~3 wk old baby found - looking for intervention!

[NutkinsWhisperer]

Found a ~3 wk old squirrel, wet and shivering in drained fountain (~1 of water). There's no mother or nest in sight, so I will need to feed him some point soon. I remember (from my previous rescue a couple years ago) that esbillac was NOT recommended. Someone had given me a recipe for formula that consisted of full fat baby yogurt, goat's milk, and cream. However, I do not remember the proportions.


He was recently found within the last hour. Has a lot of spunk, but since we can't identify where he came from (parents were doing yard work in the back yard all day and so he only just appeared), he'll need nourishment soon.

For now he is being contained and warming up in the sun.


Also, what should the dose size be?

[HRT4SQRLS]

Welcome to TheSquirrelBoard.
Thanks for helping the baby squirrel.

The first step is warming the baby.
Next you will need to rehydrate the baby.

Homemade Hydration Fluid:

3 Tablespoons of sugar
1 teaspoon of salt
1 quart of warm water

You need a 1cc syringe. Don't use an eyedropper or pet bottle. The risk of aspiration is too great.

I'll find the goat milk temporary recipe.

[HRT4SQRLS]

http://www.henryspets.com/baby-squirrel-care/

This link has good information about baby care.

[HRT4SQRLS]

TEMPORARY GOAT'S MILK FORMULA:


3 parts goat’s milk
1 part heavy whipping cream*
1 part vanilla yogurt

Formula will last 48 hours in refrigerator.

Goat’s Milk
This can be purchased at natural food stores such as Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods, and at most health food stores that sell groceries. It is a product for humans. Do not substitute commercial formula made for baby goats or other livestock sold at feed stores.

Goat’s milk is available fresh in a carton; evaporated in a can; and as a powdered milk. If you purchase either the evaporated or powdered versions, please blend them with water according to the package directions before using to make the formula.

Heavy Whipping Cream
This is found in small cartons in the grocery store near the coffee creamers and half and half. Regular heavy cream may be substituted if it is unavailable, but the heavy whipping cream has the highest fat content, and is preferred.

Yogurt
Yogurt has beneficial bacteria in it that soothes and settles digestion. Full fat yogurt is best, and a good choice that is very widely available is Stoneyfield Yobaby yogurt. However if it is unavailable, a low fat vanilla yogurt may be substituted. Avoid those that have artificial sweeteners in them. Vanilla and banana are both popular flavors, and the sweet taste of the yogurt helps to convince the baby to accept it.

It has been recently discovered that very small pinky squirrels do better with the ESBILAC PUPPY FORMULA, with probiotics, instead of Fox Valley. If the Goat's Milk formula is used, omit the heavy whipping cream for the first two weeks of life.

[HRT4SQRLS]

You will notice that Esbilac formula is NOW recommended. YES! They changed the formula again.
The formula you need to get is powdered Esbilac puppy formula with probiotics and prebiotics.

It is available at all pet retailers.

[pappy1264]

Please bring him on and get on heating pad on low. The sun is not enought to warm him and he must be warmed before you can give anything. At that age he will also need to be pottied. Esbilac is good. There was a problem a few years ago but they changed formula and it is now good. Must be powder with pre and probiotics. NOT the goats milk esbilac. Must get a gram scale so you will know wwight to know how much to feed (5-7% of bodyweight per feedung.)

[stepnstone]

Found a ~3 wk old squirrel, wet and shivering in drained fountain (~1 of water). There's no mother or nest in sight, so I will need to feed him some point soon. I remember (from my previous rescue a couple years ago) that esbillac was NOT recommended. Someone had given me a recipe for formula that consisted of full fat baby yogurt, goat's milk, and cream. However, I do not remember the proportions.

He was recently found within the last hour. Has a lot of spunk, but since we can't identify where he came from (parents were doing yard work in the back yard all day and so he only just appeared), he'll need nourishment soon.
For now he is being contained and warming up in the sun.

Also, what should the dose size be?

Esbilac had changed their formula and that was not recommended then.
They went back to their original and it is what is recommended now.
You want to make sure the new stuff has the pro and pre biotics on the can
of powered formula or states whey protein in the ingredients.

You will need a weight on baby to know how many cc's formula to feed and
he needs to be fed with a 1cc syringe preferably with nipple, not a bottle or
dropper.
In the meantime it is advisable to hydrate for a couple feedings first, you can use Pedialyte or a home made solution.

Baby needs to be kept dark warm and quiet with a no shut off heating pad set on low half under whatever container you have him in. Do not use cardboard.

******************

Home made hydration fluid:
1 teaspoon salt
3 Tablespoons sugar
1 quart water.

[HRT4SQRLS]

I would warm him on a heating pad on LOW. The heating pad should be under half of the container.

I would weigh him with a kitchen scale (grams). We feed 5-7% of the body weight per feeding.

Poor little guy looks like a drowned rat. What type of squirrel is this?

[island rehabber]

He's older than 3 weeks --- his eyes are open, right? At least 5-6 wks old. His coloring makes me think he's a Dougie -- do they have Douglas squirrels in Maine? You're getting perfect advice re: Esbilac, warming, hydrating....do you want us to find a rehabber to take him?

NOTE: just smacked myself in the head. Douglas squirrels are only found on the Pacific Northwest coast.....duhhhh

[island rehabber]

This list may help:

http://www.maine.gov/ifw/wildlife/pd...s_06032016.pdf

[pappy1264]

It almost looks like a chippie, too, the face shape.

[Rocky1]

A favorite website of mine, http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/s...-Squirrel-Care

And remember to put fabric on top of the heating pad so he doesn't get burn't. Lot of fabric preferred so he can burrow for warmer temps and stay on top for cooler temps.

Also remember to only put the heating pad under half of the container.

[Nancy in New York]

It almost looks like a chippie, too, the face shape.

That's what I thought as well pappy.

[stepnstone]

I was thinking there was something off too.
I think we need a dry baby picture.....

[SammysMom]

Could you possible post another pic or two of him? That does look chippie-like in that pic.

[NutkinsWhisperer]

FALSE ALARM: my parents don't know a wet squirrel from a wet chippie. Thank you though for the comments and advice! I will definitely hold onto that recipe, as well as keep in mind that Esbilac is now safe.

(I'm not home so I couldn't examine the little critter myself). Love your passion for the squirrel babies!!!

[Tai]

You'd be surprised by the number of "baby squirrel" calls I've gone on only to have an angry adult chipmunk staring me down.