is always good with diarrhea. If eyes are open and he is about 6 weeks old it is time to introduce solid foods while providing formula for as long as he will take the formula.

The first and ONLY solid food should be a high quality rodent block like Teklad/Envigo or Mazuri. A great supplement block is Henry's Healthy Blocks, but I am not sure if shipping costs make this impractical, but here is the link:
https://henryspets.com/squirrel-blocks/

I'd get the Picky, Wild Bites or Hazelnuts (avoid the healthy as they are not as well liked or as tasty to squirrels as the others).

What type of squirrel is he... I believe Panama has a variegated squirrel that eats more fruit than most of the North American species and whose diet may be more similar to a palm squirrel?

Does he have a name?

[Eve]

I think it's a red-bellied squirrel called Café.
His poop has improved a lot, it is already more whole and brown. So what should I do? Try to get that rodent block and give him milk at that time too?
For how long should I do that process? As long as I give him milk and the rodent block, is it not necessary to give him water?

[Spanky]

I think it's a red-bellied squirrel called Café.
His poop has improved a lot, it is already more whole and brown. So what should I do? Try to get that rodent block and give him milk at that time too?
For how long should I do that process? As long as I give him milk and the rodent block, is it not necessary to give him water?

So his name in Cafe, is that right?

You can introduce a water bottle any time now though it may be a while before he starts using that. A "hamster/rat type" water bottle works well. His Primary source of hydration will be the formula for now.

Place a piece or two of rodent block in his enclosure and allow him to gnaw on it at will. He'll simply chew it up and make crumbs at first before eventually eating it. No other solids until and unless he is eating... actually eating.. the rodent block as this will become the critical nutritional foundation of his solid food diet.

Continue the Esbilac feeding... at this age he should get 5%- 7% of his weight in formula every 4 hours or so... example, a 100gram squirrel would be fed 5ml - 7ml every 4 hours. I am attaching a feeding frequency cheat sheet for reference.
Feeding Frequency.pdf

I *believe* red bellied squirrels' diet include more fruits than the more common (in USA anyways!) grey, fox and red squirrels. But like those other squirrels, it is important to limit (or even not provide any would be better) seeds, nuts, dried corn and other calcium depleting foods when he gets older and ready for other solid foods. If you do feed any seeds, nuts or dried corn it should be treated as "treats"... like gummie bears or cotton candy to a human toddler!!

[Eve]

Yes, his name is Café.
Thank you for the information about his diet, I really appreciate it.
And with regard to the fact that he nurse On his genitals, does it take months to stop doing it? Should I continue to sell it until he stop drinking milk? Or if I neglect it when he already eat something more solid, will he do it again?

[Eve]

He is Café, I would try to post more pictures of him, then you can see his progress.
I’m not sure that he is that type of squirrel. I saw a image of an Centroamerican Squirrel (Sciurus variegatoides) and I think he is one of them.

[Spanky]

Yes, his name is Café.
Thank you for the information about his diet, I really appreciate it.
And with regard to the fact that he nurse On his genitals, does it take months to stop doing it? Should I continue to sell it until he stop drinking milk? Or if I neglect it when he already eat something more solid, will he do it again?

If he is self suckling I would increase the amount of formula with each feeding and / or feed him formula more frequently.